Sponsorship for the 1897 Vancouver City Council minutes is still available.
Transcription is still in progress as at Nov 30 2022. To date, transcripts have been made by volunteers Joanne McCormick, Gerald Soon, Hal Bell-Irving, Lynn Shane, Krystyna Richards, Leah Minuk, Rachel Amanda Hennessy, Alannah Hall, Darlene Ochotta, Margaret Sutherland, and Anonymous
Click on any headline to see the full transcript of that meeting.
were sponsored by Arnold Silber and transcribed by Anonymous | Darrin Pezer/Proactive Building Maintenance | Gerald Soon | Joanne McCormick | Hal Bell-Irving | Krystyna Richards | Leah Minuk |…
Mayor:William Templeton Aldermen:H. J. Painter (Ward 1)H. P. Shaw (Ward 1 – absent)Thomas O. Townley (Ward 1 – elected in by-election)James McQueen (Ward 2)Thomas F. Neelands (Ward 2)James Clandenning (Ward…
The Mayor and City Clerk were empowered to sign a contract with Armstrong & Morrison for riveted steel pipe. The Chain Gang was directed to to clear the brush off…
Council for 1896 read the Amendments to the Polling By-Law twice, and would meet once more on January 18 to wrap up business. This transcript was made in 2022 by…
This transcript was made in 2022 by Transcribimus volunteer Gerald Soon Original handwritten minutes: COV S31 Volume 7pages 413 – 416 To see or download images of the original pages,…
This transcript was made in 2022 by Transcribimus volunteer Gerald Soon Original handwritten minutes: COV Archives Series 31Volume 7 pages 417 – 419 To see or download photos of the…
Council sent a long resolution to the Dominion (federal) government about a planned industrial railway through Lethbridge and the Crow’s Nest pass; that it be extended to the coast using…
Council agreed to ask the Provincial Government to provide a site for a Drill Shed for the Artillery Companies of Vancouver, as it had done for other BC cities. This…
A By-Law to raise $70,000 for Schools received second reading. Appointed as the 1897 Free Library Board were Wm. Brown, G.W. Hobson, R.B. Ellis, W.D. Brydone-Jack, Wm Prentice, W.A. Wilson…
Vancouver’s solicitor, A. St. George Hamersley, gave his opinions that a) The City could not impose a license on fish peddlers unless it could be proved the fish were caught…
The Fire and Police Committee received a communication of the Grand Jury at the last Assizes calling for safer jail accommodation. Laide aside for consideration with cost of additional jail…
Aldermen McQueen and Brown propose that as the 200 acres of tidal flats east of the Westminster Bridge (today’s Main Street) are “a nuisance to the public” and “of no…
This transcript was made in 2022 by Alannah Hall Text Source: City of Vancouver Archives Series 31Volume 7 pages 474 – 481 To see or download photos of the original…
The Smelter Committee reported, “[it] does not feel justified in recommending Mr Selover’s proposal to the serious consideration of the City Council at the present time.”
The Liquor Licensing By-Law was amended to forbid liquor sales combined with “any exhibition of natural or artificial curiosities” or “dramatic theatrical or musical performances or exhibitions of sparring or…
City Solicitor A. St. George Hamersley gave as his opinion that that “the Council could not reserve a part of the Street for Bicycle riders nor impose a compulsory tax…
Several buildings were ordered cleaned or demolished by the Board of Health, “such buildings and filth thereunder to be a nuisance and dangerous to the Public Health.” Mrs. E. Campbell…
Council met with representatives of J. Evans & Co. of London, who were seeking a ten year exemption from taxes and from water charges in exchange for building a smelter…
The Pound Keeper be allowed 10 cts a day for feeding each dog impounded. Resolved that the Stove in Fire Hall No 2 be fixed without delay. Detective Haywood to…
$6,000 was budgeted for renovations to the new City Hall premises at the Market building, $1,500 for the Mayor, $3,000 for the Aldermen. This transcript was made in 2022 by…
The Vancouver Electric Railway and Light Company (shown here) will be notified to move the poles out on Barnard Street to the required distance where the new walk is to…
City Engineer must satisfy himself that any person is a British Subject prior to hiring him or her. A number of buildings previously identified as a nuisance and dangerous to…
E. Gold’s request for a Music Hall License was refused – Aldermen Shaw and McPhaiden opposed in favour of Mr. Gold. McPhaiden and Shaw proposed a theatre and refreshment license…
Local merchants Scott & Devlin asked permission to erect a small moveable stand for putting away bicycles at edge of curb opposite 303 Hastings Street. Permission granted as an experiment…
Council would like to see the cost of boarding City [of Vancouver] prisoners in the Provincial Jail reduced, “the Committee being of the opinion that 50¢ a day is too…
As all the tenders received were higher than the budgeted amount, it was decided to ask for tenders for a 2 storey addition to the hospital for a women’s ward.
Council agreed that if the Street Railway Company agree to erect a suitable waiting room at the terminus of the line on Coal Harbour they be granted permission to build…
Text source: City of Vancouver Series 31Volume 7 page 588 only To see or download the handwritten page for this date, click on the button below: [Volume 7 page] 588…
An agreement for street railway on Pender, Georgia and Denman was reviewed (photo shows streetcar on Robson Street). James Armstrong refused permission to graze cows on Fairview. A new Heath…
A new bylaw was introduced to widen Pender Street at Burrard Street. Sam Brighouse’s property at Pender and Burrard was bought for $1,000. Photo shows southeast corner of Pender and…
The Y. W. C. A. was granted the use of the Market Hall for a magic lantern lecture*. The lantern shown above is from the Museum of Vancouver online history…
Council partially approved a request from the Queen’s Jubilee Committee to fund swimming facilities and a park on English Bay. The Committee requested $5,000 but only $2,000 was eventually approved.…
Dr. I. M. MacLean joined the health inspector in recommending a high fence be erected on the North side of Water Street between Abbott and Carrall Streets to prevent dumping…
Text Source: City of Vancouver Series 31Volume 7 page 635 only To see or download a photo of the original handwritten page from this date, click the button below: [Volume…
This transcript was made in August of 2022 by Transcribimus. Text Source: City of Vancouver Series 31Volume 7 page 636 only To see or download a photo of the handwritten…
The British Columbia Electric Railway Company was allowed to lay temporary bent rails at Granville and Pender Streets because the agreed upon size and weight of bent rails was not…
In order to convert the Market Hall to a City Hall all Market tenants were advised, “your tenancy of the stall in the Market Place will be terminated on the…
Council established a by-election for Ward 1 to fill Alderman Shaw’s vacated seat. Shown above is St. Luke’s home, where Council agreed to fund Mrs. Crook for $5.00 per week…
Council approved the Fire and Police Committee’s selection of Gamewell’s tender to supply 3 fire alarm boxes: one to be installed on the corner of 7th Av. and Bridge Street,…
Council decided anonymously against buying a gas works for $265,000. These minutes were transcribed in 2022 by Transcribimus volunteer Anonymous Text Source: City of Vancouver Archives Series 31Volume 7 page…
Council to write to the Tramway company reminding them that they are in violation of their contract with the City in not having fenders on public streetcars; also to the…
[Vancouver] Council can see no just reason why the Dominion Government should not make an annual grant in support of the [D’arcy Island leper colony. Committee approved the Finance &…
Council agreed with the Water and Market Committee’s rule “That ….sprinkling the street with hose by private consumers is strictly forbidden and no person …shall be allowed to sprinkle… lawns,…
Letter received from R. Marpole General Superintendent of the CPR Co. stating that hereafter whistling by engines would be abolished and the screech of trains moderated.
The Board of Works held a special meeting with local experts to discuss the question of the proposed new swing span for the Granville Street bridge. Motions were passed to…
C. H. Wright called Council’s attention to the “disgraceful condition” of Water Street from Abbott to Carroll Streets. Photo is of Water Street, taken in 1897. Ex Mayor Henry Collins…
The Rand Brothers wrote to Council telling them the matter of removing the old verandah from Tremont Hotel {pictured above} on Carrall Street will be attended to. A $15 per…
City Council regrets the untimely death of Ex-Mayor Fred Cope (Mr. Cope’s house shown above). The City Crematory was authorized to burn a quantity of damaged fruit. The Fire &…
There was controversy about accepting the Light Railway and Tramway Committee’s report; it was only adopted after striking out the clause recommending the placing of a street light on Richards…
Two smelter proposals were reviewed: Mr. Harry Symons’ proposal was chosen to go forward. This transcript was made in 2021 by Transcribimus volunteer Joanne McCormick Original handwritten minutes City of…
This transcript was made in 2021 by Transcribimus volunteer Joanne McCormick Original handwritten minutes: City of Vancouver Archives S31 Volume 8, page 36 only Too see or download images of…
In the third special meeting held this week, the Mayor and seven Aldermen, the City Solicitor and the City Engineer met with Harry Symons, Q.C. to furnish him with their…
The Board of Works requested that the Harbour Master “exercise his authority as to the prevention of tugs, small steamers and scows from tying up and delivering produce at City…
Dr. W D Brydone-Jack reported on cases of typhoid fever in Mount Pleasant but declined in future to notify the Health Officer of the existence of infectious diseases unless he…
The City Engineer was asked to look into providing Mount Pleasant and Fairview with a Sewerage System. Officer John McAllister having been on the Police Force for a year, was…
J. J. Sparrow complained of the disgraceful condition of of Pender Street (pictured) in front of his stables. Rent for the market hall fixed $20 for dances, $15 for concerts,…
Council decided to spend $2,000 “for the purpose of advertising the advantages of Vancouver as an outfitting point for the gold fields of the Klondike”. Frank Baynes be appointed Police…
This transcript was made in 2021 by Transcribimus volunteer Joanne McCormick Illustration: CVA M-3-9.7 MacKinnon Block & Masonic Hall – Hastings & Granville 1898 Original handwritten minutes here: City of…
The Health Inspector reported Mr. Linton has rebuilt cabins in place of those torn down. Photo shows Mr. Linton’s yachts near the City Wharf. The finance committee authorized the $2.00…
This transcript was made in 2021 by Transcribimus volunteer Joanne McCormick. Illustration: City of vancouver Archives CVA 2008-010.4143CPR Dock at foot of Howe St. c 1896 Original handwritten minutes: City…
McClary Manufacturing Company sent in plans for a new warehouse at 303 Cordova St. (pictured, still standing). City Lawyer gave the opinion that Council “had no power” to exempt C.P.R.…
Council refused J.I. Seymour Wells’ request for a refund of his auctioneer’s license on the grounds that they had no power to make refunds. Miss J. Brown was paid $6.35…
Council asked BC Electric Co to extend their Pender Street Car Service to the new City Hall on Westminster Avenue. The Water and Market Committee approved payment to Robertson &…
The Health Committee got a letter from G. W. Thomas complaining about a “nuisance” (odour) from a Chinese Laundry near his premise on Westminster Avenue. The Wah Chong Family Laundry…
BCER offered to run a streetcar every twenty minutes if Council would allow them to run a car in charge of only one man. Proposed amendments to the Act of…
A by-law exempting CPR property from taxation was drafted and sent to the CPR Directors for approval. This transcript was made in 2022 by Transcribimus volunteer Joanne McCormick Original handwritten…