A Night of Heritage at Hollywood Theatre

As part of Historic Places Days, join us at Hollywood Theatre on July 15th for a night of exploring and learning about Vancouvers Places that Matter, the Hollywood Theatre, and lost theatres in the city.

Get ready for an unforgettable night of stories, history, and heritage! Join us for an evening at Hollywood Theatre with Vancouver Heritage Foundation, Michelle Barile, and Tom Carter and John Atkin as they each share unique stories about Vancouver's Heritage. Each presentation will speak to Vancouver's vibrant history of community, place and entertainment.

Vancouver Heritage Foundation's Community Engagement Manager, Jessica Quan, will speak to the importance of the Places that Matter Community Resource focusing on sites that have connection to Vancouver's entertainment history. Places that Matter launched with a plaque project in 2011 to recognize community-nominated sites that highlight some of the lesser-known people, places and events that have shaped Vancouver.

Michelle Barile, the Executive Director of the West Broadway BIA, will speak to the resilience of Hollywood Theatre. She will highlight the story of the iconic theatre, community superheroes, and constructive development practices to support the place we love. 

Historians Tom Carter and John Atkin Vancouver will share Vancouver's fascinating history of movie theatres and their influence on the city of Vancouver.

To finish the event, a screening of the 2023 Oh Boy Productions' video documenting the Vancouver Block clock restoration, capturing a snapshot of Ray Saunders memories as Vancouver’s preeminent horologist.

Ticket sales for this event end on July 14th at 5pm.

Please Note:

• Hollywood Theatre is a 19+ venue
• Two pieces of physical ID are required for entry
• All events are 19+/No minors unless otherwise noted
• Smoking is not permitted inside or outside in front of the theatre
• There are no in's and out's for the duration of each event
• Hollywood Theatre is now an entirely cashless venue, and only major credit cards, debit cards, and mobile forms of payment will be accepted at all events. Select points of sale at artist merchandise may still accept cash.

About Historic Places Days

Historic Places Days is a platform for individuals and organizations to showcase the places and stories important to them in their own words. As the presenter, the National Trust for Canada recognizes that Canada’s history and heritage is complex and contentious, dominated by settler perspectives, and that individually or collectively the stories may lack diversity.

About the Speakers:

Michelle Barile is the Executive Director of the West Broadway Business Improvement Association (WBBIA, representing over 300 businesses and 100 commercial properties on West Broadway. She has a background that includes graphic design, marketing and events, street beautification, strategic planning, and advocacy to support small businesses. In 2024, she received the King Charles III Coronation Medal award; in 2020, she received the Kitsilano Neighbouhood House Good Neighbour Award; and in 2010, 2015, and 2019, she received BIABC’s Best in the West Awards for various BIA projects.

Jessica Quan is a lifelong Vancouver resident with a passion for connecting with communities. Jessica has been with Vancouver Heritage Foundation since 2012, and her current role is Community Engagement Manager. She is the keystone manager of Places That Matter, Vancouver’s register of community nominated heritage places and stories that are not acknowledged through traditional heritage recognition avenues.

John Atkin is a civic historian, author and heritage consultant. He offers an interesting and offbeat insight into the city’s architecture, history and neighbourhoods through a variety of programming. These combine his interests in urban planning and development, a love of architecture and a fascination for the curious.

Tom Carter is an painter and entertainment historian and serves on the boards of Vancouver Historical Society and the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, he is a former member of the Friends of the Vancouver Archives board

Schedule of Events

6:30 pm - Doors Open

7:00 pm - Presentations

8:15 pm - Video presentation about the Vancouver Block

8:30pm - Event ends

PLEASE NOTE: For in-person events, we are unable to provide refunds or credits for cancellations received less than four (4) weeks prior to the event. For additional information on VHF's policies, please visit our Policies page prior to registering.

If you would like to make a donation in addition to your registration, the amount will be tax deductible and you will receive an official tax receipt for donations of $20 or more. Our Registered Charity number is 891765968.

GST# 89176 5968 RT0001