Comments on: Presentation House: Love it or List it?

By: e.a.f.

e.a.f. — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:53:34 +0000

People travel to other countries and admire old buildings there. At home they tend to tear them own in the name of progress or a method to balance the budget. WE have lost a lot of old buildings in the Lower Mainland. It would be good if we preserved at least a few, more would be better, but this one could be used for community theatre, community meetings, etc. Restoring the building will cost some money but in 50 years people can walk by or go in and know that the building has stood in their city for some time and has been used by many. Its nice when that happens. We can always build new things elsewhere but once Presentation House is gone, it is gone and it will never I’. There have been a number of old buildings in the province which were interesting, but alas some were burnt to the ground such as the Grand Forks Hotel and other old hotels. I have a plate from the Grand Forks Hotel and a dish from a resturant long gone from Victoria. Asked some one about it. they remember the resturant prior to WW II and you could purchase dinner for 25 cents which included coffee and a piece of pie. Panama Cafe.
I remember the old city hall in Richmond, large, wooden and floors which were over dirt. It was torn down once a “new”one was built which in turn was replaced by the current one. I’m glad I got to see it and it would be nice if people could see Presentation house now and in 70 years say I remember when they restored it. If you don’t know where you have been how will you know where it is best to go next.

By: Angus McIntyre

Angus McIntyre — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 05:08:44 +0000

Over the years I always enjoyed going to photography exhibits at the gallery, visiting the museum and the occasional play at the theatre. I liked the whole multi-level layout of the old place. It was a bit out of the way, but the new museum is a showcase and in a better location. I would rather see some of the original buildings survive in some way if only for their funkiness. I’ll never forget a memorial service for actress Nicola Cavendish’s partner that I attended in the theatre – and the wake in the hall that followed.

By: Heather Lapierres

Heather Lapierres — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 01:21:49 +0000

To demolish Presentation House would be a shame. There’s far too much of this “demolition by neglect” in North Vancouver and other municipalities. Presentation House has such an amazing history: school, city hall, RCMP headquarters, museum and theatre. Why destroy all that history? Restore it and let continue as the theatre.

By: Fortubet934

Fortubet934 — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:24:54 +0000

Did you find any surprising details in the house that made you lean one way or the other?

By: Jonathan Walford

Jonathan Walford — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 22:44:52 +0000

I worked in that building for four years in the early 80s at the North Shore Museum and Archives, as well as one summer doing box office at the theatre. I seem to recall there had been a fire in the building at one point – perhaps just before it was altered into Presentation House? It was a mess of a retrofit – there wasn’t anything left of the original structure except some of the actual 2X4’s in the walls… I agree it may not be worth saving, but the thought of replacing it with a condo tower is a sad idea. So tear it down, and then maybe move the PGE station there and make it a tea room / ice cream parlour in the summer — add a dog walking park in one section – a public herb garden in another section – a splash-pad playground – turn the Anne McDonald centre into a children’s activity centre or for yoga or art classes – how about a sculpture garden? Do something that makes the North Shore a better place to live so the people living in the crowded townhouses and souless condos have a place to go to enjoy themselves and improve their lives!

By: Toni Dabbs

Toni Dabbs — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 17:19:15 +0000

As someone who lives in a house built in 1898 on Mole Hill in Vancouver, I believe in preserving heritage. How much of its heritage has North Vancouver preserved? How much is still available for preservation? These questions might help guide their decision.