Naked Doukhobors and Peace

During 1920, plans were made to erect a Cenotaph on the old courthouse site at Cambie and Hastings Streets. This is what we now call Victory Square. The BC Electric employees won the eight-hour work day. Although this was becoming standard, it would be several years before the mill workers gained the same privilege.

1921 was another interesting year in Vancouver. The civic election tried out proportional representation voting but soon discarded it because it was too complicated. The Vancouver General Hospital treated 13,000 cases during this year and its budget rose to $1 million.

Printers in Vancouver went on strike in 1921 for a 44-hour work week. And won. They were the first Vancouver workmen to obtain that right.  On December 1, 1921, three Doukhobors stripped their clothing in the CPR Station.

The Peace Arch at Blaine was completed and dedicated at Blaine. This project was vigorously supported by Vancouver women's associations.

The Peace Arch is a monument that stands between Surrey, British Columbia Canada and Blaine, Washington USA. It was built by Sam Hill and dedicated in September of 1921. Standing 67 feet tall, 20.5 metres, the arch commemorates the Treaty of Ghent in 1814.

The Arch stands on the exact United States - Canada boundary between Interstate 5 and Highway 99 in the grass median between the north and southbound lanes.

On the crown of the Peace Arch is the Canadian Flag and the American Flag. The frieze below has two inscriptions.

For the Americans: "Children of a common mother". For the Canadians: "Brethren dwelling together in unity".

Inside the arch are two iron gates. On the east side, it reads: "1814 Open One Hundred Years 1914". On the west side: "May these gates never be closed".

On the Northern side of the arch is the Peace Arch Provincial Park and on the Southern side is the Peace Arch State Park. These are international parks, which means that visitors do not need a visa or passport to visit the parks as long as they stay within the park boundaries.

This arch was built and erected to symbolize the unity and peace between these great countries.

Philip Timms took this photo of the Peace Arch in the 1920's or 30's. Photo compliments of the Vancouver Public Library

Thanks to the book, Vancouver, From Milltown to Metropolis by Alan Morley for some of the above information and to Wikipedia for information on the Peace Arch. 

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill

Ackery and Hayward

As we know, the Orpheum Theatre was a big deal in show business and celebrities would show up in person from time to time. Ivan, with a few exceptions, never felt really comfortable around them. In his autobiography, Fifty Years on Theatre Row, he says he felt like an imposter, a little uneasy and unsure of why he was in the company of such celebrated people.  "Even through all my show business years there was always that kind of feeling of being alone in the world."

In 1942, the movie Forest Rangers with Fred MacMurray, Paulette Goddard and Susan Hayward was to premier at the Orpheum. It was an exciting time because Hayward was going to be there in person, not only to help sell the movie but also to promote the sale of war bonds. And Ivan was delegated to escorting Ms. Hayward to different places where the bonds and the movie could be promoted.

“The night of the opening was really something,” Ivan recalled. “Granville Street was closed to traffic, with bands playing and guards of honor from the Army, Navy and Air Force lining the streets.” A police escort brought Hayward to the theatre while searchlights played over the crowd. In Ivan's office, Lieutenant-Governor William Woodward, Vancouver mayor Jack Cornett and other VIPs were waiting for the movie star's arrival. She was beautiful and glamorous and courteous. Everything was going so well until...

“When Miss Hayward arrived in the theatre I escorted her to my office and, my gosh, if she didn’t trip on a step, lose her balance, fall and sprain her ankle. I couldn’t believe it! It was like a bad dream! A 30-piece orchestra was waiting on stage; a full house was anticipating the introduction of this famous lady; but she was now stretched out in my office with her foot on a chair, her complexion about the same shade as her dress, and pain written all over her face. What to do?

“I had the orchestra play another number while we decided, but soon Miss Hayward recovered enough for me to carry her on stage for the introduction, which was all the more appealing to the audience, I’m sure, and I can’t say that I minded it a bit.”

That wasn't the end of Hayward's trials in Vancouver though. Ivan took her to the train so she could go home to Los Angeles. As the train was pulling out of the station, Miss Hayward yelled “Oh! Ivan! My fur coat! I’ve forgotten my fur coat!”. Ivan yelled back not to worry, he would get her coat.

Ackery went to the hotel, found the coat in the closet then got into his car to drive to  Blaine, Washington with the hopes of meeting Miss Hayward's train there. However, he forgot about the delay at the border and arrived in Blaine “just in time to wave at Miss Hayward’s train, disappearing into the distance.”

He did eventually get the coat back to her.

As usual, I want to thank The History of Metropolitan Vancouver website for the above information. There is still a lot to say about Mr. Ackery so stay tuned.

I hope you find the beauty around you.