Comments on: James Cunningham and the Stanley Park Seawall

By: Norma Enns

Norma Enns — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:49:01 +0000

It is very sad that the Stone Mason’s that continued Jimmy’s work have been forgotten. My Uncle Ron Gordon bring one of them.

By: ANNE FLEMINGl my dad name was Thomas Cunningham peacock fleminh

ANNE FLEMINGl my dad name was Thomas Cunningham peacock fleminh — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 15:31:22 +0000

In reply to Alexander Harris. Am so proud to say jimmy was my own fathers grandfather amazing story x

By: Rene D’Haese

Rene D’Haese — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 18:19:06 +0000

My Dad was the stone mason that installed the Cunningham memorial plaque, there is a picture ine herald or sun with him installing the plaque would love to find that picture again

FYI the headstones were also used in the wall by the old Quarryhouse restaurant in queen Elizabeth park
Remember my dad showing them to me
Prior to installation.

By: Alexander Harris

Alexander Harris — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 19:19:56 +0000

One thing that gets to me that nobody seems to notice and I can’t find any recognition or information anywhere is who do you suppose continued to build the wall after Cunningham’s demise? My grandfather Alexander Yule took the contract via bidding every year after until it’s completion and built just as much as James but zero mention of a great man and it hurts our family to think of or mention it, the lack of recognition to my amazing grandpa.

By: John Kurucz

John Kurucz — Fri, 24 May 2019 22:04:16 +0000

“Jimmy and Elizabeth have their ashes buried behind the rock at Siwash Rock. There’s a plaque with his name there.”

I heard this years ago as well, specifically that the ashes were spread directly behind the plaque.

I asked park board staff as recently as this week to confirm but no one will. I’d ask you where you got that info from, but I assume that like me, you heard it from a “little birdie” … Cheers.

By: Maria Brookes

Maria Brookes — Mon, 23 May 2016 19:59:37 +0000

What an interesting story! I was curious if the house was still standing and what it looked like now. A quick Google search showed me this photo. In light of Vancouver’s current housing situation, I truly hope that it will be standing for a very long time, it’s a great piece of Vancouver’s history, which is disappearing faster than we would like.
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/4446+Quebec+Street,+Vancouver/@49.2453119,-123.10255,3a,75y,91.93h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m4!1sdySMNcdpkJXwdlilNpXEag!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x43205fe35a46e578!6m1!1e1

By: Jean Dickinson

Jean Dickinson — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 03:02:58 +0000

I esply enjoyed the `human interest angle“ of this and since I was born and raised in Vancouver, my family spent many a lovely Sunday afternoon strolling along the Seawall. It is wonderful to add the history to the enjoyment.

By: Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 22:30:04 +0000

There used to be a massive boulder on Kits beach just east of the foot of Trafalgar Street. I’m pretty sure it’s gone now and maybe it’s now part of the sea wall.

Don’t know when it disappeared but since it was Beach Party Central in the 40s and 50s, maybe it was removed at the insistence of the exclusive Point Grey Road residents… Just guessing.

By: Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 22:23:03 +0000

When Mountain View decided to place the vertical headstones flat to make it easier to mow the lawns, the old granite plinths were recycled to be part of the Stanley Park sea wall.

Time flies and I was reading recently that Mountain View are going to move the headstones back to their vertical positions atop artificial granite plinths… from Japan.