58-51 : Empire Stadium Ski Jump

 This image shows the construction of a giant ski jump in Empire Stadium. In April of 1958, a 50m high ski jump was constructed for the 3-day long “Centennial Invitational Tournament.” It took the 25-man crew 13 days to set up the structure. Two machines capable of converting 300-pound blocks of ice into “snow” in…

BO-56-400 : New Post Office Vancouver

 This is a really cool image of downtown Vancouver from 1956 during construction of the new Post Office. When the post office opened in 1958, it was the largest single building in Vancouver and was the world’s largest welded steel structure which incorporated state-of-the art technology, such as ramps and elevators to move trucks between…

BO-47-1548 : First White Spot

 This is the very first White Spot restaurant to open in Vancouver. It was located at Granville and West 67th Avenue. This photograph is from 1947, but the restaurant opened way back in 1928. Check out the line of traffic waiting to get in and the “overflow” parking across the street, to the right. The…

BO-46-146 : Canadian Pacific Rail Yard

 This is Canadian Pacific Rail Yard in Vancouver from 1946. Located on the north shore of False Creek, the Vancouver Roundhouse was the largest facility of its kind in British Columbia. You also get a fairly good view of Yaletown at the time.

57-51 : Hastings-Sunrise

 This is the Hastings-Sunrise area of Vancouver from 1957. You get an excellent view of Taylor Manor, a home for the elderly, and the Provincial Industrial Home for Girls. You can also make out Empire Stadium, Hastings Racecourse and the PNE off in the distance. This is one year before the wooden roller coaster was…

BO-53-50 : Jericho Beach Air Station

 This is a photo of the Jericho Beach Air Station from 1953. Also known as RCAF Air Station Jericho Beach, the facility began operations in 1920 as a flying boat station. Later it was home to the No. 4 and No. 6 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadrons, and No. 1 Signal Squadron of the RCAF. Only two…

1-133 : Downtown Eastside Vancouver

 This is the area North of the Georgia Viaduct in Vancouver from 1951. Other streets visible in the image are Hastings Street, Pender Street and Carrall Street. This image has amazing clarity. You can really zoom into the streets.