The 'Towns' of Downtown Vancouver

The history of Gastown dates back to the same year Canada was declared a nation in 1867. During this time most of what is the city of Vancouver today was nothing more than a stretch of wilderness. The only non-native community in the area was a lumber mill where the owner strictly forbade the consumption of alcohol. It was not until "Gassy Jack" Deighton entered the scene one September day did this small municipality change forever. "Gassy Jack" told millworkers that if they built him a saloon, he would serve them drinks whenever they pleased. The saloon was built and operating within a day and was located just on the other end of the mill's property boundary.

Similar to many other historical areas in prominent cities around the world, Gastown has undergone cycles of immense growth, significance, vitality, abandonment and rebirth. Up until the 1930s, Gastown was a flourishing district known for the city's distribution of wholesale goods. However, the post-war Depression and initiation of Prohibition had a tragic effect on Gastown and lead to the closure of many business establishments. Gastown eventually became a forgotten sector of the larger city.

It was not until the 1960s that Gastown regained life with many citizens concerned with preserving the unique and historic architecture that was soon to be torn down for a highway leading into Vancouver's downtown. A mixture of businessmen, property owners, political activists and others put forward a campaign that pressured the provincial government to declare the area a heritage site, defending all heritage buildings to this day.

Today Gastown is a mixture of trendy local fashion and interior furnishing boutiques, tourist-centred businesses, nightclubs, restaurants, professional office spaces and up-scale condominium homes.

Gastown's most famous attraction is the steam powered clock located on the corner of Water and Cambie Street. The timepiece was built over a steam grate that was formerly a part of Vancouver's heating system, it was meant to control the steam and prevent street dwellers from sleeping on the spot during the colder months. Over the years,the steam clock has become a major tourist attraction and with the support of local businesses it has been well maintained throughout the years continuing to exert steam every quarter of an hour.

The newly constructed Vancouver Convention Centre - an eco-designed, state-of-the-art facility located at Waterfront just at the edge of Gastown - is anticipated to atract a number of tourists and visitors to the Gastown area for both business and leisure purposes. The facility was built to host a variety of events and conferences and is located right on the water's edge overlooking Coal Harbour, Stanley Park and the gorgeous snow-capped mountains.

The Canada line project - an automated rail-centered transit system that will link Vancouver Airport with Central Richmond and Vancouver - is also expected to attract a number of visitors to Gastown, particularly because Waterfront is one of it's central stations. It is evident that there is much in store for Gastown's future; from improvement in public transportation systems to the construction of new business developments, Gastown is growing as each day goes by.

Just like many other areas of Vancouver, Yaletown got its start from the formation of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1887. In fact, the area acquired its name when the railway shifted its construction equipment and restoration shops from Yale in the Fraser Canyon to the CPR's western finishing point in Vancouver. The following twenty years saw a flow of sawmills and shingle mills occupy the north side of the False Creek. By the 1900s the area was a major industrial zone and was considered a convenient and cheap spot for the processing, repackaging and warehousing of goods.

When Vancouver constructed its first city plan in the 1920s, Yaletown was zoned for business and minor industrial use. Many of the warehouses that previously occupied the area moved their businesses closer to highways where truck trailer transportation was much more convenient. By the 1950s, many homeowners sold their properties to manufacturing plants and factories which lead to the closure of the Central School at Dunsmuir and Cambie.

Yaletown was nothing more than barren space until the late 1970s and 1980s when the onset of Expo 86 and a handful of young urban entrepreneurs saw potential in the old warehouses and cobblestone streets. They saw that area as a convenient and inexpensive location with enormous potential for office space, restaurants, shops, nightclubs and trendy homes. This was the beginning of a huge transformation for Yaletown from a warehouse district to what it is today.

Today Yaletown is not only a booming commercial district with a mix of offices, high-end restaurants, cozy cafes and stylish boutiques; it is also home to a large urban community containing an elementary school (Elsie Roy Elementary School) and community centre (Roundhouse Community Centre).

The region is a mixture of old and new; although it has developed immensely with an array of glassy high rise apartments and fashionable town homes, it still contains many heritage structures such as the old red-brick warehouses and the Roundhouse Community Centre. The Roundhouse at one time was the western terminus for the CPR, today it still accommodates Engine 374, the first passenger train to cross into Vancouver in 1887.

The anticipated arrival of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver is bringing about changes to Yaletown that are similar to that of Expo 86. The Canada Line, a 2010 Olympics initiative, is an automated rail-based speedy transit service connecting Vancouver with Central Richmond and the Vancouver International Airport.

The purpose of the line is to connect more businesses and offer more effective transportation services to broader areas of the Lower Mainland. Yaletown is set to have its own station on Davie and Mainland Street called Yaletown/Roundhouse Station. It will be located 17 metres underground and will be approximately 80 metres northwest of Pacific Boulevard. This will be a great change for local residents, businesses and visitors, not only will they see greater traffic coming into their community but they too will gain greater access to other regions of Greater Vancouver.

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