Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours

29/10/2024

𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬: Dec 18th!

Celebrate holiday season with a night of intrigue at Vancouver's most infamous club!

It's a holiday outing with a twist—perfect for those who like their festivities with a dash of mischief and mystery.

Join club owner Danny Filippone and friends for an exclusive tour, where tales of mobsters and wild Rat Pack parties come alive in the very halls where they happened! With live jazz from the Russell Sholberg Trio and feast on Mama Filippone's legendary spaghetti and meatballs, it's guaranteed to be a night to remember. 🍝🎶

Book now and make this cheeky 🍑😉 holiday adventure part of your festive season, all while supporting Variety – The Children’s Charity! 🎟️❤️ https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/fbyga6xtbl

24/10/2024

👻 Looking for something different to do this Halloween? Check out the Lost Souls of Gastown tour! Stroll through Vancouver's oldest neighborhood and hear some seriously spine-tingling (TRUE) stories about murder, fires, and smallpox—all under the glow of lantern light of your guide. 🔦

This immersive experience will make you see Gastown in a whole new light. 🎭

Ready for a little Halloween adventure? Book your spot now! 🎟️

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/hlkgsnnptx

📍 Gastown
🎩 Cappelleria Bertacchi

15/10/2024

🚨 Last chance alert! 🚨 Just a few tickets left for the Vancouver Vice Tour happening this weekend!

Don't miss the opportunity to dive into the hidden criminal history of Vancouver's West End with acclaimed author Aaron Chapman. Hear all about those wild ‘70s and ‘80s—think unsolved murders, vice cops, and turf wars! 😲

Plus, your ticket helps out the Friends of the Vancouver City Archives Society. 🎟️

If you’re down for an adventure, snag your spot now before they're all gone! 🙌 $33

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/dzzozmcbc4

13/10/2024

Hey, thrill-seekers and story-lovers! 🌧️ As the rain gets ready to take over, four of our tours are gearing up for a cozy break. But don't worry, you still have a few more weeks...

Join us for The Dark Secrets of Stanley Park Tour, The Forbidden Vancouver Tour, and The Really Gay History Tour before November 1.

The Lost Souls of Gastown Tour is haunting the streets for Halloween until November 2nd. 🎃👻

Don't let the rain wash away your chance for adventure! Dive into the tales that make Vancouver legendary, and snag your spot before we go on pause. Let’s make some memories before the spring thaw! 🌧️🕵️‍♀️

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/tzmcfwvxr5

Image with thanks to City of Vancouver Archives

12/10/2024

𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 🎃

Discover the dark tales of Vancouver's past where real history brings real chills. Let the lamplight lead you through a world of murder, revenge, and true grit as tales of deadly fires and heartbreak come to life. Perfect for a thrilling date night out, or bring your friends!

Book now for Halloween!

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/jwy3vtaibg

11/10/2024

Are you familiar with Vancouver's "Brown Skin Beach"? The name might raise eyebrows, but its history is certainly worth exploring.

See CBC's video on the beach near Vanier Park where local people of colour enjoyed leisure time in the segregation era.

CBC's Ashley Moliere delves into the history and tells the story.

CBC Vancouver

There’s a beach in Vancouver with an eyebrow-raising nickname you may not have heard before. CBC's Ashley Moliere spent time looking into the history of "Brown Skin Beach" and why some believe we should know more about it.

30/09/2024

It's the perfect time to dive into the rich Indigenous culture and history that helps make Vancouver and British Columbia so unique.

Check out our blog to discover our top 10 list of remarkable indigenous experiences in Vancouver and BC.

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/iqt4wluhgw

27/09/2024

👻𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 "𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯", 𝘢 𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘎𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯!

🧐No wait, that's actually a photo of storyteller Amy in full 1880s garb, leading her group through the cobblestones streets of Gastown. While our 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿 is decidedly NOT a ghost tour, it's perfect for fans of the genre.

With its dark, gothic themes and stories steeped in real Vancouver history, it's a journey into the past that'll send chills up your spine. Join us for an unforgettable stroll through Gastown, where the truth is haunting. Secure your tickets for Halloween now, as we're sure to sell out!🕯️✨

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/o5oo7ybfde

Gastown

27/09/2024

NEW EVENT DATES: Rescheduled to Oct 19 & 20, 11AM & 3PM

Delve into the gritty history of the 1970s and ’80s, a time when Vancouver’s West End was a cauldron of social and cultural upheaval. Walk alongside the expert himself as he shares gripping stories of unsolved murder, vigilant vice cops, s*x worker turf wars, gambling dens, and wiretapped hustlers in a neighbourhood on the brink of change.

Step inside a world where Vancouver’s vices ruled… but at what cost?

Reserve your spot now! https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/zmu8bgbrcz

Vancouver Vice West End BIA

25/09/2024

🏳️‍🌈The Forbidden Vancouver team celebrated Vancouver Pride Month with a Really Gay History Tour! Big thanks to Glenn, who led the team around Davie Village, regaling stories of our city's q***r heroes.

💗Happy Pride from the Forbidden Team!

The Really Gay History Tour runs year-round. Find out more at the link https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/ogaupxfd6y

24/09/2024

🍫𝗔 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 & 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿!

Step inside Downtown Vancouver’s iconic heritage buildings to uncover the juicy secrets of the city's past and savor the scrumptious sweet treats of today! 🤫🥐

End your adventure with an exclusive VIP tour of the Art Deco gem, the Marine Building 🏛️ Book your spot today! https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/m2itye3ybw

17/09/2024

There's a myth that circulates around the city that Stanley Park is an untouched rainforest. For sure, it is a pretty incredible example of a Pacific Coast rainforest, especially so near a major urban centre like downtown. But the "untouched" bit deserves some correction!

For thousands of years before European settlers showed up, the peninsula that would become Stanley Park was lived in, hunted on, traversed, and enjoyed by Coast Salish people. The largest village site was called X̱wáýx̱way, which existed where Lumberman's Arch is today. The name X̱wáýx̱way translates in Squamish to "mask," and the site was an important one for ceremonies and potlatches. The village included a long house over 200 feet long.

Sadly, the community of X̱wáýx̱way was devastated by the arrival of smallpox in the mid 1700s. The villagers received a second blow a little over a century later when European settlers arrived in the 1880s. The newly formed City of Vancouver forcibly evicted all indigenous people from X̱wáýx̱way, declaring them "illegal squatters." Their homes were demolished to make way for the Stanley Park Road. In total, around 50 Squamish people were evicted, who moved across the inlet to the Mission Reserve. Many descendents of those villagers still live in the Lower Mainland to this day.

Photos show settlers at X̱wáýx̱way, and City workers digging up the X̱wáýx̱way midden.

The story of X̱wáýx̱way is one we share on our Dark Secrets of Stanley Park Tour. One of several myths about the park we take pride in dismantling.

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/4qlqakk267

Image with thanks to City of Vancouver Archives 2011-010.1790, SGN 91

13/09/2024

We'll be at Car Free Day on Main Street this Sunday! Stop by and say hi to the team and enter to win two tickets to a tour. See you there! Car Free Day Vancouver

11/09/2024

🔥🏢 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 🏢🔥

You may know the Great Fire that leveled Gastown in 1886, but did you know about the New West fire?

On September 11, 1898, flames ravaged through New Westminster, leaving a trail of destruction that obliterated much of the downtown area. This catastrophic fire tested the spirit and resolve of the community, as residents faced the daunting task of rebuilding from the ashes.

Unearth the dramatic tales and resilience of Vancouver’s past with Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours. Step back in time and explore the history that shaped our city! 🕵️‍♂️🚶‍♀️

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/3ozdjr7wbl

📷 With Thanks to City of Vancouver Archives (photos colourized)

07/09/2024

🌟 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻: 𝗔 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝘃𝗲𝗿 🌟

Mary Lee Chan was a formidable Chinese Canadian activist whose leadership was pivotal in saving Vancouver’s Strathcona and Chinatown neighborhoods from destructive urban renewal plans in the mid-20th century. See our reel on Project 200 in the "Worst Buildings" series to learn more about the renewal plan.

Recognizing the threat these plans posed, Mary mobilized the community and co-founded the Strathcona Property Owners and Tenants Association (SPOTA). Through SPOTA, she fiercely lobbied against policies that aimed to demolish homes and displace residents with a freeway through Chinatown.

Her strategic organizing and advocacy efforts successfully halted the renewal projects, preserving the neighborhood’s unique cultural heritage and community spirit. Mary’s work not only protected the homes and lives of many families but also highlighted the power of collective grassroots activism in urban planning.

Her legacy serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of community-driven efforts in safeguarding our neighborhoods and cultural diversity. 📚✨

Play your part in keeping Vancouver's heritage alive by attending a Forbidden Vancouver tour! https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/d1rvnxpgl6



Image with thanks to City of Vancouver Archives CVA 2021-034.310

04/09/2024

✈️✨ 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁! ✨✈️

On September 4, 1918, the skies over Vancouver witnessed a remarkable event that sounds straight out of a movie! The city’s first plane crash occurred when Lt. Victor Bishop, a seasoned RAF pilot, plunged his aircraft into a house at the corner of Bute and Alberni Streets. Miraculously, Bishop emerged from the wreckage unscathed, stepping directly into the upstairs hallway of the home.

Imagine the shock of the residents as the pilot calmly walked down the stairs and out the front door to a waiting ambulance.

Want to uncover more of Vancouver’s hidden history and incredible stories? Join us on a journey through time with Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours! 🕵️‍♂️🌆

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/ibzdaknfk7


📷 City of Vancouver Archives AM54-S4-: Air P31