UELAC Conferences

Upcoming Conferences

Each year one of the UELAC Branches organizes a conference. This event is normally four days but may be longer or shorter.

A list of upcoming and past conferences is on the national website at UELAC Annual Conference.

Past UELAC Conferences

  • 2022: From Heartbreak to Hope in the Heart of the Continent May 25-29 hosted by Manitoba Branch.
  • 2021: Join the rEvolution - Come Be Part of the Story May 27-31 hosted by Bridge Annex Branch with partners including Cornwall Tourism.
  • 2020: Eyes on the Heart of the Continent 23 March - Cancelled due to COVID-19, hosted by Manitoba Branch.
  • 2019: The Capital Calls May 30 - June 2, hosted by Sir Guy Carleton Branch
  • 2018: Loyalist Ties Under Living Skies June 7-10 hosted by Saskatchewan Branch
  • 2017: June 22-25 in London ON, co-hosted by London & Western Ontario Branch and Grand River Branch
  • 2016: Loyalists, Lighthouses & Lobsters - Thursday July 7 to Sunday July 10 in Summerside, PEI, hosted by The Branches of the Atlantic Region: Abegweit, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
  • 2015: Loyalists Come West - Thursday May 28 to Sunday May 31 in Victoria BC, hosted by Victoria Branch

UELAC Conference 2015 - Loyalists Come West - Victoria, BC

Invitation to all Loyalists to attend the 2015 UELAC Conference in Victoria

Loyalist "Stones" in British Columbia - Loyalist Trails 2015-8, 22 February 2015

Loyalist "Stones" in British Columbia

British Columbia celebrates Loyalist Day on July 22nd. This date was chosen to recognize Sir Alexander Mackenzie's, the son of a United Empire Loyalist, significant accomplishment.

Sir Alexander Mackenzie (1764 – 12 March 1820) was a Scottish explorer. He is known for his overland crossing of what is now Canada to reach the Pacific Ocean in 1793. This was the first recorded east to west crossing of North America, by a European, north of Mexico and predated the much celebrated Lewis and Clark expedition by 10 years.

In 1776, his father joined the King's Royal Regiment of New York. By 1778, to escape the ravages of war, young Mackenzie was either sent, or accompanied by two aunts, to Montreal. In 1779 (a year before his father's death), Mackenzie had a secured apprenticeship with Finlay, Gregory & Co., one of the most influential fur trading companies at Montreal. In 1787, the company merged with the North West Company.

In 1791, Mackenzie returned to Great Britain to study the new advance in the measurement of longitude. Upon his return in 1792, he again set out to find a route to the Pacific. He was advised to cross over the Coast Mountains and descend to the Bella Coola River. Following the river he reached the Pacific coast on 20 July 1793 at Bella Coola, on North Bentinck Arm, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. He had unknowingly missed meeting George Vancouver at Bella Coola by 48 days.

He wrote a message on a rock near the water's edge of Dean Channel, using a reddish paint made of vermilion and bear grease, and then returned east.

The inscription read: "Alex Mackenzie from Canada by land 22d July 1793". The words were later inscribed permanently.

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The site is now both a provincial park (Sir Alexander Mackenzie) and a designated National Historic Site of Canada.

The Victoria Branch 2014 Loyalist Day Picnic, held in Beacon Hill Park, celebrated both the 100th anniversary of the UELAC as well and the 75th anniversary of the planting of the Loyalist Tree. These anniversaries were commemorated by the installation of a new stone at the base of the Loyalist Tree.

Loyalist Tree 2014

The Loyalist Tree was planted in Mayor's Grove, in Beacon Hill Park in 1939. The tree was to commemorate the historic visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, which was the first time a reigning monarch visited Canada.

Their Majesties King George and Queen Elizbeth

The Tree Planting 1939

The Loyalist (sapling) Tree in 1939

The 1939 Stone

Her Honour, Judith Guichon, OBC, Lieutenant Governor, British Columbia and
Bonnie Schepers, Dominion President, UELAC unveiling the 2014 stone.
The original 1939 stone can be seen just behind the new stone.


We are anticipating the installation of new Loyalist commemorative planting, located in close proximity to the Conference Hotel, in time for the 2015 Conference. We hope you will seek out this newest addition that helps to reinforce the Loyalist presence in the Province.



When you attend the 2015 Conference, please plan on including a visit to these two sites. Your Conference hosts will be happy to assist in directions and transportation opportunities.

Visit the Victoria Branch website regularly to keep up-to-date on the planning for 2015.



Conference 2015 Planning Committee Victoria, BC