|
Search Archives
About
Archives
About Our Holdings
Reference
Guides
Reproduction Services
Photographs
Exhibits
Digitized Holdings
What's
for Sale
Friends/Memberships
Donations
Archival Community
Related Web
Sites
AuthentiCity Blog
|
|
Happy 121st Birthday, Vancouver!
Incorporation: April 6, 1886 |
|
Vancouver was named by William Cornelius Van Horne of the C.P.R. who stated: "This is destined to be a great city, perhaps the greatest in Canada. We must see to it that it has a name commensurate with its dignity and importance, and Vancouver it shall be, if I have the ultimate decision."
At the time of incorporation, the boundaries were:
- East - Hastings Townsite, Government Reserve
- North - Burrard Inlet shore including Stanley Park
- West - Campbell Street (now Alma Street)
- South - An irregular line, approximately 16th Avenue
 |
City Hall on Powell Street, ca. 1893
City of Vancouver Archives, item # City P54
The original City Hall built in 1886 was the left side of the building with 2 chimneys. |
In 1886, Council consisted of a Mayor and ten Aldermen elected at large.
Qualifications to serve as Mayor or Alderman:
- Vancouver resident
- British subject
- male
- 21 years of age
- owners, either in their own names or the names of their wives, of $1000 in real estate or leaseholders of property of the value of $2000
Qualifications to vote in the first election, May 3, 1886:
- male or female
- 21 years of age
- freeholder, householder for at least 6 months previous to election, pre-emptor or leaseholder for the same period
 |
Mayor, Aldermen and City officials in front of tent that served as City Hall after the Great Fire, 1886
Photographer: Harry Devine
City of Vancouver Archives, item # LGN 1045
Photograph shows left to right: (seated): C.M. Coldwell, E.P. Hamilton, J.R. Northcote, Mayor M.A. MacLean, L.A. Hamilton, P. Cordiner, T.F. McGuigan; (standing): J. Griffith, R. Balfour, T. Dunn, J.J. Blake, J. Humphries, G.F. Baldwin and Dr. W.J. McGuigan - the empty chair was for H. Hemlow who was absent on business |
 |
Our first Mayor, Malcolm Alexander MacLean, 1886 or 1887
Photographer: Eldridge Stanton
City of Vancouver Archives, item # Port P221 |
 |
Carrall Street looking south and showing "Maple Tree" corner at Water Street, 1886
Photographer: Harry Devine
City of Vancouver Archives, item # Str P83 |
 |
Hotel Site C.P. Railway, 1886
Shows the excavation for first Hotel Vancouver at Granville and Georgia Streets
City of Vancouver Archives, item # Hot P14 |
 |
View of Vancouver from the corner of Hastings and Granville Streets, 1886
City of Vancouver Archives, item #Str P241 |
 |
Foot of Granville Street, 1886
Photographer: Harry Devine
City of Vancouver Archives, item # Dist P166 |
 |
A.W. Ross Real Estate and E.C. Coulding Law Office building on Hastings between Homer and Hamilton Streets, 1886
Photographer: J.A. Brock
City of Vancouver Archives, item # Bu P12 |
 |
Post Office on Hastings Street between Homer and
Hamilton Streets, 1886
City of Vancouver Archives, item # Bu P13 |
 |
Reproduced with permission from:
Vancouver a Visual History by Bruce Macdonald © 1992
Map: Vancouver in the 1880s - pages 22 & 23
|
|
