Bringing back the “Then and Now” series this week, I have once again researched the depths of the City of Vancouver Archives online comparing images of yesteryear with Google Street Views of Vancouver today. This week’s theme is Hastings Street.
Hastings and Howe
West Hastings at a time was known as Seaton Street, named by Lauchlan [...]

Located at 918 Granville Street, the Vogue Theatre is an icon of Vancouver’s entertainment district.
For decades its neon sign topped by the Roman Goddess Diana has stood the test of time and acted as a beacon for everything from theatrical performances and punk rock shows.
The 1,178-seat theatre opened its doors for the first [...]

Stopping by my daily history read, I learned that it was on this day 30 years ago that the Carnegie Building reopened as the Carnegie Reading Room. Located at the notorious intersection of Main and Hastings, I thought it would be worthy of the history profile to see how the building has been a part [...]

The giant red “W” atop Woodwards in Vancouver is make a reappearance tonight as it will be lit up for the first time in a decade.
“W” removal in 2006 – Photo credit: cam in van on Flickr
Woodward’s means far more to Vancouver than simply being a defunct department store. Founded by Charles A. Woodward, he [...]

Photo: Kris Krug – 2005
Meeting under the Birks clock is as “Vancouver” as whistling the $1.49 Day Woodward’s jingle or stampeding through Army & Navy on shoe sale day.
The iconic timepiece stood outside Birks’ flagship store on Granville and Hastings and was moved to Georgia and Granville – spending time at town major downtown [...]

Although Stanley is our most famous, there are more than 200 other parks in our City that range from wetland, dog parks, beachfront, forest trails, golf courses, and colourful playgrounds. Some parks are named for their neighbourhood or geographical location however many are named in honor of a person.
Lord Stanley – Stanley Park, Photo [...]

It took me a while to figure out a theme for this first “Then and Now” series installment of 2010. Last year I featured hotels, apartments, wintery scenes and even dogs in the city. I’ve come to the conclusion that the most effective “Then and Now” features buildings and streets, which are the easiest to [...]

This fall I received the best bobsleigh history lesson in the world from locals in St Moritz while on a media trip as a guest of the Swiss National Tourist Office.
After a walking tour of the town we stopped by the Cresta Run, then over to the Bob Run, after which the sport is [...]

It was the site of the Miracle Mile and where the Beatles took the stage in Vancouver, now after being demolished in 1993 Empire Stadium will once again be filled with cheering fans.
Life.com – August 1954, Photographer: Ralph Morse
Here are some historic events that took place in the old Empire Stadium, located on Hastings right [...]

Although we had a dusting of snow at the beginning of the month, a white Christmas doesn’t look very probably for Vancouver in 2009 (and Environment Canada only gives us an 11% chance each year anyway). 2008 was named “Canada’s Whitest Christmas” so in case you’re missing the powdery dustings around the city, I’ve rustled [...]

The legacy of Peter Pantages will live on New Years Day as Vancouver hosts its 90th annual Polar Bear Swim in English Bay.
January 1, 1939 – The Polar Bear Club – Item #: CVA 371-836
This is one of Vancouver’s oldest traditions. Quick tidbit: “In 1928, on January 1st, 16-year-old Ivy Granstrom made her first entry [...]

After staying in 4 hotels over the last 7 nights, I figured a reprise of the “hotel” theme for my Vancouver Then and Now series would be in order. The original photos are from the City of Vancouver Archives’ online collection, and some of the new images are from Google Street Views.
1944
Clarence Hotel, 515 Seymour [...]