Today in Local History – March

Above: Karen Magnussen won the World Women’s Figure Skating Championship [Image: City of Vancouver Archives]

On March 1, 1982 groundbreaking started the construction of the original SkyTrain line.

Vancouver population today, March 1, 2008: (est.) 603,168
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,209,711 (est.)

On March 2, 1943 war ace pilot George “Buzz” Beurling, King of the Air Over Malta, visited Vancouver on a war bond drive.

Vancouver population today, March 2, 2008: (est.) 603,181
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,209,782 (est.)

Vancouver-born Karen Magnussen won the World Women’s Figure Skating Championship, held in Bratislava in what was then Czechoslovakia, on March 3, 1973.

Vancouver population today, March 3, 2008: (est.) 603,194
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,209,853 (est.)

On March 4, 1971 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau married Margaret Sinclair at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Lynn Valley, North Vancouver.

Vancouver population today, March 4, 2008: (est.) 603,207
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,209,924 (est.)

The first reference to marijuana in a Vancouver newspaper was on March 5, 1937 in a Province item about a dead man found with the stuff in his stomach. (It was spelled “marihuana” then.)

Vancouver population today, March 5, 2008: (est.) 603,220
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,209,995 (est.)

The name of a west side street, Narvaez Drive, was approved by city council on March 6, 1941. The street looks down on waters first navigated by Spanish explorer Jose Maria Narvaez in 1791 . . . a year before George Vancouver got here.

Vancouver population today, March 6, 2008: (est.) 603,233
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210,066 (est.)

There was a big parade in Vancouver March 7, 1968 for Olympic Gold champion Nancy Greene. She had won gold February 15 in the giant slalom.

Vancouver population today, March 7, 2008: (est.) 603,246
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210,137 (est.)

Voters in the school districts of New Westminster, Burnaby, Langley, Coquitlam, Delta, Richmond and Surrey decided March 8, 1969 in favor of establishing a regional college, the seventh in the province. It would be called Douglas College.

Vancouver population today, March 8, 2008: (est.) 603,259
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210,208 (est.)

On March 9, 1983 the royal yacht Britannia, with the Queen and Prince Philip aboard, sailed into Vancouver. The Queen, on an international broadcast, invited the world to Expo 86.

Vancouver population today, March 9, 2008: (est.) 603,272
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210,279 (est.)

On March 10, 1909 world heavyweight champion Jack Johnson fought in a non-title match in Vancouver. His opponent was a fellow named Victor McLaglen, who later became a famous actor.

Vancouver population today, March 10, 2008: (est.) 603,285
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210,350 (est.)

On March 11, 1977 the Granville Island Seawall was officially opened.

Vancouver population today, March 11, 2008: (est.) 603,298
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210,421(est.)

On March 12, 1910 an explosion at a dynamite plant on Bowen Island killed five workers.

Vancouver population today, March 12, 2008: (est.) 603,311
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210, 492(est.)

On March 13, 1929 Mayor L.D. Taylor blew a shrill blast on a golden whistle and construction began on the Marine Building.

Vancouver population today, March 13, 2008: (est.) 603,324
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210,563 (est.)

On March 14, 1972 a shaggily bearded 66-year-old man wearing an old bathrobe and pyjama bottoms checked into the elegant Bayshore Inn in Vancouver. Surrounded by bodyguards and assorted other hangers-on the man was obviously someone. He was, in fact, billionaire Howard Hughes. He rented the entire top floor of the Bayshore and stayed there for six months, never once leaving the one room he occupied.

Vancouver population today, March 14, 2008: (est.) 603,337
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210,634 (est.)

On March 15, 1912 West Vancouver was born. It had been part of the District of North Vancouver, broke away. And Langley City broke away from Langley District on March 15, 1955, is 53 today.

Vancouver population today, March 15, 2008: (est.) 603,350
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210,705 (est.)

On March 16, 1887 the First Baptist Church of Vancouver opened on Cordova Street.

Vancouver population today, March 16, 2008: (est.) 603,363
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210,776 (est.)

The 132-bed Richmond General Hospital (overlooking a cow pasture) admitted its first patient March 17, 1966—42 years ago today—and the hospital’s first baby was born later that day.

Vancouver population today, March 17, 2008: (est.) 603,376
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210, 847(est.)

On March 18, 1943 construction began on the Fort Columbia, first of the “Victory” ships to be built by Burrard Dry Dock. The company built 34 of the World War II ships in a little over two years.

Vancouver population today, March 18, 2008: (est.) 603,389
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210,918 (est.)

On March 19, 1990 the transit-only SkyBridge opened. The $28 million structure was built by Kerkhoff Bridge and Industrial Division Ltd., of Chilliwack, and Hyundai Engineering and Construction Division Co. Ltd. of Korea.

Vancouver population today, March 19, 2008: (est.) 603,402
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,210,989 (est.)

On March 20, 1925 a gang of hooded men kidnapped a Chinese servant whom they suspect of murdering Shaughnessy nursemaid Janet Smith. They let him go days later when they realized he was innocent, were later arrested and punished. Read Ed Starkins’ Who Killed Janet Smith for more on this fascinating true-crime Vancouver story.

Vancouver population today, March 20, 2008: (est.) 603,415
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,211,060 (est.)

On March 21, 1985 Rick Hansen, paralyzed as the result of a vehicular accident, left to the cheers of a crowd at Oakridge Mall in Vancouver to begin his around-the-world Man in Motion tour by wheelchair.

Vancouver population today, March 21, 2008: (est.) 603,428
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,211,131 (est.)

On March 22, 1927 the Joe Fortes fountain was unveiled in Alexandra Park in Vancouver’s West End. This tribute to the late English Bay lifeguard had been largely financed through the pennies of local schoolchildren, hundreds of whom had been taught to swim by Joe.

Vancouver population today, March 22, 2008: (est.) 603,441
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,211,202 (est.)

On March 23, 1937 Helena Gutteridge became the first woman elected to Vancouver city council in the city’s 51-year history.

Vancouver population today, March 23, 2008: (est.) 603,454
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,211,273 (est.)

On March 24, 1966 Bob Dylan performed at the Agrodome.

Vancouver population today, March 24, 2008: (est.) 603,467
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,211,344 (est.)

On March 25, 1897 visiting author Rudyard Kipling bought a small piece of land in Vancouver.

Vancouver population today, March 25, 2008: (est.) 603,480
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,211,415 (est.)

On March 26, 1915 the Vancouver Millionaires won the Stanley Cup. We’re due!

Vancouver population today, March 26, 2008: (est.) 603,493
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,211,486 (est.)

On March 27, 1928 the Governor General, the Earl of Bessborough, officially opened the Vancouver armoury named for him. The Bessborough Armoury, at 2025 West 11th, houses the 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA; 111 Pegasus Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, and the 2472 Royal Canadian Artillery Cadet Corps.

Vancouver population today, March 27, 2008: (est.) 603,506
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,211,557 (est.)

On March 28, 1964 Port Alberni was hardest hit as a result of a tsunami generated by a major earthquake in Alaska. The quake had a magnitude of 9.2, strongest in North America’s recorded history (felt over 1.3 million square kilometres), lasted more than three minutes, and caused enormous damage.

Vancouver population today, March 28, 2008: (est.) 603,519
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,211,628 (est.)

On March 29, 1949 the sale of margarine was approved here, but thanks to pressure from dairy farmers it had to be sold white. A little yellow food-coloring button was included in the package, and you kneaded it until the margarine turned yellow . . . sort of.

Vancouver population today, March 29, 2008: (est.) 603,532
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,211,699 (est.)

On March 30, 1962 BC Hydro took over operations of the BC Electric Railway.

Vancouver population today, March 30, 2008: (est.) 603,545
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,211,770 (est.)

Inspired by Terry Fox, one-legged Steve Fonyo, 19, started his run across Canada March 31, 1984. He was on the road 425 days, ran or walked 7,924 kilometres and raised almost $9 million for cancer research, education and patient services.

Vancouver population today, March 31, 2008: (est.) 603,558
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,211,841 (est.)