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 Picnic excursion for Spencer's Employee Association - Lady Alexandra, Lady Cecilia, and Lady Cynthia. | |
| Company type | Corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping |
| Founded | 1889 in Vancouver, BC |
| Defunct | 1948 |
| Successor | Canadian Pacific Steamships Co. |
Area served | Coastal British Columbia |
The Union Steamship Company of British Columbia was a pioneer firm on coastal British Columbia. It was founded in November 1889 by John Darling, a director of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, and nine local businessmen. The company began by offering local service on Burrard Inlet near Vancouver and later expanded to servicing the entire British Columbia coast.
The Union Steamship Company was bought out by the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company in 1948. The SS Noronic fire in Toronto forced the Federal Maritime Department to change marine regulations regarding wooden passenger vessels, while the nature of the BC coastal fleet changed more to freight and a tug and barge operation. The Union Steamships ran until 1956 when a strike finished the fleet.