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Fascinating Vintage Photos Show Life In 1950s Vancouver

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In the 1950s, Vancouver like Canada was recovering from the World War II era. The city was thriving with new architecture, buildings and skyline’s construction that would shape the future of the city. Oakridge Centre, Vancouver Maritime Museum, Queen Elizabeth Theatre and the Deas Island Tunnel were opened in the 1950s. In 1953, Vancouver’s first TV station, CBUT, went on the air. At the end of the decade the population of the city was over 620,000.

Here below are some fascinating photos that show Vancouver in the 1950s.

#1 Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip arriving at City Hall, 1950

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip arriving at City Hall, 1950

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#5 A fishing port and its boats at the end of the day off Vancouver, 1950s.

A fishing port and its boats at the end of the day off Vancouver, 1950s.

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#6 A dragger taking up a net of fish in the gulf of Georgia off Vancouver, 1950s.

A dragger taking up a net of fish in the gulf of Georgia off Vancouver, 1950s.

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#7 Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh are greeted by Major and Mrs Hume of Vancouver, 1950s.

Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh are greeted by Major and Mrs Hume of Vancouver, 1950s.

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#8 Aristocratic Restaurant on 2856 Cambie Street, Vancouver, 1951

Aristocratic Restaurant on 2856 Cambie Street, Vancouver, 1951

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#10 The royal procession of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh in Vancouver, 1951

The royal procession of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh in Vancouver, 1951

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#11 Great Britain Roger Bannister being carried by manager after mile race at Empire Stadium, Vancouver, 1954.

Great Britain Roger Bannister being carried by manager after mile race at Empire Stadium, Vancouver, 1954.

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#12 Two collapsed spans of the Second Narrows Bridge along Burrard Inlet in Vancouver, 1958.

Two collapsed spans of the Second Narrows Bridge along Burrard Inlet in Vancouver, 1958.

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#13 East side of block on Granville Street, Vancouver, 1950

East side of block on Granville Street, Vancouver, 1950

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#14 Aristocratic Restaurant, Granville Street & West Broadway, Vancouver, 1951

Aristocratic Restaurant, Granville Street & West Broadway, Vancouver, 1951

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#15 Monty’s Spare Ribs Restaurant, Richards Street, Vancouver, 1954

Monty's Spare Ribs Restaurant, Richards Street, Vancouver, 1954

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#16 PNE parade on Burrard Street near Pender Street, 1953

PNE parade on Burrard Street near Pender Street, 1953

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#18 Funeral procession outside St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church, 1955

Funeral procession outside St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church, 1955

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#19 Aerial view of downtown Vancouver and Coal Harbour, 1956

Aerial view of downtown Vancouver and Coal Harbour, 1956

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#20 Vancouver General Hospital under construction, 1956

Vancouver General Hospital under construction, 1956

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#21 Second Narrows Bridge under construction, 1956 or 1957

Second Narrows Bridge under construction, 1956 or 1957

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#23 Fishers shoveling the ice to keep fresh the fish up to the canning factory in the Harbor of Vancouver, 1951

Fishers shoveling the ice to keep fresh the fish up to the canning factory in the Harbor of Vancouver, 1951

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#24 Some fillets of cod dipped into the salt and packed up in wooden brails to be exported in prince Rupert, Vancouver, 1952.

Some fillets of cod dipped into the salt and packed up in wooden brails to be exported in prince Rupert, Vancouver, 1952.

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#26 Athletes standing during the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Vancouver, 1954.

Athletes standing during the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Vancouver, 1954.

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#27 Princess Elizabeth addresses a crowd of British Columbians at the Western terminus of her nationwide Canadian Tour.

Princess Elizabeth addresses a crowd of British Columbians at the Western terminus of her nationwide Canadian Tour.

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#30 Canadian Pacific Airlines stewardess Helen Phillips of Vancouver tries out a hula hoop, 1959.

Canadian Pacific Airlines stewardess Helen Phillips of Vancouver tries out a hula hoop, 1959.

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#31 Princess Margaret on an official Royal visit to Vancouver, Canada, July 16th 1958.

Princess Margaret on an official Royal visit to Vancouver, Canada, July 16th 1958.

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#32 Fish & Oyster Bar, Granville Street, Vancouver, 1950

Fish & Oyster Bar, Granville Street, Vancouver, 1950

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#33 Granville Street from Georgia looking north, Vancouver, 1950

Granville Street from Georgia looking north, Vancouver, 1950

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#34 White Lunch Cafeteria neon sign over sidewalk, West Hastings Street, Vancouver, 1950

White Lunch Cafeteria neon sign over sidewalk, West Hastings Street, Vancouver, 1950

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#35 Night on Granville Street, Theatre Row, Vancouver, 1951

Night on Granville Street, Theatre Row, Vancouver, 1951

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#36 Aristocratic Restaurant, 3400 Kingsway,, Vancouver, 1953

Aristocratic Restaurant, 3400 Kingsway,, Vancouver, 1953

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#37 Cunningham Drugs Ltd, Granville & Georgia looking north, Vancouver, 1955

Cunningham Drugs Ltd, Granville & Georgia looking north, Vancouver, 1955

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#38 Montreal Trust Building, Granville and Georgia looking north west, 1955

Montreal Trust Building, Granville and Georgia looking north west, 1955

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#39 People lined up for the opening of the Defiant Ones at the Vogue Theatre, Vancouver, 1958

People lined up for the opening of the Defiant Ones at the Vogue Theatre, Vancouver, 1958

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#40 Vogue Theatre at night with spotlights, Vancouver, 1958

Vogue Theatre at night with spotlights, Vancouver, 1958

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#41 Interior of St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church, 1955

Interior of St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church, 1955

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#42 Group of people participating in cycling during the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1954.

Group of people participating in cycling during the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1954.

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#43 Aerial view of the crowd during the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Vancouver, 1954.

Aerial view of the crowd during the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Vancouver, 1954.

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#44 Group of people walking on a dock during the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Vancouver, 1954.

Group of people walking on a dock during the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Vancouver, 1954.

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#45 Women walking during the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Vancouver, 1954.

Women walking during the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Vancouver, 1954.

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#46 Men and boys who eat ice cream during a Jaycee Little League baseball game between the Kinsmen and the Gyros at the Hillcrest Park, Vancouver, 1954.

Men and boys who eat ice cream during a Jaycee Little League baseball game between the Kinsmen and the Gyros at the Hillcrest Park, Vancouver, 1954.

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#48 Supervalu Supermarket, East Hastings, Vancouver, 1952

Supervalu Supermarket, East Hastings, Vancouver, 1952

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#50 Looking East from 800 Block West Georgia at night, Vancouver, 1953

Looking East from 800 Block West Georgia at night, Vancouver, 1953

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#51 Man in convertible parked outside Artray photograph Studios, ,781 Burrard Street, Vancouver, 1953

Man in convertible parked outside Artray photograph Studios, ,781 Burrard Street, Vancouver, 1953

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#52 View of north end of Granville Bridge looking north Vancouver, 1956

View of north end of Granville Bridge looking north Vancouver, 1956

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#53 700-800 blocks of Granville Street, Vancouver, 1958

700-800 blocks of Granville Street, Vancouver, 1958

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#54 Parliament buildings at night showing Princess Margaret’s name in lights, Vancouver, Canada, 18th July 1958.

Parliament buildings at night showing Princess Margaret's name in lights, Vancouver, Canada, 18th July 1958.

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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