Virtual Tour of Ross Bay Cemetery
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25. John Giscome

John Giscome’s marble tombstone gave little information about him. In the 1980s the Victoria Black People’s Society restored his grave and put a plaque on it explaining more about his interesting life.

1832-1907
Block: R
Plot: 77 E 0

John Robert Giscome, a native of Jamaica, spent much of his life mining and exploring the remote territory of what is now northern BC.

Giscome Rapids, Giscome Canyon and the Giscome Portage on the Fraser River, north of Prince George are named for him. He was one of about 600 Black people who moved to BC in 1858 and 1859 to escape discrimination in California.