The other day I wanted to put up a post about some local history but I wasn’t exactly sure which direction to go. I put the call out on Twitter and received some great questions and responses so I created this tidbits series.
@jbuffoonery – Asked about Vancouver’s neon history
The first neon sign illuminated Granville Street in 1924-25 and at the peak of its popularity in the 1950s there were 18,000 glowing signs in Vancouver along.
By the 1960s abandonment of the inner city for the suburbs meant neon became associated with increasing urban decay. In Vancouver the growing awareness of the city’s natural setting and the decline of the business district along Hastings Street meant the glory days of neon were ending. Opinion-makers and civic leaders were making noises about the “neon jungle” and the “hideous spectacle” neon created. Debate reached absurd proportions when one alderperson blamed neon for litter and prostitution problems.
Bylaws were passed severely limiting the type and size of sign. The unexpected result: a new lack of ambient light. Few realized the role the color and movement from these signs played in creating the spectacle of a lively street (especially in the rain) and it’s not surprising that shortly after the sign bylaws were passed people began discussing the dying downtown. [source: John Atkin]
Granville Island is world-famous for its market (that opened in July of 1979) which is filled with fruits, vegetables, fine meats, cheeses, the freshest seafood and bakery offerings, as well as its theatres and artisan shops filled with metal works and wood carvings. However one may also notice the giant cement plant that is located only a short distance away — a remnant of industrialization on these 38 acres of land (since it’s not technically an island… not now anyway).
The land was originally a mud flat, resembling a simple sand bar, and would often disappear in high tide. Harry Stevens, a Vancouver alderman and President of the Vancouver Board on Trade in the 50s) talked the Federal Government about reclaiming the land in the harbour and was successful.
In 1913 the Pacific Dredging Company began building what we know now as Granville Island (originally called Mud Island by locals) by using fill “sucked up from the bottom of False Creek.” [Vancouver History]. The Island was eventually joined to land and in 1973 its ownership was transferred from the National Harbors Board to the Federal body, CMHC.
The next post in the history tidbits series will contain:
@6oz – The Guinness family’s influence
@kdmurray – Some Burrard Inlet History
@TylerIngram – History of the McBarge
@davidshore – Why the CPR landed in Vancouver (as opposed to Port Moody etc.)
Have you seen this while driving across the Burrard Bridge or heading out of Kits? This morning there will be an unveiling at the Molson Brewery and I’m running over to cover it.
We’ve had a few phone calls this morning and an inquiry on twitter regarding the black draping on our brewery in Vancouver. February 11th at 9am we will be unveiling what’s behind the mural in an effort to engage Canadians from coast to coast to coast to rally in support of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Parlympic Winter Games. Molson is proudly the official supplier of beer to the 2010 Games.
Look for more details and how you can join together with your family, friends and acquaintances in communities across this great nation to rally in support for the games and Team Canada. [Molson Community Blog]
I’ll have my own photos (and more details) shortly after 9:00am.
Molson, being Canada’s oldest brewery and having recently celebrated 50 years of brewing in Vancouver, wanted to bring communities from across the nation together in one place. This 4,000 square foot mural will feature uploaded and submitted photos by (legal drinking age) Canadians from coast to coast and will be updated every few months to reveal a giant image, and message, in honor of the Winter Games that will kick off in Vancouver one year from tomorrow.
“Molson is preparing to welcome the world to Vancouver in a truly Canadian way,” said David Bigioni, Brand Director, Molson Canadian. “The 2010 Mural Project will give Canadians from all corners an opportunity to share a personal connection with the Games and show our athletes that we stand proudly behind them.”
The final mural image will also be made available as a poster, with proceeds going to the Canadian Olympic Foundation.
I was struggling to find inspiration this morning although I knew I wanted to publish a history post this week. I put the call out on Twitter and received several inquiries about Vancouver history landmarks and tidbits. Since the response was so great, this will be a new series of user-generated responses to local history questions.
@Jemmen – Asked about West End history and Robson Street.
I haven’t gone too in-depth about the history of Robson but I do have a post about all the important Robsons in Vancouver’s history.
Named after John Robson who was the Premier of BC from 1889-1892. It began its commercial history early on with retail shops and restaurants springing up in 1985.
It also became known as Robsonstrasse which was “a reflection of the European shopkeepers who operated the many small delicatessens, patisseries, and chic boutiques that populated the street.†[from Robson, More Than a Street]
@duanestorey – Wondered about the steam tunnels at UBC
Listed as one of the “90 things to do before you graduate” there are rumoured to be half a dozen entry points to these hot and hazardous passageways under the campus of UBC, including unlocked manhole covers and freight elevators that lead to subbasements. I found a personal account over on this site.
I’ve been in the steam tunnels, which are all locked up now, and in the vortex. The steam tunnels are utility passages where the steam is transferred from building to building. The vortex is the storm sewer system, or flood water actually, not sewage. I remember one of my most memorable nights buildering was spent in the storm system.
Kai and I were looking for the entrance to these steam tunnels, so we were checking all the manhole covers on campus. There was one manhole behind the biology building, actually about 50m from your Oceanography dyno problem. Anyways, we lifted the cover and it was the entrance to a huge underground water tank. A storm runoff type of thing, I think they pump it out when it gets to a certain level. So we looked around and found a refrigerated big suitcase type thing, and a bunch of rope, and lowered it down into the tank. Now we had a boat. So we went boating inside these underground caverns, in this gross water. In our box, our insulated box used for tools or something.
@fuzzydave – Didn’t live in Vancouver at the time of the “Fast Ferry” scandal and wanted to know the story there.
In the 1990s the NDP government, headed by Premier Glen Clark, commissioned the building of a fleet of several super ferries and Fast Cat catamarans. The reason was to help alleviate traffic concerns for those living around the terminals and get passengers and vehicles to and from the Island in a more efficient manner. The ships built were smaller (with room for fewer vehicles) but the cruise time was supposed to be cut by at least 30 minutes, meaning more sailings to cover the crowds. Unfortunately the cost of the initiative ballooned to almost $460 million (at our expense) and was years behind schedule. More problems included hazardous wakes causes by the vessels, high fuel consumption, the passenger deck was smaller and they actually ended up taking longer to cross the Straight.
@tawcan – Wanted to know a bit more about the Massey Tunnel
I’ll answer this one with help from VancouverHistory.ca. The Deas Island Tunnel opened July 15, 1959 (connecting Richmond and North Delta/Ladner) although it had been open to (tolled) traffic since April 1958, and the Queen of England herself was on hand for the ceremony. In fact on the same trip, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre was named in her honor. In 1964 the tunnel was renamed the George Massey Tunnel, for the minister of highways, and tolls were removed. It’s actually the lowest point of any road in Canada, dropping beneath the Fraser River to 20 meters below sea level.
I’ll continue the series later this week where I will answer the following questions from my contacts on Twitter.
@kdmurray – Some Burrard Inlet History
@CynnamonS – The industrial past of Granville Island
@jbuffoonery – Vancouver’s Neon History
@6oz – The Guinness Family’s Influence
@TylerIngram – History of the McBarge
@davidshore – Why the CPR landed in Vancouver (as opposed to Port Moody etc.)
I’ve covered dozens of events from film festivals, to tech conferences, interviews with artists, and concerts and each experience is always unique. However, I must say that when working with the City of Surrey, John and I both agree, it’s an absolute pleasure. They’re organized, the staff is accessible, and getting full media access including the photo pit — and being able to go backstage to sip some Wally’s Wheat Ale when it’s over — is just tops.
My first official blogging assignment for the City was last winter for their inaugural Winterfest at Central City. Since Surrey was named a Canadian Cultural Capital city in 2008 they started up Winterfest along with the Fusion Festival in the summer. Each festival had fun for the family, activities, crafts, and concerts — all with free admission and evening fireworks as well.
Surrey is also home to the largest Canada Day celebration in Western Canada, which I also covered while enjoying sunshine, lemonade, and the sweetsweet sounds of Wil, Rymes with Orange, the Payola$ and Loverboy.
Living in a city that is being taken over by Olympic planning and construction, while also losing major free events for the entire family, it’s nice to see other cities engaging their neighbours and celebrating all of their communities together.
Also for all those who complain about suburbanites coming into downtown and causing a raucous during our festivals and fireworks — please by all means — feel free to bundle up the kiddies in the stroller, take the SkyTrain out to Surrey for Canada Day or the Fusion Festival (or even the Farmers Market, the Clova Jam or the Surrey Childrens’ Festival) and experience all they have to offer — there’s plenty of room for all.
After a brief presentation about Surrey’s involvement in the 2010 games (including being a stop on the torch’s journey) the evening festivities began here at Winterfest.
A funky marching band from Oregon, March Forth, played a quick set that involved dozens of instruments and a fireworks display that had glittery spark cascade down over the crowd with the majestic Central City building in the background. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
