What if I told you this park was born from displacement and transformed by tons of fill? Welcome to Vanier Park. This municipal park in Vancouver holds a unique history and offers stunning views. It is a place where culture and nature intertwine.
Vanier Park wasn’t always a park. The Squamish people had an ancestral fishing ground here. They established a village called Sen̓áḵw. This village was later designated as “Indian Reserve No. 6” in 1869. August Jack Khatsahlano, the namesake of Kitsilano, was born here in 1877.
The Canadian Pacific Railway and the City of Vancouver wanted the land. They called the settlement a source of menace. In 1913, the BC Government expropriated the site. The Squamish inhabitants were paid very little and given two days to leave. Their homes were then burned to the ground. This transaction was later cancelled. The Dominion Government stated that it contravened the Indian Act. The land was then expropriated in 1916 by the Vancouver Harbour Commission. The Squamish were never allowed to return.
The site remained undeveloped. During the Second World War, it was home to a Royal Canadian Air Force station. In 1966, the Federal Government turned it over to the Vancouver Park Board. It was named after former Governor General Georges Vanier. Vanier Park officially opened on May 30, 1967.
William Livingstone, famous for his landscape design, played a key role. He expanded the park using tons of free fill. This fill came from the excavation for the MacMillan Bloedel Building. Livingstone and his crew then landscaped the expanded area.
Today, Vanier Park is home to several major attractions. These include the Museum of Vancouver, the Vancouver Maritime Museum, and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. The park also hosts Bard on the Beach, a Shakespearean festival. It was once the home of the Vancouver International Children’s Festival.
Besides its cultural attractions, Vanier Park offers recreational facilities. You can find tranquil ponds and open fields. A wide pathway complements the waterfront experience. There is also a launching ramp for small craft. A BMX bike park is located just south of Burrard Civic Marina.
Vanier Park provides wonderful views of downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park. It is a place where you can enjoy the natural beauty of Vancouver. It’s a park with a past and a place for the future. As you explore Vanier Park, remember its layered history. Consider the people who once called this place home.