Ready to witness a spectacle that has captivated Vancouver for years? We are here in Sunset. It is more than just a place. It is an experience.
Sunset was originally called South Hill. Early residents gave it that name.
On April 13, 1892, South Vancouver got its name and was formally incorporated. The District of South Vancouver included Collingwood, Cedar Cottage, Fraserview, Marpole, Dunbar, and West Point Grey. The Village of South Vancouver grew around Main and Fraser Streets. District offices were in the Village until 1929. That year South Vancouver joined Vancouver.
In 1893, there were only 500 male voters in South Vancouver. The B.C. Electric Railway built a streetcar line down Fraser Street. It went to the small Village on the south slope. By 1909, about 5,000 people lived in South Vancouver. By 1910, that number nearly tripled. Due to industrialization and a housing boom, South Vancouver’s population reached about 35,000 in 1911. Land bought for a dollar an acre was subdivided. It sold for $5,000 a lot along Fraser Street between 41st and 51st Avenues.
Development in South Vancouver slowed in the 1920s. After joining Vancouver in 1929, the area stayed rural until after World War II. In the late 1940s, farmland housed returning veterans. As families moved in, new schools and community centers were built. In 1950, John Oliver Secondary School was built on Wilson Park. It was the site of an old South Vancouver farm. That same year, Sunset residents saw five years of lobbying pay off. The Sunset Memorial Community Centre was completed. Bing Crosby opened the Sunset Community Centre in the 1950s.
Last night, many Vancouver residents saw a great sunset. They quickly looked at their phones. Facebook, Twitter, Vine, and Instagram showed atmospheric refraction. The light show was called the nicest summer sunset of 2013.
David Jones is a Vancouver-based meteorologist for Environment Canada. He said colors appear at sunset because the sun’s light travels through a thicker atmosphere. When the sun is high, light passes through a thin section of the atmosphere. Blue light scatters and is most visible.
When the sun sets, light travels a longer path. Blue and violet light scatter out. This leaves reds, oranges, and pinks.
Clouds are needed for a special sunset. Clouds at certain elevations are also needed. Clouds reflect red and pink rays, emphasizing light. This creates interesting displays. Thick or low clouds block the sun’s rays. Jones said clouds at 14,000 feet often create great sunsets. Variety in clouds is also good.
Jones saw bright light on the horizon in photos. That area was cloud-free. Light traveled a long path to Vancouver. Blue and violet colors scattered. This left red and violet colors reflected in the clouds. He said it was the perfect conditions for a sunset.
So, as we stand here in Sunset, let us appreciate not just the beautiful colors but also the history. The next time you see a Sunset sunset, remember its rich past. It is a community shaped by dreams.