There are characters that can define a community and in the 1970s, it was “Ace” Aasen — the self-proclaimed Mayor of Gastown. Although the area on the eastern edge of Vancouver’s downtown is named after another character, John “Gassy Jack” Deighton, this historic quarter seems to have always attracted interesting personalities. “Ace” Aasen, “Mayor of […]

A great bit hat tip to the Vancouver is Awesome team for spotting (and promoting) Vancouver Rising, a new Tumblr blog that takes footage from the Vancouver Archives‘ video collection and creates fantastic animated GIFs. Here are just a few of the gems they have posted so far: 1973: Granville at Robson – “Vancouver Impressions“. […]

On this day in history (September 2nd, 1927) Jonathan Rogers sold his namesake “Rogers Building” at the corner of Pender and Granville for $1 million to General F. A. ‘One Arm’ Sutton. At the time, it was the biggest real estate transaction in the city’s history. [source] Rogers was among Vancouver’s earliest pioneers and in […]

Celebrate! Stanley Park is coming up this weekend in honour of the 125th anniversary of the iconic public park on the edge of the city. “Lord Stanley threw his arms to the heavens, as though embracing within them the whole of one thousand acres of primeval forest, and dedicated it ‘to the use and enjoyment […]

Granville Street is often the focus of historic Vancouver photo features, with its neon lights on theatre row and ever-changing retail landscape. However, it’s just as fascinating to take a look back at some of downtown’s other key business districts, such as Robson Street. For the popular social media “Throwback Thursday” theme today, the Robson […]

Stanley Park is Vancouver’s favourite outdoor recreation destination in the heart of the city. With over 8 million annual visitors, this National Historic Site has been ranked among the top city parks in the world. We enjoy its Seawall, forest trails, attractions, beaches, rose garden, and how it provides us with a splash of nature […]

On this day in 1934, Malkin Bowl hosted its first performance of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra making it my choice for today’s Vancouver Icons photo feature: 1940s – Photographer: Jack Lindsay, Item #: CVA 1184-1963. The Marion Malkin Memorial Bowl was a named in honor of Mayor W.H. Malkin‘s wife (who passed away in 1933), […]

On my daily search of the Vancouver Public Library and City of Vancouver Archives I come across the work of local photographers from the last century (and beyond). While a photo from the archives makes us reflect, compare, and contemplate “early Vancouver”, it’s always important to note who took that photo, which is my aim […]

John and I enjoyed a few days exploring “The Other Vancouver”, which is Vancouver, Washington. Located about two hours south of Seattle along the I-5, this Vancouver sits along the Columbia River and was incorporated in 1857, 29 years before Vancouver, BC. Captain George Vancouver Monument in Vancouver, Washington I’ve always loved looking up the […]

Last year there was a symposium at SFU about the cultural impact of Curt Lang’s work and his name is one I come across often when perusing the Vancouver Public Library and City of Vancouver Archives. Lang was much more than a photographer and the symposium focused on a book by Claudia Cornwall titled: At […]