Throwback Thursday (+ Public Space Profile): Victory Square
The park by Cambie and Hastings is well known by most Vancouverites, and it held an important place in civic life for well-over a century – even before it was called Victory Square. I spent some time in the City of Vancouver Archives looking through old photographs of the site. Visit the Square today, and it is remarkable to see how much it has changed, while still staying true to its original design.
***1900s Photographs***
From 1889 to 1912, the block on which Victory Square sits was known as Government Square and it was the site for Vancouver’s provincial courthouse. Not many images of the original courthouse remain – but you can see it here:
The site is intriguing – because of its transitional nature, bordering the old Gastown/Granville townsite and the “new” downtown area that was in development. Perhaps most notable is the pronounced shift in the street grid that helps to define the site. In 1912, the courthouse moved to the new Georgia Street location where the Vancouver Art Gallery resides today. Around the same time, the “old” building was demolished – though the block did not remain empty for long. During World War I, this was where marquees were set up to recruit soldiers for the war effort. As casualties in the Great War increased, citizens called for a war memorial to be set up on the site. Soon after the conflict ended, it was renamed Victory Square. Finally in April 1924, the iconic Cenotaph that still sits in the middle of the square was unveiled. Ever since, this has been the site for Vancouver’s Remembrance Day ceremonies. 
The photograph above (and the one at the beginning of the article) are from the 1920s, shortly after the Cenotaph was first erected. Notice that most of the buildings on the North and East sides of the square are the same – although occupied by different businesses. Moreover, the midrise building opposite Victory Square on Cambie and Hastings is visible in the 1900s, the 1920s, and still today.
Also noteworthy are the trees that adorn the edges of the square. They were planted in 1892 as part of the original landscaping for the courthouse – and are now among the oldest street trees in the city. In the oldest photographs, they are too small to be easily visible, but it is interesting to see how they have grown from only a few feet to towering over the square today.
Over the latter decades of the 20th century, there were a number of proposals to redesign the gathering area. Finally, in 2002, Victory Square was given a ‘refresh’ – that improved some of the landscaping, and added additional seating areas. As part of this, a series of distinctive lighting standards were created – their designs referencing the Brodie helmets that soldiers wore into battle.
Although changes are evident and visible looking between the photographs, Victory Square is still eminently recognizable as one of Vancouver’s most important gathering areas – and one that has played an important role for ceremonial and celebratory purposes, protests, and the everyday pleasures of a downtown park that serves both residents and visitors to the city.
Article by Alex Butler. Photos by Alex Butler, VPSN, and City of Vancouver Archives.
Sources and Further Reading: