U.S.S. Coral Sea Visits Vancouver in March 1960

The U.S.S. Coral Sea visited Vancouver in March of 1960. The U.S.S. Coral Sea was on its way to its new home port in Alameda California after being refitted in Bremerton Washington. It was a very popular visit. Over 100,000 people lined the shorelines to greet the 63,000 ton aircraft carrier, There were traffic jams into Stanley Park as Vancouverites tried to get the best vantage points to see the huge aircraft carrier. The most spectacular moment was when the aircraft carrier went under the Lions Gate Bridge with a few feet to spare. The crew had to take down the "Lollipop", the 11 foot section of the navigational aid at the top of the mainmast. According to newspaper articles, thousands of school children skipped school or were permitted to leave to watch the ship come into port. According to one article, one principal said those that played hookey will pay the price with detentions. There were a lot of social events organized while the ship was in port including a huge dance where over 900 local women were invited to meet the sailors. The Seaforth Highlanders paraded down towards the ship before going aboard for a social function.

U.S.S. Coral Sea moored at the CPR docks in March 1960, Vancouver, B.C.

U.S.S. Coral Sea moored at the CPR docks in March 1960, Vancouver, B.C.

My father took the following video on his old movie camera of the U.S.S. Coral Sea coming into Vancouver Port and the Seaforth Highlanders marching to the ship. This footage shows how different Vancouver looked in 1960. The only recognizable places in the footage are the mountains, Stanley Park and the marine gas stations. Canada Place and the Trade and Convention Centre now sit where the CPR docks used to be.

The following Vancouver Sun newspaper articles were published about the arrival and visit of the U.S.S. Coral Sea.

Vancouver Sun Cartoon of the U.S.S. Coral Sea in Vancouver, March 1960

Princess Margaret's Royal Visit to Vancouver 1958

In July of 1958, HRH Princess Margaret toured British Columbia to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of British Columbia as a colony. Princess Margaret visited all regions of the province. Six  convertible Chrysler Imperials were used for the Royal Tour.

Princess Margaret sitting beside Lieutenant-Governor Frank Mackenzie Ross

Princess Margaret's motorcade heading westbound on Broadway at Commercial Drive. This intersection has changed dramatically. Where Toot's family restaurant used to be on the north east corner is now part of the Broadway Skytrain Station. If you look carefully enough at the following video clip, you will notice that the R.C.M.P. motorcycle member is dressed in Red Serge.

R.C.M.P. Motorcycle Member in red serge

Royal Limousine passing Toot's Restaurant at Broadway and Commercial Drive

Royal Visit to Vancouver - May 1971

Over the years there have been many Royal Tour to Vancouver. In 1971, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and Princess Anne visited Vancouver as part of a Royal Tour celebrating British Columbia's Centennial. The Royals were in B.C. from May 3 to May 12, 1971. The following pictures were taken by my father. I remember this tour quite well because I was sick from school for a couple of days and on one of those days my Grandfather took me all over the city looking for the Queen. I remember waiting at the southwest corner of West 16th and Oak street for the Royal motorcade to pass by.

The Royal Motorcade heading southbound at Oak Street and West 41st Ave. The motorcade is headed by Vancouver Police and R.C.M.P. motorcycles. The Mountie in this picture better get out of the way!
The 41st and Oak Street intersection looks totally different today. There is still a gas station on the northeast corner but it's now PetroCan not Standard. The Esso gas station on the southwest corner is long gone.

Police Motorcade for Queen Elizabeth II on her Royal Tour - May 1971

 

Rolls Royce carrying Queen Elizabeth II enters Oak St. and West 41st Ave. Intersection

Queen Elizabeth waving from a Rolls Royce

The tail end of the Royal Motorcade

The royal motorcade passes by. I like the wood panel station wagon heading eastbound on West 41st Ave.

The last car in the Royal Motorcade with 4 Mounties in Red Surge. These members are part of Protected Services.

The Royal Motorcade heading southbound on Oak Street. 

The approaching Royal Motorcade at Burrard  West 12th. Avenue.

Mountie in Red Surge leading the Royal Motorcade

Royal Motorcade turning onto West 12th Ave.

Queen Elizabeth in Rolls Royce

Prince Philip waves from a Rolls Royce to onlookers

Vancouver Police Escort Royal Tour Motorcade

Queen Elizabeth waves from Rolls Royce convertible

Royal Navy Ship in Vancouver Docks

Royal Navy Ship in Vancouver docks

Royal Yacht Britannia

R.C.M.P. Members working security in Vancouver

Newspaper articles of the Royal Visit to British Columbia in June of 1971.

 

Albert Speed goes to World War II - March 1942

My Grandfather, Albert Henry Speed, enlisted in the Canadian Army on November 11, 1941 at the Hotel Vancouver at the young age of 38. Certainly not the prime age to go off to war. He left his wife and 8 year old son for over three years to serve in the war. He did his basic training in Vernon British Columbia from January 13, 1942 to March 16, 1942.  Albert left Vernon for Dundurn Saskatchewan to complete his training with the Royal Canadian Engineers. He was in Dundurn from March 18, 1942 to April 23, 1942. After this training he was given the rank of "Sapper" and ready to go overseas.  He was given orders to go overseas and was transferred to No. 6 District Depot in Halifax Nova Scotia. In Halifax, Albert was granted sick leave because of a tooth problem so he returned to Vancouver for some rest before returning to Halifax. Once in Halifax he was given his orders to go to England. On June 14, 1942 Albert left Halifax for Britain arriving in Gourock, Scotland June 25, 1942. For two years Albert worked in a Canadian Army Hospital as a Steam Engineer in England until 1944 when he followed his company, the Royal Canadian Engineers 33rd Field Company to France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. His main job with the engineers was to build bailey bridges. He returned from Europe in September 1945.

Standing at attention in downtown Vernon

Albert and friends in front of the train to Dundurn Saskatchewan

On the Train

Newspaper Article from a Rotherham Yorkshire newspaper

 

The Polar Bear Grotto at Stanley Park Zoo

In 1962, Polar Bears arrived at the Stanley Park Zoo thanks to the Hudson's Bay Company. Nootka, Jubilee11, Princess Rupert and Prince Rupert. The polar bear attraction was hugely popular for a time. With the current situation of protests against whales and other animals in captivity, it's hard to imagine that it was ever acceptable for the zoo to have 4 polar bears in captivity. I used to love to go to the zoo and look at the huge polar bears. I had seen a few black bears in the wild but this was my only experience seeing polar bears. It was fun to watch them stalk around their den or play in the pool. I often thought what would happen if someone fell in to the pit. The bears often seemed quite docile but I'm sure they would be interested if someone fell into their environment. As times changed, the polar bear grotto finally closed down. In fact the zoo closed down in 1997. Now, the old part of the zoo is completely abandoned. It looks like it should be a movie location for a horror movie.

Plaque Commemorating the Polar Bears at Stanley Park Zoo, 1962

Stanley Park Polar Bears 1960s

Abandoned Polar Bear Grotto at Stanley Park 2014

Abandoned Polar Bear Grotto at Stanley Park 2014

The above picture gives you a good idea of the depth of the grotto.

Abandoned Polar Bear Grotto at Stanley Park 2014

Abandoned Polar Bear Grotto at Stanley Park 2014

Abandoned Polar Bear Grotto at Stanley Park 2014

 Previous Bears at the Stanley Park Zoo

In the 1920s to 1930s there used to be a black bear at the zoo.The picture below was taken in the early 1930s. It must have been a sad existence for this bear. At least the polar bear habitat was drastically better in condition compared to where this poor black bear lived.

Black Bear at the Stanley Park Zoo in the early 1930s

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Soccer from Rotherham to Vancouver

My Grandfather Albert Speed came to Canada in August of 1928 from England on a Government Emigration Scheme to work on a farm in Saskatchewan. Being a former Steel Mill worker, Albert had no experience working on a farm so I can't even imagine what the experience must have been like for him. After the harvest, instead of returning home, he went west to Vancouver to see what opportunities existed. England was going through some very difficult social and economic problems during this time period so going to Vancouver seemed like a good opportunity. Fortunately for Albert, he had an uncle and aunt living in Vancouver which made it much easier for him to start a new life and get established. Part of getting established was to find a job and get on a soccer team. Within 3 months of his arrival in Canada, Albert found a job with Woodward's Department Store as a steam engineer and was signed by Hudson's Bay Department Store as a non-employee to play in the Wednesday League. Woodward's didn't have a team in the Wednesday league in 1928 but he played with them the following season. Albert played his first game with the Hudson's Bay against Couver Rangers on November 7, 1928. The Bay won 3-1 and Albert scored a goal, probably his first in Canada. He was also mentioned in the game report in the Vancouver Province.

Vancouver Province - November 8, 1928

Before coming to Canada, Albert played on a variety of teams in Rotherham from the junior level to semi-professional. In 1921, his team, Bryan's Nibs, won the Rotherham and District Football Competition Boys League. Some tough looking men in the photo of Albert's team.

Bryan's Nibs - Junior Football Club 1920-1921
Rotherham, Yorkshire, England
Albert Speed, front row second from right

Winners medal - 1920-21 Rotherham & District FC Boys League

Albert played 4 seasons in the Vancouver Wednesday League. The Wednesday League was in existence for almost 30 years consisting of mainly company teams.  It was a unique league because a team couldn't field more than two non-employees for a game. This rule caused a lot of issues and protests over the years. It was a very competitive league with a large local following. The local newspapers covered the Wednesday League with extensive match reports and news. Albert played inside left forward. In those days it was common to play the W-M formation of 2 wingers, 1 striker, 2 inside forwards, 2 halfbacks, 3 defenders and a keeper. Games were very offensive. Judging from many newspaper articles I read, games were very physical. Physical contact with the keeper was common. Shouldering the keeper over the goal line while in possession of the ball often resulted in a legitimate goal. Imagine a keeper jumping in the air catching the ball only to be driven into the net by a forward. It doesn't seem fair. Apparently some forwards carried dirt in their pockets to throw dirt in the keeper's face when trying to catch the ball. I don't think this would be deemed fair play by FIFA! Although Albert was only 5 feet 2 inches tall he scored a lot of headers. In the 1931-32 season, Woodward's didn't do well in the league but did much better in the Spalding Cup competition. Unfortunately they lost in the final against Hudson's Bay. In three seasons Albert scored over 30 goals.

Albert Speed - Woodward's FC 1932

Albert posing in his Woodward's strip in front of his house. I'm impressed by the shape of the boots and laces. They don't look very comfortable.

Game Report for Spalding Cup Semi-Final, April 20, 1932
Woodward's FC versus B.C. Electric FC

Albert was part of the all start team that played Woodfibre FC in Woodfibre on April 24, 1932. In this picture, the team is wearing Spencer's Department Store FC strip. According to the following report is was an exciting game with lots of goals.

Vancouver Sun - Wednesday League all star team game against Woodfibre FC on April 24, 1932

 

Second Beach Pool - Stanley Park

I loved swimming at Second Beach Pool when I was a kid. The water was quite warm compared to Lumberman's Arch Pool. It was so much fun splashing around, going down the slide and running down the bank and diving in. From today's perspective, running down the bank and diving in would probably not be permitted. The views from the pool are spectacular. You can see across English Bay to Kits and the other beaches on the west side of Vancouver. I remember on one occasion there was a guy with very long hair holding a sign promoting Wreck Beach. Today, Wreck Beach requires no promotion at all. It's famous across Canada.

Second Beach Pool - 1971 - looking toward Kits

Second Beach Pool - 1971 looking towards Point Grey

                                                     Video of Second Beach Pool in 1971
                      (Please note that this video is only visible using Firefox or Internet Explorer.)

It was so much fun running down the bank of the pool and diving in as you will see in this video. I'm sure some kids tired themselves out completely  running down the bank into the pool constantly. I know I did. Maybe that was a good thing for parents to have their kids tired out! When I looked at this video for the first time in many years my first two impressions were how much fun everyone is having and how hard it must have been for the Life Guards to watch all the goings on.

Second Beach Pool -2013

The new pool may look very different than the old one but it's still very popular with families.

Second Beach Pool -2013