Today in Local History – November

Above: West Coast Express [Image: Wikipedia]

On November 1, 1995 the first West Coast Express commuter train pulled into downtown Vancouver (over CP Rail tracks) from the Fraser Valley.

Vancouver population today, November 1, 2007: 601,617 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,201,709 (est.)

On November 2, 1996 Vancouver International Airport opened its new runway. 10,000 ticket holders jogged down the new $100 million runway, 3,030 metres long.

Vancouver population today, November 2, 2007: 601,643 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,201,851 (est.)

On November 3, 1913 The Alcazar Theatre opened at 639 Commercial Drive with the comedy “Too Much Johnson.” Later it will be renamed the York Theatre.

Vancouver population today, November 3, 2007: 601,656 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,201,922 (est.)

On November 4, 1955 Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith Elementary School opened in Vancouver, named for the Australian aviator who was the first to fly the Pacific. He had lived briefly in Vancouver as a child.

Vancouver population today, November 4, 2007: 601,669 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,201,993 (est.)

On November 5, 1945 the Boeing Aircraft Co. factory on Coal Harbour—pretty much inactive with the end of the war—was sold to B.C. Packers as a maintenance plant for their fishing fleet.

Vancouver population today, November 5, 2007: 601,682 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,064 (est.)

On November 6, 1945 Vancouver’s city council cancelled an order that had established separate swimming days at Crystal Pool for non-white people.

Vancouver population today, November 6, 2007: 601,695 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,135 (est.)

On November 7, 1990 the British Columbia Entertainment Hall of Fame was launched. More than 100 local entertainers are honored with photographs in the theatre, and plaques on the Granville Street sidewalk.

Vancouver population today, November 7, 2007: 601,708 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,206 (est.)

On November 8, 1927 the official opening of the Orpheum Theatre. They’d had a “soft” opening the night before, with vaudeville and a movie.

Vancouver population today, November 8, 2007: 601,721 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,277 (est.)

On November 9, 1949 one of Vancouver’s most sensational murder stories began with the discovery of the body of Woodward’s employee Blanche Fisher. Go to our 1949 chronology for more details on this bizarre case.

Vancouver population today, November 9, 2007: 601,734 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,348 (est.)

On November 10, 1972 we began using permanent licence plates on our cars in B.C., using stick-on tabs to indicate the year.

Vancouver population today, November 10, 2007: 601,747 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,419 (est.)

On November 11, 1919 US band leader John Philip Sousa and his band entertained in Vancouver.

Vancouver population today, November 11, 2007: 601,760 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,490 (est.)

On November 12, 1938 the Lions Gate Bridge opened to pedestrian traffic. Cars could cross the next day.

Vancouver population today, November 12, 2007: 601,773 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,561 (est.)

On November 13, 1983 it was announced that the old Post Office building at Hastings and Granville and adjacent buildings were to get a $40 million facelift and a new name: Sinclair Centre.

Vancouver population today, November 13, 2007: 601,786 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,632 (est.)

On November 14, 1982 inflation of the 255-tonne B.C. Place Stadium fabric dome, largest of its kind in the world.

Vancouver population today, November 14, 2007: 601,799 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,703 (est.)

On November 15, 1937 the Pattullo Bridge opened to traffic.

Vancouver population today, November 15, 2007: 601,812 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,774 (est.)

On November 16, 1919 the first concert of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Vancouver population today, November 16, 2007: 601,825 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,845 (est.)

On November 17, 1934 R.H. Pooley, a Conservative MLA, made the Province’s front page with a charge that “professors at the University of British Columbia are teaching communism to our boys and girls . . . Those same professors are flourishing under the capitalist system.” See our 1934 chronology for UBC’s response.

Vancouver population today, November 17, 2007: 601,838 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,916 (est.)

On November 18, 1959 it was announced that Leon Koerner, the retired chairman of Alaska Pine and Cellulose Ltd., had given UBC $400,000 to pay for the construction of a graduate students’ centre. The building was to be called Thea Koerner House in memory of Mr. Koerner’s wife.

Vancouver population today, November 18, 2007: 601,851 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,202,987 (est.)

On November 19, 1954 in dense fog, the $10 million Cleveland Dam on the Capilano River was officially inaugurated.

Vancouver population today, November 19, 2007: 601,864 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,203,058 (est.)

On November 20, 1983 Heritage Hall opened. It’s that Disneylandish building on the east side of Main at East 15th, originally built in 1916 as a post office. It’s home today to several non-profit organizations.

Vancouver population today, November 20, 2007: 601,877 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,203,129 (est.)

On November 21, 1930 “Lillybet” dolls, patterned after young Princess Elizabeth, now the Queen, arrived in Vancouver.

Vancouver population today, November 21, 2007: 601,890 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,203,200 (est.)

On November 22, 1967 we got a new arterial route when Canada Way was named, its name a tribute to Canada’s centennial. Parts of the new route had been Douglas Road.

Vancouver population today, November 22, 2007: 601,903 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,203,271 (est.)

On November 23, 1946 Kitsilano Boys Band leader Arthur Delamont was named Mr. Good Citizen of 1946.

Vancouver population today, November 23, 2007: 601,916 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,203,342 (est.)

On November 24, 1910 the B.C. Electric Railway Company called for tenders for its new passenger station and office block at the southwest corner of Carrall and Hastings streets. Old-timers will recall the interurban cars actually running through the ground floor of that building, there to this day.

Vancouver population today, November 24, 2007: 601,929 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,203,413 (est.)

On November 25, 1968 students protesting against admissions policy ended a three-day occupation of the administration building at Simon Fraser University that resulted in the arrest by a squad of 100 unarmed RCMP officers of 114 people.

Vancouver population today, November 25, 2007: 601,942 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,203,484 (est.)

On November 26, 1955 the first Grey Cup game was played in Vancouver. The two competing teams were Doug Walker’s Montreal Alouettes and Frank ‘Pop’ Ivy’s Edmonton Eskimos. Edmonton won 34-19.

Vancouver population today, November 26, 2007: 601,955 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,203,555 (est.)

On November 27, 1985 the B.C. Lions won the 1985 Grey Cup, defeating Hamilton TiCats 37-24 at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

Vancouver population today, November 27, 2007: 601,968 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,203,626 (est.)

On November 28, 1964 the B.C. Lions defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 34-24 to win their first Grey Cup.

Vancouver population today, November 28, 2007: 601,981 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,203,697 (est.)

On November 29, 1926 baseball’s Babe Ruth hammed it up on stage in Vancouver during a personal appearance tour of North America.

Vancouver population today, November 29, 2007: 601,994 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,203,768 (est.)

On November 30, 1976 the newspapers had disturbing news: the Canadian dollar had dropped to 96.95 cents in U.S. funds. It was not until December 2 that our dollar stopped its “plunge” at 96.76 cents.

Vancouver population today, November 30, 2007: 602,007 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,203,839 (est.)