The Victoria Pioneer Rifle Corps are acknowledged today as an important part of Black history in Canada.
[5] Douglas was interested in increasing settlement to avoid annexation by the United States and was aware of the growing aggression against Black people in America.
The Black men then went to Governor James Douglas, under the financial sponsorship of Mifflin Gibbs, to volunteer themselves as a militia unit.
Another reason for lack of deployment could have been the tension with the United States was less important than other political issues at the time and was handled through negotiation than force.
[3][4][8] After Kennedy's arrival, the black volunteers in the VPRC marched to the Legislative Buildings to affirm their loyalty to the governor and voiced the discrimination shown towards them.
Kennedy claimed to want to work on reducing the rift between Black and white people, but did nothing to fulfill this, and even told the VPRC they should disband.
The constant discrimination, encouragement to disband, and unsupportive environment led to Black people losing interest in the VPRC.
[5] A captain, Richard H. Johnson, addressed these issues in a letter towards the editor for Colonist newspaper, stating that the VPRC's "...enthusiasm and ardour as far as this colony is concerned have evaporated.
Having as much human nature under their dark skins as others of a paler hue, they cannot forget the snubbing they received on that occasion...”[6][8] Once the American Civil War ended, many Black people who migrated up to British Columbia returned to the United States after slavery was abolished, leading to the dissolving of the group.