In 2017, Canada will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Vancouver’s history is rich from indigenous people, European exploration and the Fraser Gold Rush of 1858 to the City of Vancouver’s incorporation in 1886.
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Early footage shot by American filmmaker and Titanic victim William H. Harbeck dates back to 1907 when Vancouver had a population of less than 100,000. After gaining a reputation for filming the aftermath of the earthquake in San Francisco in 1906, Harbeck was hired by the Canadian Pacific Railway. At the time, the railway’s Department of Colonisation had the goal of showcasing Western Canada on the big screen.
Silent version of the film & scenes:
Over his tenure with C.P.R, 13 single-reel shorts were commissioned as promotional and travel videos to entice European settlers.
He went on to study film making in Paris and his first feature film was set in Vancouver.
Written by: Amar Mirchandani @amarmirch