Your library may hold microfilm copies of local or community newspapers.  Unfortunately, very few of these newspapers have been indexed.  But most community papers only run to a dozen or so pages, and so it shouldn't be too difficult or too tedious to sift through back issues.  (In fact, browsing through old newspapers can be a lot of fun!)

Indexes to major newspapers in Victoria, Vancouver, New Westminster and Kamloops were maintained by the Legislative Library and may be available on microfilm in your library.

The Legislative Library and the British Columbia Archives also have extensive microfilm collections of provincial newspapers. Between them, these two repositories in Victoria hold about 11,000 microfilm reels of newspapers. For information about the newspapers, holdings is consult the British Columbia Archives web page, British Columbia Newspapers on Microfilm.

newspaper clipping files

Years ago, the Provincial Archives (as the British Columbia Archives was then known) used to keep files containing newspaper clippings and miscellaneous notes on a wide range of topics, including local schools and teachers.  The files were called the Vertical Files.  Microfilm copies of the Vertical Files are available at the British Columbia Archives in Victoria and at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo.  For information on how to use these files, see the on-line Guide to Newspaper Indexes and Vertical Files.