Remember the epic strip clubs and polar bears? Vancouverites reminisce about city's wild past

From huge developments to transforming neighbourhoods, Vancouver and its surrounding regions are evolving rapidly, but sometimes — among all the changes — it can be fun to look back on the past.

One Redditor opened up the discussion on the online platform and hundreds have chimed in about their favourite Metro Vancouver memories.

“What are some things about Vancouver/Lower Mainland from ‘back in the day’… that would blow the minds of younger people (or new to the city)? I’ll start…” they wrote.

What are some things about Vancouver/Lower Mainland from “back in the day” (whatever that means to you) that would blow the minds of younger people (or new to the city)? I’ll start…
byu/npinguy invancouver

Here are some interesting historical tidbits shared by the original poster.

“Until 2010, driving to Whistler meant taking an exit at Horseshoe Bay and then hitting a stop sign before continuing to the 99. Otherwise, the highway by default just became the ferry lineup,” they said.

Something else folks might not know is the Celebration of Light was previously known as Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire.

United Kingdom’s fireworks show at the 2024 Honda Celebration of Light. (Gabriel Lam/Meimento)

“For many of us, it was a surprise to grow up and find out Benson & Hedges was a cigarette company,” they wrote.

The Redditor also reminisced about there being more independent movie theatres in the region.

“The Dunbar Theatre is the last one like that remaining, but there used to be The Hollywood on Broadway, and The Ridge on Arbutus, and Denman Place on well, duh, Denman. I’m sure there were lots of others,” they added.

Others were quick to chime in about their fond Vancouver (and Metro Vancouver) memories.

“Woodward’s department store had amazing Christmas displays in the windows. People would flock to just look at them every year,” said one person.

They also added that Army & Navy would have a very epic shoe sale that would see hundreds of customers lining up outside waiting to nab some cheap footwear.

Vintage photo of Army & Navy at 36 West Hastings Street, Vancouver during its heyday. (Army & Navy)

And remember when everyone would listen to the radio?

One Redditor said they remember “Z95 bumper stickers on [cars], your school binder, and all over the place.”

It turns out that Vancouver also had a pretty wild (adult) entertainment scene.

The original poster noted that “Vancouver was renowned North America-wide for having the best strip clubs on the continent. Regardless of what we think of that with modern sensibilities, it probably contributed to at least some rock bands making sure to keep it on their tour calendar, and at least one classic album name.”

@no5orange/Instagram

If you’re curious what that band is, it’s Bon Jovi. Band member Richie Sambora shared how the group got the inspiration for their album titled “Slippery When Wet” after visiting strip clubs in Vancouver.

Another poster added that there were many more nightclubs outside the downtown Vancouver area.

“There were some on West Broadway, Marine Drive, Burnaby, New West, Surrey, etc. I remember not really going to clubs downtown that much back in the day, because a lot of the ones I liked were outside of the DT area,” they wrote.

Here are a few other cool snippets of Metro Vancouver history shared in this Reddit thread:

“The polar bears in Stanley Park. I’m glad I saw them as a kid because it would be so sad to see them in that pathetically small enclosure now.”

Historical photo of the polar bear enclosure at the Stanley Park Zoo during its heyday. (City of Vancouver Archives)

Billionaire Richard Branson reportedly repelled “down the side of Virgin Records” when it opened in 1996 on the corner of Robson and Burrard, said a commenter.