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25 photos of Vancouver in the early 1980s

Photographer Raymond Parker has been shooting in BC for decades. In the 1980s he ran a commercial studio in the city and he sensed that "With Expo 86 looming, great changes were in store. Indeed, they had already begun.".

Photographer Raymond Parker has been shooting in BC for decades. In the 1980s he ran a commercial studio in the city and he sensed that "With Expo 86 looming, great changes were in store. Indeed, they had already begun.".

He picked up his camera and hit the streets, capturing an incredible series thats shows an entirely different city than the one we know now. A giant wave of change came when the world's fair hit, and our city has never been the same. It's so great to be able to take a peek back at what used to be here.

The series has come to contain some of Raymond's best selling work, and he's shared 25 of them with us for you to enjoy here.

Have a look at more of them HERE, where he sells prints.

 500 Block Beatty Street (rear view), Vancouver, 1983500 Block Beatty Street (rear view), Vancouver, 1983

 Broadway & Heather, Vancouver, 1983Broadway & Heather, Vancouver, 1983

 Under Burrard Bridge, Vancouver, 1985Under Burrard Bridge, Vancouver, 1985

 The Lovers, Vancouver City Hall, 1983The Lovers, Vancouver City Hall, 1983

 Eaton's Eaton’s “Marshmallow” Building, Vancouver, 1984

 Condemned Orillia Building, Robson & Seymour, 1985Condemned Orillia Building, Robson & Seymour, 1985

 Park Theatre, Cambie Street, Vancouver, 1986Park Theatre, Cambie Street, Vancouver, 1986

 Robson Square, 1984Robson Square, 1984

 Ambassador Hotel, Robson & Seymour, Vancouver, 1983Ambassador Hotel, Robson & Seymour, Vancouver, 1983

 Bank of Montreal Building, Main and Prior, Vancouver, 1984Bank of Montreal Building, Main and Prior, Vancouver, 1984

 Industry, False Creek, 1984Industry, False Creek, 1984

 Hostel, Jericho, Vancouver, 1985Hostel, Jericho, Vancouver, 1985

 Wooden Roller Coaster, Vancouver, 1986Wooden Roller Coaster, Vancouver, 1986

 Captain Cook Tug Passes Granville Island, Vancouver, 1985Captain Cook Tug Passes Granville Island, Vancouver, 1985

 The Gray Block, Homer & Davie, 1985The Gray Block, Homer & Davie, 1985

 Law Courts (rear) & Nelson Square Tower, Vancouver, 1983Law Courts (rear) & Nelson Square Tower, Vancouver, 1983

 Passing Trolley Bus, W. 10th Avenue, Vancouver, 1985Passing Trolley Bus, W. 10th Avenue, Vancouver, 1985

 Cherry Tree Jesus, Vancouver, 1983Cherry Tree Jesus, Vancouver, 1983

 GM Pavilion, Expo 86 Site, Vancouver, 1985GM Pavilion, Expo 86 Site, Vancouver, 1985

 Pacific Hotel, Main Street, Vancouver, 1984Pacific Hotel, Main Street, Vancouver, 1984

 Robson & Bute, Vancouver, 1984Robson & Bute, Vancouver, 1984

 Crowd on Old Connaught Bridge at Pacific Blvd., 1984Construction of New Cambie Bridge, Vancouver, 1986

 Construction of New Cambie Bridge, Vancouver, 1986Construction of New Cambie Bridge, Vancouver, 1986

 Peace Under Burrard Bridge, Vancouver, 1985Peace Under Burrard Bridge, Vancouver, 1985

 Robson & Thurlow (Business Man Checking His Watch), 1984Robson & Thurlow (Business Man Checking His Watch), 1984

Check out more in Raymond's store HERE.