Today in Local History – January

Above: Pantages Theatre – now the Majestic – at 20 W. Hastings St. opened January 1, 1908
[Image: City of Vancouver Archives]

On January 1, 1929 the municipalities of Point Grey and South Vancouver amalgamated with the city, and overnight Vancouver, with its expanded population of about 240,000, became Canada’s third largest city.

Vancouver population today, January 1, 2007: (est.) 602,423

On January 2, 1930 General Jan Smuts, Premier of South Africa, addressed the Canadian Club in Vancouver. He told the members, among other things, “There will never be another world war.””(Ten years to the day later, the first contingent of the Canadian Active Service Force left for Europe.)

Vancouver population today, January 2, 2007: (est.) 602,436

On January 3, 1949 Vancouver police raided and confiscated 13 bottles of liquor from beneath tables at the Cave Cabaret, the Palomar and the Mandarin. You couldn’t legally drink in nightclubs then.

Vancouver population today, January 3, 2007: (est.) 602,449

On January 4, 1943 it was announced that boys who had reached the age of 17 would be allowed to enlist for training in active units or formations of the Canadian Army. They would be paid 70 cents per day.

Vancouver population today, January 4, 2007: (est.) 602,462

On January 5, 1912 the first professional hockey game ever played in Vancouver was enjoyed by the crowd at the Patrick brothers’ Denman Arena. The Vancouver Millionaires beat the New Westminster Royals 8 to 3.

Vancouver population today, January 5, 2007: (est.) 602,475

On January 6, 1908 the Pantages Theatre at 152 East Hastings opened. The oldest theatre in Vancouver, it is being refurbished for new theatrical uses.

Vancouver population today, January 6, 2007: (est.) 602,488

On January 7, 1966 the Right Reverend James Francis Carney became the first Vancouver-born Catholic to be named a bishop.

Vancouver population today, January 7, 2007: (est.) 602,501

On January 8, 1925 a man was attacked by a shark in the First Narrows.

Vancouver population today, January 8, 2007: (est.) 602,514

On January 9, 1862 the Fraser River froze over from Lulu Island to Hope.

Vancouver population today, January 9, 2007: (est.) 602,527

On January 10, 1861 Col. Richard Moody, commanding officer of the Royal Engineers, named Lulu Island for Miss Lulu Sweet, a touring actress from San Francisco.

Vancouver population today, January 10, 2007: (est.) 602,540

On January 11, 1939 B.C.’s Premier Pattullo told the federal government B.C. wouldn’t object to the “infiltration” of a small number of European refugees into Canada “if they can be readily absorbed.” He is, said the Vancouver Sun, definitely opposed to any large movement.

Vancouver population today, January 11, 2007: (est.) 602,553

On January 12, 1968 UBC’s Music Building, part of the Norman Mackenzie Centre for Fine Arts, opened at a cost of $2.5 million.

Vancouver population today, January 12, 2007: (est.) 602,566

On January 13, 1939 amid rumors of war in Europe, The Vancouver Sun reported that two guns were to be placed at the entrance to Burrard Inlet.

Vancouver population today, January 13, 2007: (est.) 602,579

On January 14, 1942 Ottawa announced that all Japanese were to be removed from the west coast to government camps.

Vancouver population today, January 14, 2007: (est.) 602,592

On January 15, 1974 the Knight Street Bridge opened. It replaced the Fraser Street Bridge, a mile (1.6 km) to the west.

Vancouver population today, January 15, 2007: (est.) 602,605

On January 16, 1982 an arsonist’s fire heavily damaged Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. The fire destroyed, among other things, the signatures of hundreds of performers and the names and dates of shows, all pencilled on the old wooden walls.

Vancouver population today, January 16, 2007: (est.) 602,618

On January 17, 1925 two football teams, one junior and the other senior, which had been put together at UBC, came out to play. The juniors were the first onto the field, beating a team named the Tillicums 17-5. It was the first organized football game played in BC.

Vancouver population today, January 17, 2007: (est.) 602,631

On January 18, 1968 CP Air took delivery of its first Douglas DC8-60. Its route will be Vancouver-Tokyo-Hong Kong.

Vancouver population today, January 18, 2007: (est.) 602,644

On January 19, 1934 Prime Minister R.B. Bennett spoke to the Vancouver Board of Trade’s 47th anniversary dinner at the Hotel Vancouver. Among his words, “Canada is a world example of successful weathering of this depression.”

Vancouver population today, January 19, 2007: (est.) 602,657

On January 20, 1902 the Royal Brewing Company took over a small brewery at Cedar Cottage and started brewing heavy English ale.

Vancouver population today, January 20, 2007: (est.) 602,670

On January 21, 1935 Vancouver got 43 centimetres (17 inches) of snow, with gale winds. One result: the roof of the Hastings Park Forum collapsed. (No one was injured.)

Vancouver population today, January 21, 2007: (est.) 602,683

On January 22, 1974 Granville Street north of Nelson was closed to automobile traffic to begin its conversion to a pedestrian mall. It would open August 22.

Vancouver population today, January 22, 2007: (est.) 602,696

On January 23, 1939 the two lions by sculptor Charles Marega were placed at the southern end of the Lions Gate Bridge.

Vancouver population today, January 23, 2007: (est.) 602,709

On January 24, 1918 Mary Ellen Smith was the first woman to run and be elected an MLA in B.C. It was a by–election in the Vancouver Centre riding. This also marked the first time women could vote in a provincial election.

Vancouver population today, January 24, 2007: (est.) 602,722

On January 25, 1952 at 8:30 p.m. radio station CBR 1130 moved to 690 on the dial and changed its call letters to CBU.

Vancouver population today, January 25, 2007: (est.) 602,735

On January 26, 1951 Louis Armstrong and the All Stars appeared at Exhibition Garden.

Vancouver population today, January 26, 2007: (est.) 602,748

On January 27, 1975 the last wall of the elegant old Birks Building at Georgia and Granville Streets, which had opened for business November 8, 1913, came down to make way for the Vancouver Centre development.

Vancouver population today, January 27, 2007: (est.) 602,761

On January 28, 1928 Point Grey residents voted to amalgamate with the City of Vancouver.

Vancouver population today, January 28, 2007: (est.) 602,774

On January 29, 1965 Grouse Mountain Skyride opened to skiers.

Vancouver population today, January 29, 2007: (est.) 602,787

On January 30, 1960 Art Jones and his partners were informed they had won the right to establish Vancouver’s first private television station. It became Channel 8, then BCTV, is now Global BC.

Vancouver population today, January 30, 2007: (est.) 602,800

On January 31, 1940 Brock Memorial Hall opened at UBC. It was named for Geological Engineering Dean R.W. Brock and his wife, both killed in a float plane crash at Alta Lake July 31, 1935.

Vancouver population today, January 31, 2007: (est.) 602,813