Sponsorship is still available for the Vancouver City Council minutes from 1886..
The transcriptions were made by Margaret Sutherland and by Darrin Pezer / Proactive Building Maintenance.
Click on any headline to see the full transcript of that meeting,
and pictures of the original handwritten minutes.

Petition to incorporate the City of Vancouver – February 15, 1886
In February of 1886, a number of residents of the town of Granville sent a petition to the B.C. Legislative Assembly to incorporate the City of Vancouver. In 1944, the…
Vancouver City Council 1886
Mayor: M. A. MacLean Aldermen: Robert Balfour Charles A. Coldwell Peter Cordiner Thomas Dunn Joseph Griffith Joseph Humphries Harry Hemlow E. P. Hamilton L. A. Hamilton Joseph Northcott source: MADDEN,…
First meeting of Council – May 10, 1886
First Council established, committees established. Joseph Huntly took minutes at this meeting. Purchase of Fire Apparatus referred to the Committee on Fire, Water, and Light until the next meeting. Meetings…
Vancouver wants Coal Harbour Peninsula for a public park – May 12, 1886
Moved by Alderman L. A. Hamilton seconded by Alderman Coldwell, “that the Mayor be authorized to forward a petition to the Dominion Government through the Member for New Westminster District…
Council adjourned to attend public meeting – May 13, 1886
Minutes of previous meeting read and adopted. The Council then adjourned to attend the public meeting called by the Mayor to plan Dominion Day celebrations.
Applications for liquor permits received – May 17, 1886
Applications for Liquor Permits were referred to the License Commissioners. Alderman Balfour given two weeks’ leave.
By-law No 1. passed for duties of Vancouver city employees- May 18, 1886
By-Law No. 1 read three times and passed, outlining the duties and salaries of City Clerk, Assessment Commissioner, Engineer, and Police Magistrate. The Mayor, Police Magistrate, and City Clerk appointed…
By-law passed to restrain and punish vagrants – May 25, 1886
Letter received from David Oppenheimer suggesting Council begin at once to grade and plank streets “by contracting with parties who may be willing to wait payment until the sale of…
Vancouver By-law No. 3 dividing the City into Wards
This transcript was made in March of 2018 by Transcribimus volunteer Mary Ann Capistrano original handwritten by-law here By Law dividing the City of Vancouver into Wards Whereas the Act…
Vancouver has no money for improvements – June 7, 1886
Communication received from Dr. McGuigan re: Voter’s List, no action taken. City of Vancouver charged 50 cents per day board for each City prisoner held in the provincial Jail. City…
Police Court fines to date total only $89 – July 5, 1886
Only $89 was reported as received from Police Court fines, which was thought to be “an unreasonably low sum.” Further to the Special Assessment for the improvement of Water Street,…
Vancouver seeking a Treasurer, salary $25 per month – July 14, 1886
Royal City Planing Mills allowed to lay a pipe from Harris Street to their mills on False Creek. Construction of an inclined roadway at Station No 1 (north end of…
Board of Works authorized to remove fire hazards at property owners’ expense – July 19, 1886
The Board of Works is authorized to dig a trench along the water course from Pender Street to Water Street, and plow under “decayed vegetable matter and rotten wood” presenting…
Police inquiry to be held – July 21, 1886
A committee was formed to investigate charges against Police Commissioner John Boultbee. Two water tanks to be constructed, one at the intersection of Water & Cordova Streets, the other at…
Property owners will be billed for their share of clearing expenses – August 3, 1886
Among the expenses approved was a payment of $6.50 to David Gibb for the making of a coffin. Liquor Bylaw No. 5 was finalized and sent to the Gazette for…
Vancouver Council off to Victoria to find a $8,000 loan – August 9, 1886
Mayor and selected aldermen to go to Victoria to negotiate a bank loan for $8,000 to cover remainder of year’s expenses. City Treasurer hired at $25 per month, and a…
Water, fuel to be held ready for fire engine at each wharf – August 13, 1886
“To have everything in readiness in case of sudden fire” tanks to be placed on each of the two City wharves, each tank large enough to hold 200 gallons of…
Many Vancouver tax assessments reduced – September 8, 1886
A Court of Revision was held to make amendments to the (City Tax) Assessment Roll, in response to citizens’ individual appeals against their tax assessment.
Fire Engine not working well, CPR offers hospital beds – September 13, 1886
“Considerable repair” needed to the Fire Engine; the Committee feels it is due to defective workmanship. First Fire Engineer ET Morris resigns. The C. P. R. has offered Vancouver free…
Vancouver will soon vote on $21,000 of debentures for fire engine, improvements – October 7, 1886
A By-Law was passed to hold a vote among the Electors on whether to issue debentures for $6,9000 for a steam fire engine and another for $14,100 for city improvements.…
Vancouver’s fire bell to ring four times daily – October 11, 1886
The City Fire Engineer instructed to ring the Fire Bell each day (except Sunday) at 7 a.m., 12 noon, and at 1 and 6 p.m. Railway Standard Time. Volunteer Fire…
Election date set for Council of 1887 – Nov 16, 1886
Special Meeting to receive the Board of Works and Finance Committee reports, and to pass a By-Law fixing the polling places and appoint Deputy Returning Officers for Election of a…
County court to be held monthly at Vancouver’s new city hall – November 22, 1886
Monthly use of City Hall granted for sessions of County Court at a rate of $5.00 per day plus a charge of $2.00 per day for an attending police officer.…
Vancouver’s $4,700 debt will be paid in order of approval – December 29, 1886
In order to pay off all debt approved by Council in 1886, certificates of indebtedness to be issued in order of approval. Certificates will bear 10 per cent interest per…