Thank you so much for making these videos! As a long time resident of the Vancouver area with roots back through the McNair family (owners of Hastings Shingle and Mill for a time), I really appreciate your videos!
When my dad was 20 he and his buddy who I was named after "borrowed" his buddy's dad's car and drove from Winnipeg out to BC to take part in the Smoke-In Jamboree. He was arrested at the rally and due to "borrowing" they car were sent back to Manitoba on separate charges, as well as charges for illegally growing/possessing/transporting/distributing weed, long story short he spent the next two years in Stoney Mountain Pen. I was just a baby, my grandparents took custody of me and I still remember visiting my dad in Stoney as a toddler.
@@rickieredlack6086 Yeah, my dad was arrested a few times at legalization rallies but never did any prison time for the others. He did get 18 months at Oakalla Pen in Burnaby from late '79-81 for operating a grow house. He was "recruited" by the Satan's Angels during that stint and they funded his grow ops after that. When the Satan's Angels became a Hell's Angels chapter in 1983 my dad had to oversee a dozen grow operations throughout the Greater Vancouver area. They also bought a house for us, rent and utility free, big 7 bedroom Tudor style with 3 greenhouses on a half acre lot. He never joined the Angels but they kept the police off his back and money rolling in, plus I liked going to biker rallies and getting dropped off at school on an eardrum shattering Chopper. My dad passed away in 2003 and advocated for legal weed most of his life but he never got to see weed legalized so I always dedicate my morning wake n bake to him.
Never a dull moment in Gastown. I remember the first Gastown Grande Prix. I had a studio on Water St. ( upstairs ) where I did Silversmith / jewelry work. There was no shortage of scoundrels and grifters in Gastown during those days. And there were a few very good people - Jeff Shale, the jeweller, Chris Zarganis, silversmith, and a few whose names I have forgotten. That was after the Gastown riot, which I missed.
I grew up living near Gastown, as a teenager I walked up and down Gastown on weekends since the 80s and have seen a lot of changes. I witnessed some movie and TV settings throughout the years like 21 Jump Street and one of Jackie Chan movies (I think it was Rumble in the Bronx?).
Don’t forget a River runs thru it with Brad Pitt one of the sidestreets was converted to early 1900s for a couple of weeks horse and carriage dirt on the road It was unbelievable.Lived in a warehouse apartment for many years in Gastown It was an incredible experience that formed my early20’s.❤
Environment and a greener outlook and more understanding of sustainability items to trade and sell yes we all need to learn of history and it’s building of this city and it’s history of energy been used in these days as for today 2024 would like more of two nations aboriginals and non aboriginals business and knowledge of were we are going too survive due too climate change and it’s 3 degrees change,,etc,,
in 1986 it was a seedy, dirty pit occupied by homeless, drug dealers and prostitutes after dark, all the apartments were 1 room hotels with roaches and rats, and most offices were abandoned, stayed that way until the late 1990s. The pest infested hotel I lived in between Blood Alley and Cordova Street was thankfully torn down, the luxury apartments there now go for a minimum of $1 million and all the empty offices are condos being bought by artists, musicians, actors and college students born with silver spoons up their ass. It's a far different neighbourhood than the one you experienced.
Interesting …. I hope they fix it up for the cruise industry. It has great potential. It used to be a great fun place to visit along with many stops along the way, but things change
Not sure if this is the main reason but I lesrnt that blood alley is named that because the butcher shops that backed onto it would drain the animals blood of the cows n pigs etc into the drains that ran down the alley.
Notice the signature in the upper-right corner of the map shown at 1:56 was that of Joseph William Trutch, dated March 1870. Only weeks later he, Helmcken and Carrall would board a steamer for San Francisco and take the just one-year-old Union Pacific Railway via Iowa to Chicago. Connecting through to Ottawa, their mission was to negotiate the terms of BC joining confederation with Canada. Trutch took the lead in negotiations, and among other terms, secured the creation of the all-Canada transcontinental railroad that cemented this country together. Helmcken and Carrall continue to have Vancouver streets named after them, but the wokesters managed to get childless Trutch expunged. Were it just his Alexandra Bridge in the Fraser Canyon (also a video on this channel) or his major roads in the New Westminster district (including Coast Meridian Road, the baseline of the GVRD grid system outside Vancouver) he would stand head and shoulders above the paper pushers who name many streets. It's high time to restore Trutch's name and recognize his accomplishments.
Well, if I remember correctly, there is a mountain named after him on the Alaska Highway. The road is steep -- or it was the last time I was on it; it may have been changed since the sixties -- and a nailbiter to navigate. My father called it Trutcherous.
Maybe these wokeaters need to sent back in time to the are of the 1900's and actually see what life was actually like.... or they need to go on a 4 month long stay in northern bc and to live primitively to fully gain the understanding of what life was actually like back then. When people learnt and dealt in actual facts and truths and not fickle feelings and childhood trauma.
Didnt know about the bloody alley name! Was it honestly because people used to fight there? 😂 Thought it was because of the butchers that used to work in there and the blood would wash in to the alley when they sprayed down for end of day.
Wasn't because he talked a lot, Gassy Jack got the nickname because he loved beans, served them with every meal, breakfast, lunch, dinner and he farted a lot. It's not so sensitive a subject that people have to try changing it to be less offensive, rewriting history for such reasons is dishonest.
I would remind you this channel seems to be going for factual information and not drastically exaggerated opinions. Stop being so negative and just appreciate the wonderful videos this channel makes. Have a good day.
@@troycoulter291It is what it is. They also got rid of the statue of Gastown's name sake. Just starting the video now so idk if it's mentioned in the video
You know if everyone is going to get upset about gassy jack then those people had better start looking at the people in charge of this country. Because honestly no matter what laws are passed men woman And children are still going missing. By the 100,000's yearly just in North America. Where do they all go??
I spent 4 days near Gastown in the hostel, it was so depressing due to the lack of sun and low clouds. I'd have great plans to walk to Stanley park and once outside only had the energy to walk to Gastown and have lunch or coffee. I had to leave Vancouver, I was on holiday.
Thank you so much for making these videos! As a long time resident of the Vancouver area with roots back through the McNair family (owners of Hastings Shingle and Mill for a time), I really appreciate your videos!
When my dad was 20 he and his buddy who I was named after "borrowed" his buddy's dad's car and drove from Winnipeg out to BC to take part in the Smoke-In Jamboree. He was arrested at the rally and due to "borrowing" they car were sent back to Manitoba on separate charges, as well as charges for illegally growing/possessing/transporting/distributing weed, long story short he spent the next two years in Stoney Mountain Pen. I was just a baby, my grandparents took custody of me and I still remember visiting my dad in Stoney as a toddler.
Aaand now it’s legal arg
@@rickieredlack6086 Yeah, my dad was arrested a few times at legalization rallies but never did any prison time for the others. He did get 18 months at Oakalla Pen in Burnaby from late '79-81 for operating a grow house. He was "recruited" by the Satan's Angels during that stint and they funded his grow ops after that. When the Satan's Angels became a Hell's Angels chapter in 1983 my dad had to oversee a dozen grow operations throughout the Greater Vancouver area. They also bought a house for us, rent and utility free, big 7 bedroom Tudor style with 3 greenhouses on a half acre lot.
He never joined the Angels but they kept the police off his back and money rolling in, plus I liked going to biker rallies and getting dropped off at school on an eardrum shattering Chopper.
My dad passed away in 2003 and advocated for legal weed most of his life but he never got to see weed legalized so I always dedicate my morning wake n bake to him.
Never a dull moment in Gastown. I remember the first Gastown Grande Prix. I had a studio on Water St. ( upstairs ) where I did Silversmith / jewelry work. There was no shortage of scoundrels and grifters in Gastown during those days. And there were a few very good people - Jeff Shale, the jeweller, Chris Zarganis, silversmith, and a few whose names I have forgotten. That was after the Gastown riot, which I missed.
Very interesting. Great work 👍
I always loved the Steam Clock.
I grew up living near Gastown, as a teenager I walked up and down Gastown on weekends since the 80s and have seen a lot of changes. I witnessed some movie and TV settings throughout the years like 21 Jump Street and one of Jackie Chan movies (I think it was Rumble in the Bronx?).
Don’t forget a River runs thru it with Brad Pitt one of the sidestreets was converted to early 1900s for a couple of weeks horse and carriage dirt on the road It was unbelievable.Lived in a warehouse apartment for many years in Gastown It was an incredible experience that formed my early20’s.❤
Another great video on this great channel.
Great video
Thank you and have a great week.
Great effort in finding pics and footage that didn't show the homeless!
The deaths from the great fire would have been higher if not for the first nations from the North Shore rescuing people in their war canoes.
Environment and a greener outlook and more understanding of sustainability items to trade and sell yes we all need to learn of history and it’s building of this city and it’s history of energy been used in these days as for today 2024 would like more of two nations aboriginals and non aboriginals business and knowledge of were we are going too survive due too climate change and it’s 3 degrees change,,etc,,
Been there in 1986, doubtful for return. It was a sweet place. Great history video.
in 1986 it was a seedy, dirty pit occupied by homeless, drug dealers and prostitutes after dark, all the apartments were 1 room hotels with roaches and rats, and most offices were abandoned, stayed that way until the late 1990s. The pest infested hotel I lived in between Blood Alley and Cordova Street was thankfully torn down, the luxury apartments there now go for a minimum of $1 million and all the empty offices are condos being bought by artists, musicians, actors and college students born with silver spoons up their ass. It's a far different neighbourhood than the one you experienced.
@ll7868 yes, thanks for sharing your experience. I, coming from a 200 people SK farm town, was overwhelmed! Lol
Interesting …. I hope they fix it up for the cruise industry. It has great potential. It used to be a great fun place to visit along with many stops along the way, but things change
Not sure if this is the main reason but I lesrnt that blood alley is named that because the butcher shops that backed onto it would drain the animals blood of the cows n pigs etc into the drains that ran down the alley.
Notice the signature in the upper-right corner of the map shown at 1:56 was that of Joseph William Trutch, dated March 1870. Only weeks later he, Helmcken and Carrall would board a steamer for San Francisco and take the just one-year-old Union Pacific Railway via Iowa to Chicago. Connecting through to Ottawa, their mission was to negotiate the terms of BC joining confederation with Canada. Trutch took the lead in negotiations, and among other terms, secured the creation of the all-Canada transcontinental railroad that cemented this country together. Helmcken and Carrall continue to have Vancouver streets named after them, but the wokesters managed to get childless Trutch expunged. Were it just his Alexandra Bridge in the Fraser Canyon (also a video on this channel) or his major roads in the New Westminster district (including Coast Meridian Road, the baseline of the GVRD grid system outside Vancouver) he would stand head and shoulders above the paper pushers who name many streets. It's high time to restore Trutch's name and recognize his accomplishments.
Well, if I remember correctly, there is a mountain named after him on the Alaska Highway. The road is steep -- or it was the last time I was on it; it may have been changed since the sixties -- and a nailbiter to navigate. My father called it Trutcherous.
Maybe these wokeaters need to sent back in time to the are of the 1900's and actually see what life was actually like.... or they need to go on a 4 month long stay in northern bc and to live primitively to fully gain the understanding of what life was actually like back then. When people learnt and dealt in actual facts and truths and not fickle feelings and childhood trauma.
it was called blood alley because there were butchers
At first I thought Gassy Jack got that nickname for other reasons lol.
💩👀
Someone explain what an Arcade meant in a time before computers
4:20
Didnt know about the bloody alley name! Was it honestly because people used to fight there? 😂 Thought it was because of the butchers that used to work in there and the blood would wash in to the alley when they sprayed down for end of day.
@jermsp Yes, Blood Alley is named for the reason the video states.
Wasn't because he talked a lot, Gassy Jack got the nickname because he loved beans, served them with every meal, breakfast, lunch, dinner and he farted a lot. It's not so sensitive a subject that people have to try changing it to be less offensive, rewriting history for such reasons is dishonest.
Watch out for the sidewalk human poop mines
you forgot that it smells like pee 24/7
I would remind you this channel seems to be going for factual information and not drastically exaggerated opinions. Stop being so negative and just appreciate the wonderful videos this channel makes. Have a good day.
@@troycoulter291It is what it is. They also got rid of the statue of Gastown's name sake. Just starting the video now so idk if it's mentioned in the video
@@EskimoCanadian44 it is
@troycoulter291 I get your point 100% about the video but let's not pretend Vancouver isn't a shit hole due to liberal ideology....
I live a short work away from gastown. Can confirm. Also in Chinatown
You know if everyone is going to get upset about gassy jack then those people had better start looking at the people in charge of this country. Because honestly no matter what laws are passed men woman And children are still going missing. By the 100,000's yearly just in North America.
Where do they all go??
Heaven
Are you suggesting that marrying a 12 year old child was/is acceptable? Says a lot about you.
I spent 4 days near Gastown in the hostel, it was so depressing due to the lack of sun and low clouds. I'd have great plans to walk to Stanley park and once outside only had the energy to walk to Gastown and have lunch or coffee. I had to leave Vancouver, I was on holiday.
Sounds like you're lazy and would rather make excuses than get out and make the most of your day.