Seniors’ Stories

For the past year, we have been working hard at collecting life stories of seniors who remember the 1940s, 1950 and 1960s, so enjoy our most recent additions:


Recent Stories
 

Community Resources

Community Resources

Check our community resources where you can find all kinds of information about East Vancouver then and now:

 

City of Vancouver Archives

The Grandview Heritage Group

Vancouver Historical Society

Vancouver: Then and Now 

Jak’s View of Vancouver

Changing Vancouver

Foncie’s Corner

Vancouver Heritage Foundation

Past READ MOREIvan Sayers: "History Is My Thing; Fashion Is Just the Medium"

Ivan Sayers: “History Is My Thing; Fashion Is Just the Medium”

Ivan Sayers (b. 1946) is a well-known fashion historian and owns one of the largest historical clothing collections in Canada. His latest production, From Rationing to Ravishing: The Transformation of Women’s Clothing in the 1940s and 1950s, was a tremendous success and a perfect fit for our story project.

Ana-Maria Gheorghiu: You arrived READ MOREFormer East Van MLA Bob Williams on his Childhood Days at the Cabin

Former East Van MLA Bob Williams on his Childhood Days at the Cabin

Local politician Bob Williams (b. 1933) remembers days of bottle-picking to make money, making immigrant friends and spending summers at his grandmother’s cabin in Dollarton.

Childhood

I was born at the Salvation Army Home  for Unwed Mothers in South Vancouver. The intent of the Sally-Ann was to have me adopted out, and my mother, who wasREAD MOREBruce Macdonald, the Accidental Genius

Bruce Macdonald, the Accidental Genius

Bruce Macdonald (b. 1948) is a Vancouver historian and author of the city’s first visual history book. He is also one of the main contributors to our storytelling project and, after he did over 20 interviews with local seniors, we decided it was time to put him on the other end of the recorder.

I’ve never had a main career because I’ve nevREAD MOREBill Lightbown: "I Always Worked Against the Laws and Rules and Regulations"

Bill Lightbown: “I Always Worked Against the Laws and Rules and Regulations”

Bill Lighbown (b. 1927) shares compelling memories of standing up for his Aboriginal rights, going to jail and meeting the love of his life.

Childhood, Family, and World War II

I first moved to Vancouver in 1942; prior to that, I lived in Revelstoke. By the time the Second World War broke out,  my two older brothers had already joined theREAD MORE View All Stories