10/10/2026
🇨🇦 VANCOUVER — A JOURNEY THROUGH HISTORY, CULTURES & TIME
By Ati Gereb, tourism guide at EastWOWs West Travel Adventures
From Indigenous heritage and colonization to the vibrant city we know today.
I’ve created this five-panel illustrated history of Vancouver to share some of the fascinating stories, people and events that shaped one of Canada’s most beautiful cities.
Long before Vancouver appeared on any map, these lands were home to thriving Indigenous communities. The Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations have cared for these lands and waters since time immemorial. Their cultures, traditions and enduring connection to the land remain an essential part of Vancouver’s identity.
Panel 1 — Indigenous Heritage & Vancouver’s Early Years
Our journey begins with the Indigenous peoples of the region, followed by European exploration, the arrival of settlers, the growth of Gastown, the incorporation of Vancouver in 1886 and the devastating Great Fire. Just one year later, the railway would transform the small settlement into a gateway to the Pacific.
Panel 2 — 1887–1914: A Growing City of Opportunity and Challenges
With the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway, Vancouver grew rapidly. New neighbourhoods, industries, businesses and immigrant communities helped shape the city. But this period also brought discrimination, exclusionary policies and events such as the 1907 anti-Asian riot and the Komagata Maru incident.
Panel 3 — 1914–1945: War, Hardship & Resilience
Two World Wars, the Spanish influenza pandemic and the Great Depression tested Vancouver’s communities. These decades also witnessed labour struggles, cultural growth and profound injustices, including the forced removal and internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War.
Panel 4 — 1945–1986: A Modern Vancouver Emerges
Following the war, Vancouver expanded dramatically. New waves of immigration enriched its cultural landscape, neighbourhoods grew, modern towers transformed the skyline, and citizens fought to preserve historic communities. The transformation of Granville Island and Expo 86 helped redefine Vancouver’s identity.
Panel 5 — 1986–Today: A Global Pacific City
From Expo 86 to the 2010 Winter Olympics and beyond, Vancouver has become a multicultural, internationally connected city celebrated for its spectacular natural setting, architecture and quality of life. Today, Indigenous cultural resurgence, reconciliation, environmental sustainability and urban development continue to shape its future.
🌎 DISCOVER VANCOUVER WITH US!
If you live in Vancouver or are planning a visit to British Columbia, we’d love to introduce you to the city beyond the usual postcard views!
Join us for a guided walking tour combining Indigenous heritage, history, colonization, local legends, architecture, nature, hidden gems and practical photography tips.
As licensed tourism guides, Orsi and I bring our passion for storytelling, travel and cultural discovery to every tour, including insights gained through two decades of working alongside West Coast First Nations communities.
📍 Vancouver City Walking Tours
🌐 Bookings: Contact us through our page or find our tours on the international booking platforms GuruWalk.com and FREETOUR.com.
🗣️ Languages: English, French, Hungarian and Romanian.
We look forward to sharing Vancouver’s fascinating stories with you!
Ati Gereb & Orsi Gereb
Tourism Guides
East WOWs West Travel Adventures
Wild Places • Living Cultures • Unforgettable Journeys
Vancouver city tour bookings on FreeTours platform:
https://www.freetour.com/vancouver/vancouver-walking-tour-indigenous-culture-colonization-early-years?source=iosapp
Vancouver city tour bookings on GuruWalk platform
https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/72460-vancouver-historical-walking-tour-beyond-postcard-views-colonization-indigenous-cultures-early-years-legends-nature-and-photography-tips?utm_source=share&utm_medium=navigator
