Comments on: The First Vancouver Art Gallery

By: Jennifer S.

Jennifer S. — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 01:47:57 +0000

I worked at VAG’s gift shop in the late 1970s – early 1980s. Coming across this website brought back great memories. It got me thinking and wondering what happened to the people who used to work there. I was in my early twenties, so can only imagine that many from that era have retired. I remember that after the move, the building was torn down, and for what seemed like many years there was an unfinished high-rise on the site. Perhaps someone knows the story behind the unfinished construction site – I don’t. I do know remember it was eventually torn down, and the current building went up (Paradox Hotel, formerly known as Trump Tower).

By: Nora Eldred

Nora Eldred — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 16:23:28 +0000

I remember going to art classes at the VAG in the early 1960s. I must have been 9 or 10-years old. They had a lending library and I ended up with my picture in the paper holding a print “on loan”, now lurking somewhere in a box!

By: Barbara Lort Genner

Barbara Lort Genner — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 23:02:41 +0000

In reply to Eve Lazarus. Thank you. It’s always fun to read a little family history. I’m sure Dad was delighted to share stories with you. (from Bill’s daughter and Ross’s granddaughter)

By: James

James — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 23:37:51 +0000

Hello and again a great piece of sad history. Obviously at the time Art Deco was not held in the high regard today. The city should market itself to urban planning students of “what never to do “. Jason V you are so right as in todays money thats over 800,000 smackers. And yes Belmont Drive where Joe and Rosalie Segals palace for 2 is up for, now dont faint. $54,000,000.00 . Is the Van Norman home still there or is it one of two vacant lots in the middle? I notice the mansion in the last lot is gone. A huge home that one could drive through similar to Rosemary. What will become of the court house when the new gallery is hopefully not built?
Suki mentions reno designed? I know it was never renovated so what does that mean please? Casa Mia is a stunning mansion with much music history that took place in the downstairs party room with stage.

By: Doug Parks

Doug Parks — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 04:46:33 +0000

I have two memories to share of the VAG when it was still a court house.
In about 69 or 70 a buddy and myself sat in on a trial for a school assignment. While there we found out tape recorders were not allowed. We got it back without the tape when the trial wrapped up. Sadly my buddy who had shopped at the Bay had his bag of new blue jeans stolen from him in the court room.
My second memory was my divorce. The trial lasted under 5 minutes as all of the cases were uncontested.

By: Suki

Suki — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 11:15:40 +0000

Tonight I was trying to figure out what style of house I would like to live in, and after earmarking a few European concrete boxes and minimalist black chalets, I realized that what I would really love to have is some variant of the old VAG on Georgia St. (perhaps with a touch of Peggy Guggenheim’s house in Venice).
I was stunned to realize that there are virtually no photos of the old gallery available on the internet.

Then, while watching Escape to the Country at 2 am – because night is day and day is night in the pandemic – I ran across this freshly posted article with a nice photo and some great information!! How cool is that??

I think I knew that the same architect who did the reno designed Casa Mia, but would never have remembered without this article.

Hopefully, there are more photos available somewhere, and perhaps an old book or architectural magazine with more info.

Vancouver has done a terrible job of preserving its architectural history.

Thanks for this very interesting piece!!

By: Jason V

Jason V — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 17:41:14 +0000

I recall reading that the Reifel’s were early donors to the building, though I can’t seem to source where that was. They were likely one of many, but Henry Athelstan Stone, president of Gault Brothers was also noted as the Vancouver Art Gallery founder in his obit. There was some falling out with the city over financing (sounds familiar), and so he later stepped down from his official capacity. From Gary Sim’s bio of Henry: “…he donated $50,000.00 towards the establishment of a civic art collection. This was a very large amount of money in those days. He also challenged the citizens of Vancouver to match his donation, and a number of other supporters of the arts did so, providing a total of $100,000.00 towards the purchase of art for the proposed new art gallery.” http://www.sim-publishing.com/bca/stoneha.htm and here’s his obit: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68311508/henry-athelstan-stone-vag-founder-obit/

By: Ralph Sayle

Ralph Sayle — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 01:06:06 +0000

Your mention of Lawren Harris brought 2 memories to mind.

Harris came from a rich family. His family were heirs to the Massey-Harris fortune. He was far from “the starving artist living in a garret” image.

His Belmont address was just rented accommodation. It really belonged to Bert Hoffmeister, a MacBlo executive who was on “leave” to serve in the war. Hoffmeister was a successful army officer who left the army as a Major General. However he said as an army officer he could not afford the mortgage on his Charles Van Norman house and rented it out.

By: Angus McIntyre

Angus McIntyre — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 20:17:39 +0000

I remember visiting the Art Gallery a few times before it moved to the old court house. I served on two Supreme Court juries in the final year of the old court house, and the interior was virtually unaltered from when it was built. One trial was in the huge main courtroom with a two storey vaulted ceiling and clanking radiators. The jurors’ chairs looked original too. We were not able to reach a verdict by dinner time in one case, and were taken to the Grosvenor Hotel dining room for a meal at no charge; you had to pay for your own beer or wine with your meal. We reached a verdict at 11:00 pm, and were led out of the building through the basement past the holding cells.

When the art gallery opened in its new space I checked it out, and not much survived from the original interior except the ornate ceiling of the main courtroom. I believe one of the old courtrooms was relocated into the New Westminster courthouse.