Comments on: Edgemont Village: Then and Now

By: Greg Matheson

Greg Matheson — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 18:40:11 +0000

In reply to Eve Lazarus. Nice work Eve. Thanks. My family owned the building at 3020 ,Edgemont. We had our TV repair shop there from 1967 to 2004. My dad continued to work for the new building owners that put in a liquor store. In Total, my dad, Ray Matheson worked in the village for over 50 years. My only claim to fame was I started the candy cane street lights. Great memories.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 05:15:22 +0000

My first home in BC was on Woodbine ave above the postal depot. now it is a pet store. The year was 1966 and because the mail bags were dropped off at 1:30am the rent was $90.00 a month. My Dentist, Dr Cheng office was across the alley above the stationary store, after a few years he moved his practice to the corner of Highlands and Woodbine.After retiring his daughter and Dr How took over the practice. I still attend that practice.
The United Church flea market has been an annual event since 66. In fact we were there On Saturday 09/02/23. So many more memories of life in charming little village. Although I still live in NV I would love to move back and yes I was there for the Halloween riot.

By: Luanne Griffin

Luanne Griffin — Thu, 25 May 2023 16:00:46 +0000

Hi Eve,
I just discovered this lovely page and hope you or your readers can help me! We lived off Capilano Road from 1978 to 1983 and my daughters took Irish Dancing lessons in Edgemont Village. They loved it! Their teachers name was Maureen, but I can’t remember her last name. Can anyone help?

By: Steve Oatway

Steve Oatway — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 23:54:02 +0000

In reply to Donna Dykeman. Hi Donna! I remember often going to Isaac's Drug Store from an early age. Sometime around Grade 6 myself and friends like Donny Sinclair and Steve Toevs went in there to go to the back and look at the Playboy magazines they had. We all crowded around a copy with our eyes wide open and were so engrossed in the visual we didn't hear the Pharmacist walk up behind us. He loudly proclaimed for everyone in the store to hear, "Those magazines are not for you boys to look at". We jumped out of skin, threw the magazine at him and went running out of the store, not to return for a long time.

By: Teresa James

Teresa James — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 18:02:37 +0000

Thank you for sharing this picture and the story that goes with it. I have never seen it before. It must be one of the oldest buildings remaining in the Village. I get my hair cut at Kim’s, and sometimes wondered how old the building is. Now I know. The Village is still a great place, with so many services as well as interesting, unique shops.

By: Teresa James

Teresa James — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 17:58:07 +0000

In reply to Donna Dykeman. I remember that your father Murray later became a mayor of North Vancouver. I had forgotten that he had been a pharmacist in the Village.

By: Beth Mowat

Beth Mowat — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 22:12:54 +0000

Wow, thank you for that trip down memory lane. I was born and raised near ‘The Village’ and have fond memories of the Peter Rabbit store and the diner. My dad and mom were dear friends of Reid and Esther Townsley and they were indeed a delightful couple.
Change is inevitable but it is nice to know that the the beginning of that little village is not forgotten.

By: Sig Mckone

Sig Mckone — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 14:57:19 +0000

In reply to Donna Dykeman. I loved that hardware store. Nothing like it ever again.

By: Karen flynn

Karen flynn — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 01:24:42 +0000

My first boyfriends parent have a house on Edgemont Blvd. I remember having coffee and hamburger & fries at the diner and he bought me my first ring at the jewelry store .

By: Keith Johnston

Keith Johnston — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 19:58:33 +0000

Very nice job of historical sleuthing, Eve! And a nice remembrance of the good doctor!

By: Geoff Davies

Geoff Davies — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 18:29:15 +0000

Awesome picture and a great story! A little before my time but brings back the memories! Here is a link to a fascinating aerial perspective of the Edgemont Village circa 1950: https://vintageairphotos.com/bo-50-52/

By: Jonathan+Walford

Jonathan+Walford — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 09:01:56 +0000

Growing up in North Vancouver in the 1960s, Edgemont Village was our goto place for almost everything – Stongs grocery, dry cleaning, bakery, small appliance repair, five & dime, gas, library, bank, barber, Chinese food… even the United church. It was two blocks of ‘everything you need in one place’. Going downtown to Vancouver or Park Royal was only necessary for movies, Christmas shopping, and buying clothes…

By: susananderson

susananderson — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 07:02:08 +0000

This makes me laugh…my grandparents brought up my mother and her brothers in North Van until my grandfather died unexpectedly. When my parents got together while at UBC in the mid 1930s, they chose to build their first house in North Van..their closest friends did the same so I grew up with most of my parents closest friends living close by …with all of us kids ( born just as WWII ended)….so know this area very well, particularly the Edgemont Riot…( really only one, none of the kids could do it two years in a row)

By: Will Hartman

Will Hartman — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 23:40:15 +0000

Another great story Eve! I was born at the old North Vancouver Hospital in 1960 and lived in North Van most of my life. I never knew the history of this area very well having been raised in Lynn Valley. I never knew of Dr Townsley so thank you for bringing the life story of this lovely man to life and for putting some flesh on the bones of North Van history!

By: Donna Dykeman

Donna Dykeman — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 22:02:38 +0000

Wait … I may have mixed up my directions! That’s the north side of the street with the mountains behind it … oops. I’m talking about across from the current coffee place on the south side of Edgemont, but I haven’t been over since before the pandemic. Best, a third-generation North Vancouverite … my great grandfather, John B. Paine, and his wife “Moms” barged over from Robson Street when it was a dirt road to start a hardware store on Lower Lonsdale …

By: Shelly

Shelly — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 21:58:45 +0000

What a lovely story. How old was Dr.Townsley when he passed?

By: Donna Dykeman

Donna Dykeman — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 21:48:40 +0000

Sweet! My parents lived in the walk-up above the jewellery shop across the street form here … and my dad Murray was the pharmacist in Isaac’s Drug Store (“Uncle Frank” Isaacs, who sponsored the poor kid who did bike delivery up and down Lonsdale in the 1940s, retired to Bowen Island), also across the street. My first job at 12 was cleaning my dad’s stockroom while my older sister served up ice cream cones in the front!

By: Bev Archibald

Bev Archibald — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 19:49:37 +0000

What a Great Story . North Van was my Home for many years. Both my children were born at Lions Gate Hospital . I know this area well.
Thanks so much.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 19:09:49 +0000

Very interesting

By: Bernice

Bernice — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 18:36:50 +0000

Interesting Eve , as always.

Thank you