Comments on: The Devonshire (1924-1981)

By: Eve Lazarus

Eve Lazarus — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 01:29:23 +0000

In reply to Robyn Swanson. So interesting to hear about your family's connection, Muriel sound fascinating!

By: Robyn Swanson

Robyn Swanson — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:23:55 +0000

I just discovered this piece from a quick Google search of the Devonshire Hotel. Walter Evans was my great grandfather, and his daughter was my paternal grandmother, Muriel. She was quite the society belle in that era, with her bespoke gowns (she was named one of Canada’s best dressed women, when they did that sort of thing) and her involvement with the VSO and various women’s and country clubs. She eventually said yes to the seventh man who proposed to her, and they had one child, my dad. Sadly, he lost touch with his family, so I never knew my cousins. But it’s nice to read about the family link with the Devonshire Hotel. Thanks for that.

By: Aaron Chapman

Aaron Chapman — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 03:47:44 +0000

In reply to Brad Williams.

The Hotel Vancouver management were threatened (there’s not really another word for it) by the Filippone Brothers from the Penthouse Nightclub for their treatment of Armstrong–who was a friend of the club, and had performed at the Palomar Ballroom that they had part ownership in.
Hotel management were discreetly told there would be issues over Armstrong’s treatment. But there were a number of places in Vancouver like this at the time. Times changed and eventually so did the management policies. But I like to think the Filippone’s message that some noses would be broken over it all made a difference.

By: robbie boardzzz

robbie boardzzz — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 01:00:15 +0000

i love these story’s i am from MB but been here since 1990 and lived at 10 n Fraser since 04 but i have never left this area lived in quite a few places i remember you doing a story on the green house on my block i seen alot of stuff go down in this hood but now its the worst kind of bad shit going down …………. new buildings …. i hate it so i was wonder if you could mustard up a bit of history of my hood broadway n fraser down to kings gate mall i am sure you could come up with a good one please keep up the great storys i love them
rob

By: Jennifer Green

Jennifer Green — Tue, 31 May 2022 01:55:24 +0000

The Devonshire Pub was my favourite place to go in the late 1969 til the demolition I came to Vancouver from Ottawa and met most everyone I know today there There was a waiter in the pub named Jimmy cant remember his surname wonderful sense of humor I remember there was a cocktail lounge on the main floor with a really neat name cant remember the name cant find it online a few years ago I met the head waiter from the cocktail lounge at my local dog park He clamed to have been the last employee to leave the night before the implosion I worked for a law firm at Cambie and 10th and we watched the implosion from there a sad day Anyone remember the name of the cocktail lounge?

By: Gary McLeod

Gary McLeod — Sun, 01 May 2022 00:45:01 +0000

Born in Powell River in 1928, my parents and I came to the DEV every year for the PNE parade. We had a suite on Georgia with kitchen. In 1937-38 I had my tonsils removed at St.Pauls and was bed ridden at the DEV for days, only able to eat ice cream which was supplied free of charge by Palm Dairies. As a kid I loved the place including nites out in the 1960’s. Great memories.

By: 1939 Freemasons’ Address Book for Melrose Lodge in Vancouver, BC, Canada – Rawlinson Collection

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 00:01:57 +0000

[…] the design and construction of local landmarks such as the Seaforth Armoury, Marine Building, the former Devonshire Hotel and the Georgia Medical-Dental […]

By: Graham

Graham — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 05:11:28 +0000

In reply to Eve Lazarus. I have a photo that I believe shows the Georgia House. It looks west down Georgia st when it was a dirt road. The only remaining building in the photo is Christ Church Cathedral on Georgia and Burrard. There is an East India Tea Co store where the Georgia Hotel now stands.

By: David Gibson

David Gibson — Sun, 04 Apr 2021 22:41:42 +0000

The Devonshire Seafood House under the management of Louis Stervinou, was one of the best and classiest place to dine in Vancouver in an era starved of food sophistication.

By: James

James — Sun, 04 Apr 2021 04:43:05 +0000

No words. Classic replaced by plastic. From all pics its hard to tell with both the Georgia and Dev that they were L shaped. Quite the grand apts along the Hornby side with DR & LR much like a house. Hard to tell where the BR’s are though. Those small windowless rooms beside the hallway? And double the sadness as the absolute magnificent Italianate Hotel Vancouver was kitty corner.

By: Peter Findlay

Peter Findlay — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 23:28:33 +0000

I remember watching the Devonshire go down back in 1981. It may have been the first local building to be imploded, which was probably the reason I was there to watch. It was quite a sight to see it reduced to a massive dust cloud rolling down Georgia St., but sad that it had to go.

By: Doug Parks

Doug Parks — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 17:28:29 +0000

My wife and I had heard that the Dev had the best King Crab diner to be had in Vancouver. We went there for diner in the late 70s or early 80s and were not disappointed.

By: Michael McLintock

Michael McLintock — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 17:19:28 +0000

I went to high school and hung around with Walter Evans Jr.

By: Brad Williams

Brad Williams — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 17:07:58 +0000

Interesting that the Hotel Vancouver had racist policies at one time. They probably were forced to change their attitude by government, the people or money lost by not hosting such talents. We still have racists, they hide behind the computer in grandmas basement with no friends/family.

By: Anthony Maw

Anthony Maw — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 16:42:51 +0000

Yeah I remember watching the explosive demolition in July 1981 from the Courthouse (now Vancouver Art Gallery) plaza. It was a long wait before they pushed the button but was all over in a few seconds the Devonshire was reduced to a pile of dust and rubble.

By: Dr. William Ellis

Dr. William Ellis — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 16:38:23 +0000

Both (1) the individual architects who build Vancouver before the Second World War, and (2) the general planning of the city were clearly superior to everything that followed.

By: Ruth Enns

Ruth Enns — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 16:26:44 +0000

In reply to Jennifer Clay. Have you got any history on a hotel Mr. McWhinnie built?

By: Jennifer Clay

Jennifer Clay — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:53:07 +0000

Wow! That photo! A trifecta of buildings, especially the GMDB! Would have loved to have seen the Georgia House too! Did you find any photos of that?