Comments on: The Missing Elevator Operators of Vancouver

By: patrick schweers

patrick schweers — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 03:30:04 +0000

My grandpa worked at woodwards and actually saved the up and down elevator lights seen in the 5th photo and i am now the owner of them

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By: Allon Shevat

Allon Shevat — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 09:42:41 +0000

In reply to Mike Roulleau.

http://www.blog.gr2010.com/the-elevator-ladies-at-eatons/

On the elevator ladies at Eaton.
Enjoy

By: Allon Shevat

Allon Shevat — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 09:20:08 +0000

What a beautiful post. I recently wrote about these ladies in Montreal, and left a link to your post.
Merci bien
תודה

By: Barb Elder

Barb Elder — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 18:29:49 +0000

In reply to Nancy Kern. Awesome that you had perks too! Uniform, gloves & hair done…wow! I used to envy you all. The job looked so glamorous and operators calling out what was on the floor when the doors opened was music to my teenage ears. I went on to secretarial work, but your job as I said was much more glamorous!

By: Randi Ryborg

Randi Ryborg — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 13:22:59 +0000

In reply to The Woodward's Christmas Windows | Eve Lazarus. I remember going to Woodward's at Christmas time and lining up to ride the special Santa Direct elevator that had no roof and the shaft was painted black and twinkling lights like a night sky. I'm 65 and remember it vividly. Woodward's rocked.

By: Mike Roulleau

Mike Roulleau — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 12:02:44 +0000

I lived in Montreal for over four years and worked as a floor walker at EATON rue 677 St. Catherine Street Department Store the entire time. The building was built in stages from 1926-1959 and had Otis-Fensom Manual Elevators (I believe 10 of them) on the Universitie side of the building. They were in use until March 1991. EATON updated them…but kept the first two as manual (original) right until the end in October 1999. One was used solely as “Express” from the ground floor to the Art Deco 9th Floor Restaurant. OGILVY also had three of them in use until I think 1990.

By: James

James — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 21:54:51 +0000

The Marine Building in Vancouver has an interesting Otis Elevator that
goes from the top floor up to the Penthouse. You can find it if you visit the top floor and look around a bit. Apparently one of the building owners lived in the Penthouse at one time and had the elevator installed in order to avoid climbing the stairs to the Penthouse. It has the brass
gate. Very few people know about this elevator.

By: Z'ev M Freed

Z'ev M Freed — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 13:22:18 +0000

In reply to Terry Friesen. What about the stop at the top or start on the way down?

By: Z'ev M Freed

Z'ev M Freed — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 13:03:35 +0000

In reply to John. Was he in WW #2 or Korea? Many thanks to him and the others who served a higher cause than self interest. My father, Z"L, had fought in the Philippines in #2. =Bake in the heat during the day and cloud juice showers at night. Yes, he had developed a strong hatred for the Japanese leadership and most Nipponese racist attitudes towards the locals. The one thing that he hated more than anything else was the need & therefore reliance and results of flamethrowers. That would rather burn to death than surrender and to have watch some young man b-t-d left its mark more than anything else. , Z'ev

By: ZhEV M

ZhEV M — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 12:09:08 +0000

In reply to Jeanne Nielsen. I wonder if Mr McIntyre had done any photography of Eaton`s or even Woodward`s or Marine from on board, waiting or traveling. The doors from the inside and the wall panels by craft workers v cookie cutters is usually very interesting.

By: ZhEV M

ZhEV M — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 11:16:15 +0000

It was pleasant to have a chat with operator. They also were a sort of unofficial guard. Judy, Nancy; I wonder if the constant changing pressure had any significant effects on your back. How long did it take to acclimate to the “ride” in the cab? = i.e. start with slower start & stop rate(s) and then increase them?

By: Nancy Kern

Nancy Kern — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 05:09:39 +0000

I was an elevator operator at The Bay in downtown Vancouver during the summer of 1968, when I was a student at UBC. I loved the job! I started out working in Sporting Goods in the store. Then, someone asked me if I wanted to be an elevator operator instead. Duh! It was a glamorous job back then. We had very cool white dresses with stripes and I think we wore white gloves. They paid for us to have our hair done at The Bay beauty salon weekly. It was fun to ride up and down all day with interesting passengers. I even had Ed Ames as one of my passengers that summer! I often tell my grown kids and grandkids about what was probably the most unique job I ever had!

By: Judy Truelove

Judy Truelove — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 17:57:01 +0000

I operated the Otis at the Hotel Vancouver in the summer of…1972?? Our uniforms were an ugly olive green and we wore white gloves. One of the guys had long hair, so he had to wear a wig! It was a repressive atmosphere, as we were discouraged from interecting with guests…or each other. Memorable guests were Arthur Ashe, ‘Flying’ Phil Giallardi and delegates of the Eckankar convention.

By: John

John — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 20:08:54 +0000

My dad was an elevator operator at the Belmont Bldg in Victoria – all the operators were war amputees at the time. I have faint memories of him showing me how when someone buzzed for the lift, a small bar would pop out beside the floor number and which ever operator acknowledged it, would take off to that floor. All mechanical, which is pretty cool to think about now…

By: Jerry Fawcett

Jerry Fawcett — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 05:03:42 +0000

Hello,
Thank you for your fascinating blog and photos. I am an enormous fan of “vintage” operator-driven elevators, particularly those in department stores, and have been since childhood (long time ago). I have many memories of shopping with my Mom in the big downtown Vancouver department stores and recall many rides on the old cage-style elevator cars in Eaton’s and Woodward’s, as well as the more modern cars at The Bay. Woodward’s at one time had one incredibly old car. I always wonder if it had originated in the original building and then been moved during one of the 1920s expansions, when the other older cars were added? Anyways it disappeared before the others too. Likely too old to maintain or just unsafe.
Later I lived awhile in Edmonton, where Woodward’s old store also had five operator driven elevators, two in particular with glass doors and gates. I was ad to see that store demolished.
Cheers!

PS I look forward to any other photos you or others have to share!

By: Cathy

Cathy — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 01:42:52 +0000

In reply to Grace Dale. I worked at the Sun Building in the early 70's. I remember one girl there...yes very friendly. I don't remember her name probably was Connie