The anniversary celebrations and events for Vancouver’s 125th anniversary will launch tonight in partnership with the PuSh Festival. From now until the end of 2011, the City and various organizations will be hosting events, workshops, exhibits and more to showcase 125 years of Vancouver. My weekly history series will remain but have a “Vancouver 125” […]

Think you know Vancouver? Think Again! In honor of Vancouver’s 125th anniversary coming up this year, SFU’s Department of History is presenting a series of frank and informative lectures from January to October. 1936 lecture in Vancouver. Photographer: Stuart Thomson. Vancouver Archives Item# CVA 99-4908 The inaugural lecture takes place January 27th and will be […]

The first Granville Street Bridge opened on this day in 1889. Spanning False Creek, it was but a low-rising timber trestle designed mainly by the CPR. 1890 – View from 2nd Ave at Birch. Photographer: W Chapman. Vancouver Archives Item# Van Sc P58. In 1909 the Granville Bridge would be rebuilt in steel with a […]

As Vancouverites awake after a night of confetti-filled celebration, 2011 is perhaps welcomed with a dip in English Bay, a pound of the snooze button, or that first venti-sized coffer of the year. Although most are looking ahead, I decided to look back and see how our city rang in the New Year throughout the […]

The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim in English Bay is a tradition that is 91 years strong. It all began with 10 swimmers in 1920 thanks to the leadership of Peter Pantages and it grew to welcome over 2,000 participants in recent years. Peter Pantages & Miss E Robinson in English Bay Dec 1927 – Archives […]

Santa rolled into Vancouver last week and he’s no stranger to our town. While looking up a keyword for today’s Archives Photos I decided to keep it simple and see how Santa has spent his time in our town over the years. Year: 1939 In this photo: The Case triplets visit Santa Vancouver Archives Item#: […]

When looking for a theme for this week’s collection of Archives Photos, the keyword “Barbershops” caught my eye on the search page. With a wrap on this year’s Movember many grizzly-faced men have been shaving up a storm either at home or with the help of a grooming professional, so the theme seems rather fitting. […]

The North Shore mountains hide, shrouded in a grey cloud of flurries as I look out over an un-touched blanket of snow covering the West End. This morning’s snow in Metro Vancouver is still cascading from the skies as many have taken to staying indoors and bundling up. Growing up in Surrey we used to […]

The Ross Bay Cemetery is frequently mentioned on tours around Victoria as big buses and double-deckers cruise past the historic resting place that sits beside the ocean. It wasn’t until this past weekend that I had the chance to get out of my vehicle and take a frosty walk around to pay my respects to […]

If you have ever wanted to know about the history of your home and the people who occupied it before you, James Johnstone is who you want to track down. Over the years he has researched background information for over 800 houses in Vancouver and 300 of those in East Vancouver alone. 1891 – Mount […]