1939:

Forty-foot floral arches are erected on Burrard Street, a choir of 1500 rehearses at Hastings Park, and bouquets are “furnished”, as Vancouverites prepare for the weekend arrival of King George and Queen Elizabeth, at the city’s train station.

“A beautiful four colour portrait of Their Majesties on special art paper suitable for framing will be included in the big royal souvenir edition of The Daily Province on Saturday,” the newspaper announces. “To commemorate the visit of King George and Queen Elizabeth The Daily Province has prepared a welcome edition divided into several sections. There are informative articles and illustrations of every part of the British Commonwealth of Nations, several pages devoted to members of the royal family, there are many articles on Canada, its industries and attractions; another section depicts the story of British Columbia.”

The royal couple will arrive, to considerable fanfare, the following day, including a Vancouver Province headline that will declare it “The Greatest Day In The City’s Whole History.” They will stay overnight in the newly-opened Hotel Vancouver, and one of their first duties will be to officially open the new Lions’ Gate Bridge.

And, before he leaves, the King will forever endear himself to a generation of Vancouverites by commenting “I think Vancouver is the place to live.”

 

IMAGE: King George and Queen Elizabeth at Vancouver City Hall, May 31st, 1939. Image Courtesy of the Vancouver Archives.