Over the years a few Presidents of the United States of America have visited Vancouver. Whether it was during the depression or war years or for speaking engagements after their terms. In 130 years the Commander in Chief has been no stranger to our city, although some visits have been few and far-between.
American Presidents and Vancouver
Harding
You may have noticed a very grand dedication to Warren G. Harding in Stanley Park. In 1923, he was the first sitting President to come to Vancouver. He spoke at a luncheon at the Hotel Vancouver and to a crowd of 50,000 in Stanley Park. One week later, in San Francisco, Harding passed away and Vancouverites were stunned. The Kiwanis Club started a campaign to get a memorial put up in Harding’s honor, in the place that he spoke in Stanley Park. Charles Marega (Caption George Vancouver statue at City Hall, Joe Fortes Monument in the West End) was commissioned for the piece.
President Harding in Vancouver. Archives item# Port N1271.06. Photographer: W.J. Moore.
President & Mrs. Harding’s motorcade along Granville.
Archives item# Port P554. Photographer: Harry Bullen.
Harding & Vancouver Mayor Tisdale in the bandstand at Stanley Park. Archives item# Port N1271.16. Photographer: W.J. Moore.
Roosevelt
In July of 1915, Teddy Roosevelt and his wife were on a train that would pass through Vancouver, where they were going to catch a boat to Seattle. According to Vancouver History: “The Vancouver Board of Trade had formed a welcoming committee to greet the Roosevelts, who would arrive at the CPR station. The Board, unwisely, had not included Mayor Louis D. Taylor in the delegation. (They didn’t like him.)”
Roosevelt’s motorcade in Vancouver heading up Hastings to Cambie
(notice the Flack Block in the background). Archives item# CVA 1477-652
As a result, Taylor (for whom Taylor Way is named) hopped on the train in Port Coquitlam to welcome the pair on his own. He was even the first to step off the train in Vancouver and introduce the Roosevelts to the crowd that waited. As the story goes, he took them for a quick spin around Stanley Park before dropping them off at their ship. The source of this story is Daniel Francis’ book L.D.: Mayor Louis Taylor and the Rise of Vancouver.
The First Lady also left an indelible imprint on Doreen Reitsma, who worked at the Hotel Vancouver at the time of the couple’s visit. After a conversation with Eleanor Roosevelt about pursuing dreams, Reitsma made history as the first to enlist in the new Women’s Division of the Royal Canadian Navy.
Operation Red Nose started out in 1984 as the brain child of Jean-Marie De Koninck of Quebec who got members of his swim club to offer to drive motorists home, in their own vehicle, if they had too much to drink. Since that time Operation Red Nose has expanded to over 100 communities across Canada, providing a safe ride home for any revelers who might not be fit to get behind the wheel.
In Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley you can call 1-877-604-6673 or (604) 532-0888 for a ride, or call (604) 532-0888 for information. Services in BC are provided in communities such as Abbotsford-Mission, Comox Valley, Delta-Richmond, Kamloops, Williams Lake, Surrey-Langley, Nanaimo, North Shore, Prince George, Ridge-Meadows, and the Tri-Cities.
If you’re hosting a party, there are tips for planning ahead on the Operation Red Nose website. There are also volunteer positions available if you’d like to sign up to be a driver, navigator, or work at headquarters.
Be sure to plan your safe ride home this holiday season and enjoy the festivities responsibly. Follow @ORNose on Twitter for news and updates. The service is confidential and free. Any client donations are given to local non-profit youth organizations.
The 4th annual West Coast Christmas Show and Marketplace returns to the Tradex in Abbotsford, December 2nd to 4th.
The presentation stage will feature local chefs, the Dairy Farmers of Canada will host cheese seminars, there will be an on-site nursery, photos with Santa, local artisans and crafters, and a festival of trees.
You’ll also be able to order your live Christmas tree from Evergrow in Burnaby. They’re a local service that will deliver a live tree to your home for the holidays then pick it up and re-plant it in the Fraser Valley, to be used again next year.
Tickets are just $7 for admission all three days. If you’d like to win your way in, I have two pairs available as well. Here’s how you can enter the draw:
- Leave a comment on this post naming your favourite holiday snack (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw two winners at random from all entries at 10:00am on Monday, November 21, 2011. Follow the West Coast Christmas Show on Facebook and Twitter for updates.
Update The winners are Joanne & Duncan!
Neighbourhood Toy Store Day is November 12, 2011 in support of shopping locally and supporting businesses in our community.
On Saturday, independent retailers across Canada will celebrate with special giveaways and activities in their stores. There are participating locations around BC but here are a few in our area:
Granville Island Toy Company
Location: 3298 Main Street, Vancouver – Website
Event for Neighbourhood Toy Store Day: Giveaways and balloon-popping for discounts.
The Toy Jungle
Location: 1132-2929 Barnet Highway, Coquitlam – Website
Event for Neighbourhood Toy Store Day: “Play Day” from 12:00pm – 3:00pm and prizes for the first 100 customers.
Toybox
Location: 3002 West Broadway, Vancouver – Website
Event for Neighbourhood Toy Store Day: “Play Day” from 12:00pm – 3:00pm and prizes for the first 100 customers.
The Village Toy Shop
Location: 262 Newport Drive, Port Moody – Website
Event for Neighbourhood Toy Store Day: Party with balloons, craft station, loot bags, face-painting and a contest.
This is an initiative of Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada: “A Canadian network of specialty toy retailers and their suppliers working together to provide a superior source of toys within our communities.”
John and I had fun in a local toy store a few weeks ago as we checked out their selection of cards, puzzles, and dozens of different styles of “opoly” board games. There’s a charm to a neighbourhood toy shop and I’m glad they’re being celebrated in their way.
Vancouver Comicon is happening this weekend at Heritage Hall on Main, where it has been hosted for well over a decade. The event, which is hosted about six times a year, features special guest appearances, art showcases, and of course plenty of graphic novels.
When
Sunday, November 13, 2011, 11:00am to 5:00pm
Where
Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street (at 15th)
Guests
Jim Mahfood (Kick Drum Comics, Stupid Comics, Grrl Scouts, Marijuanaman), Dave Crosland (Yo Gabba Gabba! Comic Book Time, CBGB, Puffed) with Peter Chiykowski (Rock, Paper, Cynic), Derek DeLand (Copyright Infringers), Kim Glennie (Emily & Zola, Girls’ Room), SpookhauS & Rob Macabre (Satan Claws), Albert Art, Carrie Q Contrary, Beth Wagner, Gurukitty Studios and more.
You can book a dealer table or just stop by and check out the scene, do some shopping, meet the guests. Admission is $4 and kids under 14 years of age are free.
Two days before Vancouver Comicon, you can head to the Vancouver Live Art Funk Jam with Jim Mahfood and Dave Crosland. They’ll be at The Komik Zoo (at The Hennessey Dining Lounge on West Broadway) from 8:00pm to 11:00pm. Admission to this event is by donation with proceeds benefitting the Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund.
Follow @VanComicon on Twitter for more information.
