HELP US HELP SAVE VANCOUVER'S HISTORY!

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Every day we see archival images of our city in newspapers, on websites, in books, in documentaries and even hanging framed on office and restaurant walls. Where do these precious photos and films come from, how did they survive and how are people and organizations so easily able to access them?

The City of Vancouver Archives is one of the most popular “go to” places for archival photographs and film, as well as many other historical records. For seventeen years the Friends of the Vancouver City Archives (FVCA) has raised funds to help collect, save and preserve these rare and vital objects of our cities past.

Money raised by the Friends helped purchase: a 1600 cubic foot cold storage facility to preserve the Archives’ deteriorating photographs and films, web publisher software to assist researchers search the database, a dye-sublimation printer and the Archives’ Reading Room photocopier. Currently the funds the Friends raised are supporting a crucial description and digitization of a backlog of old photos donated to the Archives Collection.

“I found my grandfather`s 8mm film of a 1944 Callister Exhibition Park Rodeo held on the old PNE grounds. You can even see the wooden roller coaster in the background. The film was beginning to show signs of deterioration and would have soon turned into a sticky messy roll. It`s now safely preserved in the Archive’s cold storage room and digitized to view on their website...” says Friends board member Jolene Cumming.

As with many groups, the Friends have been hit hard by budget and granting cuts. You can help support our work to support the endeavours of The Archives by attending our Fall Fundraiser. Other ways to help preserve records of Vancouver’s past include; purchasing memberships, cash donations or donating your family or firm’s archival records.

2010 FUNDRAISING EVENT

The Friends of the Vancouver City Archives are asking the Vancouver citizens, organizations, businesses and others to help them “Help Save Vancouver” by attending:

“Researching Women in the Archives & in the Family”

An illustrated talk by M. Diane Rogers

President of the BC Genealogical Society

Explore researching strategies, techniques and learn how to interpret archival photographs.

Sunday Nov 14^th, 2010

2pm-4pm

Includes a Reception with Refreshments by Emelle’s Catering.

Tickets $25. 

Please Register by November 9^th  at 604-736-8561

Event location: City Archives at 1150 Chestnut Street in Vanier Park

More info: www.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/archives/friends/index.htm

Media contact:

James Johnstone, Chair, Friends of the Vancouver City Archives

househistorian@yahoo.ca

CVA 677-35 Malkin Family at 1406 Davie

THE OLD EAST END - A PHOTOGRAPHIC RETROSPECTIVE Oct 27, 7pm

Homeless in the City Dump during the Great Depression - CVA Photo Re N8.2 P6

On Wednesday, October 27th at 7pm I will be presenting a 200+ slide presentation on the fascinating history and multicultural heritage of my neighbourhood, Vancouver's first neighbourhood, the Old East End.  

Tosca Trasolini and Flying 7 in 1936, CVA Photo 371-478

The presentation will take place in the Seniors' Lounge on the first floor of the Strathcona Community Centre at 601 Keefer (near Princess Avenue).

CVA 447-297 N.E. corner of Gore Ave & Pender St  - Feb. 17, 1929

This will be a fundraiser for the Strathcona Community Centre Food Security Programme... It is actually a fundraiser for a fundraiser as I am trying to raise funds for an espresso machine that the Strathcona Community Centre (SCC) is planning to buy that will both help them raise money for the Food Security Programme and at the same time help train East End neighbourhood kids to become barristas.

CVA 287-20 Strathcona Elementary School Soccer Team ca 1928

The Strathcona Community Centre Food Security Programme provides over 100,000 meals and snacks a year to East End children and elders in need.

Admission:Sliding Scale $5-10.

"Donations" of $25 and above will receive a tax receipt. All monies raised will go to the Strathcona Community Centre Food Security Programme Espresso Machine Fund. All coffee sold through this initiative at the SCC and community events will support the Food Security Programme.

Sonny Wappler in front of 810 Union - courtesy Lucille Mars

Though most of the archival images in this show are from the City of Vancouver Archives and the Vancouver Public Library Special Collections, many of the images in the show are from private collections from former and current East End residents. This is a great way to learn about Vancouver's old East End and is a doubly good way to support youth in need in this neighbourhood.


People who cannot make it to the presentation but still wish to donate to the programme can send cheques made out to:

Strathcona Community Centre (earmarked for the Food Security Programme) 
c/o Ron Suzuki
Strathcona Community Centre
601 Keefer Street, Vancouver, BC, V6A 3V8.

Thanks for your generous support.

CVA Photo Sch N11 Strathcona School circa 1923