Legends of Stanley Park

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About

Stanley Park opened on September 27, 1888, and brought a lot of change to the landscape, wildlife, and people on the 4.05 km² peninsula. Workers pumped sand to fill areas for beaches and picnic areas and created artificial land bridges to keep tide waters in to create Lost Lagoon. Many people were forced out of their homes to create an environment that looked untouched, so people felt miles away from the city.

The park has become an important symbol of Vancouver, but it is vital to recognize how the creation of Stanley Park changed the lives of its Indigenous inhabitants. This exhibition explores Indigenous legends about the region, and highlights the transition of the land from a home for the Coast Salish people to a military base and subsequently a park, during which the Coast Salish were displaced and mistreated.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation occurs on September 30, 2023. This day honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools and their families and endeavours to acknowledge and better understand the history and harm done. Roedde House is closed on Saturdays, so join us on Friday, September 29th as we open our new exhibition, Legends of Stanley Park.

Links

• Roedde House Museum roeddehouse.org

Organizer

Roedde House Museum

The Roedde family’s home is located on the ancestral, unceded, and shared territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Gustav and Matilda Roedde settled in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1888. German-born Gustav was Vancouver’s first bookbinder. He opened his own bookbinding business, G.A. Roedde Bookbinders where he specialized in the craft of marbling paper. The family moved into their newly built house in the West End neighbourhood in 1893. The house was designed by famed architect Francis Rattenbury, and is a City of Vancouver-designated Class A Heritage House.

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