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

BC Permanent Building

City of Vancouver Heritage Building

— Architects: Hooper and Watkins —

BC Permanent Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 1, 2011

1. BC Permanent Building Marker

Inscription. This small scale but well-executed example of Beaux-Arts classicism was designed by Thomas Hooper (the architect of Shaughnessy's Hycroft Mansion) and Elwood Watkins. Built in 1907 for Thomas Talton Langlois' BC Permanent Loan Company, after 1935 it housed offices of the Bank of Canada. The impressive open interior features a large Tiffany-style stained glass dome, mosaic tile floors, and a series of fine windows displaying the Yukon, Great Britain and eight provincial coats-of-arms. After new owners acquired the building in 1979 and made interior alterations, it became known as Page House.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Vancouver, City of Vancouver Heritage Buildings series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1907.

Location. 49° 16.945′ N, 123° 6.694′ W. Marker is in Vancouver, British Columbia, in Metro Vancouver. It is on West Pender Street near Hamilton Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 330 West Pender Street, Vancouver BC V6B 1T1, 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: 326 West Pender Street (a few steps from this marker); Vancouver Daily Province 67 Years (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Here Stood Hamilton

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(about 120 meters away); Victory Square Cenotaph (about 120 meters away); Royal Bank of Canada Building (about 120 meters away); Victory Square (about 120 meters away); Dominion Building (about 120 meters away); Edgett Building (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vancouver.

Also see . . . B.C. Permanent Building. HistoricPlaces.ca's page for the BC Permanent Building. On the structure's heritage value: "...Significant as an excellent example of Neoclassical Revival, temple form design, the B.C. Permanent Building has survived relatively unaltered, retaining a high level of integrity. Built in 1907, the building is stylistically important for its strong, English Palladian style inspiration as seen in the rusticated stone facade, Diocletian window, voussoir entrance, classically detailed portico, and finely-proportioned symmetrical design. The columns, pilasters and large windows of the building express a sense of monumentality that belies its relatively small scale. The overall effect of the building projects conservatism, permanence and security." (Submitted on April 15, 2012.)

Permanent not: It used to say "B.C. Permanent Bldg." (see next photo) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 8, 2010

2. Permanent not: It used to say "B.C. Permanent Bldg." (see next photo)

BC Permanent Building (historical photo) image. Click for full size.

Unknown, image courtesy of the Vancouver Public Library, circa 1909/19

3. BC Permanent Building (historical photo)

March 11 [1935] The Bank of Canada was founded. Its first home in Vancouver was in Page House at 330 West Pender Street, famous for its stained-glass ceiling. “Back then,” Robin Ajello has written, “bank robberies were a popular craze, so the bank had a machine gun installed to defend the enlarged vault that at one time held all of the bank's B.C. assets. Cash was safely lugged in and out along a since-walled-off tunnel that ran underground to West Hastings Street.” - from The History of Metropolitan Vancouver, by Chuck Davis, 2011.

BC Permanent Building today image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 8, 2010

4. BC Permanent Building today

Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2012, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,168 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 15, 2012, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.