Before They Were Grandparents

Before they were grandparents, they were champions Inspired by...

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:32:09 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were champions

Inspired by the stories our caregivers are privileged to hear on a daily basis, “Before They Were Grandparents” was our way of bridging the digital gap between old and young generations. By launching our website with a live storytelling event, we helped breathe life into your photo and video submissions in a unique, offline environment.

Recently, with our social media agency Village&Co., we hosted our second live event, this time exploring Vancouver’s sport legacy. Featuring storytellers who have represented our city around the world and who hold places in the BC Sports Hall of Fame, we celebrated their achievements in the fitting venue of Vancouver’s Athlete’s Village under the title, “Before they were grandparents, they were champions”.

Before they were grandparents, they were right on schedule. This...

Mon, 28 May 2012 15:54:00 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were right on schedule.

This amazing shot is one my all time favourites in my vintage photo collection. From the nearly identical looks on each man’s face, to the superb fashion of the man on the right, and of course we can’t forget about this truck. You just know that even back in this era a delivery guarantee was something you could hang your hat on.

-Anthony M.

Before they were grandparents, they were off to market. This...

Tue, 22 May 2012 10:35:46 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were off to market.

This photo has been passed around our family for a few years now. My grandmother found it at a yard sale several years ago and was convinced her grandmother is the woman about to cross the street. Even if this is just a photo without any familial ties, we’ve put a lot of our family history into it. And that makes it special.

-Madison N.

Before they were grandparents, they had two left feet. I am so...

Fri, 18 May 2012 05:42:30 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they had two left feet.

I am so happy someone snapped this photo back in the ’40s. The boy on the chair? That’s my grandfather. It looks like he’s not into dancing but he confided in me that he was always jealous of the guys who could dance. “They always seemed to woo the girls”, he said. Since he told me that, I’ve noticed two things:

1- I could use a dance instructor.
2- He was right.

-Barry H.

How a Bicycle Was Made in 1945 A British Council Film from 1945...

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:42:41 -0700

How a Bicycle Was Made in 1945

A British Council Film from 1945 documenting the design and manufacturing of Raleigh bicycles. (via Devour)

-thanks to our follower Meaghan K. for the link!

Before they were grandparents, they were old pals. Just some...

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:31:25 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were old pals.

Just some good old boys hanging out on the farm. My dad’s always been very proud of this photo. I used to wonder why, but after years of looking at it, I realize that because of this group of men, our family was able to survive as a farming family. The history of labour in this photo is beautiful.

-Allan Y.

Before they were grandparents, they were causing a...

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:15:58 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were causing a racquet.

Tennis has been a long standing tradition for my family. Lessons, coaching, doubles, singles - we do it all and we can thank my grandfather for this familial passion. He had never picked up a racquet until his 22nd birthday in 1943, but after one game he said he felt like he had played for a lifetime.

-Danny B.

Before they were grandparents, they were beach bums. With summer...

Mon, 07 May 2012 10:54:44 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were beach bums.

With summer around the corner, and more and more Vancouverites flocking to Kits Beach on the weekend, I can’t help but think of this photo. It was one of my grandmother’s favourite photos, though I don’t think she is actually pictured in it. But it doesn’t matter to me - it just doesn’t feel like summer until I look at it.

-Kelly E.

#BTWGChampions at Athlete’s Village It’s hard to...

Thu, 03 May 2012 13:02:19 -0700

#BTWGChampions at Athlete’s Village

It’s hard to believe only a week ago we were gathering at Vancouver’s Athletes Village to celebrate Vancouver’s sport history.

For our second storytelling event, we gathered a group of Vancouver’s most celebrated athletes and BC Sports Hall of Fame alumni. Dan Cumming, Arnie Hallgren, Barry & Louise Soper, and Cindy Crapper have represented our city across the globe. Their stories crossed many genres from those of love, to overcoming adversity and celebrating personal triumphs, but at the heart of it all was a clear devotion to sport.

We’d like to thank everyone for joining us this past Thursday, as well as participating online with our Twitter and Instagram hashtag #BTWGchampions. Thanks to our special guest emcee, Vancouver radio legend Red Robinson for providing us with a few extra laughs. And a special thank you must go to our storytellers - you were truly inspirational.

Before they were grandparents, they were champions Once the best...

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:03:00 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were champions

Once the best female javelin thrower in Canada, Cindy was even poised to wear Canada’s red and white at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, but was unable to compete when – at the last minute – Canada’s Olympic Association decided not to send a full team. A Vancouverite since 1986, Crapper has been a long-time Vancouver Park Board member, leading the Sport for Life and Active for Life programs, and working with many notable B.C. Olympians and Paralympians.

In 2010, Cindy’s was selected as one of the final torchbearers running through the streets of Vancouver before the Winter Games. A spot she earned after submitting a rap video, narrated by her alter ego Cindy C. Rapper. We know Cindy will have some amazing stories to share with us this Thursday at our “Before They Were Grandparents” event!

Before they were grandparents, they were champions Arnie was the...

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:13:00 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were champions

Arnie was the first BC baseball player to make the 40-man roster of a major league ball club, and he will likely tell you he wouldn’t have had it any other way. Before Ted Bowsfield, Larry Walker, and more recently, Jason Bay, it was Arnie Hallgren’s trail around the bases that BC’s Little Leaguers wished to follow.

For more of Arnie’s story visit his BC Sports Hall of Fame profile!

Before they were grandparents, they were champions Before Dan...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 06:16:00 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were champions

Before Dan was a grandfather, he was a few other things, including someone else’s grandson, but that is another story. He was a boy and son, student, athlete, scholar, student some more, graduated from UBC as a Food Scientist and worked in Research at General Foods (Ontario), husband, became a student again (Guelph) and then again (UBC), then started working with his shiny new PhD, yes in Food Science, for the Research Branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Nova Scotia).

Somewhere around the end of being a student Dan became a father and after starting work, father again a couple more times. To be a grandfather, first you gotta be a Dad. He was a researcher, then research manager (BC) and all the while was running all over the place, literally - even doing a marathon. Somewhat to his own surprise he found himself a diplomat over in Brussels. Later he left the government for industry but the research/research management theme continued, as did the running – even though he and his wife lived in Malaysia for almost two years. He invented stuff and wrote things, lots of things, but mostly scientific and technical. He traveled for work and fun, and just kept running (over 20 countries now, racing in four).

In 2003 he retired, but kept running and kept writing – a book and a blog called Running in the Zone, and took up coaching and race directing. Then it happened. In 2006 Charlie was born and Dan was a Grandfather. But, he kept running and writing and then was discovered and became an actor! Now, here he is – a story teller.

- We’d like to thank Dan for this fantastic guest post. If you live in the Vancouver BC area and would like to hear Dan tell one of his stories in person, RSVP to our “Before they were grandparents…” live event this Thursday!

Before they were grandparents, they were champions. Barry and...

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:53:00 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were champions.

Barry and Louise Soper caught the attention of the figure skating world as early as 1967 when they won the national novice ice dance title. It proved to be the first in a long line of Canadian championships. In an eight year span, Barry and Louise won the ice dance title six times and finished third the other two times. In accomplishing this remarkable feat, they became the first Canadian skaters to win Canadian titles in all three categories: senior, junior and novice.

They were also the first Canadian team to win the senior national ice dance title in more than three consecutive years. Nor were they stangers to the international scene, competing in the world figure skating championships four consecutive times, from 1971 to 1974. They also represented Canada in the North American championships and took part in a number of special competitions. Barry and Louise are now proud members of the BC Sports Hall of Fame and will guests speakers at our event on April 26, “Before they were grandparents, they were legends” Vancouver’ Athlete’s Village. If you would like to join us, please RSVP here!

(from BC Sports Hall of Fame)

Before they were grandparents, they were champions. James Leo...

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:26:31 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were champions.

James Leo Heximer, known as Buddy by his friends and fans, began his baseball career playing minor ball in Niagara Falls. He started off with the St. Stephen’s Midgets, who won the city championship, and progressed through juvenile and junior ball. In the summer of 1942, Buddy played for the Niagara Falls Rainbow Seniors, coached by Max Kaminsky, and in the winter played junior B hockey.

Buddy joined the Royal Canadian Navy team in 1943, helping to win three consecutive Maritime championships in 1943,1944, and 1945. Buddy was chosen most valuable player in the 1945 series.

While playing for the St. Mary’s Halifax junior A team in 1944, Buddy was scouted by many professional baseball teams including the Boston Red Sox, the Chicago Cubs, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. During 1946 and 1947, he played for the Kingston Ponies in the Border League, where he had the team’s top batting average. Buddy was signed by the Boston Braves of the Eastern League in 1948, and played with the Hartford Chiefs. He then played for the Quebec City Braves in the Canadian-American League, winning the pennant and playoffs in 1949.

Returning to Niagara Falls in 1953, Buddy rounded off his career by playing baseball and hockey with the Cataract and Kerrio teams, and coaching and refereeing. For his contribution to minor ball in Niagara Falls, Buddy was awarded the Mayor Miller Trophy in 1964.

-Lizzy K.

Before they were grandparents, they hit nothing but net. In...

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:43:00 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they hit nothing but net.

In gearing up for our sports themed storytelling event next Thursday in Vancouver, we’ve browsed the Vancouver Archives and found some fantastic photos of Vancouver athletes in their prime. And since basketball has strong Canadian origins, we couldn’t resist posting this photo of the Arrows v. Cloverleafs from the mid 1940s.

If you want to join our online conversation about Vancouver sports, use our hashtag #BTWGchampions on Twitter and Instagram!

Before they were grandparents, they were champions. Last July,...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:24:00 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were champions.

Last July, we held our first intergenerational storytelling event in Vancouver’s historic Gastown district and were able to breathe life into the photos and stories we share online. Next week, we are proud to host our second storytelling event in Vancouver’s Athletes Village under the theme of sport titled, “Before they were grandparents, they were champions”.

Our event happens on April 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. - stay tuned for more information. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in attending our event, don’t hesitate to contact Lizzy at the RSVP details above.

The Vancouver Archives & Historypin When technology and...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:16:00 -0700

The Vancouver Archives & Historypin

When technology and history are combined, we’re always delighted and fascinated by the results. Historypin is a great example, taking the idea of archiving and turning it into a crowdsourced history project. For an example of this site in action, take a look at the Vancouver Archives profile - it’s fantastic.

Oh, and if you like to archive on the go, Historypin has an app.

Before they were grandparents, they were survivors. Living...

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:39:15 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were survivors.

Living nearly 70 years in Vancouver, Titanic survivor Bertha Marshall was open about the horrifying experience of sailing on the “unsinkable” ship. She spoke with our friends at The Province twice about that fateful night and cast a truly personal light on the tragedy. You can read Mrs. Marshall’s vivid accounts here.

Before they were grandparents, they were cooling down on the...

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:26:18 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were cooling down on the coast.

You wouldn’t think the Northern Pacific would be a swimming destination, but we’ve got some incredible beaches. The one from this photo is still around and used, but not to the extent back when my grandparents would take my parents there. Still, as long as I can remember we’ve made a trip to this secluded spot - and I’m in my mid thirties.

-Kate G.

Before they were grandparents, they were hunting for Easter...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:29:13 -0700

Before they were grandparents, they were hunting for Easter Eggs.

Whether you’re celebrating Easter with your family or just taking this weekend to relax, we hope you enjoy every minute.