At 405 hectares, Stanley Park is the beloved heart of Vancouver often thought of as a relatively untouched piece of nature amid Vancouver’s built landscape. However this wooded area has thousands of years of First Nations presence and our appreciation and understanding of the park is broadening and deepening as we look beyond colonial history.
According to Vancouver Park Board Archaeologist Geordie Howe over 50% of Vancouver's identified archaeological sites are in parks including Stanley Park. In addition, the area we now call Stanley Park was once a rich resource for Indigenous peoples where they encouraged the growth of plants and other material sources which supported their communities. As a result there is evidence of First Nations presence all over the park.
As modern day stewards of the park, Geordie and Reconciliation Planner Rena Soutar (Cha’an Tdut) are working to document and explore this important history. The park and the city have an incredibly long and rich history, with lessons to teach that are not only valuable, but also critically important for sustainability.
To hear more about this important work and some of their fascinating discoveries, join Vancouver Heritage Foundation on February 27th as Rena and Geordie consider how we define “our cultural heritage” as a city.
Vancouver Heritage Foundation Evening Lecture Series
Stanley Park - Digging Deeper and Rethinking Cultural Heritage
Tuesday, February 27th
7:30pm - 9pm
University Women's Club at Hycroft, 1489 McRae Ave
Tickets online or cash at the door
