To you from failing hands we throw, Historical Society Victory Square The torch; be yours to hold it high.

City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 677-1102, Erwin R. Gordon City of Vancouver Archives, M-5-8 City of Vancouver Archives, Bu P173 City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 677-1102 City of Vancouver Archives, Add.MSS.54, Vol 19, 503-D-1

1860s – 1889 1889 – 1912 1914 – 1918 1918 – 1924 1924 – present government square the courthouse years “no man’s land” setting up a a continuing focus Victory Square began as a piece of dense forest In 1889 a provincial courthouse was erected As Canadian casualties mounted in WWI a Two years after the Armistice of 1918, Although no longer the centre of the city, kept aside as provincial property during a survey and the periphery was planted with maple movement began to set the area aside as a Government Square was renamed Victory Victory Square has since been a focus of of February 1886. Ten weeks after the city’s trees. The building lasted until 1912 when it war memorial. In May 1917 alongside an army Square by the city and provincial governments protests, particularly during the Depression incorporation, the Great Fire of June 13, 1886 was demolished for a new site on Georgia recruiting marquee, a giant Evangelisitic and two civic organizations began raising era when the unemployed rioted then camped swept the area clean of logging debris. Street. In 1900 this now growing financial area Tabernacle was erected. It covered most of the funds for a cenotaph. Finally, in April 1924, out here. Others have followed. A 2002 major began a military association when a bonfire set square and was dismantled that July. During the was unveiled to 25,000 people renovation included a new layout, benches, by Boer War celebrants damaged the freshly summer of 1918 veterans, raised money for war and since then has been the centre for all and lamp standards with helmets as shades. laid wood-block pavement at the intersection widows and dependants by constructing a realistic November 11th services. The “soldier” lights stand at attention around of Cambie and Hastings. front line trench, complete with sandbags and the Cenotaph and at ease throughout the park. barbed wire. On March 12, 1918 the city leased the square from the BC Government for 99 years. buildings surrounding the square 5

Province Newspaper The Dominion Imperial Bank News-Advertiser Oddfellow’s Hall/Lyric Central School W Pender St The Flack Block 1 2 3 4 5 6 Office & Editorial 7 Building 1908-10 1897-98 Building 1905 Theatre 1906 1890 1899 Building 1908-09 Victory 4 6 Square N City of Vancouver Archives, Bu N516 Oddfellows Hall/Lyric Theatre, VPL #5195, City of Vancouver Archives, M-5-8 The Province Building, VPL #22598A, Cambie Street City of Vancouver Archives, SGN 924 Philip Timms, 1908 Dominion Photo Co., July 1927 3

7 W Hastings St Hamilton St 2 City of Vancouver Archives, City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 447-334 1 CVA 1184-226 You are here