The Oppenheimer Group sponsored the Vancouver City Council minutes from 1888
The transcriptions were made by Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez.
Click on any headline to see the full transcript of that meeting.

Vancouver City Council 1888
Mayor: David Oppenheimer (bio) Aldermen: Sam Brighouse (Ward 1) John M. Lefevre (Ward 1) Joseph Humphries (Ward 2) John Dougall (Ward 2) Henry Bell-Irving (Ward 3, resigned) Robert Clark Charles…
Mayor David Oppenheimer takes office – January 2, 1888
First Council Meeting with Mayor David Oppenheimer. Meetings generally Monday 7:30 PM. Standing Committees created – Finances, Board of Works, Fire Water and Light, Board of Health. This transcript was…
By-law will regulate firing of guns, bonfires within City of Vancouver – January 16, 1888
Bylaw introduced to regulate firing of guns, setting off firecrackers and bonfires. Public library requests donation for the purchase of books. City Solicitor gives opinion that Keefer not guilty of…
Vancouver requests 64 acre park in Hastings Township – January 23, 1888
Committee appointed to meet with Richmond Committee regarding constructing bridges from Lulu Island and Sea Island. Map submitted with streets with sewers and plans for additional. Alexander and Oppenheimer recommend…
Cambie Street to be improved south of Hastings – February 13, 1888
City Engineer to call for tenders for improvement of Cambie Street. Citizens ask to relax the by-law about mixing mortar on the street. Fire, Water & Light Committee wants a…
Council reviews C. Gauthier smelting works agreement – February 23, 1888
Special Meeting to review the agreement with Claude Gauthier to have a smelting works within the City of Vancouver.
Council endorses lower qualifications for voters, elected officials – February 27, 1888
Council to bring to Victoria the Vancouver citizens’ petition to lower property qualifications for both voters and elected officials. 58 men working on the (Stanley) Park Road. Offices of City…
Five dollar reward offered to report those dumping on city streets – March 5, 1888
Five dollar reward to report those dumping on city streets. Approved $20 to man whose team of horses had been destroyed after being infected by glanders. Approval to raise $125,000…
Mr. Pitt asks compensation for loss of his leg – March 12, 1888
Mr. Pitt asks remuneration for loss of leg through being run over by fire engine. Mr. Abbott [CPR] asked to kindly remove fence on Heatley Avenue and to construct crossing…
Mayor Oppenheimer & Council mull over this year’s tax rate – March 24, 1888
A Special meeting of the City Council to review the loan by-law and determine the rate of taxation for the current year.
Vancouver to get fire alarm system – April 2, 1888
Request for Opera House about to be built be exempt from taxation for 20 years. Recommend purchase of six boxes and two gongs as a fire alarm system in the…
Vancouver needs second fire engine – April 16, 1888
City recommends purchase of a second fire engine. City Auditor John Devine’s salary increased. Assistant City Engineer J. Romang’s raise denied. CPR to build Heatley Street crossing over railway. Contracts…
Province must not meddle in Vancouver property assessments, says Council – April 23, 1888
Efforts to oppose provincial legislation affecting property assessments. Petition to remove stump at the corner of Granville and Robson. Signs to be placed at the False Creek Bridge for vehicles…
Council asks federal government for “some provisions for the defense of Vancouver” – May 28, 1888
The Health Inspector authorized to tear down the old building on the Hospital Lots and that the chain gang be utilized for that purpose. Carried. Alderman Bell-Irving resigns. Communication to…
Much road work ahead for Vancouver – June 11, 1888
Great number of tenders for road work reviewed and recommended by Board of Works. Special Engineer to be employed to review plans for bridge across False Creek at Granville Street,…
Mount Pleasant school site donated by H. V. Edmonds – June 19, 1888
Mr. H. V. Edmonds has agreed to donate to the City of Vancouver for school purposes part of the triangular block… on Ninth Avenue and…Westminster Road (where the Kingsgate Mall…
Finance Committee to track street, sidewalk expenses before contracts are signed – June 25, 1888
Every recommendation for opening streets or laying sidewalk or other work shall state the estimated cost of the same and that before any contract is signed such estimate shall be…
Vancouver hospital nears completion – July 9, 1888
Council considers the question of appointing a medical board, purchasing furniture, medicine and other needs as the hospital nears completion. Mr. A. E. McCartney to be paid $100 for superintending…
Four plans received for False Creek bridge– July 16, 1888
Mr. James Hartney requests reimbursement for goods destroyed in quarantine. Board of School Trustees to meet at City Hall any evening except Mondays. Board of Works received four plans for…
Pender Street lowlands to be drained– July 23, 1888
City Engineer…to drain the low lands on Pender Street crossing Howe, Hornby and Granville. City Treasurer instructed not to collect any tax on personal property this year and to repay…
New City Hospital to be finished soon – August 10, 1888
Furnishing of the new City Hospital to be completed within fourteen days. Towing and recovery of old floating hospital will cost $3,000.00 This transcript was made in 2018 by Transcribimus…
Second fire engine on its way to Vancouver – August 14, 1888
Communication from John D. Ronald acknowledging receipt of money for Engine No 2. A telephone, a bell and pump to be purchased for the new Fire Hall and sufficient lumber…
Vancouver corners chosen for fire hydrants, electric lights – October 9, 1888
Intersections chosen for installation of electric lights and fire hydrants. Contractors agree to have debris along Stanley Park road disposed of by city, and the cost deducted from final payment.…
City hospital now in operation – October 15, 1888
City hospital informally opened Sept 22 with only one ward operative. Visiting hours Wednesdays and Sundays only between 3:00 and 4:00 pm. Citizens object to council’s “irregular” election of hospital…
Police to monitor Vancouver’s street lighting – October 22, 1888
City Engineer must keep a separate contract book for each ward. Police men to report location and date of broken streetlights. City drains to be diverted into culverts being dug…
Presbyterian Ladies’ Aid furnishes eight hospital beds – November 5, 1888
Presbyterian Ladies’ Aid donates all linens and equipment for eight hospital beds. City accepts E.J. Clark’s offer of donation of lot for an athletic field. “Responsible parties” may apply for…
Vancouver will donate land for post office and customs house – November 12, 1888
Mayor to inform Dominion Government that city requests and will donate land to establish post office and customs house in a central part of the city. Request to council to…
King Fung demands his opium back – December 11, 1888
Communication from John Boultbee asking for return of $20.00 worth of opium seized by the police from his client King Fung. Referred to City Solicitor. Sub-committee established to review of…
Council of 1888 wraps up – January 7, 1889, 11:30 am
Final reports from the Fire Brigade and the Board of Health were received. Aldermen Coldwell and Clark tendered thanks to Mayor David Oppenheimer for the “phenomenal progress” Vancouver has made…