A hundred thousand stories lie beneath our feet. Welcome to Ocean View Burial Park. This sprawling Burnaby landmark isn’t just a cemetery. It’s a living testament to Vancouver’s history. Opened in 1919 Ocean View was the province’s first non-sectarian for-profit cemetery. Albert F Arnold designed it. He envisioned a beautiful resting place not the grim spaces of the past. Ornamental trees shrubs and flowerbeds replaced somber uniformity.
Ocean View’s history is intertwined with Vancouver’s diverse communities. Initially segregated sections existed for the Chinese community. Won Alexander Cumyow Canada’s first Chinese-born man is buried here. He rests in the Willow section later renamed Elks. This section reflects a painful chapter in the city’s past. His burial choice highlights the lasting impact of segregation. Family members wanted to be close.
The Abbey Mausoleum stands as a striking feature. Designed by Wallace H Hubbert this structure was intended to be much grander. The Great Depression curtailed those ambitions. Yet it remains a magnificent edifice. Klondike Kate and Tommy Burns are among those resting within. The Mausoleum itself reflects the community’s progress and the stories of its people.
Ocean View Burial Park has evolved. It now offers services in multiple languages. Cantonese English Mandarin and Vietnamese are all spoken. This reflects the multicultural nature of present-day Vancouver. The park has continued to grow. Expansions and additions were made to the Mausoleum throughout the 20th century. Today Ocean View stretches over 100 acres. It’s a place where the past and present intertwine. The stories of those laid to rest here echo through the years. Ocean View is more than just a resting place. It’s a chronicle of lives lived and legacies left behind. It’s a place to reflect on the stories whispered among the headstones. It’s a piece of Vancouver’s history beneath our feet.