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How a famous Canadian author came to be buried in Stanley Park

When Pauline Johnson died in 1913, her wish was to be buried in her beloved Stanley Park. The problem? The Park no longer served as a cemetery.

Emily Pauline Johnson (Takehionwake), a Mohawk-English-Canadian poet and author, came west from Ontario to Vancouver at the end of the 19th century.

Johnson fell in love with the land and its indigenous people, spending much of her time before she became ill exploring the region and learning stories from local First Nations people.

 Pauline Johnson (Vancouver Archives)Pauline Johnson (Vancouver Archives)

Those stories became the material of Johnson's most famous publication, Legends of Vancouver.

When Johnson died in 1913--just three days before her 52nd birthday--her wish was to be buried in her beloved Stanley Park. The problem? The Park no longer served as a cemetery.

Stanley Park was Vancouver's cemetery for settlers until Mountain View Cemetery opened in 1886. Pioneers Cemetery is an area on the east side of the park, and the graves are all unmarked. (Of course, the history of Stanley Park as burial ground, including Deadman's Island, reaches much more back in time, before the settlers came to town.)

Fulfilling Johnson's wish was no small feat. As her illness progress, the request was passed to the Duke of Connaught during his 1912 visit of Vancouver, which helped secure necessary permissions. Her wish could be granted, however her body had to be cremated.

 Photo: Vancouver ArchivesPhoto: Vancouver Archives

Johnson wanted to be buried near Siwash Rock, and her grave unmarked. Her ashes were interred on the west side of the park in a clearing near Ferguson Point and what is now the Teahouse.

In 1922, a memorial was put in place to Johnson in the spot. She is the only person to be legitimately buried in Stanley Park after 1886. While there is a memorial to actor Powys Thomas in the Shakespeare Garden, Thomas is not buried there.

 Pauline Johnson memorial in 2012 (Photograph By DAN TOULGOET)Pauline Johnson memorial in 2012 (Photograph By DAN TOULGOET)