History of Vancouver in Timeline

Vancouver is a major city in British Columbia, Western Canada, and is the province's most populous city. The 2021 Canadian census recorded a population of 662,248, up from 631,486 in 2016. Metro Vancouver's population was 2.6 million in 2021, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Greater Vancouver, along with the Fraser Valley, comprises the Lower Mainland with a regional population of over 3 million. Vancouver has the highest population density in Canada.

1902: Vancouver and Lulu Island Railway began operation

In 1902, the Vancouver and Lulu Island Railway started operating.

1903: First Major Sympathy Strike in 1903

In 1903, the first major sympathy strike occurred when railway employees struck against the CPR for union recognition. Labour leader Frank Rogers was killed by CPR police.

1905: Vancouver and Lulu Island Railway leased

In 1905, the Canadian Pacific Railway leased the Vancouver and Lulu Island Railway to the British Columbia Electric Railway.

1906: Vancouver Art Gallery courthouse building built in 1906

The Vancouver Art Gallery is housed downtown in the neoclassical former courthouse built in 1906.

1907: Dominion Building Completion in 1907

The Dominion Building was completed in 1907 and was the tallest commercial building in the British Empire at the time.

1910: Interurban line extended to Chilliwack

In 1910, the Westminster and Vancouver Tramway Company's interurban line, which originally ran between Vancouver and Westminster, was extended to Chilliwack.

1911: Vancouver's population in 1911

By 1911, Vancouver's population grew to over 100,000 people.

1914: Rise of anti-German sentiment in 1914

With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, anti-German sentiment rose in Vancouver.

1918: Mary Ellen Smith elected

In 1918, Mary Ellen Smith, a Vancouver suffragist and prohibitionist, became the first woman elected to a provincial legislature in Canada.

1918: Canada's first general strike in 1918

In 1918, the rise of industrial tensions led to Canada's first general strike at the Cumberland coal mines on Vancouver Island.

1921: Alcohol Prohibition Ended in 1921

Alcohol prohibition, which began during the First World War, ended in 1921 when the provincial government established control over alcohol sales.

1921: Vancouver Incorporation Act

The Vancouver Incorporation Act was superseded by the Vancouver Charter legislation in 1953.

January 1, 1929: Vancouver's Population on January 1, 1929

As of January 1, 1929, the population of the enlarged Vancouver was 228,193.

1935: Strike Wave Peaked in 1935

In 1935, unemployed men flooded the city to protest conditions in relief camps, leading to the On-to-Ottawa Trek which was put down by force.

1936: City Hall Built in 1936

City Hall was designed by Townley and Matheson in 1936.

1939: Hotel Vancouver opened in 1939

The 556-room Hotel Vancouver opened in 1939 and is the third by that name.

1947: RCAF Station Jericho Beach was taken over by the Canadian Army

In 1947, RCAF Station Jericho Beach, the first air base in Western Canada, was taken over by the Canadian Army when seaplanes were replaced by long-range aircraft.

January 14, 1950: Coldest temperature recorded on January 14, 1950

On January 14, 1950, the coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was −17.8 °C (0.0 °F).

1953: Vancouver Charter Legislation

In 1953, the Vancouver Charter legislation was passed, superseding the Vancouver Incorporation Act of 1921.

1954: 1954 Commonwealth Games

In 1954, Vancouver hosted the Commonwealth Games.

1958: Dismantling of urban and interurban rail systems

In 1958, the remaining urban and interurban rail systems operated by the British Columbia Electric Railway were dismantled in favour of trackless electric trolleys and gasoline or diesel buses.

1958: Centennial Pavilion Built in 1958

The Centennial Pavilion of Vancouver General Hospital was designed by Townley and Matheson in 1958.

1962: BC Hydro established

In 1962, the British Columbia Electric Railway became the core of the newly created, publicly owned BC Hydro.

July 31, 1965: Record temperature in the city on July 31, 1965

On July 31, 1965, the highest temperature ever recorded within the city of Vancouver was 35.0 °C (95.0 °F).

December 29, 1968: Coldest temperature recorded on December 29, 1968

On December 29, 1968, the coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was −17.8 °C (0.0 °F).

1969: Greenpeace founding

In 1969, Greenpeace was founded in Vancouver.

1969: Most of the base facilities were transferred to the City of Vancouver

In 1969, most of the base facilities of RCAF Station Jericho Beach were transferred to the City of Vancouver, and the area was renamed "Jericho Park".

1973: Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix started

During most summers since 1973, the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix has been held on the cobblestone streets of Gastown. This race and the UBC Grand Prix are part of BC Superweek.

1976: Christ Church Cathedral declared heritage building in 1976

The Gothic-style Christ Church Cathedral was declared a heritage building in 1976.

August 8, 1981: Record temperature in the city on August 8, 1981

On August 8, 1981, the highest temperature ever recorded within the city of Vancouver was 35.0 °C (95.0 °F).

1981: Visible minority population in Vancouver

In 1981, approximately 24% of Vancouver's population belonged to a visible minority group, while this proportion was roughly 14% for the entire metropolitan area.

1981: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone in 1981

Vancouver's 1981-2010 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone ranges from 8a to 9a depending on elevation and proximity to water.

1982: Vancouver's homicide rate peaked

In 1982, Vancouver's homicide rate peaked at around 9.6 per 100,000 people, with a total of 40 murders.

May 29, 1983: Record temperature in the city on May 29, 1983

On May 29, 1983, the highest temperature ever recorded within the city of Vancouver was 35.0 °C (95.0 °F).

1983: The Globe and Mail Publication in BC

In 1983, The Globe and Mail began publication of a "national edition" in BC and recently expanded to include a three-page BC news section.

1986: Ballet BC founded

Ballet BC, British Columbia's only ballet company, was founded in 1986; its principal venue is the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

1986: Canada Place from the 1986 World Exposition

Canada Place, the former Canada Pavilion from the 1986 World Exposition, became a prominent part of the city's landscape.

1986: 1986 World Exposition

The 1986 World Exposition received over 20 million visitors and added $3.7 billion to the Canadian economy. Some landmarks, including the SkyTrain public transit system, were built as part of the exposition.

1989: World Police and Fire Games 1989

In 1989, Vancouver hosted the World Police and Fire Games.

1991: Vancouver surpassed its homicide record

In 1991, Vancouver surpassed its previous homicide record with 41 murders reported, resulting in a slightly lower homicide rate of 8.7 per 100,000 residents.

1994: Stanley Cup riot overwhelmed police

In 1994, the Stanley Cup riot overwhelmed police and injured as many as 200 people.

1994: Intersection film set in Vancouver

In 1994, the US thriller film 'Intersection,' starring Richard Gere and Sharon Stone, was set in Vancouver and its surroundings.

1995: Vancouver Grizzlies established

In 1995, the National Basketball Association (NBA) expanded into Vancouver with the establishment of the Vancouver Grizzlies, who played their games at Rogers Arena.

1997: APEC Canada 1997

In 1997, Vancouver hosted APEC Canada.

1997: Hong Kong handover to China

Since the 1990s, the development of high-rise condominiums in Vancouver's downtown peninsula has been financed, in part, by an inflow of capital from Hong Kong immigrants due to the former colony's 1997 handover to China.

2000: Establishment of 'Growbusters' drug squad

In 2000, the Vancouver Police Department established a specialized drug squad, "Growbusters", to aggressively target hydroponic marijuana growing operations in residential areas.

2001: Vancouver Grizzlies relocated

After six years in Vancouver, the Vancouver Grizzlies relocated to Memphis, Tennessee in 2001.

2001: Portuguese population in Vancouver

In 2001, Vancouver had the third-largest Portuguese population in Canada, marking a significant presence of Portuguese immigrants in the city from the mid-1950s until the 1980s.

2001: Hard Core Logo named second-best Canadian film

In 2001, the acclaimed Canadian 'mockumentary' 'Hard Core Logo' was named the second-best Canadian film of the last 15 years in a poll of 200 industry voters performed by Playback.

2002: Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity film released

In 2002, Genie Award-winning filmmaker Mina Shum filmed and set several of her internationally released features in Vancouver, including the Sundance-screened 'Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity'.

2002: COPE victory and drug policy shift

In 2002, the Non-Partisan Association (NPA) fractured over drug policy, leading to a landslide victory for the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE), which advocated for harm reduction. Following this victory, Insite, North America's only legal safe injection site at the time, was opened for intravenous heroin users in Vancouver.

2005: Homelessness counts began

Homelessness counts began in Vancouver in 2005.

2005: Establishment of the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Service

In 2005, the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Service, now the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, was established with full police powers.

2005: Vancouver's provincial election voting patterns

In the 2005 provincial election, Vancouver's affluent west side voted along conservative or liberal lines, while the city's eastern side voted along left-wing lines.

2005: Vancouver's crime rate

Since 2005, Vancouver's crime rate dropped five spots to ninth-highest among Canada's 35 census metropolitan areas as of 2018.

2006: Counterterrorism unit established

In 2006, the Vancouver Police Department established its own counterterrorism unit.

2006: EcoDensity Planning Initiative in 2006

In 2006, the city of Vancouver launched a planning initiative entitled EcoDensity.

2006: Firearm related violence

In 2006, the rate of firearm related violence was 45.3 per 100,000, the highest of any major metropolitan region in Canada at that time.

2006: Vancouver's federal election voting patterns

In the 2006 federal election, Vancouver's affluent west side voted along conservative or liberal lines, while the city's eastern side voted along left-wing lines, reaffirming historical trends.

2007: Cleanest City Ranking in 2007

Forbes ranked Vancouver as the tenth-cleanest city in the world in 2007.

2007: Swangard Stadium hosted games for the FIFA U-20 World Cup

In 2007, Swangard Stadium, in the neighbouring city of Burnaby, hosted games for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

2007: They Wait film set in Vancouver

In 2007, the Canadian ghost thriller 'They Wait,' starring Terry Chen and Jaime King, was set in Vancouver and its surroundings.

2008: Vancouver hosted the World Ultimate Championships

During the summer of 2008, Vancouver hosted the World Ultimate Championships.

2008: University Enrollment

In 2008, the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University (SFU) had a combined enrolment of more than 90,000 undergraduates, graduates, and professional students.

2008: Vancouver municipal election

In the 2008 Vancouver municipal election campaign, Gregor Robertson of Vision Vancouver defeated Peter Ladner of the NPA to become mayor. Vision Vancouver gained a significant majority on the City Council.

2008: Significant ESL student population

International students and English as a second language (ESL) students have been significant in the enrolment of public and private institutions. For the 2008–2009 school year, 53 percent of Vancouver School Board's students spoke a language other than English at home.

2008: End of NPA dominance in Vancouver government

The Non-Partisan Association's (NPA) dominance in Vancouver's civic government ended in 2008 after significant centre-left interludes since World War II.

July 30, 2009: Record temperature at the airport in July 30, 2009

On July 30, 2009, the highest temperature ever recorded at the airport was 34.4 °C (93.9 °F).

August 17, 2009: Canada Line Opened

On August 17, 2009, the Canada Line opened, connecting Vancouver International Airport and the neighbouring city of Richmond with the existing SkyTrain system.

2009: Significant ESL student population

For the 2008-2009 school year, 53 percent of Vancouver School Board's students spoke a language other than English at home. International students and English as a second language (ESL) students have been significant in the enrolment of public and private institutions.

2009: Metro Vancouver hosted the World Police and Fire Games

In 2009, Metro Vancouver hosted the World Police and Fire Games.

2009: World Police and Fire Games 2009

In 2009, Vancouver hosted the World Police and Fire Games.

2009: Greenest City Action Team

In 2009, the Greenest City Action Team, co-chaired by Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson, was formed and began its work.

2009: Gang-related incidents escalated

In early 2009, a series of gang-related incidents escalated into what police dubbed a gang war.

2009: BC Titans inaugural season

The BC Titans of the International Basketball League played their inaugural season in 2009, with home games at the Langley Event Centre.

April 2010: Record high home prices in Vancouver

As of April 2010, the average two-level home in Vancouver sold for a record high of $987,500, significantly more than the Canadian average of $365,141.

June 12, 2010: Ultimate Fighting Championship 115 held in Vancouver

On June 12, 2010, Vancouver played host to Ultimate Fighting Championship 115 (UFC 115), which was the fourth UFC event to be held in Canada.

2010: 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

In 2010, Vancouver and Whistler co-hosted the Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

2010: 2010 Winter Olympics

The city's selection to co-host the 2010 Winter Olympics was a major influence on economic development in Vancouver. There were concerns about exacerbating Vancouver's increasing homelessness problem by owners of single-room occupancy hotels converting their properties to attract higher-income residents and tourists.

2010: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone in 2010

Vancouver's 1981-2010 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone ranges from 8a to 9a depending on elevation and proximity to water.

July 2011: GCAP Approved

In July 2011, Vancouver city council approved the Greenest City action plan (GCAP).

2011: Vancouver housing affordability issues

In 2011, Vancouver faced severe issues in housing affordability, which worsened in 2012.

2011: Vancouver hosted the Grey Cup

In 2011, Vancouver hosted the Grey Cup, the Canadian Football League (CFL) championship game.

2011: Second riot took place following the Stanley Cup Finals

In 2011, a second riot took place following the Stanley Cup Finals.

2011: Global Liveability Ranking in 2011

Vancouver stood at number 1 on the Global Liveability Ranking for several years until 2011.

March 2012: Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company ended

In March 2012, the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company ceased operations after fifty years.

2012: Traffic congestion in Vancouver

In 2012, Vancouver had the worst traffic congestion in Canada and the second-highest in North America, behind Los Angeles.

2012: Vancouver's housing affordability

In 2012, Vancouver was ranked by Demographia as the second-most unaffordable city in the world, even more so than in 2011.

2013: Vancouver's traffic congestion

As of 2013, Vancouver had the worst traffic congestion in North America.

2013: Vancouver reached record low murders

In 2013, Vancouver reached a record low of 6 murders, resulting in a homicide rate of 1 per 100,000 residents.

2014: Spice Radio Established

In 2014, Spice Radio on 1200 AM was established to serve the multilingual South Asian community.

2014: TED conferences become permanent home

In 2014, Vancouver became the permanent home to TED conferences.

2015: 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup

In 2015, Vancouver hosted several matches of the FIFA Women's World Cup, including the finals at BC Place.

2015: Vancouver hosted FIFA Women's World Cup Final

In 2015, Vancouver was one of six venues for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and hosted the Final game between the United States and Japan.

February 2016: Real estate sales in February 2016

Sales in Vancouver in February 2016 were 56.3 percent higher than the 10-year average for the month.

June 2016: Mobi bicycle-sharing system introduced

In June 2016, the bicycle-sharing system Mobi was introduced to the city of Vancouver.

December 2, 2016: Evergreen Extension opened

On December 2, 2016, the Evergreen Extension opened, linking the cities of Coquitlam and Port Moody with the SkyTrain system.

2016: Port of Vancouver status in 2016

As of 2016, the Port of Vancouver is the fourth-largest port by tonnage in the Americas.

2016: Visible minority population growth

By 2016, the proportion of Vancouver's population belonging to a visible minority group had grown to 52%.

2016: Vancouver's Population in 2016 Census

In 2016 Vancouver's population was 631,486.

2017: SkyTrain system

As of 2017, Vancouver's SkyTrain system is running on three lines, the Millennium Line, the Expo Line and the Canada Line with a total of 53 stations.

2017: Firearm related violence dropped

In 2017, the rate of firearm related violence dropped to 16.2 per 100,000.

2017: Tourism in Vancouver

Over 10.3 million people visited Vancouver in 2017, contributing approximately $4.8 billion to the Metro Vancouver economy and supporting over 70,000 jobs.

May 2018: Zero Waste 2040 Strategy Passed

In May 2018, the Zero Waste 2040 Strategy was passed and the city began work on decreasing the amount of single-use items distributed in the city.

2018: Vancouver's crime rate

As of 2018, Vancouver had the ninth-highest crime rate among Canada's 35 census metropolitan areas, dropping five spots since 2005.

2018: Vancouver Police Department Budget

In 2018, the Vancouver Police Department had an operating budget of $316.5 million, representing over 19 percent of the city's budget.

2018: Kennedy Stewart elected mayor

In the 2018 Vancouver municipal election, independent Kennedy Stewart was elected mayor of Vancouver.

January 2019: SkyTrain Millennium Line extension approved

As of January 2019, plans to extend the SkyTrain Millennium Line west to UBC as a subway under Broadway have been approved, and there are plans for capacity upgrades and an extension to the Expo Line.

2019: Homelessness in Vancouver

A 2019 count found at least 2,223 people in Vancouver were experiencing homelessness, the highest number recorded since counts began.

2019: Real Estate Market Ranking in 2019

According to Forbes, Vancouver had the fourth-most expensive real estate market in the world in 2019.

2019: Ban on Single-Use Items

In mid-2019, a ban on plastic straws, polystyrene food packaging and free shopping bags was planned to go into effect as part of the Zero Waste 2040 Strategy.

2020: Economic concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic

Since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, economists and media organizations warned of a potential long-term economic decline for Vancouver.

2021: Language knowledge in Vancouver

According to the 2021 Canadian census, 94.1% of Vancouver's population knew English, followed by Cantonese at 14.9%, Mandarin at 11.5%, and other languages like French, Tagalog, Punjabi, Hindi, Vietnamese, Persian, Japanese, German, Korean, Portuguese, Italian, and Russian.

2021: Vancouver's Population Density in 2021

As of 2021, Vancouver is the most densely populated city in Canada.

2021: Religious groups in Vancouver

As of the 2021 Canadian census, Vancouver's Asian population was noted for its Christian faith, amidst other religious groups.

2021: Vancouver film production spending

In 2021, $3.6 billion was spent on film production in Vancouver, ranking it as the largest production hub in Canada and the 3rd largest in North America.

2021: Global Liveability Ranking in 2021

In recent years, Vancouver has dropped on the Global Liveability Ranking, ranking as low as 16 in 2021.

2021: Vancouver's Population in 2021 Census

In the 2021 Canadian census, Vancouver had a population of 662,248, making it the eighth-largest among Canadian cities.

2021: Mother tongues in Vancouver

In the 2021 census, 50.7% of Vancouver's population reported English as their mother tongue, while 11.8% spoke Cantonese, 6.4% spoke Mandarin, and other languages included Tagalog, Spanish, Punjabi, Vietnamese, Persian, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, German, Hindi, and Italian.

2021: 2021 Federal Election

In the 2021 federal election, Vancouver's seats were mostly held by the Liberals and NDP, and the Conservatives were shut out of the city's ridings.

2021: Immigrant population in Vancouver in 2021

The 2021 census reported that immigrants comprise 42.2% of the total population of Vancouver.

2021: Single-Use Item Ban Target

The city intended to ban single-use items by 2021 if businesses did not meet reduction targets.

January 2022: Regulation for Single-Use Cups

In January 2022, the city council passed a regulation mandating that businesses charge a $0.25 fee on single-use cups.

June 2022: Representation in the Legislative Assembly

As of June 2022, Vancouver was represented by 11 members in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, with two seats held by BC United and nine by the BC New Democratic Party.

2022: Quality of Living Ranking in 2022

As of 2022, Vancouver was ranked as having the fifth-highest quality of living of any city on Earth.

2022: Five-year financial plan developed

In 2022, Vancouver developed a 5-year financial plan that projected the operating budget would increase to $2.46 billion by 2027.

2022: Ken Sim elected mayor

In the 2022 Vancouver municipal election, Ken Sim defeated Kennedy Stewart to become the mayor of Vancouver.

March 28, 2023: Repeal of Single-Use Cup Fees

On March 28, 2023, the council enacted a by-law that repealed all single-use cup fees.

2023: Police protection budget

By 2023, 20.2 percent of the city's budget was spent on police protection.

2023: Vancouver's 2023 Operating and Capital Budget

In 2023, Vancouver's operating budget was $1.97 billion, and the capital budget was $580 million.

2026: Vancouver to host matches during FIFA World Cup

Vancouver is one of two Canadian cities hosting matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

2026: Capital Plan projection

Vancouver's 2023 to 2026 Capital Plan anticipates $3.5 billion in expenditures during those four years.

2027: Projected operating budget for 2027

A financial plan developed in 2022 projected that Vancouver's operating budget would increase to $2.46 billion by 2027.

Mentioned in this timeline

Basketball is a team sport played on a rectangular court...

The United States of America located in North America and...

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China with...

World War II - was a global conflict between the...

Japan is an East Asian island country in the Pacific...

China officially the People's Republic of China PRC is located...