The Government of Canada Commemorates Vancouver's Gastown Historic District
News Release
May 17, 2016 Vancouver, British Columbia Parks Canada Agency
Gastown Historic District is Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood. The area has been a vital centre to Indigenous Peoples for generations; later the district became important to the economic growth of Western Canada.
Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, and Mayor Gregor Robertson, City of Vancouver, celebrated the area’s historical significance by unveiling a plaque commemorating the designation of Gastown Historic District as a national historic site of Canada.
The Gastown Historic District is an exceptional intact urban area of commercial buildings that displays the architectural styles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including a rare harmonious group of buildings in terms of materials, scale and architectural detailing. The area is an example of an early Western Canadian city core and exemplifies the rapid economic growth that was characteristic of the West during that time.
Thanks to the commitment of local organizations intent on protecting the historic fabric of Canada’s urban centres in the 1970s, Gastown is an enduring example of an early locally protected historic district. Gastown is now a popular destination for tourists and local residents alike.
As we near the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Government invites all Canadians to experience and learn more about our environment and our history. Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas enable Canadians to experience their heritage in a special way and will play a big part in the celebration of Canada 150.
Quotes
“I am very proud to recognize Gastown as a historic site that forms an integral part of our country’s history. Gastown is as diverse and vibrant today as it was a hundred years ago and its story contributes greatly to the tapestry that is Canada. As we near the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, it is especially important to commemorate important places like Gastown as one way for Canadians to learn more about our rich heritage.”
- The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
“Gastown was Vancouver and Western Canada's first economic centre and remains an important historical, cultural and commercial hub for the City on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-waututh First Nations. I'm pleased to commemorate the Gastown Historic District with the Government of Canada so residents and visitors can experience the District with a lens into Vancouver's history, while enjoying the modern and vibrant amenities Gastown has to offer.”
- His Worship Gregor Roberston, Mayor of Vancouver
Quick facts
- Parks Canada manages a nation-wide network of 168 national historic sites, 46 national parks and four national marine conservation areas. Canada’s national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas belong to all Canadians. They represent the very best that Canada has to offer and tell the stories of who we are, including the history, cultures and contributions of Indigenous Peoples.
- Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national historic significance of places, people and events that have marked Canada’s history. Parks Canada manages a nation-wide network of national historic sites that make up the rich tapestry of Canada’s cultural heritage and which offers visitors the opportunity for real and inspiring discoveries.
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Media contacts
Kiri Westnedge
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Coastal BC Field Unit
kiri.westnedge@pc.gc.ca
250-818-2509
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca
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