Home » Travel » Canadian Culture » Vancouver

Vancouver

© David Newman

Vancouver. Canada's third largest city, not to mistaken with Vancouver Island. Vancouver isn't even on Vancouver Island. That's Victoria. Anyway, Today I present you with the city of Vancouver because it was incorporated around, April 6, 1886.

In 1792, some guy who happened to be named George Vancouver, who was exploring the planet for the Crown of England, found himself on the land that would later have his name. In 1802, another explorer, Simon Fraser checks out the area. He two gets something named after him: The Fraser River (he'll get a University as well later). The Hudson's Bay Company (That always seemed to get there first) set up a trading post east of present-day Vancouver, in 1827.

Then something important happened there was gold in the Fraser River. I'm pretty sure the Spanish were thinking, Damned El Dorado, it's not down here it's in the West Cost: California, Fraser River, Alaska/Yukon... oh well. Anyway, a bunch of people was attracted to the gold and came to BC. Around 1859, a guy known as "Gassy Jack" opens a saloon around which a community grows around that becomes Gastown in honour of Gassy Jack. In 1869, the town is incorporated as the town of Granville but is still known as Gastown to residents. In 1884, The Canadian Pacific Railroad is extended from Port Moody to Granville. This helps even more the development of the to-be-Vancouver. I mean first a saloon then a train terminus. What more can you want?

In 1886, Granville is incorporated as the City of Vancouver. M A. McLean is elected mayor of the newly formed Vancouver, which has, a population of about 1000 inhabitants. Later in the year, the whole city burns down within half an hour. They commence rebuilding immediately. In 1887, the first CPR train arrives in Vancouver, the end of the transcontinental line. As if it is so important, in 1893 the Hudson's Bay Company opens its first store (apparently still doing business). In 1897 there's the Klondike Gold Rush and it affects the whole country and by 1900 Vancouver is the leading commercial centre on Canada's West Coast.

Vancouver still needs an intellectual centre so, the University of British Columbia opens in 1908. In 1920, Vancouver replaces Winnipeg as the leading commercial centre in Western Canada. A new City hall is completed in 1936. And another important thing occurred: in 1953 Vancouver got its first TV station: CBUT. Vancouver's port becomes the country's leading port by tonnage by 1963.