A new year has been rung in and while we look ahead to what 2017 might bring, here’s a glimpse at the past to see what our city was like back in 1917.
Vancouver in 1917
Thanks to the late, great Chuck Davis for his History of Metropolitan Vancouver that was used as a reference.
January 1, 1917 The Workmen’s Compensation Act of British Columbia took effect.
April 4, 1917 Women (excluding those of First Nations and Asian decent) could now vote in BC.
April 1917, The Japanese-Canadian WWI monument was erected in Stanley Park. Out of 196 local Japanese who volunteered, 145 were killed or wounded. One of those volunteers, Sgt. Masumi Mitsui, led his men in a gallant advance up Vimy Ridge in April 1917 and was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery.
Japanese-Canadian WWI memorial by Stuart Thomson. Archives# CVA 99-2420
June 17, 1917 The Pantages Theatre opened opened at 20 West Hastings, and was proclaimed one of the continent’s best vaudeville houses.
October 1, 1917 Prohibition began in Canada. It would end October 20, 1920.
Also in 1917…
Lonsdale, North Vancouver by W.J. Moore. Archives# PAN N172.
Scottish Stonemason Jimmy Cunningham began building what would become the Stanley Park Seawall.
The Woodward’s Food Floor in Vancouver has become the largest in the world under one roof.
The salmon run on the Fraser this year was down badly this year because of a 1913 slide that blocked the river. The Fraser’s cannery industry was badly affected, and many canneries closed.
The Vancouver Fire Department became fully motorized, the first major city in Canada and possibly the continent to become so, many years ahead of other large cities.
Read more Vancouver History here »…
Translink has announced that once again there will be free transit New Year’s Eve in Metro Vancouver. From 5:00pm on December 31, 2016 until 5:00am on January 1, 2017 there will be no charge to ride the entire system and all fare gates will be open.
Free Transit New Year’s Eve in Metro Vancouver
Bus services will run on their usual Saturday schedules with some routes running additional evening/late-night trips after their normal schedules.
SkyTrain hours will be extended by approximately one hour and include more frequent trains throughout the evening.
SeaBus runs will be extended by one hour. The last sailing from Lonsdale Quay will be at 2:02 a.m. and the last sailing from Waterfront will be at 2:22am.
On January 1, 2017 Buses, SkyTrain and SeaBus will operate on their regular Sunday schedule. West Coast Express and extended 701 buses to Mission will not operate.
Note: If you tap in before 5:00pm, you must tap out on SkyTrain and SeaBus to ensure you’re charged the correct fare. Also, compass tickets expire at the end of the service day on which they are purchased.
Note: Bicycles coming into downtown Vancouver may be subject to restrictions on SkyTrain due to crowd conditions at the discretion of the SkyTrain staff on hand. Bikes will not be allowed to board trains at downtown Stations from 11:45pm until the bulk of the crowds have cleared.
Map out your NYE route with Translink’s Holiday Planner for more information and last run times for buses and SkyTrain.
Tree chipping events, enabling you to recycling your Christmas tree, begin the first weekend of January. Check your city’s official website for disposal, chipping, and recycling information or check out these events that support local organizations:
Tree Chipping and Where to Recycle Your Christmas Tree
Vancouver
January 7 and 8, 2017 10:00am to 4:00pm
Every year City of Vancouver staff and Lions Club volunteers provide Christmas tree chipping events. After the trees are chipped, they are taken to the Vancouver Landfill to be composted. Your cash and non-perishable food donations collected at the events will be distributed to local charities. Please remove all decorations and tinsel.
Locations:
Sunset Beach upper parking lot
Kitsilano Beach parking lot (Cornwall and Arbutus)
Trout Lake Community Centre parking lot (3360 Victoria Dr, south of E 12th)
Kerrisdale Ice Rink parking lot (5670 E Boulevard, north of 41st)
You can also set out your tree out for collection. Live, cut Christmas trees from residents with City Green Bin service can participate. If you have Green Bin service, put your tree in your collection area by 7:00am on January 14 for pick up.
To get your tree ready for pick-up:
- Remove all decorations and tinsel
- Lay the tree on its side, 1 m away from garbage and green bins
- Leave the tree loose (no bags, string, or rope)
If your tree isn’t picked up on collection day, leave it out. The city uses different trucks to collect trees so their crews may come later.
Drop off your tree at the transfer station or landfill:
Bring your tree to the Vancouver South Transfer Station or Vancouver Landfill for free until January 31. Remove all decorations and tinsel beforehand.
January 8, 2017 10:00am to 4:00pm
Support local schools and recycle your Christmas tree at the Mount Pleasant BIA’s 8th Annual Tree Chipping for the Kids event at Kingsgate Mall (370 Broadway E). All trees chipped/recycled by donation and all proceeds support the Mount Pleasant Elementary School’s (MPES) fundraiser to send students on an educational outdoor field trip to a local mountain.
UBC Botanical Garden
Until January 8, 2017 9:30am to 4:30pm
Recycle your Christmas tree at UBC Botanical Garden. Follow the signs and place your tree behind the orange posts. They will be chipped into mulch and used on garden trails.
Proceeds support John Norquay Elementary School‘s expanding school garden program, in the form of supplies and infrastructure. This food garden program is in partnership with The Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC).
North Vancouver
January 7 & 8, 2017 9:00am to 5:00pm
Chip Up for Charity in North Vancouver at the Westview Shopping Centre Parking Lot. Proceeds support Covenant House and North Shore Rescue.
Surrey
January 7, 2017 9:00am to 4:00pm
Surrey Firefighters will be chipping trees at 2 locations:
Newton Athletic Park (7395 128 Street)
Guildford Town Centre (10355 152 Street)
All donations will go to the Surrey Firefighters Charitable Society.
Until January 7, 2016 11:00am to 5:00pm
Tree Chipping and Bottle Drive Fund Raiser at Urban Safari Rescue Society (1395 176th St). Opening on December 30th from 2:00pm to 7:00pm.
Saturday, January 7 & Sunday, January 8 10:00am to 4:00pm
The Rotary Club of Surrey Guildford annual Tree Chipping raises funds to be used in Surrey for charitable purposes. The bottle drive funds will be used by the Dry Grad committee to assist in providing a safe environment for the Grads of North Surrey Senior Secondary School. Location: North Surrey Senior Secondary Parking Lot (15945 96 Ave, Surrey)
Langley
Until January 8, 2016 7:00am to 5:00pm (Mon-Fri) 8:00am to 12:00pm (Sat)
Bring your tree to Cloverdale Fuels (20280 102B Ave) to get it chipped, by donation. Proceeds benefit the Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation. Cloverdale Fuels will match all donations.
January 7 & 8, 2017 9:00am to 4:00pm
The Willowbrook Shopping Centre parking lot will host a tree chipping for Ride 2Survive, a cycling event that raises funds for cancer research.
Scout Groups will also have various events at Brookswood Secondary, Buckley Park, Safeway parking lot, Walnut Grove Secondary and more. Read the full list of tree chip events for charity here, thanks to the Langley Advance.
Burnaby
Residential Christmas tree collection will take place from January 16 to 27, 2017. Please place your tree out for collection on January 16 and it will be collected during these two weeks.
For Christmas Tree Charity Chipping Events, contact the Recycling Council of BC Recycling Hotline at 604-RECYCLE (732-9253).
