When Heroes Become Villains

Home / Explore / Books

When Heroes Become Villains: Helmcken, Trutch, Bowser, and the Streets, Lakes, and Towns Named After Them
by Jon Bartlett and Brian Robertson
New Star Books
100 pages, $18

The three B.C. historical figures examined in this slim book may not be household names to most Canadians, but they do represent a conundrum — what to do when a place is named after someone with a complicated legacy?

Joseph Trutch, John Sebastian Helmcken, and William J. Bowser were big men of influence back when British Columbia was being settled and developed. But, like other movers and shakers of their time, they ignored or mistreated people on the margins, such as Indigenous people, the working class, and immigrants. “Many of these ‘heroes’ now look like racists and sociopaths,” state the authors.

No one wants their street named after a villain, but renaming said street — or waterfall, or lake, or town — is obviously inconvenient. And it can be shockingly pricey. The cost of renaming Dundas Street in Toronto, for instance, was pegged at $6 million. Who decides which names to change and what the new names should be? (Hint: Stop naming places after people.)

Your history. Your inbox.

With 7 uniquely curated newsletters to choose from, we have something for everyone.

When Heroes Become Villains addresses the naming issue in a straightforward manner and is an easy read with good illustrations. The backstories of the men — British imperialists to the core — are fascinating. While Trutch and Bowser come across as typically ambitious and self-serving, Helmcken, the speaker of the provincial legislature, was by all accounts a skilled and kindly physician.

Nevertheless, Helmcken refused to address a smallpox epidemic in 1862, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of Indigenous people. The authors figure that it would cost about $150,000 to rename the streets named after Helmcken in Vancouver and Victoria — and that’s probably worth the money.

Help keep Canada’s stories true, strong, and free

We hope you’ll help us continue to share fascinating stories about Canada’s past by making a donation to Canada’s History today.

We highlight our nation’s diverse past by telling stories that illuminate the people, places, and events that unite us as Canadians, and by making those stories accessible to everyone through our free online content.

Canada’s History is a registered charity that depends on contributions from readers like you to share inspiring and informative stories with students and citizens of all ages — award-winning stories written by Canada’s top historians, authors, journalists, and history enthusiasts.

Any amount helps, or better yet, start a monthly donation today. Your support makes all the difference. Thank you!

Make history today!

Buy this book at Chapters-Indigo

This article originally appeared in the April-May 2025 issue of Canada’s History.