It’s June 1994. A young man living in Surrey, Michael Schmidt, works as a humble bus driver downtown. Like everyone in Metro Vancouver, his attention is laser-focused on the Canucks. The playoffs are getting fierce; it looks like Vancouver could pull off its first Stanley Cup win in nearly a century.
Game 7 starts on the night of the 14th, and Mike is there with his friends, ready to experience the win of a lifetime. It never comes. Vancouver stumbles, losing 3-2 to the New York Rangers. There’s a moment of shock. “How could this happen; we were so close?” Mike thinks to himself. That contemplation is short lived, because within minutes of Game 7’s end, the people of Vancouver completely lose it.
Fans surge out of Pacific Coliseum, pure fury guiding their every move. The chaos passes through Hastings like a tsunami wave, eventually reaching Robson and Thurlow. Here, a group of young men make their way up a telephone pole, one attempting to “walk the tightrope” across trolley bus lines. He plummets to the ground below, right into the crowd. Exasperating the situation, some fans begin to pull a Constable’s bike from beneath him. This isn’t a protest anymore, it’s a riot.
The Riot squad arrive shortly afterwards, hurling tear gas into the crowd. The panicked mob starts to destroy without reason, smashing windows at Eaton’s department store, stealing mannequins and dragging them through the streets, and lighting vehicles on fire.
Instead of leaving the scene, Mike dawns protective armor to shield himself from the gas. Clad head-to-toe in a gorilla suit he’d packed in preparation for such an occasion, he wanders around the scene, trying his best to avoid the police and the particularly violent rioters.
He makes his way through the carnage, but his outfit isn’t exactly covert. Somewhat expectedly, the rioters eventually notice the bipedal gorilla with a Canucks jersey and charge him. Mike runs for his life, his suit will be a perfect tinderbox for the particularly bloodthirsty amongst the crowd. He sprints towards 29th street station in a mad dash to freedom, and defying all odds, manages to catch the train, narrowly avoiding becoming the only fatality of the 1994 Stanley Cup riot. As he leaves the warzone, the loud sound of snapping echoes through Vancouver, as the plastic seats at the Coliseum are ripped apart.
Above: Myself at the Still Creek McDonald’s location, 2022
*Disclaimer: This article is not about the recent shooting at the Still Creek McDonald’s in Burnaby. It was (partially) written prior to the incident that occurred on September 12th.
In Expo 86, McDonald’s had a floating restaurant. Eventually, it was abandoned in Maple Ridge, where it sank earlier this year. Followers of my work may have noticed I’ve got an affinity for the McBarge. It’s been the subject of a full article, and featured in many others across my portfolio. I’d like to preface this story by telling you that no, I’m not crazy. I’m not obsessed with strange McDonald’s locations in Metro Vancouver, that’d be weird….
However, there just so happens to be one more weird McDonald’s I’ve gotta talk about.
4410 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby. It goes by many names. “Aluminum McDonald’s”, “Saucer McDonald’s”, but in my house, we know it only as “The Mothership”. This location has a very distinctive retro style. It’s already abnormal 2 stories of dining space are surrounded by a cocoon of space-age reflective aluminum, hence my loving nickname.
It serves as a training center for new recruits and an office for McDonald’s Canada, which explains the size, but I’m still stumped on the look. The Mothership McDonald’s looks unlike anything else in the company’s portfolio, except one.
Above: The McBarge in the Burrard Inlet (Taz/Flickr)
The aerodynamic curves and neo-futuristic design are not far off from that of the McBarge itself. So, was Expo influence the reason behind Still Creek McDonald’s distinctive spacecraft exterior? I took to the internet to find out.
First things first, I searched social media for any mention of the Mothership. Sure enough, a page dedicated to strange McDonald’s locations cataloged an image of it, my first lead. I found out about it’s history as a training center, but beyond that, nothing concrete was learned.
Next, I searched Google Maps’ Street View for potential clues on the location’s history. If you didn’t already know, some locations on Maps have been photographed multiple times, which gives viewers a chance to toggle between different eras in a given place’s existence. Unfortunately for me, this would end up as a dead end, as the only cataloged photo was from October of 2020.
I couldn’t think of anywhere else to look. Sure, I might be able to contact McDonald’s directly for an answer, but I’ve got deadlines to meet, there’s simply no time. This is the “all is lost” moment on the plot graph, the time in the story when… Well, all seems lost. But then, out of seemingly thin air, I had a moment of genius. The Burnaby Archives!
I searched for McDonald’s on the archives’ site, and sure enough, I was delivered exactly what I had been searching for: “Comprehensive Development Plans-Bylaw No.8435, Rezoning Reference #63/85 (McDonald’s Ltd. Office/Restaurant). Architectural files for a Burnaby McDonald’s, one that was both an office and a restaurant. But the nail on the coffin was the date: 1986.
My theory goes as follows: McDonald’s needed a new training facility and head office in Metro Vancouver, as the chain was expanding rapidly and would serve as a sponsor for the upcoming Expo 86. This McDonald’s, this Mothership, was inspired by the new wave of slick architecture the fair brought to the area, explaining the aluminum exterior. I wasn’t able to determine if this was a renovation or a ground-up new build, but the file description makes me think it was the former.
So, case closed, right? Well, unfortunately there’s some gaps in logic in my masterwork, as I couldn’t access the complete contents of the file online. If this McDonald’s was renovated or built ahead of Expo, wouldn’t the file have a date from before the fair, not the year of? Was the file in question actually about the Still Creek location? It’s not made clear in the description. All this uncertainty leaves me unable to draw any conclusions, but I won’t give up the search for the truth. The mystery of the Mothership lives on, but mark my words: I will find out why this random McDonald’s looks funny, or so help me God.
All this talking about McDonald’s has made me a bit peckish. Anyone want a Big Mac?
A few weeks ago, I had the rare opportunity to show my friend around YVR. The friend in question, let’s call him “Mr. M”, has never stepped foot into an airport in his life, so I took it upon myself to show him the area as best as I could. We typically hang out in the same couple of places, namely White Rock and Crescent Beach, so a trip outside of our realm of expertise seemed like a daunting task.
I consider myself to be fairly well-travelled. I’ve been to plenty of different airports during my life, yet YVR still remains the nicest one. The terminal, in it’s current form, has been a fixture of Metro Vancouver since 1968, welcoming visitors from every corner of the globe. Speaking of visitors, what did Mr. M think?
When we first arrived, Mr. M was shocked at the size and scope of the terminal. YVR is approximately 3,311 acres in size, so I can see how someone would be taken aback by a facility that large. Upon entering, his shock turned to awe, as it seemed like the building just kept going infinitely in either direction. When I asked him what his initial thoughts were, he told me “I think the officialness and efficiency of everything (surprised me). With all the airport employees doing different things that all worked to get people to their destinations”.
The architecture inside YVR is like nothing I’ve seen before. Unlike, say, LAX, YVR has a distinctive Pacific Northwest theme to its interiors, with impressive displays of local art, and facades meant to replicate the seaside village atmosphere of places like Steveston Village. The color pallet of greens, blues and yellow give it a unique rainforest feel, which I vastly prefer over the bland whites and greys of other airports. Mr. M agreed with my sentiments, telling me “It was minimalist and gave a good representation of what modern architecture is like in Vancouver, and still managed to feel inviting”.
As we wandered around, we decided to check out the stores and the Fairmont. Mr. M was surprised by the amount of shopping and dining available, and of course we had to visit the Vancouver Aquarium gift shop, where we both picked up some souvenirs to remember the visit by. Later in the evening, we decided to eat at the White Spot, which has an exclusive menu. Mr. M said the food was “very good”, high praise indeed.
After we’d seen it all, it was time to leave. We met with my sister (who herself was there to say goodbye to someone, which was the reason we went in the first place), and made our way to the parking garage. 3 hours in the terminal cost $59.99 in parking fees, absolute highway robbery. But was the 60 dollars (plus food and souvenirs) worth it? Absolutely. Going to the beach for the 100th time would’ve also been cool, sure, but getting the chance to go somewhere different and explore is something else entirely, something that Mr. M and I will remember more than another day hanging at the pier. I don’t know where we’ll go next, but if our time at YVR is anything to go by, it’ll be time well spent.
In August, I made an impromptu trip to Victoria with some friends. There are a few things in the city that are musts when I visit, like visiting the Empress, getting lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf, and seeing the Capitol. But my favorite part of the Victoria experience is the Royal BC Museum. What’s not to love? History, local ecology… Ok, maybe it’s not everyone’s thing. But you know what is? Music. Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change is the Royal BC’s newest exhibit, and i couldn’t be more excited to see it.
Before ascending the escalator to the showroom, there’s one piece of the exhibit located in the foyer, and the best part? It’s free to visit. Actually, scratch that. The best part is that it’s the John Lennon’s custom 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V! As a Beatles super-fanatic, this was probably the single coolest thing I’ve ever seen on display, so incredible that I dressed up in my “All You Need is Love” dress shirt for the occasion. I even filmed some content for Evolution’s social media about it, but the Museum never got back to me to give the go-ahead to use the footage. Bummer.
Anyways, once you’ve passed the automobile (and a small accompanying Beatles display), you climb the escalator to the show floor, where the exhibit really starts. Before walking into the display, you pick up a small, cardboard disc. This disc, when waved over scanners around the exhibit, activates a library of music related to each item. As the geniuses me and my friend are, we passed by the discs without a second thought, so a security guard provided some for us. There’s no shortage of interesting musical memorabilia on display, including various Elton John stage outfits and Neil Young’s harmonica, to name a few. Since the exhibit has been provided by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, there’s a focus on Canadian artists, including Indigenous and French-Canadian musicians, as well as international talents who’ve used their music as a rallying cry, such as N.W.A. There’s even a mock-record store section featuring albums notable for their cultural impact, as well as a stage with a selection of instruments for a nice photo.
Beyond the Beat is a fascinating display. As someone who listens to a very small variety of music, specifically 60’s Rock the exhibit broadened my horizons a bit, while also catering to my own tastes. To be truthful, I can’t remember many of the artists we experienced by name, but that’s a me problem. That “me problem” in question is probably not isolated to… well, just me. Thousands, millions of artists have worked to shape our culture for the better, using music as a medium to incite real and lasting change. Remembering these artists keeps us informed on how our current cultural landscape came to be, and Beyond the Beat will act as an introduction to these talents for many. I’m planning a trip back to the Royal BC Museum this winter, as I’d like to absorb a lot more information the second time around. It won’t be around for long, though, as the exhibition closes its doors on January 6th, 2026, so plan your visit soon!
December 22nd, 2023. A day that will live in infamy, for that was the day me and my friend crossed the U.S. border by accident. Was it fun? In retrospect, yes. But in the moment, being taken for questioning at Peace Arch crossing was borderline terrifying (get it?). This is our story.
Part 1: The Peace Arch
Ok, first things first, let’s establish some background details. Peace Arch. What’s that? Well, it’s the busiest border crossing in western Canada. Opened in 1891, it’s one of Metro Vancouver’s 4 land-based crossings into the United States (the others being Aldergrove, Pacific, and Point Roberts), providing a direct route between Vancouver and it’s southern sibling, Seattle. Located beside the crossing is Peace Arch Park, a space that is shared between Blaine, WA and Surrey. It’s an international gathering place where Canadians and Americans are allowed to be together without need for a passport. Keep that last part in mind.
Part 2: An Idiotic Idea, 12:00pm
Jumping forward to that faithful December day, me and my friend Oscar decided to visit Peace Arch Park for the day. Despite living only 15 minutes away, we’d never been, so we weren’t exactly sure what was in store. We parked in a lot behind the Canadian Duty-Free store, and for an hour, there was peace. We explored the area, took pictures with the Arch itself, and slipped down a hill on a patch of mud. We made our way back to the car, passing the Duty-Free as we walked. Then, I had perhaps the stupidest idea of my life: “Let’s go to the Duty-Free!”. As most normal people know, Duty-Frees are meant to entice border crossers to purchase items to skip the line. I knew this, but I couldn’t resist the temptation. So we got in my car, and moved it from a lot right beside the store, to the actual Duty-Free lot. As soon as we passed through it’s gates, I noticed something under my tire. The entire facility was surrounded by spike traps. There was no way out but through the border.
Part 3: Calamity Builds, 2:00pm
Since we never planned on crossing the border, neither myself nor Oscar had passports, and to make things just a little bit worse, Oscar left his wallet in his sister’s car. He was essentially unidentifiable. We begged the Duty Free workers to lower the traps, to no avail. So we got in my car, and drove. The wait to reach the actual crossing was terrifyingly tense. Were we going to get off ok, or were we going to be in a jail cell just in time for Christmas? Eventually, we reached the guard. “What’s the purpose of your visit?” he said. I explained our predicament, and unsurprisingly, he wasn’t having it. “Secondary!” he shouted, and with that, we were parked and sent to the Customs & Immigrations Office of the United States.
Part 4: Crescendo, 5:00pm
The wait was arduous. 3 hours squished in a line with hundreds of new immigrants and those flagged for suspicious behavior. There was no music, just the chatter of scared travelers. Worst of all, Wi-Fi was non-existent, and since we were now in the U.S., neither of our data plans were of use, so contacting the outside world was damn near impossible. The hours went by as fast as paint dries, but eventually, we were summoned to plead our case. We walked to the counter, where a burly, muscular officer was sat. We told him everything, how it was all a mistake and how we didn’t actually want to go to the States anyways. Apparently, he read that as 2 smugglers getting cold feet at the last minute, so he berated us. Hard. We were speechless, usually you’re allowed to clap back at someone who calls you an idiot, but not this time. He left us to concur with other officers on weather or not we would be set free, or be thrown in jail. Meanwhile, my car was being searched outside, and of course I had to have a bunch of suspicious objects in it that day (Such as a gutter cleaner for my dad’s Christmas gift, which looked like a large metal axe, and a box of old rotary phones I’d gotten for free from the high school dumpster). We were officially screwed.
Part 5: Born to Run, 7:00pm
The guard returned after about 20 minutes. We were ready for our punishment. “I better not see you here again. Got it?” he demanded. We were free men. We hopped in my car, and were ushered into Blaine to turn around and head for the Canadian border. If we were indeed smugglers, we probably could’ve just driven right down the interstate and made Seattle by midnight, but we were just two kids that wanted to get home. The Canadian crossing was a breeze, as even without any identification, they found Oscar’s records within seconds, something that the Americans were obviously incapable of. As soon as my front tires passed the 49th parallel, we sped off into the sunset, windows down and stereo boosted. Springsteen’s “Born to Run” began to play, a cinematic ending for the most interesting day of our lives.
“What’s the point of this story?” I hear you say. Well, it’s quite simple: Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Doyou like superheroes? Statistically speaking, the answer is probably yes. Despite the increasingly pessimistic reception to superhero media nowadays, there’s no arguing it’s been a huge part of our local film scene. From Deadpool to Peacemaker, Metro Vancouver has played host to some of TV and film’s most (and least) iconic comic book icons, so let’s delve into some of the region’s most iconic appearances in superhero media!
Blade Trinity (2004)
Blade Trinity is awful. It’s a poorly thrown together mess of a sequel, so bad that it’s lead, Wesley Snipes, refused to even open his eyes for much of filming. But we aren’t here to talk quality, where was Blade Trinity filmed? The movie was shot in locations across Canada, but Vancouver’s own Marine Building served as the pivotal location where… Something happens to Wesley Snipes’ and Ryan Reynolds’ characters? To be honest, I can’t sit through that film again, even for research purposes, it’s that bad. But something that has stuck in my mind is the location of the Nightstalker’s layer, the one, the only, the McBarge. This would mark the last time the abandoned Expo 86 vessel was properly used until it’s tragic demise earlier this year.
Just a year after the atrocity that was Blade Trinity, Marvel’s first family received their own theatrical film. In the comics, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm take up residence in New York’s Baxter Building as the Fantastic 4. To replicate the retro look of the structure, the filmmakers chose the Marine Building (once again) for exterior shots from the air, and for scenes taking place directly outside of the entrance. The background in establishing shots looks a bit off, as the composited-in New York City background is inconsistently situated, but unless you’re a mega nerd like me, you’d never notice.
The Flash (2014-2023)
DC aren’t strangers to using Vancouver for their projects either. The most memorable use of the city on the silver screen might go to 2014’s The Flash, which uses the entirety of Vancouver, complete with specific landmarks like the Vancouver Public Library and BC Place, to represent Barry Allen’s hometown of Central City. Some of my favorite instances of recognizable places appearing in the show include the Vancouver Aquarium featuring as a high-secure containment facility for the villain King Shark (who viewers may also recognize from his depiction in 2021’s The Suicide Squad), and the CBC Broadcast Centre, among other locations, serving as the iconic S.T.A.R. Labs from the comics.
Peacemaker (Season 1, 2022)
Before James Gunn’s 2021 Suicide Squad reboot, the character known as Peacemaker was relatively unknown by most. Regardless, he received his own direct-to-streaming spin-off on HBO Max starring John Cena in the titular role, which was set in the fictional town of Evergreen, Washington. Metro Vancouver stood in for the nearby state, with Surrey in particularly being an essential location. The headquarters of the 11th Street Kids is a historic building in Downtown Cloverdale, now Mama Karen’s Korner Collectables, and right across the street, Firehall 8’s parking lot was the location of a pivotal battle between Peacemaker and martial arts villain Judomaster. Unfortunately, the second season of the series was not shot in Metro Vancouver.
Deadpool Films (2016, 2018)
Last, and certainly most well-known are the Deadpool movies. Ryan Reynold’s take on Marvel’s merc with a mouth uses Vancouver as a stand in for… Well, the name of Wade Wilson’s city isn’t directly stated in the films, so it can be assumed it’s just a run-of-the-mill American metropolis. The iconic scene of Deadpool drawing a crude crayon picture while dangling his legs off a bridge was shot on the Georgia Viaduct, with PNE banners clearly visible in the background. In the second film, the climactic battle against Firefist and the Juggernaut makes use of Coquitlam’s abandoned Riverview Hospital, here depicted as a home to cure mutant children.
There are plenty more superhero films where eagle-eyed viewers can spot Vancouver landmarks hidden behind the action, but that’s enough for one article. Our film scene is integral to our position on the world stage, so I’m excited to see so many projects I love using our area. The most interesting part is the sheer variety of locations we are meant to represent. New York, Washington, even fictional places. Part of me hopes there’ll be a superhero project set in Vancouver filmed here one day, but until then, I’m with Vancouver being the backdrop for scarlet speedsters, peace-loving mercenaries, vampire hunters, and bad-mouth assassins, it’s not a bad gig.
Here’s a question: what do Langley and North Vancouver have in common? Well, besides both being in Metro Vancouver, there’s one contentious issue that plagues both areas: There’s 2 of each. The District of North Vancouver and the City are separate entities, as are the Langley Township and City of Langley. Do we really need duplicate municipalities? Well, the Township of Langley says no.
Township Mayor Eric Woodward is looking to have his people run in the City of Langley’s next election. Recently, he announced his new political party, Progress For Langley, which aims to democratically unite the 2 municipalities under one roof. But wait, why are there 2 Langleys in the first place?
In 1955, residents living in the urban center of the Langley Prairie wanted new city infrastructure that was necessary if the town was to grow, namely streetlights. The rest of the Township, which remains Metro Vancouver’s most rural municipality to this day, didn’t much care for modern amenities, so unable to find a compromise, the two split. A similar situation unfolded on the Northshore in 1907, as the more developed Lonsdale area separated from the suburban community up the hill.
So, what does a Langley resident say about all of this? Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m mostly in favor of the idea. Most of us have always seen the two Langleys as one place. I live in Langley Township, but every job I’ve ever had has been in the City. Now more than ever, the two are becoming decreasingly distinguishable, with many of the once “rural” areas seeing modern development, which includes the installation of sidewalks and streetlights, the very things that caused the spilt. The demographics just aren’t as different as they were in the 50’s, so the divide between what residents of each area want to see happen has shrunk. There’s still a bit of division lingering in the air though, as some residents of the Township view the City as a crime-ridden lost cause, with the joint RCMP force the two cities shared even being disbanded in recent years. The City also employs it’s own workers and politicians, who might be out of work if the it’s absorbed.
Being honest, I don’t think the City of Langley has a future as a separate city, and I’d welcome them to the Township if they join us. This situation isn’t about a hostile takeover, it’s about creating a better Langley for all of us. However, there are still some major detractors to the idea, so until the kinks are ironed out, we have to unite the Langleys by building a strong community, not out of lines and borders, but one made of people who care about each other and our home.
If you commute in Metro Vancouver, you likely use 1 of 2 routes every day: Highway 99, or Highway 1. Although the 99 often hits a bottleneck at the George Massey Tunnel, it’s usually pretty smooth sailing. The #1 is quite the opposite. In fact, I can think of at least 3 times when I’ve felt my heart begin palpitating from the stress and terror of commuting on that nightmare of a freeway.
I often mention my status as a Langley resident when writing articles, as it often provides an interesting point-of-view of the rest of the Metro. In this case, I’d say the POV is less interesting, and more nauseating. It takes about 30 minutes to travel from the southern end of 200th street to the Carvolth Exchange, where the HOV onramp for Highway 1 begins. This means if I’ve got a class at 8:30, I’m up at 5, and out the door at six. The stretch of road between Walnut Grove in Langley and Guilford Town Centre in Surrey isn’t terrible, it’s actually a nice break from the action. But as soon as you hit 160th street, all hell breaks loose. The Coquitlam lanes for the Port Mann Bridge cause the bottleneck of all bottlenecks, adding a welcome 20 minutes to the commute. Oh, and of course the massive trucks take the fast lane, which has caused my friend’s windshield to be cracked on 2 separate occasions by falling debris, one time coming very close to going right through and hitting me in the head. Happy times!
After the bridge, a complete standstill occurs in Coquitlam. I’ve sat and stared at the IKEA for 30 minutes straight on multiple occasions, it’s not like I’m going to be moving. Once the traffic starts crawling again, you’re bound to be nearly sideswiped by a merging vehicle with no spatial awareness, It’s happened to me multiple times. On one occasion, I was driving a rented vehicle, only for a garbage truck to begin merging into my side. Luckily, the moron in question realized I was there at the last second, saving me from what would’ve been a paperwork nightmare.
So heading west during the morning rush is bad, but what about the journey home? It’s somehow worse. I get on the freeway at Willingdon, and good lord, people do not understand the concept of merging. Some get cold feet and stop in the lane, whereas others decide to speed past everyone else to the end, where they’re somehow surprised no one wants to let them in. It’s called “the zipper” people, it’s not rocket science. The HOV lane is helpfully situated on the opposite side of the highway, which means timing your gaps just right to cross every lane. One time, I miss-timed a lane change, nothing major, the vehicle behind me was quite a distance away. He didn’t think so, so he proceeded to pull beside me, start screaming out the window, flipping the bird, and then speed in front of me, where he very calmly and safely zig-zagged in front of me in the hopes he’d cause a crash. To finish this elaborate display, he’d cut someone off for real to escape the scene, giving them a wave as if it was suddenly ok. Some people don’t deserve a driver’s license. This guy wouldn’t deserve parole.
So yes, I’m evidently not Highway 1’s biggest fan. But my motivation for telling you the story of my many misfortunes is for a good reason. I’d rather vent here then on the road, because unlike Mr. Bird-Flipper or the garbage truck driver, I actually try to make sure I don’t kill anyone while using the freeway, and you should too.
There aren’t many truly iconic restaurant chains from BC. Can you name 5? There’s Cactus Club, The Keg,… That’s about it. We’re reliant on local spots, restaurants from outside of the province, and those from abroad for our dining pleasure, for better or worse. But there is one chain I haven’t mentioned, one as as synonymous with British Columbian as Nanaimo Bars and weed. It goes by many names (well, actually only 2), has over 100 locations, and was founded right here in Vancouver almost a century ago. Of course I’m talking about the legendary White Spot, and it’s fast-food spin-off, Triple O’s.
The story of White Spot starts in 1920’s Vancouver. The horse drawn carriage is being slowly replaced the automobile, Hotel Vancouver is only beginning construction, and the only way to cross the first narrows is by ferry. Here we find a Minnesota-born businessman by the name of Nat Bailey, who uses his trusty 1918 Model-T as a mobile drive-in (or perhaps drive-around is more accurate), often setting up shop at Lookout Point. The menu is simple: hot dogs and ice cream, a far cry from what we know today. In 1928, Nat decides to turn his nomadic snack cart into a real restaurant, choosing a spot on Granville Street to host it. This would become the very first location of a soon-to-be local hotspot, a place we know as the one, the only, Granville Barbeque! Luckily, a friend of Nat’s persuaded him to change the name to the much catchier White Spot before opening, which itself was the name of another restaurant in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the name “White Spot” had negative racial connotations in LA, as the city itself was known as the “white spot of America” at the time. It’s not hard to guess what that would’ve meant.
But back in Vancouver, things began to pick up speed, and fast. In 1935, Nat strikes a deal with Mr. Felix Guichon, a local potato farmer, to supply the emerging chain with the ingredients to create their famous French fries, a partnership that still exists today. The brand continues to grow, and the lower mainland is eating it up! In the 1960’s, White Spot introduces it’s most beloved ingredient: Triple O’s Sauce. Not only would the sauce’s mysterious ingredients become stuff of legend, but in 1997, the name would be used for the new fast-food branch of the business.
It’s hard to find somewhere in the Lower Mainland where the legacy of White Spot isn’t present. In 1978, Capilano Stadium was renamed to Nat Bailey stadium, in honor of the man who started it all. The annual Pirate Pack day has become some what of a tradition, and the iconic kid’s meal of the same name has become a key part of childhood for millions of BC kids. White Spot’s influence can even be felt overseas, with locations in Hong Kong, China, Manila, Taiwan, and Macau.
So why do British Columbians love White Spot so much? Well, for starters, the Spot has made a name for itself as the cozy, family restaurant. A gathering place to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, you name it. There’s no lobster, no premium New York sirloin, just the comfort food classics. Sure, there’s other diners with a similar atmosphere, but none of them have been as integral to British Columbia’s culture as White Spot. It’s one of the only recognizable chains in the province we can call our own, so of course we’re partial to it.
Me personally, my fondness for the place is routed in childhood memories picking up dinner at the drive-in at the now-defunct Willowbrook Mall location with my dad, wearing a Pirate Pack on my head as a hat, and running my hands through the fountain in the foyer. But the best part is knowing that, when I eventually have kids of my own, the Spot will be there, just as it was for my grandparents, their children and me. Ready for graduations, birthdays, and everything in between.
Ever since the end of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouverites have been patiently waiting for another world-class event to put the city back on the world stage. It was a long 16 year wait, but in 2026, the FIFA World Cup will arrive at BC Place.
There are certain processes that occur in a host city when an event of this kind occurs, some good, some not so much. City “beautification” within a certain distance of BC Place will start soon, which sounds like a great idea on paper. Vancouver is far from perfect, and with the Downtown Eastside often in the spotlight for it’s dire homelessness and drug problems, now might finally be time to improve the situation, right? Well, maybe on a surface level, but if you’re expecting anything beyond that, you’re probably in for a huge disappointment.
In 2024, Paris held the Summer Olympics. As part of their own beautification project, the Eiffel Tower was given an extensive renovation, a new Olympic village was built, and many of the city’s most vulnerable were moved out of sight of international attention. Homeless people of the Seine-Saint-Denis area were evicted in mass, placed on buses, and dropped in unfamiliar locations, or in some situations, even being deported. This horrific process was reported on by some outlets, but went largely ignored, as it obviously puts a dark stain on the Olympics and the city of Paris.
Maybe I’m being a bit paranoid, but the situation in Seine-Saint-Denis sounds eerily familiar. The Downtown Eastside problem can be solved, but it’ll take far more time and resources than the beautification fund allows for, so why not just move the problem elsewhere? We’ve already witnessed the homelessness problem spread throughout Metro Vancouver, with areas like Central Surrey and Langley City being particularly hard hit, so what’s stopping Vancouver from pulling the same move as Paris? They’d have to justify it, maybe build temporary shelters throughout the Metro, but the likelihood of any progress being made to actually solve the problem is slim to none.
The very fact that we could see something like this play out next year should be a wake up call. The province, Metro Vancouver, and the city itself have been in the business of “bandaging” this problem for decades now, without committing to sweeping long-term changes that would help the less fortunate actually get back on their feet. Maybe the world needs to see the Downtown Eastside. The garbage, the needles, the people. Perhaps that’s our wake-up call, our most sensitive issue, on display for the world to see. The World Cup should be a showcase of our character, so whatever happens to the Downtown Eastside next year, let’s hope it doesn’t detract from the biggest sporting event in 2 decades.
