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Vancouver Heritage Foundation is a registered charity supporting the conservation of heritage buildings and structures in recognition of their contribution to the city’s economy, sustainability and culture. |
The First Sikh Temple c. 1908 was at 1886 W. 2nd Ave
Kitsilano is full of histories; some publicly known, and others practically unknown. In two unassuming pockets of north east Kitsilano, where the neighbourhood's early industries of sawmills, rail road and real estate have shaped its development, we find an archivist's first house still stands and a new stand to mark a now lost cultural landmark. Vancouver Heritage Foundation's Places That Matter plaque project celebrated the First Sikh Temple (#25) in September of 2012 and Major Matthews' House (#77) this spring. The First Sikh Temple (1908-1970) plaques (one in English and one in Punjabi) have been reinstalled along with an archival image of the temple where an apartment building now stands at 1860 W. 2nd Avenue between Burrard Street and Cypress Street. 2014 also marks the 100 year anniversary of the Komagata Maru; its history and legacy for Sikhs in Vancouver.
As you travel along Cornwall Avenue en route to Kits Beach, to grab a bite or walk to Henry Hudson school, you may spot our Major Matthews' House plaque in front of the apartment building at the NW corner at Cornwall and Maple. Major Matthews' house is down the street, into Kits Point at 1343 Maple. Try to imagine the neighbourhood when it was newly built at the turn of the 20th century. This area was a swamp or muskeg and most of the Kits Point land was dredged and filled in, and a stream used to run right through the area into False Creek. Happy plaque hunting in north east Kits!
