20 - Sunday, March 10, 1991 -— North Shore News Choosing a name: the incorporation of the district The following is taken from the book ‘*Reflections: 100 Years’ a retrospective look at North Vancouver District's first 100 years that was recently released in commemoration of the District's Centennial —~ weitten by Chuck Davis, it is available in local bookstores. ACROSS THE Inlet, Vancouver was incorporated April 6, 1886, and the first Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) pas- senger train pulled into the little city just over a year later. Land investors on the North Shore had been buying up the preemptions of the earliest resi- dents, and the events in Van- couver excited them. The time was at hand to realize on their own investments. The time was at hand to create a new municipality on the North Shore. Historian Marjorie Wood- ward-Reynolds countered the names of at least 43 North Shore property holders, living in various places around the Inlet, who were involved in the process that led to the creation of the District of North Vancouver. On December 29, 1890, 28 of them got together in the Van- couver offices of Rounsefell & Co., at 190 Cordova, and unani- mously declared themselves in favour of applying to the prezin- cial government for the go-ahead to incorporate as a District. A formal petition was signed by the preemptors, property owners and iesidents and, on August 10, 1891, letters patent were issued under the authority and signature of the Lieutenant-Governor. The Corporation of the District Municipality of North Vancouver was created. It was as simple as that. North Vancouver, all 100 OUR HERITAGE square miles of it, stretched in a huge are along the north shore of Burrard Inlet all the way from Horseshoe Bay and the shore of Howe Sound to the west to Deep Cove and the western shore of Indian Arm on the east. After in- corporating, the next step was to name the new municipality. This process was influenced by events on the south shore where William Van Horne, the president of the CPR, was pushing strongly in Ottawa to have the name of the tailway’s terminus changed to Vancouver from Granville (though nobody seemed to call it Gran- ville, anyway, much preferring Gastown). The canny Van Horne knew that everyone in the English- speaking world was familiar with the Canadian location of Captain George Vancouver’s famous ex- plorations. But no one would in- stinctively know where ‘Gran- ville’’ was — even if Lord Gran- ville was the Colonial Secretary . Van Horne wanted to underline the fact that his railway ended at a Pacific port, which would mean huge savings in time, distance and money for Eastern business people who were interested in tapping Oriental and Australian markets. Now consider the situation on the north shore of Burrard Inlet. The population is still less than 100, but the potential is immense. With the arrival of the CPR, the whole continent now knew where Vancouver was. Threfore, everyone would know where North Vancouver was, Until the arrival of the railway in Vancouver changed things for- ever, Moodyville was the major centre on Burrard Inlet. One reflection of this was that the North Shore ferry service came and went from Moodyville. It had begun modestly in 1866 with a feliow nicknamed Navy Jack, a gravel merchant, who would take you across from Moodyville to the south shore or vice versa in a rowboat. By 1888, the Eliza was making five round trips daily from Moodyville to Vancouver, and one to New Brighton (now called Hastings). With this increased ac- cess to the North Shore, the popu- lation began to inch upward. And it didn’t take long after North Vancouver was incor- porated before the land specula- tion, began to emerge on the North Shore. Read the North Shore News on Sundays for further excerpts from Reflections 100. Congratulations on your 60TH ANNIVERSARY from your Medical Supply Specialists “Navies PRESCRIFTION PHARMACY 1401 St. Georges Avenue, North Vancouver (opposite Lion's Gate Hospital Emergency) Telephone: 985-8771 CONGRATULATIONS from ft GREG’S QUALITY MEATS, INC. “Specializing in Your Special Needs’ NORTH VANCOUVER’S HOME OF ORGANIC & GRADE “A” BEEF PHONE-IN ORDERS AND FREE DELIVERY 988-6328 3127 Edgemont Boulevard, North Vancouver, B.C. V7R 2N7 McPHERSON INSURANCE “tes” AGENCIES LTD. EXTENDS OUR SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION ON THEIR 60TH ANNIVERSARY “We've been serving the North Shore since 1952” 108 E. 14TH ST. 985-3785 LONSDALE STATIONERY WEST POST OFFICE 1562 LONSDALE AVE. TEL. 988-6420 FAX 988-6455 PHONES OFFICE. 988-3712 CLUB (985-1115 ot ROR CANADIAN LEGIGN NORTH VANCOUVER (PACIFIC 118) BRANCH 123 WEST 15TH STREET NORTH VANCOUVER, BC. 60 YEARS SERVICE TO THE VETERANS AND THE COMMUNITY WHAT is the Royal Canadian Legion? It is a unique organization in Canada which provides a common meeting ground for all who have served in Her Majesty's Armed Forces to ensure that neither their rights nor interests shall be forgotten, that their welfare and that of their dependenis may always be safeguarded. The Legion also encourages, promotes and supports all forms of community service and any charitable service. WHO are we? The North Vancouver Branch and its 1700 members are part of the Legion family of 175 branches in British Columbia. 1800 branches in Canada, the U.S. and Europe comprise over a half- million members. HOW . does someone join? Voting membership is available to ex-military personnel, thei: spouses or widows, their sons and daughters and their spouses. A non-voting membership is also available to those who cannot quatify for voting membership. Just visit the North Vancouver Branch 118, 123 West 15th St. or telephone 985-1175 for detailed informatior:. WHY do peopie join? Because we provide social atmosphere at reasonable costs, regular entertainment events: we raise money for charities, provide poppies to rai..2 funds for the veteran and their dependents in need of assistance. WHERE does our money go? Just ask any of the following organizations. We contribute to: North Shore Children's Christmas Fund, Variety Club, NV. Cancer Fund, Lions Gate Hospital. N.S. Ringette Club, Air, Army & Sea Cadets on the North Shore, Miss North Shore Pageant, NV. Minor Hockey, Basebail, Soccer. N.S. Youth Band, Shaughnessy and George Derby Hospitals and many, many more. Our sixth anniversary serving our veterans and the community. Conararutations MEMBERS & COUNCIL OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION ON THEIR 60TH ANNIVERSARY Insurance Acencies Lr. Congratulates The Royal Canadian Legion on their 6GOth Anniversary Davis Insurance Acencies Ltop. Your Quiroplan Neighbour | 142 W. 15th St., N. Van 980-3655 SORTING MOA CENTRE LTD. CONGRATULATIONS, BRANCH 718 OE 14th St. 985-7116