I received an interesting research question this week, “Why are fireworks only allowed in BC and Nova Scotia at Halloween?” Never given it much thought… So a bit of research in the newspaper archives revealed that indeed fireworks at Halloween seemed to be a mostly BC tradition. In 1965, there was a report about fireworks from… Continue reading Fireworks Only in BC?
Got a question today about the fountain in Stanley Park’s Lost Lagoon and was asked about whether it came from the Chicago World’s fair of 1934… This idea has been floating around for awhile and appears in many write ups about the park, but it seemed far fetched. Why would we drag a big chunk… Continue reading Stanley Park and the creator of Lost Lagoon’s Fountain
For the last evening showing of the IMAX film Rocky Mountain Express we’re running the All Aboard tour again. August 29th – All Aboard! 2: The railway and industrial history of the eastern False Creek. False Creek was home to a number of railway companies including the Great Northern, Canadian National, and the Canadian Pacific. On… Continue reading Special Event! We’re collaborating with Science World for an evening walk and movie.
I sat through a fascinating panel discussion on Happy Cities as part of the Indian Summer festival, but I felt there were too many references to what Europe does better and not enough about what we should or could do based on what the conditions we have here in this city. I was going to… Continue reading Frances Beat Me To It
Stanley Park’s 125 year modern history in a timeline. Just in time to celebrate the birthday.
In 1909, someone thought it might be a good idea to build grain elevators on Deadmans Island. Park Board turned the idea down.
The Methodist church was the first to minister to the Chinese community in Canada, there was a mission school in 1876 in Victoria and in Vancouver in 1888. From its original Hastings Street location the Mission moved to a building on Dupont Street (Pender) in 1889. In 1900 the mission moved to a purpose built… Continue reading Chinese Methodist Mission Church, Chinatown
“The city council board of works regards as impracticable a proposal to substitute fruit for ordinary shade trees on the streets. The presence of the small boys is a fatal objection to the scheme.” Interesting note from 1897 found in the Colonist newspaper.
We don’t often get to see Shanghai Alley like this. Taken in the 1940s this Archives image shows the west side of the alley looking north and the tenements built in 1905 by Yip Sang which helped establish the alley. CVA 586-4593
The Alhambra Cafe offering coffee and pie for 5 cents, meals start at 15 cents. 1916 prices. CVA 371-757
What Floats to the Top of My Desk 