History and Archives
In 1906, the Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) opened the Heather Pavilion to serve the health care needs of a growing city.
For several generations, the health care services provided in this building touched the lives of most Vancouverites. At the time it was built, the Heather Pavilion was one of Vancouver’s most prominent landmarks.
VGH under construction in 1905
City of Vancouver Archives CVA 7-230
Designed by prominent local architects, Grant & Henderson, the Heather Pavilion’s formal and imposing granite structure is one of the best examples of Romanesque Revival style in Western Canada. Originally sited with a circular drive and formally landscaped front entrance, the building had an air of elegance and dignity.
At the time it was built, the Heather Pavilion was the largest and most up-to date hospital in western Canada. The new hospital became a model for hospital organization, and also played a critical role in the development of the nursing profession.
All types of archival and historic media will be added to this page on an ongoing basis. If you would like to view all of the Heather Heritage Society’s (HHS) videos, please click on the button, below, to access the HHS YouTube channel.
Reminiscences of the Heather Pavilion
Retired Vancouver nurses, Elizabeth Kirkwood and Kathleen Murphy, reminisce about their student nursing days and their careers working in the Heather Pavilion at the Vancouver General Hospital. Both women play an active role in ensuring the preservation of the Heather Pavilion, which was built in 1906 as the first building of the Vancouver General Hospital.
Reminiscences of the Heather Pavilion at VGH by E. Kirkwood and K. Murphy
October 2023
Historic Panorama of VGH
In response to wartime and emergency pressures, a number of new structures were built at VGH after it opened on the Fairview slopes in 1906. This panoramic image of the west side of Heather Street illustrates the rapidly changing appearance of the site in the 1920s.
Vancouver General Hospital, 1920s
City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 1342-5
Panorama Key
1 The Heather Annex (extreme left) was built as a temporary structure at the southwest corner of 12th Avenue and Heather Street. It was opened in 1918.
2 The Nurses’ Residence (centre left), located at the northwest corner of 12th and Heather, was opened on January 1, 1915. The building was designed by architect, AA Cox.
3 The Military Annex, also known as the Temporary Building for Returned Wounded Soldiers (rear elevation, behind the Nurses’ Residence), designed by architect, James A Benzie in 1917. An overhead bridge connected the Annex to the main hospital building.
4 11th Avenue was never opened to vehicle traffic, as the 2 block site was acquired from the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) as a consolidated lot.
5 The Heather Pavilion The main hospital building (centre right), opened in 1906, was constructed in stages. The building was designed by architects, Grant & Henderson. 5A The original portion of the building (right section), faces north towards 10th Avenue. 5B The Southwest Wing (behind the Southeast Wing in this image) was built in 1911-12. 5C The Southeast Wing (facing Heather Street) was built in 1908-09.
6 The Original Nurses’ Residence The wood-frame structure (extreme right), was built as two matching sections in 1907 and 1908. Both buildings were demolished in 1961.
7 Heather Street This section of Heather Street, running from 12th Avenue (far left of image, south) to 10th Avenue (far right, north) is now a traffic calmed area.
Why is the Heather Pavilion so important?
Former City councillor, Marguerite Ford, is interviewed about the importance of the Heather Pavilion, which was built in 1906 as the first Vancouver General Hospital at the Fairview location. Obscured by over a century of surrounding additions, the Heather Pavilion still stands as a significant building with heritage designation.
Video recorded and produced by Elwin Xie for the Heather Heritage Society
2023
Vancouver’s Hidden Heritage Building
On February 26, 2019, renowned architectural historian, Donald Luxton, gave a lecture entitled ‘Vancouver’s Hidden Heritage Building: The Resurrection of the Heather Pavilion’ about the history of the Vancouver General Hospital, the construction of the original Heather Pavilion, and its potential for restoration.
The Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s ‘Heritage Hour Talks’ (previously known as ‘Evening Lectures’) offer illustrated talks that look at the history of Vancouver, covering the events, movements and people that have shaped our city. The VHF YouTube channel can be accessed by click on the button, below.
Vancouver’s Hidden Heritage Building: The Resurrection of the Heather Pavilion
Vancouver Heritage Foundation presentation by Donald Luxton, Feb 26, 2019
Archival Documents
The following is a collection of media articles and other documents that provide information about the Heather Pavilion and VGH. Each title links to a PDF. Please send us an email if you would like to have any of these archival documents transcribed.
Old Heather Pavilion to be returned to its former, uncluttered elegance
Valerie Casselton, Staff Reporter
The Vancouver Sun, Feb 3 2006
Heather Pavilion likely to survive
Mark Wilson, Staff Reporter
The Vancouver Province, Mar 28 2000
Lost gem’s discovery its salvation – Pioneering hospital touched early Vancouverites’ lives
Gudrun Will, Staff Writer
The Vancouver Courier, April 23, 1997
New hospital provided a breath of fresh air – Postcard from the Past
Bob Scullion and Fred Thirkell
The Saturday Review, July 29 1995
Group plans restoration of Heather Pavilion – Interior fitted out for new uses
Alison Appelbe, Staff Writer
The Vancouver Courier, Jan 22, 1995
Saturday Review
Robin Ward, Staff Reporter
The Vancouver Sun, Jan 21 1995
Heather Pavilion appears to have found its saviours – group aims to save old hospital
Janet Smith, Staff Reporter
The Kitsilano News, Jan 18, 1995
Heather Pavilion demolition plans prompt counter-proposal
Jeffrey Huberman, Staff Reporter
Western News, Jan 18 1990
The Vancouver General Hospital and its Forebears – A Thumbnail Sketch of a Diamond Jubilee
FJ Fish, Director, Medical Records Department
Reprinted from The Canadian Hospital, June 1946
Archival Images
The following is a small collection of images that pertain to the history of the Heather Pavilion and VGH. These images have been used with permission from Donald Luxton, author of Vancouver General Hospital: 100 Years of Care and Service, copyright © 2006 Vancouver Coastal Health.
The archival images were sourced at the Vancouver Public Library (VPL and VPL Special Collections), the City of Vancouver Archives (CVA), Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and the Vancouver General Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association (VGH SoNAA).
