The Last Brothel in Vancouver’s Chinatown

23 Jun 2025

By Lani Russwurm, In-House Historian at Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours The Origins of Vancouver’s Red Light District The small red brick building at 111 East Pender Street is the last relic of Vancouver’s original Red...

2025 Tourism Challenge

16 Apr 2025

***NOTE: We release 50 pairs of Tourism Challenge tickets every Monday morning at 10 a.m. They usually sell out within minutes. If your code isn’t working on our site, you’ll need to wait until the...

Casting Call: 2025 Lost Souls of Gastown Storytellers

07 Mar 2025

Vancouver actors! Were you put on this earth to entertain people? Do you love Vancouver and its history? Are you charming, witty, and full of life? Would you enjoy pouring your heart and soul into...

The Vancouver World vs Baby Killers: Patent Medicine in BC

21 Oct 2024

The Tragic Case of Baby Duncan in Victoria, BC [By Lani Russwurm] Baby Duncan of Victoria BC was sixteen days old when his parents gave him three drops of Chamberlain’s Colic, Cholera, and Diarrhoea Remedy...

Indigenous experiences in Vancouver and BC

Top 10 Indigenous Tours & Experiences in Vancouver and BC

24 Sep 2024

With National Day For Truth & Reconciliation nearing, you may be curious to learn what experiences and activities are available in Vancouver and across BC to deepen your understanding of Indigenous history and culture. In...

a grainy black & white photo of two disheveled and bloody men after the Zoot Suit Riots. Overlayed in large text

Vancouver’s Zoot Suit Riots

19 Jun 2024

Vancouver’s had some infamous riots over the years. The 2011 riot after the Canucks’ Stanley Cup finals defeat is still fresh in the memory for many people. Of course that wasn’t even the first time,...

a photo of gastown at night with the words

2024 Tourism Challenge

23 Apr 2024

It’s that time of year again for all our colleagues in the Vancouver Tourism Industry: The 2024 Tourism Challenge! We’re excited for you to join us to experience Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours. Here’s a rundown...

Was Gassy Jack’s Statue Toppled By His Courageous Wife?

09 Apr 2024

The man stood on a barrel, a rope around his neck. Cheers rang out as the rope tightened. Man and barrel teetered, then quickly crashed dramatically to the ground. “Gassy” Jack Deighton, Gastown’s namesake, was...

The Man Who Named Vancouver’s Streets… and Barely Escaped With His Life

04 Mar 2024

Leg-In-Boot Square, Blood Alley, Bucketwheel… Vancouver has some eccentric street names and many more conventional ones. It will probably come as no surprise to learn that 276 streets are named after men (in contrast, only...

Unearthing Vancouver’s Chilling History in Gastown

04 Oct 2023

As the autumn leaves fall gently on the cobblestone streets, Vancouver undergoes a transformation. Beyond the costumes and pumpkin-spiced treats, a darker allure emerges. Welcome to Gastown, where the echoes of the past reverberate through...