Before you gasp in disbelief as City crews patch potholes on Water Street with asphalt, covering and replacing what look like historic cobblestone bricks, you should know that they are actually a product of an early disco era. The concrete pavers were put in place 40 years ago in an effort to preserve Gastown’s history, […]

It has been 84 years since Percy Williams of East Vancouver won two gold medals in track and field at the Amsterdam Olympics — a feat that has never been repeated by a Canadian. 1928 – Archives item# CVA 99-3631 & CVA 99-3638. Photographer: Stuart Thomson. As part of the King Edward High School track […]

Coming up with a theme for my weekly photo collection from the Vancouver Archives can be a challenge, especially when I realize that I’ve already published about 70 collections. I’ve featured old timey Beach Scenes, Picnics, Grouse Mountain, Bikes, Ice Cream, Summer Scenes, and Amusements. What left to represent summmer in Vancouver? With Pride Week […]

Playland is opening for 2012 this weekend so a look through the City of Vancouver Archives to find old amusement park photos seemed in order. 1929 – Entrance gate to the Vancouver Exhibition and Happyland on Renfrew. VPL#: 7925. Photographer: Leonard Frank. 1939 – Fair rides. Archives item# CVA 99 – 3131. Photographer: Stuart Thomson. […]

99 years ago, on April 16, 1913, Athletic Park was dedicated on Hemlock and West 5th. 1915 – Opening Day vs Victoria by the City of Vancouver Archives on Flickr. Archives item# PAN N14B. Photographer: WJ Moore. Chuck Davis writes: “The park was built by Bob Brown, who would come to be known as Mr. […]

I love stepping under the canopy of Stanley Park‘s forest trails, detouring from the concrete paths of the Sea Wall and surrounding thoroughfares. A few years ago I profiled the origins of several Stanley Park Trail Names including Merilees, Rawlings, Tatlow, Thompson, and Tisdall. Tourism Vancouver recently launched their ultimate guide to Stanley Park (useful […]

It was on March 10th 1870 the settlement know locally as Gastown was given its official name: Granville Townsite. Lord Granville was the Colonial Secretary at the time and the Granville Townsite was selected as the terminus for the Canadian Pacific Railway. It wasn’t until 1886 that the townsite was renamed, when it incorporated, as […]

Painted on the sides of brick buildings that lined Hastings and other downtown thoroughfares that have existed for the better part of the last century, there was obviously a time when Vancouver’s ghost signs were just signs. Thanks to the Vancouver Archives, here’s a quick look at these painted adverts in their heyday. 1917 – […]

Art Deco Chic, the latest exhibit from the Museum of Vancouver, opens March 7, 2012 and I am currently doing a ticket giveaway for opening night. In conjunction with this, I thought it would be fun to browse the Vancouver Archives and preview some historic style from Vancouver’s earlier years. (Left) 1916 – BC Sugar […]

The Bailey brothers, Charles S. and William, setup shop in Vancouver at the end of the 19th century. Charles was the first to arrive from Ontario and form a photography company partnership, Neelands & Bailey, which lasted about a year. In 1890 William joined his brother in Vancouver and Bailey Bros Photography was born. 1886 […]