61-405: The Vancouver Downtown Historic Railway was a heritage electric railway line that operated from 1998 to 2011 between Granville Island and Science World ( Olympic Village Station after 2009), in Vancouver, British Columbia , Canada. It operated only on weekends and holidays, usually from May to mid-October, and was aimed primarily at tourists. Two restored interurban trams were used on
122-611: A 1.8-kilometre (1.1 mi) free demonstration service called the "Olympic Line" (named for the 2010 Winter Olympics ) ran every six minutes, 18 hours a day on the Downtown Historic Railway between Olympic Village station and Granville Island, using two modern Bombardier Flexity Outlook streetcars, No. 3050 and No. 3051, leased from the Brussels tram system . The City of Vancouver and the administrators of Granville Island paid $ 8.5 million for associated upgrades to
183-524: A 2040 plan to redevelop the island, in part because the Emily Carr University was going to move off the island. The Granville Island Public Market was established in 1979 as a place where farmers and other food vendors could sell to consumers. It operates year-round in an enclosed facility where visitors can purchase fresh produce, meat, fish and seafood, cheeses and other products, many locally sourced. There are generally 50 vendors selling
244-771: A US-based planning firm, helped to prepare a Chinatown Revitalization Action Plan for Vancouver's planning department in November 2011. Vancouver planners surveyed 77 businesses and found that 64% reported a decrease in revenue between 2008 and 2011. The majority of consumers, 58%, were local residents, with 21% coming from elsewhere in the Lower Mainland. Tourist spending accounted for only 12% of Chinatown customers. Vancouver city councillors voted in 2011 to raise building height restrictions in Chinatown in order to boost its population density. A limit of 9 stories for most of
305-434: A demonstration project for a modern downtown streetcar system that the city plans to develop. It continued to operate almost every summer through 2011, as an excursion-oriented historic electric railway line. In 2010, the heritage service did not operate, with the line from west of Olympic Village used for a modern-streetcar demonstration service known as the "Olympic Line" (see section below ). Temporary modifications made to
366-537: A desire to continue operation of the line, with a potential extension to Main Street-Science World station via False Creek South, but mentioned that the city alone lacks the millions of dollars needed to complete the construction and equipment purchases. Nonetheless, a streetcar along the alignment used by the Olympic Line was part of two of the proposals for rapid transit running east–west through
427-451: A longboard store and German sausage shop—as ways of restoring storefronts and bringing in a younger crowd, and to make higher-income people more comfortable in the area. Attracted to the lower rent and the building's heritage status, younger businesses have moved in, often with white owners who also live in apartments above the shops. The general consensus is that Chinatown's priority is to attract people of all backgrounds to Chinatown, and it
488-582: A mural on East Pender Street with the aim of bringing colour and vitality to the neighbourhood. The growth of Chinatown during much of the 20th century created a healthy, robust community that gradually became an aging one as many Chinese immigrants no longer lived nearby. Noticing local businesses suffering, the Chinatown Merchants Association cited the lack of parking and restrictive heritage district rules as impediments to new uses and renovations. Their concerns subsequently led to
549-478: A relaxation of zoning laws to allow for a wider range of uses, including necessary demolition. Additions in the mid-1990s included a large parkade, a shopping mall, and the largest Chinese restaurant in Canada. More residential projects around the community and a lowering of property taxes helped to maintain a more rounded community. Reinvigoration was a discussed topic along government members, symbolically embedded in
610-468: A six-story building that hid the mural from sight. The building, marketed as Brixton Flats was designed by architect Gair Williamson and developed by GMC Projects Inc., whose website features an image of the Laozi mural. Vancouver City Council added a condition to the rezoning: "Design development to create a new mural to reflect the character and history of Chinatown; Note to Applicant: The intent
671-455: A wide range of items, from Mexican, Asian, Greek and deli food to candy and snacks. A large scenic outdoor eating area adjacent to it overlooks downtown Vancouver. The Market attracts both local residents and tourists, and includes a "kids' market" for children. Granville Island Brewing Co. is a beer company founded on Granville Island in 1984, but whose main base of operations was moved to Kelowna , British Columbia sometime later. In 2009 it
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#1732801527872732-738: Is a neighbourhood in Vancouver , British Columbia , and is Canada 's largest Chinatown . Centred around Pender Street, it is surrounded by Gastown to the north, the Downtown financial and central business districts to the west, the Georgia Viaduct and the False Creek inlet to the south, the Downtown Eastside and the remnant of old Japantown to the northeast, and the residential neighbourhood of Strathcona to
793-424: Is believed that the opening of non-traditional stores will bring a new flow of energy and income to the streets. As a result, the commercial activity is becoming more diversified, dotted with Western chain stores. Other additions include vintage stores, two art galleries, bars, and a nightclub, built on the site of the former Ming's restaurant, in an attempt to bring something of a nightlife atmosphere, reminiscent of
854-513: Is featured in multiple lists of notable Vancouver murals. It was designed by Kenson Seto and painted by Alex Li & Falk. The mural is 223 square metres, and cost $ 18,000 which was split between the City of Vancouver and Lee's Association of Vancouver. It was defaced multiple times by graffiti, causing outrage in the community. On April 5, 2016, the City of Vancouver rezoned the lot at 303 E Pender St/450 Gore Avenue, allowing construction of
915-655: Is home to several theatre companies, including as the Arts Club Theatre Company , Arts Umbrella, Axis Theatre Company, Boca Del Lupo, Carousel Theatre for Young People, Ruby Slippers Production Company, and the Vancouver Theatre Sports League improv troupe. Canada's oldest physical hammock shop, the Hamuhk Hangout Place, has operated on Granville Island since 1995. Chinatown, Vancouver Chinatown
976-659: Is on the restoration and adaptive reuse of the distinctive association buildings. The China Gate (next to the Chinese Cultural Centre, near the intersection with Carrall) facing Pender Street was donated to the City of Vancouver by the Government of the People's Republic of China following the Expo 86 world's fair, where it was on display. After being displayed for almost 20 years at its current location,
1037-462: Is one of the largest historic Chinatowns in North America , but it experienced recent decline as newer members of Vancouver's Chinese community dispersed to other parts of the metropolitan area. The approximate borders of Chinatown as designated by the City of Vancouver are the alley between Pender and Hastings Streets, Georgia Street , Gore Avenue, and Taylor Street, although unofficially
1098-486: Is roused into activity." This perception only worsened with the turn of the district. Residents of the area where said to face continuous "white hostility and discrimination" due to three main vices, drug problems, gambling and sex work. As these perceptions grew, the discrimination turned to violence, resulting in a destructive raid in 1907 that caused irreversible damage to the area. As more people of Chinese heritage came to Vancouver, clan associations were formed to help
1159-489: The Asiatic Exclusion League , resulting in significant damage to Chinatown businesses. 2,000 Chinese immigrants were displaced from their homes, and total property damage resulting from the actions of the mob of 10,000 was estimated at $ 15,000. One news report speculated the riot was held to intimidate a visiting Japanese delegate. Another blamed the presence of American agitators. Mackenzie King , then
1220-680: The Vancouver Downtown Historic Railway operated between Granville Island and Science World. The streetcar is now permanently shut down. The peninsula was originally used by the Musqueam and Squamish peoples as a fishing area. A village was established in the area named sən̓aʔqʷ in the Hunquminum language and Sen̓áḵw in the Squamish language . The city of Vancouver was called Granville until it
1281-459: The overhead wire took longer than expected to undo, delaying the start of 2011 service, with the service starting on July 1 and scheduled to run mid-October. The line did not operate in 2012, and service suspended indefinitely due to financial constraints with no set plans to resume operation. Furthermore, a Vancouver City Council report published in March 2014 recommended against reviving service on
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#17328015278721342-427: The 1950s and 1960s, back to the neighbourhood. The diversity of new shops and businesses is believed to be necessary in creating a new image for Chinatown in order to bring vibrancy back to the area and encourage commercial activities in general, and as a way to compete with suburban districts as well as nearby Gastown and Downtown Vancouver . The Chinatown Historic Area planning committee, along with AECOM Economics,
1403-599: The Asia-Pacific region in the last two decades of the twentieth century, most notably from China, whose population in the Vancouver Census Metropolitan Area was estimated at 300,000 in the mid-1990s. Chinatown is becoming more prosperous as new investment and old traditional businesses flourish . Today the neighbourhood features many traditional restaurants, banks, markets, clinics, tea shops, clothing stores, and other shops catering to
1464-687: The Deputy Minister of Labour , was dispatched to investigate the riot and recommended the disbursement of $ 36,000 in compensation. The head tax was repealed via the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923 , which instead abolished Chinese immigration to Canada entirely, except in limited circumstances. In 1979, the Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committee sponsored a streetscape improvement program to add various Chinese-style elements to
1525-656: The Island was occupied, mostly by similar corrugated-tin factories. During the Great Depression , one of Vancouver's several hobo jungles sprang up on the False Creek flats opposite Granville Island's north shore. " Shackers " lived on the island, in town, or in floathouses , and survived by fishing and beachcombing and sold salmon , smelt , and wood door to door or at the public market on Main Street. They were basically self-sufficient and were left alone. During
1586-580: The Millennium Gate project, which opened in 2002. In addition to Han Chinese from Taiwan , Hong Kong , and Mainland China , Chinese Latin Americans have also settled in the Chinatown area. Most of them were from Peru and arrived shortly after Juan Velasco Alvarado took over that country in a military coup in 1968. Others have come from Argentina , Brazil , Mexico , and Nicaragua . Vancouver experienced large numbers of immigrants from
1647-475: The Olympic Line called on Vancouver City Council to commit $ 5 million to incorporate a refurbished line into Vancouver's transit authority. The organization has called for the line to be extended to Main Street–Science World Station . The city has allocated $ 400,000 to decommission the line's former route. In a 2021 report a two line light rail network (12 km and 25 stations) using most of
1708-577: The Second World War, Wright's Canadian Ropes on the island was Canada's biggest manufacturer of heavy-duty wire rope. Their Green Heart product was supplied to forestry and mining industries. A fire in 1953 gutted their Granville Island factory so they moved to south Vancouver in 1956. In 1972, a federal order-in-council assigned management of the 14-hectare site to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The federal government invested $ 24.7 million there between 1973 and 1982. In 1979,
1769-505: The [Chinatown] quarter without holding one's nose." Another health officer noted "The Chinese merchants and employers of labour endeavour to assist the health officials, and are, as a rule, willing to co-operate and help in this matter, but the lower classes of Chinese emigrants give a great deal of trouble unless constantly watched," concluding that continued immigration would lead to "circumstances and conditions which predispose to infectious disease, and serve to spread it rapidly when once it
1830-626: The area extends well into the rest of the Downtown Eastside. Main , Pender, and Keefer Streets are the principal areas of commercial activity. Chinese immigrants, primarily men, first came to Vancouver in large numbers during the late 19th century, attracted in part by the British Columbia gold rush of 1858 and then the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880s. In the census of 1880–81,
1891-403: The area, such as specially paved sidewalks and red dragon streetlamps that demarcated the area's borders while emphasizing it as a destination for heritage tourism. Starting with its designation by the province as a historic area in 1971 and subsequent economic shifts, Chinatown shifted from a central business district to playing a largely cultural role. Murality , a local non-profit, is installing
Vancouver Downtown Historic Railway - Misplaced Pages Continue
1952-554: The area. By 1906, the Dupont brothels were forced to close. As a result, several brothels and businesses moved to two parallel dirt paved, dead-end lanes off of Dupont, West of Carrall: Shanghai Alley and Canton Alley. While these immigrants were dispersed throughout Chinatown, they strongly concentrated these areas. In 1896, the health officer for the City of Vancouver reported the city had to destroy houses in Chinatown "owing to their filthy condition" and that "one could hardly pass through
2013-543: The bridge, that ran directly overhead, was the name that stuck. The first tenant, B.C. Equipment Ltd., set the standard by building a wood-framed machine shop, clad on all sides in corrugated tin , at the Island's western end. (Today the same structure houses part of the Granville Island Public Market.) The company repaired and assembled heavy equipment for mining and forestry industries and used barges for shipping. By 1923, virtually every lot on
2074-503: The city of Vancouver for 2020. The proposal for a full-service modern streetcar line would extend the former heritage line through Chinatown and Gastown to Waterfront Station , and eventually to Stanley Park . There would be a separate line into Yaletown with longer-term potential for a number of other lines. On October 13, 2014, Emily Jackson, writing in Metro Vancouver Newspaper , reported that Friends of
2135-514: The closing of some restaurants and shops, sometimes in instances where the family did not have successors or where the business could not sustain itself any longer. Although there is a considerable business vacancy, Chinatown lease rates are considered the cheapest in the city, at $ 15–$ 30 per square foot—about one-tenth of the asking price on Vancouver's Downtown Robson Street , the city's upscale shopping district. The new Chinatown business plan encourages new entrepreneurs to move in—and has attracted
2196-599: The estimated 16,000 Chinese immigrants in British Columbia in 1901, 2,715 lived in Victoria and another 2,011 lived in Vancouver. After the completion of the railroad, under the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885 , a head tax of CA$ 50 per person was levied solely on Chinese immigrants to discourage further settlement; the head tax was raised to $ 100 in 1900 and then $ 500 in 1903. By 1900, Chinatown covered
2257-534: The federal and provincial governments converted a 50,000 square foot building to the Public Market. In 1980, the Emily Carr University of Art & Design was added to the island. Ron Basford , the Minister responsible for CMHC, was referred to as Mr. Granville and was later recognized with the naming of Ron Basford Park on Granville Island. In 2016, the federal government announced a commitment to develop
2318-547: The first, unofficial, attempt was made to stabilize the sandbar by driving piles around the perimeter in order to create some free real estate. The Federal government put a stop to the work as a menace to navigation, but the piles remain visible in a photo taken in 1891. In 1915, with the port of Vancouver growing, the newly formed Vancouver Harbour Commission approved a reclamation project in False Creek for an industrial area. A 14-hectare (35-acre) island, connected to
2379-399: The four square blocks bounded by Canton Alley (on the west), Hastings Street (on the north), Keefer Street (on the south), and Main Street (on the east, named Westminster Avenue at the time), with Pender Street (then called Dupont) as the main commercial district. During this time, Vancouver's Red Light district was present in the area, undergoing routine police checks and attempts to clean up
2440-503: The gate was rebuilt and received a major renovation of its façade employing stone and steel. Funding for the renovation came from government and private sources; the renovated gate was unveiled during the October 2005 visit of Guangdong governor Huang Huahua . This is not to be confused with the larger Millennium Gate, which straddles Pender Street at the west end of Chinatown, near the intersection with Taylor Street. The Millennium Gate
2501-619: The heritage line. When last operational in 2011, the line ran from Granville Island to Olympic Village Station , however, Olympics-related construction razed the section of line east of the Cambie Bridge . The fleet also includes an ex- Brussels La Brugeoise et Nivelles PCC-style streetcar , painted red and cream. The line's operator, the Transit Museum Society, also owns a large fleet of vintage buses and trolley coaches . From January 21 to March 21, 2010,
Vancouver Downtown Historic Railway - Misplaced Pages Continue
2562-593: The infrastructure. The two stations were single side platforms with two shelters providing partial coverage from the elements. The Olympic Village station shared the parking lot with existing Canada Line station at West 2nd Avenue and Cambie Street. The Granville Island station was only accessible via foot from Anderson Street and Lamey's Mill Road below the Granville Street Bridge and Highway 99 . Route 50 - Waterfront Station - False Creek South Route 84 - VCC–Clark Station - UBC The City considered
2623-634: The line, which used a former freight railway right-of-way. The line was owned by the City of Vancouver. The cars were operated by volunteers from the Transit Museum Society . The car shown (1207) was privately owned. By 2018 both tram cars (1207 and 1231) have been donated and moved to the Fraser Valley Historical Railway in Cloverdale . Service was inaugurated on July 29, 1998, and was considered to be
2684-651: The local community and tourists alike. The Vancouver office of Sing Tao Daily , one of the city's four Chinese-language dailies, remains in Chinatown. OMNI British Columbia (formerly Channel M) had its television studio in Chinatown from 2003 to 2010. Vancouver Film School also has a satellite location in Chinatown. A bar & nightclub known as ‘ Fortune Sound Club ’ is situated within the heart of Chinatown. Chinatown's businesses today predominantly consist of those selling lower-order, working-class goods, such as groceries, tea shops, and souvenir stores. While some businesses, such as restaurants, stand out, they are no longer
2745-561: The mainland by a combined road and rail bridge at its south end, was to be built. Almost 760,000 cubic metres (1,000,000 cu yd) of fill was dredged largely by a man named Alvin Kingston, from the surrounding waters of False Creek to create the island under the Granville Street Bridge. The total cost for the reclamation was $ 342,000. It was originally called Industrial Island, but Granville Island, named after
2806-447: The neighbourhood was set, with a maximum of 15 stories on the busiest streets. The neighbourhood was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2011. Ongoing efforts at revitalization include efforts by the business community to improve safety by hiring private security, considering new marketing promotions, and introducing residential units into the neighbourhood by restoring and renovating heritage buildings. The current focus
2867-440: The newcomers assimilate in their adopted homeland and to provide friendship and support. Clan societies were often formed around a shared surname lineage, county (e.g., Kaiping, Zhongshan), or other feature of identity. Despite these efforts, discrimination against residents of the area continued to grow and eventually turned to violence. The Vancouver riots of September 1907 grew out of an anti-immigration rally being held by
2928-477: The old route of the heritage line as well as new routing was estimated to be in the $ 1.1 billion range. Granville Island Granville Island is a peninsula and shopping district in the Fairview neighbourhood of Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada , across False Creek from Downtown Vancouver , under the south end of the Granville Street Bridge . Formerly an industrial manufacturing area, it
2989-419: The only Chinese food establishments in the city, a shift that contributed to a visible decline in foot traffic and nighttime activity in Chinatown. As the vacancy rate in Chinatown currently stands at 10%, it has been acknowledged that Chinatown needs a new approach to development, since some businesses have relocated to suburban shopping centres while others simply retired or went out of business. Examples include
3050-480: The southeast. Due to the large ethnic Chinese presence in Vancouver—especially represented by mostly Cantonese -speaking multi-generation Chinese Canadians and first-generation immigrants from Hong Kong —the city has been referred to as "Hongcouver". However, most immigration in recent years has been Mandarin -speaking residents from Mainland China . Chinatown remains a popular tourist attraction and
3111-399: The streetcar demonstration "a tremendous success", with over 550,000 boardings during the two months of the experiment. Bombardier received an award for "Exceptional Performance and Outstanding Achievement" at the 2010 CUTA awards, recognizing its operation of over 13,000 one-way trips with zero equipment failures, zero station delays and zero injuries. Former mayor Gregor Robertson indicated
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#17328015278723172-597: The tall Ho Ho sign in 2018 or 2019. Vancouver's Laozi (also referred to "Lao Tzu" and "Lao Tsu", 老子) mural is located on the Western wall of the Lee's Association building, at the corner of Gore Avenue and Pender Street, on the boundary of Chinatown. The mural was unveiled on October 2, 2010, by the Mayor of the City of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson . as part of the celebration of the 125 years of Vancouver's Chinatown. The mural
3233-487: The total Chinese population in Canada was 4,383, of which the overwhelming majority (4,350) resided in British Columbia. By 1884, 17,000 Chinese immigrants had arrived in Canada to work on the railroad alone. The 1891 census counted 9,129 Chinese in Canada (8,910 in British Columbia), and the population at the 1901 census had increased to 16,792 in Canada (14,376 in British Columbia as an incomplete count). Of
3294-450: Was approved on September 20, 2001, and erected in 2002 at the same site as a temporary wooden arch built to celebrate the 1901 royal tour by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York . Joe Y. Wai designed the Millennium Gate. Chinatown was once known for its neon signs, but like the rest of the city, lost many signs to changing times and a sign bylaw passed in 1974. The last of these
3355-764: Was filmed in the area. The Vancouver International Children's Festival, the Vancouver Fringe Festival , and the Vancouver Writers Fest are held there. False Creek Ferries and Aquabus provide ferry service from Granville Island to Downtown Vancouver , Yaletown , False Creek , the West End , and Vanier Park . Other water transportation options include a water taxi service to Bowen Island provided by English Bay Launch . WESTCOAST Sightseeing and Vancouver Trolley Hop-On, Hop-Off services have stops there. Between 1998 and 2011,
3416-570: Was first mapped by Captain George Henry Richards in the British Boundary Commission's naval expedition in 1858–59, and the island today conforms roughly to the size and shape documented at that time. A British Admiralty Chart of 1893 shows the island in greater detail and conforming even more accurately to today's Granville Island. Shortly after the creation of the original Granville Street bridge in 1889,
3477-458: Was installed on Pender Street. The new owner of the Sai Woo was made aware of the original sign that hung outside the earlier incarnation of the restaurant (1925–59) from a one-second clip from a movie of a 1958 parade in Chinatown, and launched a search for the original sign which was unsuccessful. The sign was recreated from the archived footage. At the same time, plans were announced to relight
3538-559: Was named after Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville . It includes a public market , restaurants, a marina , a hotel , the False Creek Community Centre , numerous artists' studios and workshops, and various performing arts theatres, including the Arts Club Theatre Company and Carousel Theatre . It was the location for the finale of the film Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011). The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down , first broadcast in 2024,
3599-446: Was purchased by Molson's Brewery and continues to brew small batches of its varieties at the original Granville Island brewing site. It offers beer tasting and brewery tours. Ocean Concrete is the island's longest-established tenant, since 1917. In 2014, OSGEMEOS (Portuguese for THE TWINS), consisting of brother duo Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo, made the concrete silos the site of their ongoing mural project, 'Giants'. Granville Island
3660-402: Was renamed in 1886, but the former name was kept and given to Granville Street , which spanned the small inlet known as False Creek. False Creek in the late 19th century was more than twice today's size, and its tidal flats included a large permanent sandbar over which spanned the original, rickety, wooden Granville Street bridge. This sandbar, which would eventually become Granville Island,
3721-590: Was the Ho Ho sign (which showed a rice bowl and chop sticks), which was removed in 1997. A large 45 ft (14 m) tall neon sign was approved for the Chinatown Plaza parkade project in 2008 under the City of Vancouver's Great Beginnings initiative. The new sign was installed in March 2010. In 2017, a neon sign featuring a large green and yellow-coloured rooster for the Sai Woo Restaurant
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