Time Capsule found at Canada Post Vancouver 1950's building

What was in that time capsule?

Upon opening the copper box, they found nine historic photographs, six Canadian coins, 300 Canadian postage stamps, four local newspapers and numerous letters and publications. Sealed on November 29, 1955, by the Honourable Robert H. Winters, Minister of Public Works, the time capsule was recovered in 2019 during renovation work. Its contents were retrieved on April 24, 2023.

And now they’re on view at The Post. The curatorial team opted to display a large portion of the time capsule’s contents. In the background of the case is a large photo portraying the well-dressed audience at the Main Post Office’s opening reception. The front image features an enlarged newspaper with the caption: “Years from now, when the building is outmoded, someone will read all about the 1955 Grey Cup.”

More than just objects—and learning about the winning team that year—the time capsule reveals prevalent ideas and values of the postwar era: boundless optimism for technological innovation and an aspiration for modern industrial life.

With its two new office towers, rising to 21 and 22 storeys, and its 1.1 million square feet of office space, The Post is now the largest office building in Vancouver.

Vancouver's Canada Post building

 

Picture from the 1950's of the Canada Post Building, downtown Vancouver

My husband worked in this building in the 1960's.  They wanted to demolish it and rebuild an office tower.  However, it was built so well built, trucks and trailers could drive in fully loaded, park, unload and reload.  Helicopters could land on the roof.  The building was massive, and very well built!  They found demolishing it was too difficult and costly so they kept the building, gutted the inside an added to the top!  They moved the entire downtown postal operation to a huge building close to the Vancouver airport.

Covering a full city block, "the Post" on Georgia is the largest heritage revitalization project in British Columbia. The former Main Post Office building, an International Style landmark in Vancouver, is reimagined as a centrepiece for the growing downtown community with high tech office space, restaurants, retail, and a new public plaza. Two new office towers create a contemporary extension of the existing building while being respectful of the existing heritage.

The developers did an amazing job preserving the facade of the plant while making massive structural changes. On a recent visit, we were thrilled to see they had saved the wonderful Nairne & Partners, artworks that were commissioned in 1955-56 : a 4.9-metre carved granite postman bas-relief on its façade and tile mural of a woman and child in the postal hall, both by Paul Huba (1956); a stone inscription on the southwest corner of the building (1955); and a large painted mural near the Homer Street entrance showing early postal transportation methods in BC by Orville Fisher. When you visit, be sure to walk around and locate these memorable pieces of art as well as display cases with archives.

While Amazon has leased most of the office space in the two high rise building addition, the lower floors are an amazing array of restaurants, cafes and retail space. There is an enormous Loblaws City Market. You need to walk around and view the historic mementos and art works on display.

The redeveloped building is called "The Post" is at 349 West Georgia Street

Olympics

The Olympics are half way through.  We have really enjoyed watching the competition.  My husband has our PVR recording all day and all night.  Watching Summer McIntosh at 17 has been spectacular.  Every Canadian athlete whose competed deserves credit.  The pressure must be incredible.

Last night Lexie came for dinner.  Cec put on the women's parallel bars. She was better than the CBC commentators.  When she was in gymnastics she said she did floor and trampoline, but never the parallel bars.  She must have watched a lot of girls in competition as she really knew when they made an small error or really nailed a hard sequence.  Lexie got an injury and she never went back to gymnastics. 

My neighbour told me he heard Tom Cruise will be in the closing ceremonies on Sunday.  The next summer Olympics will be in Los Angeles in 2028.  

Miss Vyvyanne

Yesterday, Miss Vyvyanne raced again at Woodbine.  According to the owners, she's stepped up two slots and was in a Stakes Race.  I don't understand racing, but this was a huge race for her.  The stakes were $125,000.00!  She was running against horses that cost over one million dollars to purchase.  They didn't expect her to win, it was her first stakes race.  It was a very exciting race, especially for Richard who flew to Toronto and was in the Owners Suite with his brother, Gordon.

How large in British Columbia?

Canada is a vast country and British Columbia is a large province.  This picture would make it easier to see how large we actually are:

Coffee with a Cop

My neighbour Nancy and I are volunteers with Block Watch.  We got an invitation to have coffee with a cop.  Many RCMP officers showed up and we talked to most of them.  

Last Saturday we had yellow tape at the top of our lane.  I walk that lane frequently and sent an email to our contact at Block Watch and got an quick response.  I was concerned it may be an ongoing incident and worried it may be a good idea to stop walking up the lane.  The incident was resolved and there is no safety issue.  

Two years ago we had police doing surveillance close to us.  We kept it quiet and one night the swat team came, a very loud flash bang, many police cars and yellow tape was up for three days!  A neighbour told me guns were lined up on the back lawn!  I stayed away.  This was not in our complex but in a three million dollar house close to us.  I emailed the RCMP and I know these situations are private, but all I wanted to know was "did the person arrested own the house"? The watch commander said "no, he was renting a suite in the basement and the bailiff has already evicted him".  No need to worry!

I hope when we transition to the Surrey Police Service on November 29th, we get this kind of communication.  All the officers we met were very interesting and they all enjoy working in Surrey.  

 

Holland America Canadian Residents Special!

I found a very nice cruise for a very nice price, if you live in Canada.  Holland America's Koningsdam is repositioning to San Diego from Vancouver.  This is a short cruise and it has a stop in Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California.  October 22 - 26, 2024

Prices are in Canadian Dollars, double occupancy, include all taxes and fees and are non-refundable.

Inside Cabins Category I - $409.18 per person, cabin total $818.36

Outside Cabins Category E - $483.16 per person, cabin total $966.36

Balcony Cabins Category VH - $515.18 per person, cabin total $1030.36

Suite Category BC  $727.18 per person, cabin total $1454.36

If you are interested, these cabins will sell quickly.  Email:  lfisher@maritimetravel.ca for more information.

Itinerary		Date		Day		Duration
Vancouver, B.C., CA	22OCT24	TUE	DEPART 3:00PM
PIER: CANADA PLACE PIER                 CHECK IN STARTS AT 1100A
At Sea	23OCT24	WED	AT SEA
At Sea	24OCT24	THU	AT SEA
Avalon, California, US	25OCT24	FRI	ARRIVE 10:00AM DEPART 6:00PM
TENDER REQUIRED          WHEELCHAIR ACCESS LIMITED
San Diego, California, US	26OCT24	SAT	ARRIVE 7:00AM