Posts Tagged Vancouver

Photo Credit: McCord Museum Archives

The nineteenth century was a pioneering time on so many levels for Canadian society. It was a great century for the expansion of the west, the Confederation of the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada and scientific discoveries led to the development of the telegraph, electric power and the automobile by the end of the century. Yet, in these developments, there was also a revolution happening in the heart of Canada’s cultural and artistic mecca of Montréal. That revolution, which would transform Canadian society from coast to coast, was the development of photography. Throughout the nineteenth century, and well into the twentieth, an image of Canada was broadcast to the rest of the world as a place of beauty, grandeur and vast diversity in its landscapes and its people. At the forefront of that revolution of photographic wonder was the William Notman and Son Studio from Montréal. (more…)

Photo Credit: Stephen Rees

Have you ever met someone who was so dedicated to making a dream come true despite all the swirling negativity about that dream? Sometimes it seems as if no one can understand that person’s dream and especially what seems to be a fool-hearty waste of time in trying to make it a reality. This is exactly what happened to George Massey from Ladner, British Columbia. For nearly twenty years, Massey put his own time and money into trying to convince anyone who would listen to him that a tunnel could be built under the south arm of the Fraser River to connect Delta with Richmond. Canadian based engineering firms told him he was crazy while the BC Government reps got to the point where they would almost hide under the table when Massey would come knocking on the door with more information to argue his case. But if anything can be learned, the story of George Massey is proof that persistence and passionate dedication to a cause will make any dream come true.  (more…)

Photo Credit: TOBuilt

This edition of The Great Canadian Architects series looks at two Toronto based architects who contributed greatly to the development of commercial and banking architecture in the early twentieth century in not just Toronto, but across western Canada. Frank Darling and John A. Pearson would create a solid association that lasted from the early 1890s until 1923. They are best known for their banks of which many were built in the Beaux-Arts and Classical Revival styles. Darling and Pearson observed what was happening in the architectural spaces of Chicago, New York and London and created their own architectural interpretations to reflect the unique Canadian experience of commercial development in the early twentieth century.  (more…)

Photo Credit: North Vancouver Museum Association

Much has been made in recent years about the war effort on the home front in Canada from 1939 to 1945. Stories are now emerging about war bond fundraising efforts on the Prairies, Ontario hospitals training new nurses to specifically serve overseas and a number of “Rosie the Riveter” type recollections in the ammunitions factories all across Canada. With the 100^th anniversary of the Canadian Navy having occurred in 2010, other home front stories are now getting more attention. Canadian men and women worked side by side during the war years to build naval destroyers, corvettes, and supply ships. One such place that churned out a large number of those supply ships was the Burrard Dry Dock in North Vancouver, British Columbia.  (more…)

Photo Credit: Gavin Stevenson

Ever since Robert (Bob) Swanson passed away I’ve wanted to write a story about him. So now that I have this site dedicated to topics in Canadian heritage and history, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to tell you a little bit about this remarkable man. His name might not be familiar if you live on the Prairies or even in Ontario or Quebec. Yet, if you’ve ever sailed on a coastal or lake ferry in foggy, rough water anywhere in the world, or heard a train’s shrilling horn as you approach a railway crossing, you have this man to thank. In 1949, Swanson patented the multi chimed air horn which revolutionised how horns are used on trains and ships around the world. This invention has saved thousands of lives worldwide and he was a Canadian from Nanaimo, British Columbia.  (more…)

Photo Credit: Brock House

Having done my undergrad in architectural history, I am fascinated by architects in general and one of my favourites has always been the work of west coast architect, Samuel Maclure. The more I learn about and practice the art and methods of architectural renderings and landscape design, the more I come to appreciate Maclure’s work. The previous chapter of our Great Canadian Architects series profiled one of British Columbia’s greatest institutional architects of the early twentieth century, F.M. Rattenbury. So, this chapter will look at British Columbia’s greatest architect of private residences of the same period, Samuel Maclure. The two men often competed against each other for commissions and had even worked on a couple of projects together as co-architects. But, Rattenbury and Maclure could not have been more opposite from each other in almost every aspect from training to achievements to their domestic lives. Maclure was the early “Canadian Dream” in many respects: he was BC born, he was a completely self-taught architect, and his marriage was something that could have made a perfect Hollywood love story. And more importantly, Maclure leaves us a multitude of brilliant examples of west coast inspired Tudor Revival and Arts and Crafts homes throughout southwest British Columbia, most of which are now municipally designated heritage buildings.

Note: Just a fair warning to you all, the following story is a bit long and contains LOTS of photos. When it comes to my love and appreciation of Samuel Maclure, it appears that I just can’t shut up about him!!!  (more…)

Photo Credit: Brandon Godfrey

One of British Columbia’s most celebrated institutional architects of all time was also a man who inspired many things away from architecture including high end London plays starring famous actors, a legal case taught to many young lawyers to this day, and a number of novels. His life was filled with almost every kind of sensationalism that could inspire Hollywood filmmakers for years to come: lying about his credentials, illicit sexual affairs, dizzying fame and recognition, alcoholism, the fall from Grace, and, finally, murder. Who was this man? His name was Francis Mawson Rattenbury and he created such architectural wonders in British Columbia as the Empress Hotel and the BC Legislature Building in Victoria; the Court Houses in Vancouver, Nanaimo and Nelson plus numerous other buildings in the province. Before Arthur Erickson, another famed BC architect who began his illustrious career in the 1960s, it was Rattenbury who set the bar of excellence for institutional building design in British Columbia. However, for some, his enduring legacy is undoubtedly his complicated and very tragic personal life.  (more…)

Photo Credit: City of Vancouver, British Columbia

Do you live in a large Canadian centre and get the sense of just how much the urban landscape is changing around you? We are all aware of these changes. However, they may not seem as drastic over an extended period of time. It’s really when we see before and after photos separated by several years that we see just how much things have changed.

The City of Vancouver’s Planning Department embarked on a city wide documentation process in 1978 where photos were taken from major landmarks to document the landscape for future planning purposes. Twenty-five years later, in 2003, these places were revisited and re-photographed to show the changes, this time for educational purposes and for future heritage planning considerations. The change in one generation is astonishing. The Planning Department has now uploaded these pictures for everyone to see.

To view these pictures, click the link below. It will take you to the main page “The Changing City”. Each link will take you to the 1978 picture at the top of the page. Click on the 2003 button and watch the panorama shift from left to right showing you the changes over that time period. Don’t forget to check out the new uploads that will  show some changes between 2003 and 2007. Keep in mind that these more recent changes do not take into consideration the development of the False Creek area for the 2010 Olympic Village and venues, nor the condo development along parts of the old Vancouver Indy site.

Please visit The City of Vancouver’s Planning Department Community Services page.

It is a very interesting look into the progression of the urban landscape in Canada and a useful tool for future urban and heritage planning programs.