On April 30th 1886, Lauchlan Hamilton – a CPR land commissioner and surveyor – laid out the plans for the corner of Cambie and Hastings. This is the site of Victory Square today, and the subject of this week’s Vancouver Icons photo post. Photo credit: Clayton Perry Photoworks on Flickr 1924. Archives# CVA 99-1477. Photographer: […]

Last night the City of Surrey kicked off their two-day Party for the Planet, the largest Earth Day celebration in Western Canada. With a focus on free family fun, this major city event with an eco-friendly twist has already attracted thousands. The Energy Dance Tent was particularly popular with live DJs spinning and dance groups […]

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. […]

Although the blossoms in the West End have fallen, covering sidewalks like snowflakes, there are still thousands of trees bursting with spring colours across the city. Photos showcased this week from the Miss604 Flickr Pool all celebrate cherry blossom season. Photo credit: LawrenceH on Flickr Photo credit: rocketcandy & rocketcandy & rocketcandy on Flickr Photo […]

Flickr, the popular photo sharing site, began in Vancouver back in 2004. Now owned by Yahoo!, it has grown to over 50 million users worldwide. It offers Creative Commons licensing on images, privacy settings, a free version (as well a paid, pro version), and intuitive search functions. Photo credit: Chris Campbell I have been a […]

The Royal BC Museum, one of my favourite Victoria attractions, is currently hosting the Young Photographer Contest for ages 8 to 17. How to Enter Visit the contest page on Facebook and submit a photograph that you feel represents British Columbia’s wildlife. Prizes A Pro Museum Photography Photo-Shoot Spend an afternoon at the museum with […]

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 […]

Ronnie Miranda from Active Computer Services has been at it again: He’s captured a 180-degree view of downtown Vancouver form the Fairview neighbourhood. The image is 1,026 megapixels and is made up of 100 photos taken February 27, 2012. Day – Click to View Full Image Dusk – Click to View Full Image Check out […]

My Vancouver Icons series began as a way to showcase photos of buildings, statues, and everyday Vancouver scenes that have a history that most don’t know. However, there are some subjects are captured more than others when I browse the images that have been added to the Miss604 Flickr Pool. One that keeps popping up […]

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 – […]