History Queen Elizabeth Park, British Columbia

location of queen elizabeth park in metro vancouver

before european settlement, park old-growth forest , spawning ground salmon. grey wolves, elk , bears frequent area. settler population began in earnest in 1870s exterminated grey wolves, elk , bears, chopped down old growth forest , paved on salmon creeks. salmon creeks extend queen elizabeth false creek still exist today, have been paved on , polluted salmon no longer use them. in 1930, park s floral future revealed when bc tulip association suggested notion of transforming quarries sunken gardens. end of decade, site had been turned on vancouver park board park , recreation purposes, , dedicated such king george vi , consort, queen elizabeth (the mother of queen elizabeth ii) on lauded visit vancouver in 1939, king , queen of canada. time, park staff incrementally transformed overgrown hillsides canada s first civic arboretum, generous donation canadian pulp , paper association. popular quarry gardens designed park board deputy superintendent bill livingstone , unveiled in 1960s.

prentice bloedel s gift of $1.25 million funded open reservoirs , built country s first geodesic conservatory, surrounded covered walkways, lighted fountains , sculpture, henry moore s knife edge 2 piece 1962–65. bloedel floral conservatory opened on december 6, 1969 amidst jubilation. enclosed tropical garden houses 500 exotic plants , flowers , more hundred free-flying tropical birds.