Much More Than Accessible

Active wheelchair athlete makes Vancouver his home for the beauty and accessibility.
1 minute 43 seconds


By Duncan Campbell
Duncan is one of the co-creators of wheelchair rugby, affectionately known as 'murderball', and currently works at the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association. 

Vancouver in the 30s and 40s

Recalling growing up in Vancouver, exploring Stanley Park and downtown. 
1 minute 58 seconds


By Marjorie Noble
Marjorie was born in Victoria and raised in South Vancouver. She went to Moberly Elementary and John Oliver Secondary. She raised her children in Vancouver and worked at Eaton's for many years. She is now retired and spends time at her local senior's centre, enjoys the outdoors as well as quilting and knitting. 

A Proud Lineage

Squamish Nation Elder describes her unique family history and shares memories of Vancouver.
2 minutes 9 seconds


By Slawiya Andrea Jacobs 
I have been married for 54 years to Paitsmauk, I have 5 children, 13 grand children and 12 great grand children. I am retired but very active in my community by sitting on several committees and helping our Elders Center and longhouse. I enjoy crafting and travelling and I am very proud of my heritage. 

Encroaching Vancouver

Squamish Nation member and lifelong resident of traditional Squamish territory shares memories of family gatherings and of the bounty of the land.
1 minute 43 seconds

By Paitsmauk Dave Jacobs 
Paitsmauk is a historian and storyteller of his people. He graciously shares his family and cultural knowledge and ensures that it is passed down to the younger generations. 

Winter on West 48th Avenue

Lifelong Vancouver resident tells about his wonderful childhood with friends and family. 

1 minute 57 seconds

By Captain Billy Sampson

Captain Billy is a well know tour guide in Vancouver and loves sharing the city with others.

Oppenheimer Park

Vancouver resident recounts growing up in Oppenheimer Park and how it has shaped him into the person he is today.

1 minute 41 seconds

By Eddie Taylor

Eddie has a family with two young sons and gives back to his community by working with Aboriginal youth in a program called BladeRunners.

Tea For All

The Oppenheimer Tea Ladies get together once a week for camaraderie and fellowship.
1 minute 59 seconds 

By Phoenix Winter, Tina Cassandra Eastman and Sue Blue
Three women from the Downtown Eastside who utilize Oppenheimer Park and the programs that are run there. 

Musical Community

West African musician finds inspiration and makes a life in Vancouver. 
1 minute 34 seconds


By Yoro David Noukoussi
Yoro writes, produces and plays music in and around Vancouver. He currently owns and operates a studio called Waaba Music Production. 

My Mother, the Captain

The family heritage of The Kitsilano Showboat.

2 minutes 10 seconds

By Barry Leinbach

Barry Leinbach grew up on the stage of The Kitsilano Showboat alongside his mother, Bea. Bea has been known as "The Captain" for almost all of the 40-some years she was the on-stage and behind-the-scenes forced behind this venue for community dancer, singers and musicians. On the stage modeled after the famous movie set, son Barry talks about growing up with The Captain.

The Enefer Family

The Enefer family has deep roots in South Vancouver, going back to 1912.

2 minutes, 1 second

By Jerry Vernon

Jerry was born in Vancouver in 1935, attending schools in Aldergrove and Vancouver including John Oliver High School. He graduated from UBC in Electrical Engineering and worked at BC Telephone for 34 years. Starting at age 16, he also spent 49 years in Canada's Reserve Forces, including the RCAF Auxiliary and the Militia.  

Memories of John Oliver Secondary

Former student of John Oliver recounts the special days of high school. 
1 minute 54 seconds
By Ken MacLeod
Ken is a retired teacher and military historian in Courtenay, BC. He has conducted more than twenty military pilgrimages to Canadian battlefields in Northwest Europe and Italy and is presently writing The History of South Vancouver and John Oliver High School for the school’s 100^th Anniversary in September 2012 

Steel Cleats and Chaperones

Growing up with lessons of self-respect, pride and good parenting.

2 minutes 10 seconds

by Rose Point

Rose Point is Thompson and Stalo who grew up living mostly with her Aunt and Uncle, on Seabird Island Reserve. She attended St. Mary's Residential School near Agassiz as a day student. She raised her children on the Musqueam Reserve with her husband Cagney Point. She is an early-childhood educator, BCIT's Aboriginal Elder-Advisor and is the family archivist. 

The Harlem Nocturne

Sassy and struttin', that joint was jumpin'!

2 minutes 11 seconds

By Teeanna Munro

Teeanna is a writer and a poet, currently studying creative writing at Capilano University.  She has a great interest in her family history.

The Bus!

Exciting times on the bus in the 1960's!
2 minutes 57 seconds

By Rosaria Cassano
Rosaria moved to Vancouver from Italy when she was just 18 years old.  She met her husband, Peter, in Vancouver.  It turns out that they grew up just kilometers away from each other in Italy.  Rosaria is an active member at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, where she organizes the weekly bingo. 

My Mother

A beautiful tribute to a great mother.
2 minutes 39 seconds

By Thelma Gibson Towns

Thelma grew up in Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood to become an accomplished artist; she is a musician, singer, dancer, and actress.  She and her brothers performed in Vancouver’s first live television show Bamboula.   She has won awards for her contributions to the black community and achievements in the performing arts. 

Music On Main Street

Community and great music come together at this record shop.

3 minutes 13 seconds

By Dave Gowans

Dave has been a music lover for all of his life.  He was the lead vocals of Vancouver band, The Buttless Chaps, and now plays in a new Vancouver band called Cloudsplitter.  Together with Lasse Lutick he is co-owner of Red Cat Records.

Angie’s Outstanding Life With a Smile!

Young Vancouver woman living with cerebral palsy faces life with uplifting optimism

1 minute 46 seconds

By Angie Meyer

Angie works part time in an office and enjoys spending time with her family, friends and community exploring all that Vancouver has to offer. 

Scents Of The City

Using her nose and her poetry, Stephanie shares her favourite places to sniff in the city.

2 minutes 44 seconds

By Stephanie Jagger 

Stephanie has lived in Vancouver for 27 years. She grew up in Kerrisdale, which happens to be the same neighbourhood that her parents and grandparents spent their youths. Stephanie has worked in places and travelled all around the world but insists that Vancouver is the most beautiful city she's found so far.

Silver Darlings To Silver Screens

The early days of movie theaters in Vancouver. 
2 minutes 57 seconds  

By Shirley Sutherland

As a history enthusiast and second generation Canadian, Shirley always has enjoyed hearing of her family’s roots in Scotland, lives in Canada and of the opportunities and challenges faced. As a member of one of Vancouver’s early movie theatre families, she enjoyed many benefits.  Childhood memories include having easy access to shows for herself and friends (some still fondly recall seeing A Hard Day’s Night seven times), home screenings at the family’s annual Halloween party, and witnessing the neon lights of Vancouver’s Theatre Row.  She recalls the impact and family concern that the arrival of television brought to the motion picture industry. 

Streams In The City

3 residents of East Vancouver share awareness about the past and present waterways of the city. 
2 minutes 6 seconds

By Rita Wong,  Shahira Sakiyama, and Naomi Steinberg

For more information about the St. George Blueway project see this link. For more info about the cob storytelling bench that Naomi is working on for the Vancouver Society of Storytelling, see this link. For a working list of Vancouver's urban waterway groups see this link

Rolling And Racquets

From skateboarding on the streets of the city, to playing tennis at the courts in Stanley Park. 
2 minutes 56 seconds

By Paul Wiens
Paul makes his career in visual effects for film. He finds balance in his life through sports and friendships.

The Railway

A history and tribute to one of Canada’s most important live music venues. 
2 minutes 21 seconds

By Natasha Moric 

Natasha has bartended at the Railway Club for over twenty years. She is an accomplished photographer, fledgling bass player, budding gardener and a pretty decent baseball player.

We Come Together

Arts for one and all! 
1 minute 52 seconds

By Cyndy Chwelos 

Cyndy is the community arts programmer at Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre in South Vancouver. She has first hand experience of working with community as a visual artist and now,  a facilitator and co-coordinator of a variety of arts based,  innovative programs in the Sunset Community

. 

Looking At The Tracks

Black and white photography and poetry inspired by the railroad tracks of the city.
1 minute 55 seconds
By iulia manolescu 
iulia was born in Romania- for now, Vancouver feels like home. Through analog photography, she has found a new language to share beauty and the voice of time and space.

Rolling In Vancouver

Memories from a man who drove Vancouver city trolley buses for more than 40 years.
2 minutes 39 seconds

By Angus McIntyre
Recently retired, Angus first started driving buses in Vancouver in 1969.  During his career he had 4 separate employers; he first started with BC Hydro and Power Authority, which in 1980 changed to Metro Transit, which in 1985 changed to BC Transit, and in 2000 changed to Translink Coast Mountain Bus Company. With a love for photography, especially Kodachrome slide film, Angus has taken pictures throughout his career which document the changes in the city and it's transit system.

Childhood Days

Memories of Prior Street in the 1940's.
2 minutes 31 seconds

By Joyce Berry

Joyce was born in Vancouver and during the 1940's she was a resident of Prior street until age 7.  She is a mother of 9, a grandmother of 14, and a great grandmother of 4.

Bouquet of Flowers

A romantic family story.

2 minutes 46 seconds

by Kathryn Murray

Kathryn Murray passes down one of her favourite stories told around the table at family gatherings. It explains why she has such a love of family history, seafarers and bouquets of flowers.

Strongmen of the Docks

Memories of working on the docks.

3 minutes 16 seconds

by Delbert Guerin

Delbert Guerin, a Musqueam elder, began his 40-year career on the Vancouver waterfront at a time of great change, when the throngs of men loading and unloading ships were about to be replaced by forklifts, cranes and trucks. He visits the huge gantry cranes on the docks that he operated in the last decade or so before he retired, and remembers a childhood memory that began his fascination with the waterfront.

Parade

The parade of pride down Commercial Drive.

3 minutes 12 seconds

By Gerda and Rocky Mathias

Gerda has been working with the elders on the Capilano Reserve for almost 10 years. She enjoys this because she is happy to look after and care for her people and she will continue to do so

Rocky grew up learning how to carve by watching his grandfather and dad carve. He was a carpenter for 20 years for the Squamish people, building houses from the bottom up. He is one of the Squamish artists and continues to carve today.

Going with the Flow

A stay-at-home dad shares his dreams.

2 minutes 44 seconds

By Rene Cherrie

Rene continues to build his home studio and work on producing music and sound design. He tries to work out 4-5 times a week to keep a positive attitude and he also just started painting for another creative outlet.

The Cycle

The positive impact of cycling.

1 minutes 33 seconds

By Travis Pawlak

Over the summer Travis worked as a youth worker at the West Point Grey Community Centre. Currently he is in University in Sweden.

Arrival Story

A story about getting your groove back.

2 minutes 10 seconds

By Nancy Strider
Nancy is now blooming in a housing co-op, while her son is checking out his Toronto roots and studying urban planning. Their Portrait V2K story plaque survived a large fire in 2009, and can still be read on a lamppost at the southwest bus stop at Main and East Broadway.

Drawn to Community

A retrospective look at a life's work building community.

2 minutes 32 seconds

By Pat Hogan

Pat has lately been organizing an annual BOLD conference - Bold Old Lesbians and Dykes - a weekend of workshops and entertainment, as well as participating in and organizing same sex ballroom dancing. She has 2 grown children and 5 grandchildren and lives in a housing co-op off the drive!

Home Sweet Home

A celebration of belonging in Vancouver.

2 minutes 29 seconds

By Little Woo
Little Woo is an unconventional spiritual teacher and artist who offers deep insight and joie de vivre on the journey of conscious Evolution. Many of her students are lovable freaks, burlesque dancers, artists, freedom-seekers and offbeat entrepreneurs.

Stories from Locarno Beach

Living at the beach during the 1930's and 1940's!

2 minutes 32 seconds

By Marguerite and Ron Delmonico

This brother and sister duo are both enjoying the retired chapter of their lives. They still have heart connections to the beach, but have since moved a little farther away. The Delmonico Family were fixtures in the community of West Point Grey!

Carving a Living

Mark enjoys living and working in his West End neighbourhood.  
1minute 39 seconds 

By Mark Redsky  

Mark grew up in apple country, in a place called Kelowna. He found his way to Vancouver after a couple years in Calgary and he fell in love with all Vancouver had to offer a naturalist and an artist. Vancouver and its proximity to the ocean continues to inspire Mark in his stone creations and screenplays.

Painting as Medicine

Inspiration in the Downtown East Side

3 minutes 35 seconds

By Leef Evans

Leef is an artist who used to live in shelters in the Downtown East Side.  Struggling with maintaining his mental health, Leef found painting as a tool for healing.  His amazing paintings reflect the neighbourhood he finds most inspiring.  He now lives in the Yaletown area, frequents the studio at Coast Mental Health, and diligently continues his art practice.

"Working" at the Beach

From adolescence to adult hood...

1 minute 53 seconds

By Glenn Schultz

Glenn still owns his family home across from the beach. He has stories about growing up at the beach to entertain for days on end!

Finding Identity

Exploring cultural identity through art and community

3 minutes 17 seconds

By Karlene Harvey

Karlene is Chilcotin, Carrier and Okanagan First Nations.  She is an artist and illustrator and loves making zines.  Her work in the First Nations Community has influenced her art, as well as helping her find mentors to foster her own identity in Vancouver.  After living in almost every neighbourhood in Vancouver, she know lives downtown near Stanley Park and loves it.  Karlene also does roller derby!

The Drive

Finding her voice in Vancouver

3 minutes 19 seconds

By Chelsea Johnson

Chelsea lives on Commercial Drive.  She is a well known singer, often busking or performing shows at venues along the Drive.  Part of discovering her voice came from life on Commercial Drive, the people she has met and the places she has been.

A Sweet and Sour Life

It is never too late to celebrate your own culture.

2 minute 31 seconds

By Bob Sung

Bob enjoys providing his colourful  Wok Around Chinatown tours for locals and tourists alike. He is also a published writer and consummate storyteller.

The Homeless Person

A lesson is learned from Dad.

1 minute 16 seconds

By Beza Kassay

Beza used to meet at Riley Park Community Centre Wednesdays for the Sports Plus after school program. She likes to draw.

Originally collected for Riley Park Stories.