From Man to Man Magazine, 1911: “John Morton owned the land on which the business district of Vancouver now stands before the real estate agent’s blueprint was invented and before the word “boost” was added to the English language. The east line of Stanley Park was the west boundary of his land, its north boundary… Continue reading Slouching Among the Stumps
So who knew there was the INTERNATIONAL ALMANAK REFORM- LEAGUE? This is an excerpt from their 1912 advertisement. They has offices in New Westminster. WHY SHOULD WE CONTINUE THOSE CAPRICIOUS and IRKSOME JUMBLES of UNEQUAL MONTHS and QUARTERS any LONGER?—when we can so easily (almost imperceptibly) glide out of them as the year 1916 expires—… Continue reading THOSE CAPRICIOUS and IRKSOME JUMBLES of UNEQUAL MONTHS
I spent a interesting day Saturday on Granville Island with the students from SFU’s Dialogue Program. it was the class wrap up and they presented a series of workshops, tours and discussions all focusing on Vancouver. I took the walking tour which was great fun and really well presented. Other workshops included gardening and public… Continue reading Stories from the Terminal City, April 2nd
Spent sometime poking around Tosi’s with John Mackie of the Vancouver Sun. On the top shelf was this plaster plaque for the 1936 Golden Jubilee purchased by Tosi’s father Peter.
We:Vancouver 12 Manifestos for the City is a fascinating exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery looking at some of the neat things happening in the city. I was quite honored to be asked to contribute a reading list for the We:Read section. Here is my list of books which started me thinking about Vancouver and… Continue reading We:Vancouver Reading List
On Feb 23, I’ll be leading the How to Research Your House evening at the Vancouver Archives presented by the Vancouver Heritage Foundation. Here’s your chance to learn the secrets of water permits, building permits and fire insurance maps; and touch really old documents. Archives staff will be on hand too to answer questions and… Continue reading How to Research Your House Workshop
If you haven’t checked out Vancouver is Awesome you should. My favourite section is Vancouver Was Awesome, and a recent post from Rhiannon Coppin documents a walking tour I did in January where we looked at the neighbourhood around Franklin and Commercial Drive. Mostly known for its chicken processing plants, this area was once home… Continue reading Vancouver is Awesome
Speaking of walking… In October 2010, I had the privilege of being invited to present two walking tours for the Walking Home project. For the first walk, the focus was on Carrall Street which for me is great fun because the street cuts through three historic neighbourhoods; Gastown, Chinatown and the Downtown Eastside, and touches… Continue reading The Walking Home Project
Even though my next Continuing Studies course for UBC hasn’t started yet, the April course has now been set. Here’s the course calendar description. “Once just a trail cut through through the thick forest, today South Granville is a thriving commercial street surrounded by three distinct neighbourhoods. Part of the massive Canadian Pacific Railway land… Continue reading South Granville: Apartments, Commerce and Shaughnessy.
There is a movement to have the new library on East Hastings named in honor of local resident Mary Chan. Mary was instrumental in organizing the Strathcona Community against urban renewal and the freeway. Her daughter Shirley says “Mary worked hard to canvas community support for the Strathcona Community Centre and as a former teacher… Continue reading The Mary Chan Public Library
What Floats to the Top of My Desk 