Frances Backhouse studied biology in university and worked as a park naturalist and as a biologist before becoming an environmental journalist and author. Her six previous books include Once They Were Hats: In Search of the Mighty Beaver and Children of the Klondike, which won the 2010 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her partner, Mark Zuehlke, who is also a writer. Frances loves exploring the natural world both close to home and far away, especially when those explorations involve tent-camping. If there’s a beaver habitat nearby, it’s even better.

Frances Backhouse's profile page

Children of the Klondike

The 1896 discovery of gold near Dawson City set off the Klondike gold rush. Initially, the majority of people who caught gold fever were men. Eventually, more women moved to the area, and with the women, came children. Some children were born in the Klondike, some came with their parents. The stories of these young pioneers, which are drawn from memoirs, newspapers, letters and photographs, became part of the rich history of the area. Includes a Klondike chronology and endnotes.

Backhouse is the author of Hiking with Ghosts: the Chlikoot Trail Then and Now, which won a 2000 BC Book Award. Women of the Klondike was a finalist for the 1996 VanCity Book Prize and Runner-up for the 1996 Edna Staebler Award for Creative Nonfiction.

Caution: Use of the term “Indian” in the context of the time.