Boom. That’s the sound of the Nine O’Clock Gun. A daily tradition for almost a century. Right here in Coal Harbour.
The Nine O’Clock Gun isn’t just any cannon. It’s a twelve-pound muzzle-loader cast in 1816 in Woolwich England. It’s seen a lot. It arrived in Vancouver around 1894. Initially located at Brockton Point Lighthouse it helped ships set their chronometers. Think of it as a really loud clock.
But this cannon has a personality. In 1969 UBC engineering students “kidnapped” it. They wanted money for Children’s Hospital. They hid it. The police looked. The mayor got involved. The whole city searched. Eventually the students returned the Nine O’Clock Gun. Freshly polished. A true Vancouver story.
The Nine O’Clock Gun’s journey didn’t end there. It was moved from Brockton Point in 1954. It now sits in a secure building. This prevents any more rock-firing incidents. Rocks once fired from the barrel even hit a gas station sign.
Even today the Nine O’Clock Gun faces challenges. A shortage of black powder occasionally silences it. The black powder can’t be stockpiled. The supply chain is tricky. Sometimes repairs are needed. This old cannon needs care.
But every night at 9pm barring unforeseen circumstances the boom echoes. Across Coal Harbour. Across Vancouver. It’s a reminder of history. Of Vancouver’s quirky spirit. A tradition that continues to captivate. A timeless sound. The Nine O’Clock Gun.