Vancouver Voyager: Arts, Academics and Annacis Island

I am showing you some homes on Ontario Street in the Mount Pleasant District. 2205,2213 and 2221. These houses were built in 1908, 1909 at a cost of $2,000 each and the owner is listed as T.J. Whiteside.

Margaret Grant Andrew was an arts activist. She was born on March 19, 1912 in Kingston, ON. Her father was William L. Grant, a history professor and principal of Upper Canada College. Margaret graduated from McGill University in 1933 with a BA in economics and political science.

She worked in a bank then joined CBC when it started in 1933. In 1975 and 1976, Andrew was a school board trustee and the chairperson from 1977 to 1979. She was active in the BC Arts in Education Council, Vanier Institute of Family, Vancouver Art Gallery, Family Service Association and University Women's Club. As you can see, Margaret was a popular figure in the arts and academic field.

Margaret's husband, Geoffrey, was vice president of UBC and director of Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada. Margaret died July 30, 1982 and Geoffrey followed five years later.

Another academic history maker is Henry Forbes Angus, born in April 19, 1891 in Victoria. Angus got a BA from McGill University in 1911 and a MA from Oxford in 1919. In 1919, he joined UBC as an assistant professor of economics. He was head of political science, economics and sociology from 1930 through 1956. He was the first dean of graduate studies - 1949-1956 and Dean Emeritus 1956.

Angus was one of the few to publicly voice his opposition to the internment of the Japanese-Canadians. Angus received an LL.D from UBC in 1956. He died September 17, 1991 in Vancouver.

Henry's wife was an accomplished woman of her own right. Anne Margaret was born in Anatolia, Turkey, the daughter of a diplomat. She graduated from UBC in 1923 and was president of the University Women's club and a child welfare activist. Margaret wrote the first UBC student play entitled The High Priest in 1922 which was performed by the University Players' Club. She received an LL.D in 1933.

Francis (Francois Noel) Annance was an Abenaki explorer born in 1789 in St. Francis, Richelieu Valley in Quebec. He died in his birthplace in 1851.

Annance was a Abenaki interpretor's son. Francis was educated at Moor's Indian Charity School in New Hampshire. He joined the North West Co. in 1810 and supported the British in the War of 1812. He was chosen for a difficult expedition from Fort George to the Fraser in 1824 and was one of those men responsible for setting up Fort Langley in 1927.

Francis had many conflicts with Hudson Bay Co. chief factor John McLoughlin over a lack of promotion. (It is believed that this was due to Annance's native heritage) He resigned but was forced to work out the end of his contract. In 1845, Francis Annance returned to his hometown of St. Francis and took up work as a Protestant teacher. Annacis Island is named for him.

This house on West 6th was built in 1901. Mrs. Sarah Carlile is listed as the owner who applied for permits to build an addition to the home that year. It cost her $100.

Thanks to The History of Metropolitan Vancouver for the information on our history makers. And thanks to Bob_2006's Photostream on Flickr for the information on the houses.