Flying over Vancouver in 1987

I recently found pictures my father took on a business trip to Victoria on Helijet back in 1987. It certainly looked like a beautiful and exciting day. When you look at the pictures you can't help but notice how much Vancouver has changed in the last 30 years.The Harbour, the skyline and YVR Airport have all been transformed dramatically as the following pictures will show.

Helijet Landing at Heliport in Vancouver Harbour

A view of Canada Place built for Expo 86

A view of the pilot and co-pilot

A beautiful view of Canada Place

A view of Downtown Vancouver

Lost Lagoon - Stanley Park

Brockton Point - Stanley Park

Stanley Park and the West End of Vancouver

Downtown Vancouver looking small

A View of Vancouver from the West Side east

West Side - Looking Down on Lord Byng Secondary School

YVR Airport

YVR Airport Terminal

YVR Aiport Runway

Pelé and the Cosmos come to Vancouver June 30, 1977

In a time when soccer coverage is saturated on television and the Internet, where you can watch games from all over the world, in the 1970s to see some of the best players in the world on television let alone live was a very rare opportunity in Vancouver. The old North American Soccer League (NASL) offered such an opportunity to see the likes of Pele, Johan Cruyff, George Best and Franz Beckenbauer and many more play. Such players may have been over their prime but they did show some of their amazing skill. Considering some of the playing surfaces they had to play on you had to give them respect as many players of today's era would never consider playing on astro-turf.

Vancouver Whitecaps defeat the New York Cosmos 5-3
June 30, 1977 at Empire Stadium

In 1977, the Vancouver Whitecaps played their fourth season in the old NASL. They had a decent season with 14 wins and 10 losses but unfortunately lost to the Seattle Sounders in the first round of the playoffs. The most famous team in the league was the New York Cosmos. They were a glamorous team with such world class players as  Pelé, Giorgio Chinaglia and Franz Beckenbauer. In the history of the league they won 5 Soccer Bowls. Games between the Caps and the Cosmos were always entertaining and often played with an edge. The only year the Caps won the Soccer Bowl was in 1979 and they had to beat the Cosmos in a two game semi-final to make it to the finals. It was in the game in Vancouver that ABC Sports Commentator Jim Mckay referred to Vancouver as "the village of Vancouver".

On Thursday June 30, the Whitecaps defeated the Cosmos 5-3 before 30,277 fans at Empire Stadium. It was an electric atmosphere. I was very fortunate to go to this game and to have the opportunity to see Pelé play was special.

Whitecaps vs Cosmos Match Summary
St. Petersburg Independent Newspaper

Whitecaps Match Summary

White Lunch Restaurant Annual Picnic at Peace Arch Park- June 21, 1953

The White Lunch Cafeterias were popular in Vancouver up to the 1970s.  My Grandfather was a Manager of the White Lunch on Hastings Street near the Army and Navy store. He retired in 1970. In his time working on Hastings Street he really saw how the neighbourhood dramatically changed especially in the late 1960s. The picture below is from the White Lunch Annual Picnic at Peace Arch Park in June 21, 1953. This picture shows the formality of the day. Look at how many men are wearing suits and ties and women wearing dresses. I can't imagine a picnic today where people are dressed in such a formal way. There was no one in this picture wearing shorts, t-shirt and flip flops as you would see at a company picnic in this era. Peace Arch Park hasn't changed that much over the years. If you look closely at the photo you will see some children doing funny faces.

White Lunch Annual Picnic at Peace Arch Park - June 21, 1953

Fog in Stanley Park

With a mini-heat wave hitting Vancouver this weekend, maybe this would be the perfect time to cool down and look at cool winter days. Vancouver may not be as famous as San Francisco or London when it comes to fog, but there are a few months of the year where fog adds a dramatic touch to the city.

Fog Engulfing the Lions Gate Bridge - January 1994

Fog Engulfing the Lions Gate Bridge - January 1994

Lions Gate Shrouded in Fog - January 2015

Fog Blanketing the Lions Gate Bridge - January 2016

Fog over the west end of Vancouver - January 2016 

 

Fog in Coal Harbour - January 1994

Fog over the west end of Vancouver - January 2016

 

Fog over the west end of Vancouver - January 2016

Canada's Men's National Soccer Team at BC Place Stadium in 1986 and 2016.

Canada played Paraguay on January 29, 1986 in a friendly in preparation for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. The score was 0-0 with an attendance of 18,003. Canada had already qualified for the 1986 Mexico World Cup with a thrilling win against Honduras on September 14, 1985 in St. John's Newfoundland so this game was one of many friendlies that Canada played in 1986. They played England on May 24, 1986 at Swangard Stadium where they lost 1-0 and on May 29 they played Wales where they lost 3-0. Unfortunately in these friendlies Canada didn't manage a goal.

Canada v Paraguay Pre-game at BC Place Stadium January 29, 1986

Canada v Paraguay Kick-off

Big Screen and some empty seats

Canada v Paraguay live action

30 years later, 54,798 fans watched as Canada played Mexico in an important qualification match for the 2018 Russia World Cup on March 25, 2016. The atmosphere was amazing and completely different from 1986 when the stadium seemed empty. There was huge support for both teams as was witnessed when the Mexican National Anthem was played. Everything seemed to happen in this match from great plays, great goals and unfortunately the pitch invaders. There must have been at least 5 in the latter part of the match. The last pitch invader was happily running down the field when he was completely broadsided by the Chiropractor of the Canada. This tackle would have made any of the Rugby players who participated in the Rugby Sevens a couple of weeks ago proud indeed.

Canada v Mexico March 25, 2016

Canada v Mexico pre-game

 

Canada v Mexico first half action

Mexico showed their class with great passing, speed on the ball and finishing. I haven't seen many teams play with the quickness Mexico showed. Canada had 6 or 7  opportunities to score but couldn't get the much need goal. Mexico could have scored more goals if it wasn't for Canada's keeper Milan Borjan who made some impressive saves. In previous matches against Mexico, Canada rarely had quality scoring chances so it was nice to see Canada with at least some chances. It will help when they play in their other qualifying matches against El Salvador and Honduras. It was great to see such players as Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez show off his incredible talent. Let's hope there will be more qualification matches at BC Place Stadium in the future.

Downtown Vancouver - Granville and Cordova 1920s

Vancouver in the 1920s was a vibrant and growing city. The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Docks were a very important area for the city. The CPR Docks extended from the base of Burrard Street to Granville Street. Today, this area is completely different. The railway tracks are still there but the docks are long gone having been redeveloped. Canada Place and the Trade and Convention Centre now sits where the docks used to be. The picture below shows this area in the mid 1920s. Looking at this area today, huge buildings dominate. This picture reflects Vancouver before the tall building boom started in the 1930s with the likes of the Marine Building. During the cruise ship season, this area is one of the most vibrant areas of the city with tourists exploring the waterfront. During the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics this area was extremely busy because the Olympic Cauldron was lit up at Jack Poole Plaza.

Granville Street and Cordova Street mid 1920s

The back end of Canada Place 2013

Canada Place - 2013 

Canada Place - Christmas 1986

The Olympic Flame at Jack Poole Plaza February 2010

Olympic Cauldron, Jack Poole Plaza 2014