Tod Inlet films given another screening

Two films chronicling the early history of Tod Inlet return by popular demand at two Talk and Tea programs this month at the Log Cabin Museum in Saanichton.

The films, Searching for the Sikhs of Tod Inlet and Beyond the Garden’s Wall, played to a capacity crowd when they were screened in the spring.

There followed many requests to show them again for people who had been unable to attend.

The films were produced by David Gray, a Canadian researcher and historian. They deal with a little-known piece of local history, a cement industry that started in the early 1900s at Tod Inlet.

The films document the history of the Sikh and Chinese immigrants who were hired to work at the limestone quarry and cement plant.

The workers, who lived in a village on the site, subsequently worked to create what is now Butchart Gardens.

Tea and refreshments will be served following the films.

Admission is $5 for members and for $7.50 non-members.

Searching for the Sikhs of Tod Inlet starts at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Beyond the Garden’s Wall will be screened at 2 p.m. on Oct. 21.

The Log Cabin Museum is at 7910 Polo Park Cres., Saanichton (in the park behind Thrifty Foods).

For more information, go to saanichpioneersociety.com.