The Pantages Theatre: Conversations and Curios
The history of Vaudeville in Vancouver, theatre history and the story of the Pantages accompanied the sale of salvaged plaster from the theatre. A great number of the Pantages Artifacts were sold on the evening with 100% of the sales going to support the ongoing work of the Friends of the City of Vancouver Archives. There are a few pieces remaining and available for sale. It’s a chance to acquire a unique part of the City’s history. Visit our Square site to see and purchase the remaining pieces.
No Smoke Without Fire: Reimagining Women in Colonial Barkerville”
Dr. Laura Ishiguro
On 16 September 1868, the gold-rush town of Barkerville, British Columbia burned to the ground. Weaving together archival records, rumours, and silences, this talk offers a new history of the fire, and the colonial society that sparked it.
Home in an Evolving City
John Atkin, Jennifer Chutter, Judy Graves and Lani Russwurm
Vancouver has always been a city of real estate speculation and high rate of home ownership. The history of housing in Vancouver has focused on architect-designed houses of the upper class. This talk presented a different view of housing in the city’s settler history that focuses on the resilience, creativity, and agency of those attempting to create homes for themselves amidst changing municipal landscapes.
Chinatown Through a Wide Lens
Members of the Friends of the Archives were invited to an exclusive book launch of Chinatown Through a Wide Lens: the Hidden Photographs of Yucho Chow written by Catherine Clement based on the 2019 exhibit at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Vancouver curated by Catherine. This event was hosted by the Dr Sun Yat Sen Chinese Classical Garden, the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC and the Friends of the City of Vancouver Archives
Vancouver Exposed with Eve Lazarus
Eve Lazarus, shared her favourite stories from her book “Vancouver Exposed: Searching for the City’s Hidden History” Is Van Tan the oldest nudist camp in Canada or is it just an urban myth? What’s the story behind the polka dot house on East 3rd? Who blew up the courthouse lion? What really happened to the Englesea Lodge?
Ron Dutton
Ron discussed his significant donation of the LGBTQ2+ archives to the City of Vancouver Archives in 2018, a coveted and comprehensive collection of intriguing and often surprising images, posters, clippings, and more, that Dutton collected over decades that provide a fascinating look at life in the community over the years
Running the Torch Run:
It’s was 9 years since the Winter Olympics were held in Vancouver! And 10 years since the start of the Olympic Torch relay that kicked the whole thing off. Leaving Victoria, BC in October 30, 2009 the torch travelled 45,000 km, across all thirteen provinces and territories, terminating in Vancouver 106 days later. Well, Dave Doroghy, who spent almost four months on the road as a Shuttle Bus Host, engaged us with the logistics of the relay and how the thousands upon thousands of people from every corner of the country were brought together for this successful and important event.
Murder by Milkshake
The Friends of the Vancouver City Archives presented Eve Lazarus talking about her latest book, Murder by Milkshake: An Astonishing True Story of Adultery, Arsenic, and a Charismatic Killer
The Roads to Nowhere
A walking tour of the Georgia Viaducts
Tea, Talk and Treats – was an exclusive summer evening in Vancouver’s Chinese Garden with Professor Alison Bailey talk about traditional concepts and artistic and poetic representations of the Chinese garden.
Hugh Pickett Gala
Friends of the Vancouver City Archives hosted the Hugh Pickett Gala October 16, 2017, at the Sylvia Hotel – one of Hugh Pickett’s favourite Vancouver hang-outs.
Aaron Chapman and the Last Gang in Town!
Author/historian Aaron Chapman presented his latest best-selling book The Last Gang in Town which covers a fascinating period of Vancouver crime history in the early 1970s.
Vaudeville and Vancouver!
Civic historian John Atkin and artist Tom Carter presented an illustrated look at this uproarious era of traveling performers and elaborate theatres for the annual October fundraising event.
Friends of the Vancouver City Archives 