Cookbooks as History or History as a Cookbook? There is a lot of interest in cookbooks as historical artifacts but the Terrace Regional Historical Society did the reverse. They created a cookbook to preserve history in their 2017 publication Serving Up History in the Terrace Area; 1940 to 1970. It is a book of memories of people who lived in the area between 1940 and 1970. Each story is accompanied by a recipe, often a family favourite.

One hundred and forty-five write ups are presented in alphabetical order accompanied by recipes and photographs. There is also an index to the recipes categorized in typical recipe book style (e.g., biscuits & rolls, cookies, fish & seafood, etc.). The recipes range from narrative style where you can imagine the person actually making the product and dictating the procedure (e.g., Rosswood Cinnamon Rolls); to typical lists of ingredients with the procedure in a following paragraph (e.g., numerous inexpensive family supper casseroles); to family favourite baked treats such as Dorothy’s famous Donuts pictured on the cover. All the recipes have a “homey” feel. There is a sense that people brought a little bit of “home” with them to Terrace but they were also making Terrace home by actively participating in community organizations, churches, and various social events which brought people together.

The book also includes a timeline of events that took place during the three decades between 1940 and 1970. It was during this time period that the highway connected Terrace both east to Prince Rupert and west to Hazelton and Prince George, air service to Vancouver was established and the forest industry the major employer. The Royal Canadian Air Force had a base in Terrace during the war and many of the buildings that remained were converted to serve the community as the town became a thriving service center for the area. Historical photographs are included throughout. The cookstoves pictured on p. 80 and 81 reminded me of Linda Peterat’s blog and I remembered the wood and coal stove we had when my family lived in the area in the 1950s.

The Historical Society has created a rich tapestry of a pioneer community in Northwestern BC as a cultural mosaic with newcomers arriving from across the country (e.g., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia) and around the world (e.g., Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Austria, Poland, Russia) joining the First Peoples who had been in the area since time immemorial, to create a vibrant community with food as the connective tissue.

While cookbooks are analyzed as a source for historical understanding, this cookbook uses recipes as avenues into the lived realities of peoples’ everyday. They paint a picture of resourceful people who created connections and served their community in a gentler time where neighbours trusted and relied on one another and where caring for each other was a common value.

Having lived in the area as a young child I was delighted to see Vesta Douglas’ page (p. 60). She was my favourite teacher in Grade 4 at Riverside Elementary (converted Air Force buildings). I was pleasantly surprised to see one of my elementary classmates Jack Talstra (p. 194) as an entry. His skits were the highlight of our Grade 6 class and he later became the mayor of Terrace. Just a few names that I recognized. I kept looking for Flossie Lambly as I remembered her fondly for her warm welcome whenever we as young children went into her Snack Bar (picture on p. 168) for soft ice cream. I didn’t find her but she was mentioned in two stories of her children Freda Diesing (p. 56), noted Tsimshian artist, and Roberta Perry (p. 168). Often our first remembrance of a place is of food. No having a freezer at home those cones were so special.

The quotidian tasks of life often go unnoticed. What is impressive about this collection is the attention to the histories of everyday people who live or have lived in the area. The everyday tasks of growing, preserving, cooking and sharing food are often taken-for-granted or considered insignificant, but these stories demonstrate that it is the mundane food making, that brings people together and makes a community. We at BC Food History think that food can be viewed as the unspoken and silent driving force behind history. This publication shows how the ordinary can become extraordinary. It is a celebration of local people and their relationship with food, each other and their community. We come away with a greater sense of community and the power of food to make history real.

During Heritage Week 2026, the Terrace Regional Historical Society announced it was planning a sequel. I look forward to the next installment as the society continues to explore the theme of Heritage Week – how food brings us together, links us to the land and traditions, ties us to our families and ancestors, and connects cultures.