Vancouver's Biggest Stories of the Decade: 1950's
Vancouver is full of history, but did you know that some popular city landmarks, local idols, and even tragedies originate from the 1950s? Continue on for a historical overview.
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1950: Park Royal Shopping Centre Opens
Park Royal is Canada's "first covered shopping mall" as well as being its "first regional shopping center." It opened in September 1950 and in 2004 mall expanded with a new section, "The Village."
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1950: The Return of Japanese Canadians
Years after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the end of World War II, Japanese Canadians were finally permitted to return back to Vancouver—a place many previously called home.
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1951: Potlatch Ban Repealed
This repeal allowed for this age old cultural practice to resume once again after being banned in 1884. It is a key traditional component to the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast.
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1952: Anna Ethel Sprott
Her husband is well known for founding Sprott Shaw Community College, but Anna Ethel Sprott has a legacy of her own. She was the first woman to serve as Vancouver's acting mayor in September 1952.
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1953: Babes in the Wood Murder
The remains of two young children were found in Stanley Park on January 14. DNA tests eventually revealed that they were two brothers, but to this day, the boys still have not been identified.
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1954: Red Robinson's Radio Influence
In 1956, Robinson—a 16 year old disc jockey—launched his career on the radio station CJOR (now CKPK-FM). He was the first in Canada to play rock and roll, and rhythm and blues music.
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1956: Canada's First Baby Penguin
Stanley Park Zoo became the birthplace to the first Canadian born penguin! The zoo operated from 1888-1996.
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1956: Trans-Canada Airlines DC-4 Northstar Crashes
On December 9th, the DC-4 Northstar flight traveling from Vancouver to Calgary crashed into Mt. Sleese, killing all 62 passengers and crew on board. The wreckage was discovered the following spring.
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1957: The "New" Vancouver Public Library opens
At the corner of Burrard and Robson is Vancouver's first curtain glass building. Now home to changing retail stores, it was once the "new" Vancouver Public Library.
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1958: The Second Narrows Bridge collapses
It's Vancouver's worst industrial disaster—the collapse of the bridge killed 19 men and left many injured. The Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing was renamed in the workers' honour.
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1958: PNE's Wooden Roller Coaster Opens
One of Playland's biggest attractions, "Coaster," was built in 1958 for the opening of the PNE, "The Industrial Exhibition" at the time. It now stands at Canada's oldest, and still operating coaster.
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1959: Queen Elizabeth Theatre Opens
Any performing arts goer is familiar with the QE Theatre. It opened in 1959 and is now one of Vancouver's six civic theatres. It hosts a variety of productions—from concerts to Broadway shows.
