Paddling

A member of the Tsleil Waututh Nation shares his family connection to the canoe.

3 minutes 29 seconds

By Ernest Ignatius Nicholas George II

"Iggy" as he is know to his friends is also known as the Hereditary Chief Sla-holt. 

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. 

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.

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.  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

An Interesting Life

The challenges of re-starting life in a new country...

2 minutes 52 seconds

By Mildred Harris Slack

Mildred often shares her wonderful sense of humour at the Kerrisdale Seniors Centre. She enjoys gardening and her sunny sun room where she jots down her memoirs.
Originally collected for Kerrisdale Collective Memory