How does a community mark
a significant occasion such as a Centennial?

It is no surprise that South Granville thought of a unique way to commemorate their Centennial in 2007. As the Summer’s Centennial celebrations came to a close, one of Vancouver's most prestigious shopping districts marked 100 years by encasing a state-of-the-art, stainless steel Time Capsule in concrete and stone under the entrance of the historic Stanley Theatre. The idea came from the South Granville BIA's look back at the last 100 years in preparation for their Centennial Celebration. South Granville BIA Executive Director Sharon Townsend, compiled an extensive catalogue of historic pictures and information from the South Granville area from the early nineteen hundreds to present day, and wondered what it would be like if no one had cared enough to save these images and write down what things were like in the first century of the district's existence. From that realization arose the glamorous, almost Hollywood, idea of securing a Time Capsule somewhere in South Granville filled with items that willl help to share 2007 with the future.

Once the idea was approved by the Board of Directors, Townsend began to research how to develop a Time Capsule. The days of burying a coffee can in your back yard are gone. These days Time Capsules are more sophisticated and a lot of care and attention has to go into making sure the contents will last for future generations. Buffered paper must be used for any printed materials, special wrapping should enclose all of the items and there can be no paper clips or staples that will rust and break down over time. "How stuff survived in the attic for so long, I have no idea", says Townsend.

Some items of note included in the Time Capsule were 800 photos cataloguing the past and the here and now in South Granville in 2007, the 1927 and 1955 Insurance Fire Maps, information about the South Granville BIA, an analysis of current Property Assessments, a copy of the Vancouver Sun newspaper dated July 7th 2007, a copy of the Vancouver Province newspaper dated July 8th, 2007, a scroll containing messages to the future from people who attended the South Granville Centennial Celebration on July 7th, 2007, copy of a letter written by Ernest Rea, notable Vancouver businessman, in 1910, describing his arrival to Vancouver, and a mystery gift from a noted South Granville Merchant.

The time capsule was sealed and placed beneath the sidewalk in front of the Stanley at an invitation only ceremony on the evening of August 2nd. The ceremony was also the opportunity for the members of the South Granville BIA, with the generous support of Daniel le Chocolat Belge and the RHF Hearing Foundation Rotary Club of Vancouver, to give back to the community that has been so good to them. The Stanley Theatre was presented with funds to replace their old, broken-down hearing-assist system for its hearing-impaired patrons.

As the Time Capsule was sealed, Sharon Townsend said, "Creating a Time Capsule is a way for us to preserve the identity of a beloved Vancouver neighbourhood".

See the Time Capsule now in its resting place under the sidewalk in front of the Stanley Theatre.