Larwill Park
Encyclopedia
Larwill Park, also known as the Cambie Street Grounds, is a former park and sporting field in what is now downtown Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada
. Currently a parking lot, the site was also the location of the bus depot of Pacific Coach Stage Lines and Greyhound Bus Lines from World War II
to the mid-1990's, when it was demolished.
, Dunsmuir, Beatty and Georgia Street
s, the former park occupied a whole city block and was laid out at the time of the CPR Townsite survey in the early 1880s. It was Vancouver's second sporting grounds, the first being on Brockton Point
in what is now Stanley Park, and was used for all kinds of sports. A house on the corner of the lot was occupied by an Alfred Larwill ("Al" or "Fred") who good-naturedly stored all kinds of game equipment in his toolshed and allowed team members to use his dining room for a dressing room.
Located midway between the city's old downtown around Gastown
Hastings Street and newer areas uptown around Granville, the park naturally became a centre for public meetings, the most infamous one was a rally by the Knights of Labour which led to the Anti-Oriental Riots of 1907, with the Beatty Street Drill Hall
, across Beatty Street on the block's northeast flank, serving as a stage and podium. Baseball, cricket and lacrosse teams made use of the field year round. The playing fields also served as military drill-grounds, with the city's first muster being called up for the Boer War
using the site for that purpose, as well as for World Wars I and II. The site was also a main site for rallies of demonstrations by the unemployed and labour organizations in the 1930s. During World War II, while the men who had used it for sport and politics were away at war and not around to prevent it, the site was converted into the bus depot.
trucks and for film production "circuses", the site has been proposed variously as the location of a new cultural facility such as the new site for the Vancouver Art Gallery and other developments. During the 2010 Winter Olympics
, it was one of two main sites for cultural events and "nightly celebrations", (although not an official venue).
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Currently a parking lot, the site was also the location of the bus depot of Pacific Coach Stage Lines and Greyhound Bus Lines from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to the mid-1990's, when it was demolished.
Location and history
Bounded by CambieCambie Street
Cambie Street is a street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is named for Henry John Cambie, chief surveyor of the Canadian Pacific Railway's western division ....
, Dunsmuir, Beatty and Georgia Street
Georgia Street
Georgia Street is an east-west street in the cities of Vancouver and Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Its section in Downtown Vancouver, designated West Georgia Street, serves as one of the primary streets for the financial and central business districts, and is the major transportation corridor...
s, the former park occupied a whole city block and was laid out at the time of the CPR Townsite survey in the early 1880s. It was Vancouver's second sporting grounds, the first being on Brockton Point
Brockton Point
Brockton Point is located in Vancouver harbour at the east end of Stanley Park. It is named after Francis Brockton. Brockton Point Lighthouse, an automated light, is located at the point....
in what is now Stanley Park, and was used for all kinds of sports. A house on the corner of the lot was occupied by an Alfred Larwill ("Al" or "Fred") who good-naturedly stored all kinds of game equipment in his toolshed and allowed team members to use his dining room for a dressing room.
Located midway between the city's old downtown around Gastown
Gastown
Gastown is a national historic site in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the northeast end of Downtown adjacent to the Downtown Eastside. Its historical boundaries were the waterfront , Columbia Street, Hastings Street, and Cambie Street, which were the borders of the 1870 townsite survey, the proper...
Hastings Street and newer areas uptown around Granville, the park naturally became a centre for public meetings, the most infamous one was a rally by the Knights of Labour which led to the Anti-Oriental Riots of 1907, with the Beatty Street Drill Hall
Beatty Street Drill Hall
The Beatty Street Drill Hall is a Canadian Forces armoury located at 620 Beatty Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the home of The British Columbia Regiment , an armoured reconnaissance reserve regiment, the oldest military unit in Vancouver, and the most senior militia in the province...
, across Beatty Street on the block's northeast flank, serving as a stage and podium. Baseball, cricket and lacrosse teams made use of the field year round. The playing fields also served as military drill-grounds, with the city's first muster being called up for the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
using the site for that purpose, as well as for World Wars I and II. The site was also a main site for rallies of demonstrations by the unemployed and labour organizations in the 1930s. During World War II, while the men who had used it for sport and politics were away at war and not around to prevent it, the site was converted into the bus depot.
2010 Olympics
Often used for parking by Canada PostCanada Post
Canada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
trucks and for film production "circuses", the site has been proposed variously as the location of a new cultural facility such as the new site for the Vancouver Art Gallery and other developments. During the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, it was one of two main sites for cultural events and "nightly celebrations", (although not an official venue).