This should be at the top
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 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 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 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 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. 

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. 

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 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 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.

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 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.

#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 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

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 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

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 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

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!