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Dudes in platform shoes on Granville, 1974

One of the subjects in this historical Vancouver photo writes: "I am in the center of this photo taken in the Fall of 1974 at the corner of Granville St and Robson St.

One of the subjects in this historical Vancouver photo writes:

"I am in the center of this photo taken in the Fall of 1974 at the corner of Granville St and Robson St. I had just arrived a few weeks earlier from Toronto and lived in Vancouver till 2003. I now live in Toronto again. I have cherished this photo ever since. Note my platform shoes purchased at Beau Brummel on Robson St just a few doors away… "

foncie-millers

The story behind the man who captured this photo? Well, from 1934 to 1979, street photographer Foncie Pulice set up his camera on Vancouver city sidewalks and snapped candid shots of people strolling by. For almost half a century, he took thousands of photos, unwittingly capturing moments in time, the history of a city, and the lives of British Columbians. Photo negatives of Foncie’s images do not exist. He destroyed most of them when he retired. Until recently there was no central archive or collection.

Documentary filmmaker Melanie Wood and British Columbia’s Knowledge Network changed that by bringing these photographs together – collecting them from albums around the province and giving them a public home online and in the film Foncie's Corner. The photos continue to stream in and Melanie shares them with us regularly so we can share them here on our blog.

This is a story about Vancouver, about British Columbia, and about it’s people... so they need your help. Visit Knowledge.ca/FonciesCorner to add your photos and stories to the collection.