Shirley Barnett has sponsored the Vancouver City Council minutes from 1889.
The transcriptions were made by Margaret Sutherland, Joy Marie Vasquez and by Darrin Pezer / Proactive Building Maintenance.
Click on any headline to see the full transcript of that meeting.

Election results for Vancouver City Council of 1889
This document was transcribed in July of 2018 by volunteer Gerald Soon. These election results were published in the “Vancouver Daily World” on December 10, 1888. The winners took office…
James Whetham biography
is biography of James Whetham was transcribed in June of 2018 by Transcribimus volunteer Chris Mizzoni. JAMES WHETHAM One of the newly elected representatives for Ward 2, is a comparatively…
Vancouver City Council 1889
Mayor: David Oppenheimer Aldermen: Sam Brighouse (Ward 1) J. F. Salsbury (Ward 1) J. W. Horne (Ward 2) James Whetham (Ward 2) M. J. Brower (Ward 3) Robert Clark (Ward…
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…
Council for 1889 begins its work – January 7, 1889, 12:00 noon
Council requests city departments to submit budgets for upcoming year. Request to federal government for contribution to upkeep and improvement of Stanley Park, as “said Park is to be used…
Readjustment of Council Committees overturned – January 14, 1889, 3:00 pm
Special meeting to change composition of committees for 1889. Motion defeated, committees remained the same. This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez…
Portuguese Joe to get $150 compensation – January 14, 1889
Ex-Alderman Alexander and Mr. McKay made Park commissioners. Extra police payroll of $142 was paid to enforce the quarantine. Portuguese Joe (José Gonsalves) will get $150 for destruction of personal…
Vancouver Water Works Company given last chance – January 21, 1889
Last chance for Vancouver Water Works Company to fulfill its contract with city: water supply originally promised to city in early part of 1888. This transcript was made in 2015…
Mount Pleasant streets to be named and registered – February 11, 1889
All streets in Ward No. 4 south of False Creek must be named and registered.City Treasurer authorized to hire an Accountant to assist him. Thos. Stephenson appointed Street Superintendent at…
Business suspended while Councillors wrangle – February 18, 1889
In-depth procedural debate, no other business accomplished. This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez original handwritten minutes here City of Vancouver Archives…
Aldermen’s absence cancels meeting – February 25, 1889
The meeting adjourned due to lack of quorum. This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez original handwritten minutes here City of Vancouver…
Legal opinion needed re: Mayor’s vote – March 1, 1889
Council requests a legal opinion on whether the Mayor, an ex-officio member of every civic Committee, has the right to vote in each Committee This transcript was made in 2015…
Stanley Park lodge to be built, deadwood removed – March 4, 1889
Stanley Park to have lodge and outbuildings, twenty seats built, and dead wood cleared or burned – total cost about $800. Claim of $3760.00 damages from J. D. Schmidt for…
Continual damage to fire engines intentional? – March 11, 1889
Repeated damage to fire engines may be the result of tampering by “person or persons unknown”; fire department to check condition of engines twice daily. This transcript was made in…
Council opposes draining of Burnaby Lake – March 18, 1889
Resolution against the draining of Burnaby Lake to be sent to Victoria, following similar petition by residents of New Westminster. Another to “earnestly petition” the Legislative Assembly to hasten the…
Mayor to take Charter of Amendments to Victoria – March 23, 1889
Special meeting; Mayor Oppenheimer, Aldermen Salsbury and Lefevre and Dr. McGuigan appointed to go to Victoria with a view of having the Charter of Amendments passed. This transcript was made…
Alderman J.M. Lefevre resigns – April 1, 1889
J.M. Lefevre resigned his seat on Council. Letter from the Vancouver Typographical Union No. 226 protests against the City printing being done outside the City This transcript was made in…
Vancouver accountant and street superintendent hired – April 8, 1889
Estimates of income and expenses for the year received from all City departments. City Accountant and Superintendent of Streets hired. This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret…
Post office boxes needed in Mount Pleasant, West End “suburbs” – April 15, 1889
Urgent need for more Post Office boxes for the “suburbs” in Mount Pleasant and west of Granville Street. Municipality of Richmond’s agreed contribution toward the Granville Street Bridge has not…
Electric lights for Fire Hall No. 1 – April 23, 1889
8 electric lights to be installed in Fire Hall No. 1 at a monthly cost of $16.50 This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy…
Race Course planned for Hastings Park – May 13, 1889
Council “to arrange with the British Columbia Jockey Club for the lease of a site under the control of the club in the eastern park near Hastings sufficiently large for…
Future of City Wharf uncertain – May 20, 1889
Committee formed to either settle with Vancouver Wharfage and Storage re: purchase of wharf as previously agreed or that “the right to purchase same should be abandoned.” Cost of installing…
Aldermen to meet with Vancouver Wharfage and Storage Co. – May 27, 1889
Aldermen Horne, Whetham, Oppenheimer, McConnell and Brewer were appointed to meet with the wharf owners to work out the next step in the acquisition of city wharf. Plan to have…
Chinese residents to be evicted from Stanley Park – June 3, 1889
Health inspector to remove “nuisances” along the Park Road, “particularly the Chinese in the vicinity of the Lodge”. [Stanley] Park ranger instructed to impound dogs without license tags. Call for…
Vancouver sends $1,000 to relieve Seattle fire victims – June 7, 1889
Mayor authorized to send “up to one thousand dollars to relieve sufferers in Seattle” – referring to the Great Seattle Fire of June 6, 1889. Recently adopted liquor by-law to…
Richmond hedges on its bridge contribution – June 10, 1889
Municipality of Richmond’s position regarding its financial responsibility toward the construction of a bridge between Vancouver and Richmond “is noted with much surprise and regret by this Board” (see minutes…
Market plans take shape, Board of Works budget exhausted – June 17, 1889
City Market committee recommends “a brick building 63 feet x 100 with basement; ground floor to be divided into stalls with arcades … and hall on second storey, total cost…
Vancouver street improvements approved for each ward – July 15, 1889
List of street improvements for each of five city wards itemized and approved, at a total cost of $41,990.00. Leading Chinese citizen J. Cumyow receives permission to exhume Chinese dead…
Knights of Labour want nine hour day – August 5, 1889
Request received from the Knights of Labour to reduce the workday of City labourers to 9 hours. agreed to call for tender for clearing, close cutting and burning of about…
Time limits for smelting company, street railway both extended – August 12, 1889
Council authorizes $65 monthly support for Free Reading Room and Library. Time limit for contract between city and smelting company has expired, and will have to be re-negotiated. Time limit…
Mr. Clark donates park to Vancouver – August 26, 1889
Architects Sansom and Danson win $100 prize for their plan for the City Market. After a presentation from Mr. Sansom, it was agreed to situate the market 16 ft. back…
Special audit of Vancouver Police Court Accounts called – September 09, 1889
A Special Audit of the Police Court accounts and of the Police Books to be made immediately and a full report brought before the Police Board. A By-Law was introduced…
Chain gang set to work on police officer’s private property, report alleges – September 16th, 1889
Police chief suspended without pay while reports of police misconduct and breach of trust investigated by “Justices of Her Majesty’s Supreme Court of British Columbia or a Judge of the…
Vancouver to acquire Water Works, electric street lights – September 23, 1889
Geo. MacKay resigned as Parks Board chairman: W.J. Horne appointed to Chair. City to negotiate with Vancouver Water Works Company to acquire its system of Water Works. City signs agreement…
Street railway construction will close Westminster Bridge for 15 days – September 30, 1889
Vancouver Street Railway allowed to close the Westminster Av. (Main Street) bridge for 15 days to install track. City Engineer instructed to notify the contractor(s) that they (and not the…
All building materials and debris to be removed from Vancouver streets – October 14, 1889
Ongoing investigation of police department by Mr. Justice Drake extended to include officials of police court. Street inspector given five days to notify all parties to remove building materials and…
Constable accepted bribes from prostitutes, night policemen dine on the job – November 2, 1889
Policemen regularly met in a restaurant when they were supposed to be on their beats. Chief Stewart cleared of intentional wrong-doing in some charges, but not all. His “total want…
Park leases to Athletic Club, Jockey Club finalized – November 4, 1889
Brockton Oval lease to Athletic Club and Eastern (Hastings Park) lease to Jockey Club both to be completed and signed. James MacDonald appointed pound keeper at a monthly salary of…
John Devine resigns as City Auditor – November 11, 1889
$7,000 in total granted for public works to streets and sidewalks; projects grouped according to city ward. John Devine resigns as city auditor. Date, time and place for election of…
Board of Works, Finance Committee debate fountain purchase – November 18, 1889
Board of Works recommends (and Finance Committee opposes) purchase of a fountain from New York at a cost of $763.00 Fire Brigade staff to be fined $2.50 for a first…
Sewer contract decision postponed – November 21, 1889
Special meeting to reconsider the awarding of the sewer contract. Decision postponed until a meeting with the sanitary engineer. This transcript was made in 2014 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland…
City solicitor, two police officers resign – December 11, 1889
City slaughter houses given six months’ notice to re-locate outside city boundaries. J. T. Abray & W. D. Haywood resign as police officers. J.J. Blake resigns as city solicitor. All…
Former city solicitor Devine files charges against Vancouver Mayor and Aldermen – December 23, 1889
Mayor and Aldermen called to County Court in New Westminster to answer charges filed by Mr. John Devine, former City Auditor. Finance Committee deplores Mr. Devine’s breach of confidentiality in…
Smelting works contract forfeit – December 30, 1889
City’s 1888 arrangement with Mr. Claude Vautin to build a smelting works had not been completed. Mr. Vautin’s deposit of $5,000 was declared forfeit and property of the City. This…