Fabulous Fifty

On January 3, 1950, the comic strip POGO debuted in the Vancouver Sun. This immensely popular comic has first appeared in the United States on October 4, 1948.

On January 12, the first family moved into the Fraserview Development.

A day later, January 13, Hedley Hipwell returned for a fourth term as President of Greater Vancouver Tourism Association. Hipwell also headed the BC Automobile Association.

Jump forward to February 14, 1950 and history was made. Nancy Hodges became the first female speaker in the British Commonwealth to preside over the opening of the BC Legislature. Hodges was a Victoria journalist and a women's right advocate. She served as MLA from 1941 to 1953 and was elected to the senate in 1953 - the first MLA from BC to achieve that honour.

In February of 1950, the Crescent Beach Hotel burned down.

A new passenger terminal at the Vancouver Airport opened on March 15.

The Ridge Theatre opened at 3131 Arbutus Street on April 13.

Spring vandals painted White Rock's white rock, black. This enraged citizens who had to pay for the clean up.

Cloverdale's first Rodeo Queen, May Patricia Kronebusch, was crowned.

June 21. Mayor Thompson received the deed to Hadden Park on behalf of the children Harvey Hadden had dedicated it.

June 26. North Korea invaded South Korea and the Korean War began. (A funny story in my family. My father was born on April 7, 1939 -just before World War II broke out. I was born on June 26 but many years after this!)

Here's a snippet of a report in the August 7, 1950 Province newspaper:

“Masked bandits held four B.C. Electric employees at bay with a sub-machine gun early today in a ticket office raid which netted only $59. It was the first time such a weapon had been used in a city holdup . . . Police said the raid on the B.C. Electric carbarns ‘bullpen’ at Thirteenth and Main was staged by two men at 3:30 a.m., when most streetcars were in for the night and about 15 minutes before the morning shift was due to arrive.” (Note the difference in style: in 1950: sub-machine gun. Today: submachine-gun.)

Van Waters & Roger Ltd was incorporated in Vancouver on August 12, 1950. This was the Canadian affiliate of a company founded in 1924 in Seattle by George Van Waters and Nat S. Rogers. Today, the company sells industrial chemicals and is known as Univar Canada. It also sponsored the listing of 1950 in the History of Metropolitan Vancouver website.

Thanks to The History of Metropolitan Vancouver website for the above information.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill