Although the City of Surrey’s slogan is “The Future Lives Here” it’s also home to plenty of history. Incorporated seven years before Vancouver, and sitting at about three times the size in terms of area, there’s much that can be learned from looking at Whalley, Cloverdale, Guildford, Fleetwood, Newton and South Surrey. As such, the […]

John “Gassy Jack” Deighton had a saloon in New Westminster but it wasn’t until he headed around to the Burrard Inlet that he left an indelible mark on our city. In 1867 he told mill workers along the harbour that they could have all the whiskey they could drink if they helped him build a […]

Slated to re-open in November, the Waldorf Hotel in East Vancouver is currently undergoing major restorations and renovations. Located along a lonely stretch of East Hastings, this historic landmark is set to revitalize creative arts and nightlife in this area of town. Photo credit: kk+ on Flickr While it features a dining room, hotel, cafe, […]

Most parks in Vancouver are named after former Parks Board members or royalty – but not Emery Barnes Park in Yaletown. The grass, stone walkways, water features and new playground on Davie is named after a man born in New Orleans in 1929 who made his way to Canada, into BC Provincial Legislature and is […]

For over 80 years the Orpheum theatre on Granville Street has been far more than an iconic neon sign. Hosting concerts, comedy showcases, the VSO, and even my high school commencement ceremony, this gorgeous venue is an magnificent slice of Vancouver history. The Orpheum 1929 – VPL Accession Number: 11035. Photographer: Leonard Frank. “All around […]

A few months ago I put the call out on Twitter to see what people have been curious to know about Vancouver’s past. There were some great suggestions about Joe Fortes and the Great Fire along with several more tidbits that would be interesting to research. A few people asked about the Burrard Bridge and […]

The Ceperley Meadow at Second Beach in Stanley Park is home to festivals, bike rides, power walks, and outdoor movie nights. It’s also where you can find the site of Vancouver’s first children’s playground after Grace Ceperley (who loved children) willed an endowment for that purpose in the late 1920s. Photo credit: steveleenow on Flickr […]

Browsing the Vancouver Archives digital collection I once again selected a single keyword and searched the image results. Today’s compilation features “picnics” as a tribute to the remarkably warm late September weather we’re experiencing. Year: 1890s In this photo: Strawberry picnic in Stanley Park Vancouver Archives Item #: SGN 965 Year: 1900s In this photo: […]

Chuck Davis, local historian and founder of VancouverHistory.ca has been working on a book for several years that will be called, The History of Metropolitan Vancouver. The website alone is an invaluable resource with over a century’s worth of historic moments, oddities, newspaper clippings and articles about our region. I heard this morning that due […]

Browsing the Vancouver Archives digital collection I sometimes sort my search by category or keyword. The following is a compilation of old-timey images from our city’s past, all having to do with “competitions”. Year: 1918 In this photo: Military Sports, sack fight on beam Photographer: Stuart Thomson Vancouver Archives Item #: CVA 99-638 Year: 1928 […]