How could I not do Vancouver, though could have chosen
Victoria, now the capital of Vancouver Island.
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| Location of Vancouver within metro-Vancouver |
Vancouver in the late
1800s displaced Victoria as the leading commercial centre on Canada's west
coast ... in part due to the prosperity arising from the Klondike Gold Rush and
the arrival of the railways 1880s, which soon, in the main, superseded other modes of
inland transport.
Early 20th C Vancouver developed its markets for fish,
minerals and lumber - then the First World War severely declined economic
prosperity ...
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| Stanley Park |
... the 1920s growth resumed and the export grain trade held
up during the Great Depression of the 1930s ... while its mild climate became a
draw for many peoples ... this led to Vancouver replacing Winnipeg as the
leading city in western Canada.
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| Port of Vancouver |
... the outbreak of the Second World War ended unemployment, trade grew particularly through shipments of wheat to China.
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| I highly recommend this saga - see note below |
But ... the early settlers in the 1850s in the western
coasts and Vancouver areas largely ignored the Indigenous members of the
Coastal Salish linquistic group ... 'just taking their land' by proclamation
under the Crown ...
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| The Speaker figure - Brooklyn Museum 19thC - the voice at the Potlatch ceremony |
The Indigenous Peoples had been here for over 8,000 years
... and through the abundance found on the coast enabled them to live in
larger, more socially stratified groups than was typical among Indigenous
peoples in Canada.
Their great wealth and complex social organisation produced
elaborate cultural institutions as exemplified by the potlatch ceremony.
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| Vancouver's Chinatown - the largest in Canada |
... during the eighty years or so from the mid 1800s to the
outbreak of WW2 many peoples from a wide range of countries had by choice, or by
offer of employment, or by dubious coercive offers of employment had entered
Canada via Vancouver ...*
... apart from the Europeans ... Chinese, Indians
(Punjabis), Japanese made up most of the early immigrants obtaining work in the
mines and thus establishing 'neighbourhoods' ... there are now many other different cultural areas ...
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| Statue of "Gassy" Jack in the historic area of Gastown |
Gastown was Vancouver's first downtown 'centre', named after
"Gassy" Jack Deighton, a Yorkshire seaman, steamboat captain and
barkeeper, who arrived in 1867 opening its first saloon.
Gassy Jack's tavern led to other stores and hotels
appearing, which in turn led to the Canadian Pacific Railway extending
westwards to take advantage of the large natural seaport - which became the
vital link in a trade route between the Orient/Asia, Eastern Canada and Europe
...
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| Collage of the area |
Now Vancouver is known the world over as the 'go to place'
... wonderful shoreline, stunning British Columbian interior, snow to enjoy,
nature to explore, a multi-cultural diversity of ethnic groups ...
... offering delicious foods, choices of art theatre, music,
film ... it is a film production centre - earning it the nickname
"Hollywood North" ... and even the TED Conference has made Vancouver
its home.
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| Vancouver was never recognised in his day - yet posthumously has been. It is thought that this recently found painting might be of Captain Vancouver |
To conclude this long post ... the city takes its name from
George Vancouver (1757 - 1798) ... who explored and charted North America's
northwestern Pacific Coast regions, the Hawaiian Islands and the SW coast of
Australia.
Vancouver was a British officer, yet the family name
originates from the Dutch "Van Coevorden", denoting somebody from the
city of Coevorden, Netherlands ...
That is V for Vancouver both vanquished and victorious ...
from Aspects by a British 'girl' in Canada ...
I have recommended this book before - but I'd highly recommend 'Vancouver' that is a Saga, an absorbing historical chronicle of the American coastal northwest and its settlers from the Siberian people through to today ...
* as happened in other parts of the world during WW2 ... any immigrant from an ethnic background would probably suffer from internment - this too was prevalent in Vancouver
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
39 comments:
I have been thoroughly enjoying learning more about your current home. Fascinating snippets which I will have to explore further.
Thank you so much.
I know little about western Canada but thanks to you and your A to Z challenge, I am learning so much. Vancouver sounds like a nice place to live or visit.
I do wonder how Gassy got his name.
Hari OM
It is certainly a place I would like to visit...adding to my long bucket list with only a vague hope of actually getting there. YAM xx
Ah yes, very familiar scenery from many TV shows. Someday I'd like to spend more than 8 hours there.
Vancouver is such a fascinating place. Nice to read about it here.
I finally stopped by - but waiting during the a to z lets me peruse the previous posts! I feel like it’s p day!
screamers and shinplasters was my favorite, but I learned a lot about quebec and vancouver - plus union bay
so glad you have a new canvas to paint a beautiful picture of canada for us!
Tara Tyler Talks
Vancouver is one of my favourite cities in the entire world. Mum's cousins used to live in Winnipeg, so we had the family reunions there. But the next generation of Canadian cousins moved to Vancouver, happily for me :) Stanley Park, ports, Gastown, Granville Island Market etc... all wonderful.
I've always heard what a wonderful place Vancouver is, and it's great to read your post & find out more. Thanks Hilary.
@ EC - thanks so much ... it's been quite enlightening writing up these posts - lots to learn ...
@ Arleen - so good to know I've sort of covered your bases vis a vis some of Canada ... I hope to spend a bit of time in Vancouver ... and I can guess how Gassy got his name - various alternatives!!
@ Yamini - I hope I make it over ... so many places on my bucket list now!
@ Liz - yes I expect I should recognise some of the waterfronts and parks ... perhaps I will at some stage ... I hope you can get back ...
@ Sherry - I'm sure there's lots to learn and see in Vancouver - I hope to be able to do it ...
@ Tara - excellent to see you ... thanks for making the time to get over and see a few of the posts (or perhaps all) ... yes I thought Screamers and Shinplasters would be a good post ... but I'm pleased I did write up a little on Quebec, as well as U for Union Bay and here for Vancouver ...
... as you say onwards and further for more on Canada ... it'll be fun to learn, even if I don't quite get everywhere ...
@ Hels - you're lucky in that case - you know the city ... me, I have yet to visit ... lots of sights there ... I obviously must check out Granville Island Market
@ Juliet - thanks for coming by after your storms in Auckland - not nice by the sound of it ... I'm sure I'll be spending a bit of time there at some stage ...
Thanks everyone ... so glad to see you all - cheers Hilary
I always wondered where that name came from! Not nice about the indigenous population, though! Isn't that typical of European colonisation, including here in Australia - barge in, help yourself to other people's homes and never see that you've done anything wrong. In this country, there was the Terra Nullius thing, i.e, despite a population that's been here for about 60,000 years, it's empty land, fine to take it!
Australian children's writers: V Is For Voicing The Dead
https://suebursztynski.blogspot.com.au/2018/04/a-to-z-blogging-challenge-2018-v-is-for.html
I have enjoyed eading this post so much. Thanks for sharing
Tongue Twister for V
Hi Hilary. Vancouver and its surrounds looks beautiful and interesting place. I am enjoying travelling around Canada with you via your posts. Continue having a great time. Kim
The history of Vancouver is fascinating - I knew none of this, a real education for me.
I am determined to see Vancouver one day, I keep being told what a great place it is and you have tempted me further!
A-Z of My Friend Rosey!
A fascinating post about your host city, Hilary! I never knew that Vancouver's name comes from Dutch origins. I feel connected somehow :)
I've only had the chance to see Victoria... this is increasing my desire to get back and see even more of the area. :-)
You've certainly landed in a pretty (and interesting) place, Hilary!
We only had a day in Vancouver (we were catching a cruise to AK), but I was highly impressed. Lovely place, nice people, beautiful park, nifty totems, and good food. Big winner!
I would really like to get out there Hilary, but unlikely I'm afraid. When we first came to Ontario it was very unusual to see East Indians anywhere, unlike Britain when we left. In the 40 some years we have been here, it has changed considerably.
@ Sue - I was interested to see the origin of the city's name; sadly we weren't nice to the people who had populated our lands for years and knew the mores of the landscape, the flora and fauna and who had survived for thousands of years ...
I didn't know of the term 'Terra Nullius' ... but it describes the woes of a land taken ...
@ DeeDee - glad you've enjoyed it ...
@ Kim - Vancouver I gather is stunning ... so I look forward to visiting - just glad you're enjoying your tour via the blog posts ...
@ Bob - oh great ... thank you - lovely to see you ...
@ Keith - excellent ... it is a wonderful part of the world ... from what I can gather ... it is all here ...
@ Val - that's great you feel connected with your present Dutch homeland ...
@ Jz - oh yes ... so much to see here - and I'm sure Vancouver is bustling, yet has loads to do and see ...
@ Joanne - I remember your cruise ... but so glad you had that day to see some of the city Vancouver - it sounds a big winner doesn't it ...
@ Jo - it's the way life is isn't it - some things we get to do, sadly others not ... and yes so much has changed in a few decades ...
Thanks for your visits ... lovely to see you and have your comments - cheers Hilary
I've had the pleasure of visiting Vancouver a couple of times - always lovely. But my point of focus when visiting places isn't often historical-based, so I really enjoy this aspect of your posts Hilary. I'm learning so much about Canada through your eyes - so glad you're giving us this "tour."
My sister is thinking of moving there, to retire. I wanted to follow her--be close--but I think it's pretty expensive? Fairly developed and crowded? I probably should take a trip up to visit.
Well, I didn't know that Vancouver was a British officer, the name originating in the Netherlands. I do know that Vancouver has been named as one of the most beautiful cities in which to live. It's multi-racialism is encouraging. I love your photos, thanks Hilary!
I always think of all the good foods I enjoyed, especially the oriental. Visiting North Americas oldest Chinatown was a big draw for me.
Hilary: Thank you for this most informative post. I love to learn of the history of an area.
Hi Hilary!
I just knew this post would be fantastic - and it was! Such a beautiful place, so rich in history and culture. It appears that in all of his adventurous travels, Vancouver loved this area most. I can sure see why.
Everything about Canada reads absolutely spectacular, and Vancouver is right there with the top entries, by what I'm reading here, Hilary. So nice to learn more about this city -- history, culture..
Thank you.
Yet another interesting and educational post. Well done Hilary I think you have excelled yourself with this alphabet. Cheers Diane
Hi Hilary, up to V already? I am sadly behind once again but glad I caught Vancouver. Dave and I have said we'd love to go to Vancouver some day. Thank you for your interesting and informative summary! I shall endeavour to keep abreast of your next three posts.:-)
The first Canadian City I ever visited - wonderful.
@ Deborah - lucky you ... and I'm just glad these extra notes give a bit more detail about the various areas ... and thank you ...
@ Jacqui - I gather it is fairly expensive - but of course it's all subjective ... I guess it's see what you think - and yes a visit, perhaps with your sister would make sense ...
@ Susan - it is interesting what one can pick up doing these sorts of posts ... and I gather it is a stunning city ... while that multi-culturalism does sound encouraging doesn't it ... thanks I try and make the images match, thus bringing the post to life ...
@ Steve - ah now you've told me ... I obviously have to go and visit Chinatown, amongst the other areas ...
@ Cecelia - thanks so much ... I enjoy writing up these sorts of posts ...
@ Diedre - thank you so much!! I've picked up lots so am better prepared for when I visit - it appears Vancouver was exceedingly good at what he did - but not much respected or promoted once he got home ... sad.
@ Silvia - that's great ... I'm sure being so close you could 'quickly' pop up for a holiday?! I think it must rank highly in one of the best cities to spend some time in ...
@ Diane - thanks Diane - I'm so glad the posts have satisfied ... I have varied them a lot ... which hasn't made them too stereotyped ...
@ Deborah - I know the alphabet can rush along! Oh well I hope this post has tempted you and Dave for a visit ... well worth it; as you know the one advantage of a blog ... is that the posts 'hang around'!!
@ Anabel - delighted ... and I'm sure you and John enjoyed your visit here ...
Thanks everyone - Vancouver seems to be calling you all - the welcome will be wonderful ... cheers Hilary
Of course I have heard of Vancouver but knew nothing about it so found this a really interesting place
Yes, Vancouver certainly seems like the perfect V subject for you this year, Hilary. It looks so beautiful. I have not heard of Gastown but I think I would like walking around there, soaking up history.
Emily In Ecuador
My sister visited there and made me want to visit, too! Lovely area.
I have friends who moved to Vancouver from the US for work, and they love it. I'm not sure I'd want to be known as "Gassy" but maybe Jack didn't mind.
I have really wanted to visit Vancouver and Victoria for a long time and must make it a priority!
I have heard that Vancouver is a wonderful place to visit- but I really didn't know much about it. I came to the right place. I learned so much. Sounds fascinating. Thanks for sharing. :)
~Jess
@ Jo-Anne - delighted to read you found this interesting ...
@ Emily - I'm sure it's a wonderful city to spend a few days looking around and then some as one explores further. It sounds amazingly beautiful ...
@ Lynn - well I hope you'll get up here sometime ...
@ Lynda - that's excellent ... a place to stay in or at least to have guides to show you around. I guess the 'gassy' bit was to do with the ale house ... but perhaps something less healthy!!
@ Denise - well delighted you've realised how wonderful this area is ... and I'm sure most of Canada falls into the delightful to visit tag ...
@ Jess - that's great - this is such a summary - so appreciate that you felt you learnt sufficient to give you an inkling into the city itself ...
Thanks everyone - so pleased to see you all ... Vancouver enthralls many ... so do visit if you can - cheers Hilary
Vancouver is one of the few places that I've visited in Canada. Reading this post makes me realize that it is time to go back.
Hi Claire - I haven't yet spent any time over the water and need to get some time in Vancouver ... I hope to get there sometime this summer - I too hope you'll get to go back - cheers Hilary
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