People uprooted from Gifford (4)

Gifford (formerly Glenmore) is on the traditional territories of Stó:lō Peoples. By the late nineteenth century, non-Indigenous settlers had established farms and homesteads in the area. The Glenmore School was built in 1906 and operated until 1935. In 1910, the BC Electric Railway built Gifford Station on the Interurban line, prompting the construction of a nearby store and post office. By 1913, Gifford had become a central part of the District of Matsqui.

In 1928, Mr. Goodchild, Mr. Olson, and Mr. Brown established the Gifford Shingle Mill on Glenmore Road and hired the Kozai family to operate it. The Kozai children attended Glenmore School while their parents ran the mill, eventually helping with operations. In 1930, the Kozais purchased the business and renamed it the Kozai Shingle Mill.