History

Compared to its Canadian counterparts, Vancouver is a relatively young city. St John’s, Newfoundland was founded in 1497, Quebec City in 1608 and Vancouver over 250 years later in 1886. Yet since its incorporation, Vancouver has thrived and become the largest city in British Columbia. People are clearly attracted by Vancouver’s stunning coastal and mountain scenery and the fact it’s nicknamed Hollywood of the North. But let’s travel back to 1886 and recap how Vancouver became one of Canada’s most populated metropolitan areas.

Welcome to Vancouver 

First, we need to go back to 1863, when Vancouver was a small sawmilling town called Granville. In 1867, Gassy Jack Deighton opened a saloon in what we now know as Gastown (“Gassy’s Town”) so the sawmill workers had a place to drink and unwind. You’ll find a statue of Gassy Jack on Water Street, which pays homage to the historic neighbourhood’s founder.

Then in 1886, Vancouver was incorporated and renamed in honour of Captain George Vancouver, who explored Canada’s west coast in 1792. But two months after its establishment, the Great Vancouver Fire burned the city to the ground. Fortunately, this led the city to install modern electricity and water systems and establish the Vancouver General Hospital and Vancouver Police Department.

Fun facts about 20th-century Vancouver

Here are some interesting historical facts about Vancouver in the 1900s, as it became the city we now know and love:

• In 1911, Canada’s first artificial ice rink, the Arena, was established on the corner of Georgia and Denham Streets. It was the world’s largest indoor ice rink and where the city’s first NHL team, the Vancouver Millionaires played. Three years later, the Millionaires won the 1914/15 Stanley Cup.
• The University of British Columbia was founded in 1915 and in 1922, students organized a province-wide campaign asking the government to complete the current Point Grey campus. They ended up gathering 56,000 signatures and a loan was approved. Today, Vancouver is home to 12 universities and colleges, including the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, and Vancouver Film School.
• The iconic Lions Gate Bridge was built in 1938 so a real estate agency could finally sell the property it had bought in North Vancouver (yes, really!).
• In 1954, Vancouver got to host the 5th British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Since then, it’s also hosted the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
• SkyTrain, the city’s automated rapid transit system was established in 1985.
• Vancouver got to celebrate its centennial in 1986 in a big way, by hosting Expo 86 for six months.

Present-day Vancouver

The turn of the 21st century saw Vancouver established as Hollywood of the North, as more than 200 movie and television productions were filmed here in 2001. This number continues to grow, thanks to blockbusters like Deadpool and X-Men.

In 2002, Vancouver and Melbourne tied for the title of the World’s Most Liveable City. Since then, Vancouver frequently ranks in the top 10.

Today, Vancouver’s economy is thriving thanks to trade through its bustling port, the aforementioned film and TV productions, tourism and natural resources. Yes, forestry is still a big part of Vancouver’s identity today. One of Canada’s most ethnically diverse cities, celebrate Vancouver’s heritage with our 1886 collection.