Kate Bird’s New Book Provides a Glimpse into Vancouver’s Past

A collection of images from the city in the 1970’s tells one-of-a-kind tale

CORRECTION: We initially wrote that there were 49 photographs in the book. There are actually 149. We apologize for the error.

As seen through 149 photographs in Kate Bird’s Vancouver in the 70’s, life in the city four decades ago was vibrant. It was a time defined by questioning, exploring, and speaking out—venturing outside of the limits to change oneself and the world—and Bird’s collection reflects that in complete, glossy detail. The book offers a rare and intimate look into a time passed, characterized by civil unrest, wild style, and unbridled love. Vancouver was just starting to boom then, and as urbanity spread its fingers into small neighbourhoods and parks, the people were expanding their horizons too.

Much of the same is still happening here today. Homelessness, political protests, and art is still an enormous part of the culture. In the twenty-first century, everything is simply packaged and delivered in a less iconically stylish way. Canadians are calmer now, and more immersed in the cyber world than they once were. The city map has changed and skyscrapers have taken over, but at the end of the day, the heart of the city remains unchanged.

“The 70’s were the decade when Vancouver really grew up,” says Bird at the book launch, describing the city as a previously “industrial, gritty, and grimy” place with a “working-class feel to it.” Over the years, it has become more modern and gentrified, now known as one of the most liveable cities in the world.

A slideshow of photographs from the book and elsewhere light up the projection screen. It begins with a 1971 shot of the skyline from False Creek, moving onto an image of a skyscraper rising intimidatingly behind a heritage home, metropolitan billboard ads for Ultra Hair, and a moment between ex-mayor Tom Campbell and Queen Victoria.

Serious people’s issues are illustrated as well. There are striking pictures of the Battle of Jericho, Vietnam War protests, pro-marijuana smoke-ins, the Gastown riots, and rallies against high rises. Cyclists push for new bike lanes, electrical workers fight against Amchitka nuclear testing, and Greenpeace grows its legs. In other parts of the city, teenagers clean up the shores post-oil spill, the Vancouver Women’s Caucus marches, and the city’s first gay alliance towards equality hold up signs despite their small numbers.

For pop culture lovers, there are pages dedicated to rock stars Mick Jagger and Rod Stewart, the first showing of Star Wars at the Vogue Theatre, snaps of famous film sets, and established novelists and poets. There are glances back at the previous faces of the Vancouver Art Gallery, Chinatown, and YVR.

Back when Bird used to visit Vancouver spots Guys and Dolls and Nice Cafe, she was an art student, photographer, and library employee. Later on in her career, she became a news researcher librarian for The Province and The Vancouver Sun, which is where she first discovered the negatives and prints that would one day fill the pages of her most recent book. She has conducted research for other books such as Making Headlines: 100 Years of The Vancouver Sun, Lilies and Fireweed: Frontier Women of British Columbia, and Wildfire: British Columbia Burns. Although she has settled into retirement recently, she is currently working on a book covering a century worth of protests to be released next fall.