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Home , Burrard Bridge, Expo 86, False Creek, Plaza of Nations, Vancouver

History of Northeast you A collaboration between the City of , CityStudio and the SFU History Department. are * here This plaque prepared by: Chris Hatcher & Julia Hulbert - SFU History 486 in Northeast False Creek The City of Vancouver is home Archeological evidence and Devil’s Club plant to make to three groups of First Nations: oral traditions record the First medicine. While the expression the Musqueam, Squamish and Nations use of the False Creek of these cultural traditions Tsleil-Waututh. They are part of area for over 3000 years.2 As has changed as a result of a larger cultural group called the urbanization grew with arrival colonization and the subsequent . This entire region of the CPR railway in 1887, the removal and displacement of and 95% of are on Musqueam and Squamish peoples the First Nations from their unceded Indigenous territories as who hunted and fished these traditional lands, today Vancouver Photograph shows (left to right) Peelass George, William Green, Gief Jimmy Jimmy and few treaties were signed to grant lands for millenniums were moved has the third highest population Jericho Charlie, silver gelatin copy print, August 15, 1891, City of Vancouver Archives settlers rights to the land.1 to reserves in less desirable areas of Indigenous residents living of Vancouver.3 in a urban centre. The At the time the first settlers surrounding area to False Creek arrived to the in The cultural traditions of First is to home to many different the late 1850s, False Creek was Nations reflect their unique cultural and service organizations five times the present size and relationship with the natural that support and celebrate included a large tidal mud flat. environment, one that is based the diverse First Nations This ecologically rich site was on community, spirituality and communities.4 5 Shoreline area of False Creek flats, 1904, black and white glass negative, blanketed with thick eelgrass, stewardship—from harvesting 1 Wilson, Kory & Henderson, Jane “First Peoples: A Guide for Newcomers.” City of Vancouver. City of Vancouver Archives 2014. http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/First-Peoples-A-Guide-for-Newcomers.pdf. Accessed October 15, 2016 plentiful clam beds and countless oysters on the shore to collecting 2 “The Challenger Series.” The Challenger Series: Millennium Water http://www. thechallengeseries.ca/chapter-01/history. Accessed October 13, 2016. 3 Burkinshaw, Robert K. “False Creek: History, images, and research sources.” (1984): iv-81. songbirds. 4 Environics Institute. “Urban Aboriginal Peoples Study.” City of Vancouver, May 2011. www.uaps. ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/UAPS-Vancouver-report.pdf . Accessed October 11, 2016. 5 Wong, Baldwin, and Karen Fong. “DIALOGUES BETWEEN FIRST NATIONS, URBAN ABORIGINALS AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN VANCOUVER.” Canadian Issues (2012):

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2014 Shoreline Behind L.A. Hamilton’s campsite on the south side of False Creek, 1886, silver gelatin copy print, City of Vancouver Archives 1939 Shoreline http://citystudiovancouver.com/projects/history Historical Shoreline History of Northeast False Creek you A collaboration between the City of Vancouver, CityStudio and the SFU History Department. are * here This plaque prepared by: Anson Lee, Ejilayomi Mimiko - SFU History 486 Reshaping the Waterfront Throughout Vancouver’s history, Although a site of considerable waterfront area with housing, the False Creek waterfront has economic benefits, the False retail, and leisure activities. This been shaped by how the water Creek water was severely was solidified by a Vancouver is used. A home for wild animals polluted. After WWII, politicians city council vote in 1968 to and plants, was used by Coast presented proposals to fill remove False Creek’s industrial Salish nations for fishing and False Creek in completely designation. hunting in the area. In the 19th so that land mass could be century, colonization and the expanded. Environmental and The waterfront’s edges as we Smoke stacks rising from the Vancouver Lumber Company along with log booms in the search for resources brought political activists presented new know them today began to water. False Creek was a major industrial location during Vancouver’s early years. explorers west to Vancouver. perspectives and ideas. These take shape during Expo86, groups along with citizens, which reshaped False Creek the False Creek once extended as far unhappy due to the uncleanliness location to host the activities. east as present day Clark Drive. In of the area, advocated to The removal of industry greatly 1913, it was filled by the Canadian preserve False Creek and the reduced the amount of pollution Pacific Railway Company in return visual aesthetics. and Vancouver was able to clean for land. The waterfront became up the water and create a vibrant an important industrial location, After long debates, it was waterfront area. Tillicum, the mascot of the Vancouver Centennial, stands in front of Science World as it where there were sawmills, decided that False Creek’s nears completion while BC Place Stadium is also visible in the background. shipbuilding, slaughterhouses, future was as an accessible and other uses.

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2014 Shoreline Image showing the water of False Creek with several log booms. Shortly after, City of Vancouver http://citystudiovancouver.com/projects/history approved moving forward with redeveloping False Creek with a mind towards housing and 1939 Shoreline markets. Historical Shoreline History of Northeast False Creek you A collaboration between the City of Vancouver, CityStudio and the SFU History Department. are * here This plaque prepared by: Katarina Kazulin and Keagan Nagy - SFU History 486 Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR) On May 23, 1887 the first not swing open for tall ships to in both good and bad. Though transcontinental train of the pass through. The CPR also built industry flourished, False Creek (CPR) the Bridge in 1891. experienced environmental arrived in Vancouver, marking the These important transportation degradation and the completion of a railway promised links helped foster the growth of displacement of local indigenous when joined rail and sea facilities and industry people who had resided here for Confederation on July 20, 1871. in False Creek. generations.

Vancouver Centennial Commission. First train in Vancouver. May 23, 1887. They became the largest Over time, the eastern portion Today, the history of the CPR Vancouver Archives, Vancouver. employer in Vancouver in the late of False Creek, was filled by is etched on the landscape of 1880s, and played a major role the Canadian Northern Railway Vancouver’s shoreline and visible in how the city would develop, Company to create land for the in legacy buildings like the Pacific particularly around False Creek. railways and for , Waterfront Station, and The CPR extended its railway Station. the . line to English Bay and built the Bridge in 1889. While the CPR allowed Vancouver In 1886, they built the to build and expand itself into the Crookall, James. View of False Creek from the . 1939. Trestle Bridge, which was urban center that it is today, its Vancouver Archives, Vancouver. demolished in 1982 because it did support of rapid growth resulted

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2014 Shoreline Lindsay, Jack. Engine 374 pulling into Vancouver for its presentation to the City by the CPR. August 22, 1945. Vancouver Archives, Vancouver. 1939 Shoreline http://citystudiovancouver.com/projects/history Historical Shoreline History of Northeast False Creek you A collaboration between the City of Vancouver, CityStudio and the SFU History Department. are * here This plaque prepared by: Summer Lui, Hailey Venn and Julia Ma - SFU History 486 Vancouver’s Chinatown took root that called for an end to Asian As Vancouver moves forward in the late 1880s, as largely male immigration and labour.1 with the redevelopment of False residents immigrated without Creek, one must not forget this their families in hopes of earning Despite the challenges, place holds a vivid past and has a higher wage in . Chinatown’s location was many stories to tell. As Chinatown The newcomers established an maintained. From the early evolves, there will be more active community that allowed twentieth century, residents and questions that arise, old and new, Boarded-up businesses at the corner of Carrall and Pender Streets after Race them to maintain their culture. business owners stood their with the goal of presenting a Riots in Chinatown wreak havoc and severely damage Chinese properties. ground in refusing unfair offers community narrative that tells a (Courtesy of: Archives) Through over one hundred for their property, preventing story of survival and unity. years of settlement, Chinatown Chinatown from being pushed residents stood strong thanks further east.2

1Michael Barnholden, Reading the Riot Act: A Brief History of Riots in Vancouver (Vancouver: to their strong community. Their Anvil Press, 2005), 28.

2 Kay J. Anderson, Vancouver’s Chinatown ( and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University unity was essential in battling In 1967, Chinatown’s residents Press, 1991), 89.

3 Ken MacKenzie, “Freeway Planning and Protest in Vancouver 1954-1972” (Master’s thesis, Simon racism, exploitative labour initiated protests against a Fraser University, 1984), 57. (notably dangerous railway proposed freeway that would construction work), the Head Tax, have cut through the Vancouver The entrance gate to Chinatown in 1912 from East Pender Street looking West towards violence, and opposition like the districts of Strathcona, Carrall Street. (Courtesy of: Vancouver Public Library Archives) Anti-Asian Riots in 1886 and 1907 Chinatown, and .3

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2014 Shoreline Although many Chinese residents were away from their families, they still maintained http://citystudiovancouver.com/projects/history traditional cultural practises, such as the Chinese funeral shown above. 1939 Shoreline (Courtesy of: City of Vancouver Archives) Historical Shoreline History of Northeast False Creek you A collaboration between the City of Vancouver, CityStudio and the SFU History Department. are * here This plaque prepared by: Melissa Evans - SFU History 486 Freeway Fight In the 1960s the City of Burrard Inlet to . wide protest to prevent freeway Vancouver launched a twenty- The freeway would result in construction and lead to the year urban renewal plan to the demolition of historically green and walkable city we know revitalize city housing and significant neighbourhoods and today. modernize transportation the relocation of their residents. systems. Wanting to create more Look around, what do you see? efficient access between the For many families relocation was Houses, parks, playgrounds, and main , the not an option. In addition to lack sidewalks, bike lanes, shops, Here you see the proposed bridge over the Burrard Inlet connecting to the City planned to build an elevated of wealth, many had laid roots in cafes, restaurants, markers of highway through Gastown. [Vancouver Museum of Archives] freeway linking the two. their neighborhoods and were Vancouver’s heritage, and sights proud of the foundations they that make it a uniquely livable The freeway was proposed to had established. Local resident city. Unlike the neighbouring run through the southern edge Mary Lee Chan began door to cities of and of Strathcona and continuing door canvassing in attempt to that are marked by huge freeways straight through Chinatown mobilize neighbours and protest running through their cores, and Gastown, the freeway freeway plans. Chan was unaware Vancouver’s landscape remains would eventually link up to the that her grassroots operation open and diverse. The highlighted city blocks show the areas of Strathcona called for renewal, and the red lines represent the new freeway that would line the neighbourhood and waterfront near the current day to stop the demolition of her cut out Chinatown. [Vancouver Museum of Archives] SeaBus, and follow a bridge over home would unfold into a city-

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2014 Shoreline Protestors stand in solidarity against government freeway plans. [Vancouver Museum of Archives] 1939 Shoreline http://citystudiovancouver.com/projects/history Historical Shoreline History of Northeast False Creek you A collaboration between the City of Vancouver, CityStudio and the SFU History Department. are * here This plaque prepared by: Alex Guerrero and Mary Dedrick - SFU History 486 Hogan’s Alley British Columbia has been The talents of musician and Despite the tight community home to Black residents since entrepreneur Ernie King and that congregated and lived here, the middle of the 19th century. legendary guitarist Hogan’s Alley was widely viewed In the late 19th to early 20th were cultivated there, and local as a slum. Urban renewal in the centuries, many Black men came businesses hosted a thriving early 1970s sought to beautify the to Vancouver while working as music scene with the most area, which ultimately led to the porters for train companies. memorable performances at the destruction of Hogan’s Alley for

Harlem Nocturne, Vancouver’s the present . A porter presses his uniform in 1914. The combination of proximity only Black-owned nightclub. [Source: Vancouver Archives] to the train station and racism Hogan’s Alley was also host Today the site is remembered as that restricted Black workers to famous traveling musicians an important historical site. Local from renting in many parts of such as Nat King Cole, Louis advocates are working to restore the city led to the formation of Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Vancouver’s displaced Black a community known as Hogan’s Fitzgerald and Count Basie, who culture and memorialize the spirit Alley. It became the heart often made late night visits after and energy of the former Hogan’s of Vancouver’s unique Afro- shows to Vie’s Chicken & Steaks Alley. Canadian community and a (formerly at Main and Union) for View of Hogan’s Alley in 1958. booming arts and culture hub a bite and a raving good time into [Source: Vancouver Archives] from 1910 to the early 1970s. the early morning hours.

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2014 Shoreline Vie’s Chicken and Steaks. [Source: Vancouver Archives] 1939 Shoreline http://citystudiovancouver.com/projects/history Historical Shoreline History of Northeast False Creek you A collaboration between the City of Vancouver, CityStudio and the SFU History Department. are here This plaque prepared by: Darwin Binesh and Paul Milliard - SFU History 486 * Industrialization False Creek’s evolution from a roaring success of the 1920’s, issue of the 1950 civic election. buzzing industrial centre to a the heavily The government-commissioned livable community followed a impacted the coal, gas, steam, Bartholomew Report would tumultuous timeline of industry, iron and lumber industries. A brief conclude that the industrial area economic declines, unsustainable resurgence during World War II was “an eyesore, and a menace levels of pollution, societal temporarily quelled the decline, to health... nothing more than a reformations, and modern city in particular propping up the filthy ditch in the centre of the planning. What is now one shipbuilding industry. city.” Very early industry in Vancouver. This shows a ship building camp on the shores of False of Vancouver’s most livable Creek in approximately 1890. [Source: Vancouver Archives] neighbourhoods was once home Following World War II, Ultimately, heavy industrial to lumber mills, gas plants, Vancouver’s ever-expanding operations were phased out of labourers, smoke chimneys and population brought the city False Creek during the mid-20th polluted tidal flats. centre closer to its less attractive century and replaced with livable (and no longer booming) neighbourhoods and sustainable The 1914 completion of the industrial outskirts. Air, noise, and light industry. The green spaces, Panama Canal improved shipping visual pollution had made the city skate parks, businesses, family access to the world’s markets difficult to live and work in. Public homes, bike lanes and rowing Leamy & Kyle Sawmill. It was near Ash Street in modern Fairview and looks for Vancouver, a remote city at pressure made False Creek’s clubs are a testament to False North-Northeast. [Source: Vancouver Archives] the time. However, following the future an important campaign Creek’s redevelopment.

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2014 Shoreline Take a look at all the smoke and steam barreling out of the stacks and heading towards the city http://citystudiovancouver.com/projects/history centre! This is looking over False Creek towards the Northeast in approximately 1928. 1939 Shoreline [Source: Vancouver Archives] Historical Shoreline History of Northeast False Creek you A collaboration between the City of Vancouver, CityStudio and the SFU History Department. are * here This plaque prepared by: Brianne Barber and Scott Takenaka - SFU History 486 Hosted from May 2 to October Though most of the pavilions Nevertheless, Expo 86’s legacy 13 1986 the Expo 86 World Fair were temporary and moved is not all positive. For many attracted more than 22 million to different locations after the residents of Vancouver’s guests.1 The 173 acre site, fair ended, Expo 86 required , Expo is located in the False Creek area, the construction of several associated with forced evictions was divided into six coloured permanent pavilions. These in order to make space for zones which were the home to reminders of Expo86 can be tourists.4 The resulting influx of entertainment, 65 pavilions, and seen in Science World (Expo foreign investment is considered DERA [Downtown Eastside Residents Association] picket at Metropole re: food from around the world.2 Centre), The (BC partially responsible for the city’s Expo 86 evictions [Source: SFU Digitized Collections] Pavilion), the Gate, high cost of land. The event has been credited with Place (Canada Pavilion), BC Place, 3 1 Don Richardson, “Expo 86-the Bubble That Never Burst!” The Source, May 31,2016, http:// and the Expo Line. thelasource.com/en/2016/05/02/expo-86-the-bubble-that-never-burst/. restoring Vancouver’s economic 2 Cheryl Chan, “Expo 86: When Vancouver Wooed the World-30 Photos, 30 Years Later,” , May 14, 2016, http://vancouversun.com/local-news/expo-86-when-vancouver- confidence after a difficult start wooed-the-world-30-photos-30-years-later. 3 Tina Lovegreen, “Expo 86 : A Look at the World Fair’s Legacy Landmarks,” CBC News, May 06, 2016, http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/expo-86-landmarks-still to the 1980s, and with changing -standing-today-1.3567061. 4 Nicholas Blomley, Unsettling the City (Routledge: New York, 2004), 52. Vancouver from a sleepy coastal city into one known around the world. Science World was originally built for Expo 86 as the Expo Centre pavilion. It opened on May 2 1985 to preview the fair. [Source: Vancouver Archives]

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2014 Shoreline A and gondola were included in admission and allowed guests to travel across the fair and give their feet a much needed rest. [Source: Vancouver Archives] 1939 Shoreline http://citystudiovancouver.com/projects/history Historical Shoreline