Comments on: The Base at Jericho Beach

By: Dalcy Gripich

Dalcy Gripich — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:33:23 +0000

Were the Jericho barracks ever used to house convalescing Tuberculosis patients?

By: Ben Barclay

Ben Barclay — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:18:16 +0000

Thanks for this historical record. As an urban planning student at the time, we used to call the suspicious fires “development by arson”. I was one of the artists on the board of the Ne Chi Zu Guild who had filled Hangar 6 with 400 sculptures and artworks after the Habitat Conference closed.

Jim Prowse and I were the last to leave the building when the Guild were evicted by Pinkertons on behalf of the Vancouver Parks Board. We had been offered a dollar a year lease from the City, but foolishly turned it down because it involved paying the $300 a month Hydro bill, which we didn’t think we could afford. A hard lesson to learn, that I have never forgotten. MLA Grace McCarthy slipped a bill through the legislature in Victoria transferring property ownership to the Parks Board, who quickly threw us out.

At its peak, Hangar 6 was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. 78 artists collectively offering the world a free urban art park, people from all over the world wandering through on weekends. A bit like having Woodstock on Jericho beach open all year round, with less mud. A number of us tried to keep the spirit alive by opening the Ne Che Zu Works down on Seymour street behind the Orpheum. We ran an art gallery, blacksmith forge, photography studio, carving and furniture shop. In 1981 we took a 40′ long 5′ diameter red cedar pole to Toronto, carved it into “The Dreamwork of the Whales”, and raised it by hand. It still stands in Little Norway Park at the foot of Bathurst Street. Ironically, Little Norway Park celebrates aviators from World War II. Small world!

By: Dave Small

Dave Small — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 03:47:54 +0000

Our grade 6 class at Quilchena elementary attended Habitat in 1976. I remember it very well. We spent weeks preparing some kind of “Display”. I recall it being a very hot, muggy day. Our teacher was Kitty Knight. Every time I go down to Jericho now I try to envision where all the hangars were. It all seems like such a dream now. I always thought the loss of the hangars was sad. It was a cool area. It could have been another “Granville Island”

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 02:36:01 +0000

In reply to Kim Hunt. Hi , thanks for your post. My Father also worked as an officer at the base 1967- 1971. Great memories

By: NVG

NVG — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 03:16:57 +0000

You’ve reminded me about a post I did on the float planes carrying pigeons to be released back to Jericho.

By: Leonard Thor

Leonard Thor — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:18:39 +0000

Bernard Thor my father is the artist that carved those two sculptures that are all that remain of Habitat ’76.

By: James Joyce

James Joyce — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 00:02:32 +0000

I actually worked the bar there with a friend of mine Paul. I worked a (4) hour day shift and then went to my other job at the Fraser Arms. I remember my dad and I going going there and asking permission to take some of the light fixtures. Go ahead. They worked just fine in our new basement It was fun to work. Nobody wanted day shifts so that’s fine. A bunch of us said we can do it. Met some very nice people and lots of people that were just curios also

By: oliver evans

oliver evans — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 19:58:44 +0000

My mom Hanelore Evans did the batiks hanging on the wall in the old hanger 7. After Habitat was over they went missing, not sure where they ended up…..Has anyone seen them around?

By: Kim Hunt

Kim Hunt — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 17:23:44 +0000

My mother enlisted at the end of the war in Winnipeg and was stationed there. I have a lovely group photo of all the staff. My Father worked there from about 1965 to 1970. He was an officer in the Canadian Army and was involved in Officer training courses

By: e.a.f.

e.a.f. — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 06:54:25 +0000

the destruction of many of the old buildings in and around Vancouver didn’t do anything to improve the city. Perhaps some made money, but it would be ever so nice to have the old Birks building around today. Vancouver was good at destroying its past and it didn’t improve the city one bit.
Remember Jericho and its buildings well.
Thank you for all the reminds of my misspent youth.

By: Carolyn Affleck

Carolyn Affleck — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 05:09:59 +0000

Thanks for printing my photo and for writing this whole post! I really had no idea of the history of the base. But I did have fun there as a kid at Habitat ’76, and still have some mementos from that event. The buildings certainly had more life left in them if given some TLC, but I think it’s a really beautiful park without them.

By: Carolyn Affleck

Carolyn Affleck — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 05:06:06 +0000

In reply to Rob. I know whom you're speaking about. That was really tragic.

By: Lucille Talbot

Lucille Talbot — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 00:30:44 +0000

My dad started his training in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was offered additional training either in Halifax or Vancouver, he chose Vancouver. His living quarters were in the building, later the Hostel. During his training (RCAF) in Vancouver and up the coast, he attended dances put on by the Catholic Charities, CYO. That is where he met my mother, after the war they married and eventually had 6 children. We often spent time walking the beach at Jericho. Lots of fond memories. Great article, thanks.

By: Grant Kozij

Grant Kozij — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 00:11:19 +0000

My grandfather came to Jericho from England as an aircraft engineer after WW1. He worked for various airlines in his career.

By: Chris Wills

Chris Wills — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 19:13:43 +0000

My uncle from England flew a plane into Jericho Hangars during the war and he came back to Vancouver back in the early70s and we visited the site very memorable.( not exactly sure at what point he flew a RAF plane here I’m assuming during the war)

By: James Anderson

James Anderson — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 19:04:35 +0000

Oh, more sad stuff about Vancouver’s past… Of course change must come, but from at least the second Hotel Vancouver on, surely it could have been more judicious, and what would have been a rich heritage would still be treasured and enjoyed today. Still saddens me.

By: Sherry Hunter-Yzerman

Sherry Hunter-Yzerman — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 18:50:03 +0000

Both my parents worked at the Jericho Base in the ‘50s. That’s how they met

By: Sherry Hunter-Yzerman

Sherry Hunter-Yzerman — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 18:48:11 +0000

Both my parents worked at the Jericho
Base in the ‘50’s

By: Gord McCaw

Gord McCaw — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 18:34:48 +0000

Thanks for this, reading about all the destruction of so much heritage in this frontier city makes my blood boil every time…

By: Kenneth Morgan

Kenneth Morgan — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 18:19:35 +0000

How about features on the street car and trolley bus barns? The street cars left for elsewhere in ca. 1951/52 from the depot at 14th and Main. The trolley bus barns took over the old army camp at 41st and Oak. I remember wandering through the camp in 1949/1950. The bush on the south side of 41st at Oak Street had the remains of a pig farm. As a boy, Cambie Street only came as far as 41st Avenue. From there a power line road went through to 49th and further to 54th.