I start my research in Chilliwack. On the Chilliwack Archives site, I find that the Chilliwack Progress Newspaper has articles since the early 1900s. I set aside a day every few weeks to go to the Archives in Chilliwack and the Sto:lo Resource and Management Centre in Sardis. Before these visits, I search the Archives online and make a note of all documents that I want to see. I find this not only helps me but also the archivists. They are able to get the material to me quickly so I can make the most use of my time there.

I set up times to visit with people in the Chilliwack valley who know about the history of the valley. I have many dead ends. People whose memories are no longer reliable. Documents that cannot be found. Leads that disappear into the air. I try not to get discouraged.