SPECIAL EVENT: The Death and Life of Granville Street Walking Tour
THE DEATH AND LIFE OF GRANVILLE STREET WALKING TOUR
A CENTURY OF CHANGE IN JUST SIX BLOCKS
THE DEATH AND LIFE OF GRANVILLE STREET WALKING TOUR
A CENTURY OF CHANGE IN JUST SIX BLOCKS
Walk Granville Street’s entertainment district and discover just how much of Vancouver’s built history is packed into only a handful of blocks: from vaudeville stages to movie theatres and from Art Deco architecture to urban planning experiments.
Your guides will be Vancouver’s “after dark” historian Aaron Chapman and Forbidden Vancouver founder Will Woods. So, join Aaron and Will and find out the past, present, and future of our city’s most famous street.
BOOK YOUR TOUR
THE DEATH AND LIFE OF GRANVILLE STREET KEY INFO
SATURDAY SEPT 5, 12, & 19
1 PM
120 MINUTES
$35 PER PERSON
MEET OUTSIDE VANCOUVER CITY CENTRE STATION
725 WEST GEORGIA STREET
You’ll discover…
Where all the the neon signs went
Tales of Theatre Row and Hollywood stars
Why the Pacific Centre Mall was built and what it led to
Music history at the Commodore Ballroom and Vogue Theatre
The tragic loss of the Birks Building and Second Hotel Vancouver
The legacy of Prohibition-era rum running money on the street to this day
The City of Vancouver’s plan to turn Granville Street into a West Coast Times Square
How the lessons of ’60s urban planning guru Jane Jacobs continue to play out on the street
… and more!
BOOK YOUR TOUR
*IMPORTANT*
We’re only running a handful of dates for this special event this season, with limited capacity. Book your ticket now to reserve your spot. Note, sales are final.
MEET YOUR GUIDES
AARON CHAPMAN
Aaron Chapman is a writer, historian, and musician with a special interest in Vancouver’s entertainment and crime history. He’s the author of Vancouver Vice, Vancouver after Dark: The Wild History of a City’s Nightlife, winner of the Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award (BC Book Prizes) in 2020; The Last Gang in Town, the story of Vancouver’s Clark Park Gang; Liquor, Lust, and the Law, the story of Vancouver’s legendary Penthouse Nightclub, and Live at the Commodore, a history of the Commodore Ballroom that won the Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award (BC Book Prizes) in 2015. Aaron also speaks at our popular Secrets of the Penthouse, Last Gang In Town, and Vancouver Vice special events.
WILL WOODS
Will Woods is the Founder and Chief Storyteller at Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours. Since starting the company in 2012, he has researched and led walking tours and special events in Gastown, Chinatown, Downtown, Stanley Park, Mount Pleasant, and the West End, as well as inside some of our city’s most famous venues. His goal is to engage audiences in civic and social history, offering alternative lenses to traditional understandings of Vancouver’s past. Will was a contributing author to Vancouver Confidential by Anvil Press and has written for the Daily Hive and Westender. On behalf of Forbidden Vancouver, Will accepted the City of Vancouver Heritage Medal of Honour in 2019, for the company’s Secrets of the Penthouse special event.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
A portion of your purchase supports the Friends of the Vancouver City Archives Society. Since 1993, their work raises awareness about the Vancouver City Archives and its essential resources. Through fundraising, they have helped fund important preservation projects, like building a cold storage facility to safeguard the city’s historical photographs for future generations.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where can I park?
We recommend taking transit to the start point if you can. If you do need to drive, please set off early and leave enough time to find parking. The nearest parking lot to the start point is the underground parking at the Pacific Centre Mall.
What do I need to bring?
We advise dressing for the weather. You’ll be on your feet for the tour, so comfortable footwear is recommended. And you’ll want your smartphone to capture memories!
Is it suitable for children?
This walking tour is suitable for ages 12+.
Is there a bathroom break?
There isn’t an official bathroom break, but Granville Street has plenty of cafes, bars, and restaurants in which to take an impromptu break.
How much walking is involved?
Be prepared to be on your feet for the entire tour, or up to 2 hours. The tour will be a mix of walking and standing.
What is the cancellation policy?
Sales are final. We’re unable to offer refunds or date exchanges.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
This tour is wheelchair accessible and takes place on paved sidewalks in Downtown Vancouver.
What are the Terms and Conditions?
All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
We do not permit guests on the tour who are, or appear to be, intoxicated. Guests who are intoxicated or disorderly will be asked to leave the tour and no refund will be issued.
You and your party knowingly and freely assume all the risks with participating in this experience. We are not responsible for illness or injury of guests during a tour. By participating in this experience you release and hold harmless Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours with respect to any injury, disability, death, or loss or damage to person or property whether caused by the negligence of Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours or otherwise.
What is the start and end point of the tour?
The start point is just outside the entrance to the Vancouver City Centre SkyTrain Station on the 700 block of West Georgia. The tour ends at the intersection of Seymour and Nelson Streets, a short walk from the start point.
Can I buy my tickets cheaper on another site?
Tickets for this event are only available on our website.
How often does this event run and when is the next date?
We’re only running a handful of dates this year, although we do hope to stage this walking tour again in the future! Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about our special events.
MEETING PLACE
Outside Vancouver City Centre Skytrain Station — 725 West Georgia Street