Downtown in Vancouver in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

Victory Square

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 28, 2024

1. Victory Square Marker

Inscription.

Victory Square. . , To you from failing hands we throw, The torch; be yours to hold it high.. 1860S, 1889 GOVERNMENT SQUARE Victory Square began as a piece of dense forest kept aside as provincial property during a survey of February 1886. Ten weeks after the city's incorporation, the Great Fire of June 13, 1886 swept the area clean of logging debris., 1889-1912 THE COURTHOUSE YEARS In 1889 a provincial courthouse was erected and the periphery was planted with maple trees. The building lasted until 1912 when it was demolished for a new site on Georgia Street. In 1900 this now growing financial area began a military association when a bonfire set by Boer War celebrants damaged the freshly laid wood-block pavement at the intersection of Cambie and Hastings., 1914-1918 "NO MAN'S LAND" As Canadian casualties mounted in world war one a movement began to set the area aside as a war memorial. In May 1917 alongside an army recruitment marquee, a giant Evangelistic Tabernacle was erected. It covered most of the square and was dismantled that July. During the summer of 1918 veterans raised money for was widows and dependants by constructing a realistic front line trench, complete with sandbags and barbed wire. On March 12, 1918 the city leased the square from BC Government for 99 years., 1918-1924 SETTING UP A WAR MEMORIAL Two years after the Armistice of 1918, Government Square was renamed Victory Square by the city and provincial governments and two civic organizations began raising funds for a cenotaph. Finally, in April 1924, the Cenotaph was unveiled to 25,000 people and since then has been the centre of all November 11th Remembrance Day services., 1924-PRESENT A CONTINUING FOCUS Although no longer the centre of the city, Victory Square has since been a focus of protests, particularly during the Depression era when the unemployed rioted then camped out here. Others have followed. A 2002 major renovation included a new layout, benches, and lamp standards with helmets as shades. The "soldier" lights stand at attention around the Cenotaph and at ease throughout the park., BUILDINGS SURROUNDING THE SQUARE ① The Dominion Building 1908-10, ② Imperial Bank 1897-98, ③ News-Advertiser Building 1905, ④ Oddfellow's Hall/Lyric Theatre 1906, ⑤ Central School 1890, ⑥ Province Newspaper Office and Editorial Building 1908-09, ⑦ The Flack Block 1899

To you from failing hands we throw,
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
1860S—1889 GOVERNMENT SQUARE
Victory Square began as a piece of dense forest kept aside as provincial property during a survey of February 1886. Ten weeks after the city's incorporation, the Great Fire of June 13, 1886 swept the area clean of logging debris.

1889-1912 THE COURTHOUSE YEARS
In 1889 a provincial courthouse was erected and the periphery was planted with maple trees. The building lasted until 1912 when it was demolished for a new site on Georgia Street. In 1900 this now growing financial area began a military association when a bonfire set by Boer War celebrants damaged the freshly laid wood-block pavement at the intersection of Cambie and Hastings.

1914-1918 "NO MAN'S LAND"
As Canadian casualties mounted in WWI a movement began to set the area aside as a war memorial. In May 1917 alongside an army recruitment marquee, a giant Evangelistic Tabernacle was erected. It covered most of the square and was dismantled that July. During the summer of 1918 veterans raised money for was widows and dependants by constructing a realistic front line trench, complete with sandbags and barbed wire. On March 12, 1918 the city leased the square from BC Government for 99 years.

1918-1924
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SETTING UP A WAR MEMORIAL
Two years after the Armistice of 1918, Government Square was renamed Victory Square by the city and provincial governments and two civic organizations began raising funds for a cenotaph. Finally, in April 1924, the Cenotaph was unveiled to 25,000 people and since then has been the centre of all November 11th Remembrance Day services.

1924-PRESENT A CONTINUING FOCUS
Although no longer the centre of the city, Victory Square has since been a focus of protests, particularly during the Depression era when the unemployed rioted then camped out here. Others have followed. A 2002 major renovation included a new layout, benches, and lamp standards with helmets as shades. The "soldier" lights stand at attention around the Cenotaph and at ease throughout the park.

BUILDINGS SURROUNDING THE SQUARE
① The Dominion Building 1908-10

② Imperial Bank 1897-98

③ News-Advertiser Building 1905

④ Oddfellow's Hall/Lyric Theatre 1906

⑤ Central School 1890

⑥ Province Newspaper Office & Editorial Building 1908-09

⑦ The Flack Block 1899

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 28, 2024

2. Victory Square Marker

Cenotaph in background

• Patriots & Patriotism • Settlements & Settlers • War, World I. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1886.

Location. 49° 16.938′ N, 123° 6.589′ W. Marker is in Vancouver, British Columbia, in Metro Vancouver. It is in Downtown. It is on Cambie Street just south of Hasting Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BC V6B 1G8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on British Columbia’s Lower Mainland

and in Coast & Mountains.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Victory Square Cenotaph (a few steps from this marker); Flack Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Dominion Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Vancouver Daily Province 67 Years (within shouting distance of this marker); Here Stood Hamilton (within shouting distance of this marker); Edgett Building (within shouting distance of this marker); 326 West Pender Street (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); BC Permanent Building (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vancouver.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 28, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 244 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 28, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.