By Constance Brissenden
With additional research by Larry Loyie
The History of Metropolitan
Vancouver Hall of Fame represents nearly 500 of the thousands of
people who have contributed to the history of the lower mainland
of BC. They come from all walks of life, all cultural backgrounds
and all occupations. All of the Hall of Famers are now deceased,
and we are proud to include a brief record of their accomplishments
here. For the first time, Metropolitan Vancouver has a biographical
directory that includes many individuals from communities overlooked
in the past.
If you have suggestions for inclusion (remember
the person must be deceased), please contact us HERE.
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For Mayors of Vancouver,
click here.
J
Annie (Anna Bruce) Jamieson Education activist
b. 1871, Leeds, Que.; d. Jan. 23, 1952, Vancouver. Graduate, U.
of Manitoba in philosophy (1904). Taught in Manitoba before coming
to Vancouver's Dawson School (1907). From 1908-27, taught at King
Edward HS (vice principal for ten years). Continuously elected to
the Vancouver School Board (1929-46). Member, UBC senate; member,
Board of Governors (1936-42). LL.D (UBC, 1942). Life member of the
B.C. Library Association and 30-year library board member. Founding
member, University Women's Club. An elementary school is named for
her. Born a Tory, she said she would "die a cynic where politics
are concerned."
Laura Emma Jamieson (née Marshall)
Juvenile court judge b. Dec. 29, 1883, Park Head, Ont.; d. June
29, 1964, Vancouver. Graduate, U. of T (1908). In 1911, married
lawyer J. Stewart Jamieson (d. 1926). Active member, University
Women's Club and suffragette groups. In 1921, organized a branch
of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. When
her two children reached school age, she joined the B.C. Parent/Teacher
Federation (president, 1925-26). On her husband's death, she succeeded
him as Burnaby Juvenile Court judge, the first B.C. woman in this
position (1926-38). Joined CCF party (1939); elected MLA, Vancouver
Centre. Re-elected (1941) but lost her seat in 1945. In 1947, elected
the second woman alderman in Vancouver history.
Robert Jamieson Presbyterian missionary b.
c. 1829, Ire.; d. Sept. 6, 1893, New Westminster. B.C.'s first Presbyterian
minister arrived on Dec. 10, 1861, reaching New Westminster in 1862.
Preached first sermon Sunday, March 16, 1862 in the pulpit of the
Methodist church. Until March 1863, his flock met in the courthouse.
Built St. Andrew's Church on grant of land from Gov. Douglas (Carnarvon
and Blackwood). Opened first school in the area, as well as Fraser
Valley churches. In July 1870, on a borrowed horse, rode and preached
700 miles. After 1871, focused on St. Andrew's. In 1884, illness
forced his resignation. He later recovered and was named first prison
chaplain.
Thomas John es Stage coach owner, driver b.
April 16, 1855, Cornwall, Eng.; d. Oct. 14, 1926, Vancouver. Worked
as a butcher in Seaforth, Ont., arriving in Granville (later Vancouver)
on Oct. 31, 1883. Ran a butcher shop, then began operating es Stage,
the first stagecoach line to carry passengers between New Westminster
and Vancouver along Westminster Avenue (now Kingsway).
Harry Winston Jerome Sprinter b. Sept. 30,
1940, Prince Albert, Sask.; d. Dec. 7, 1982, North Vancouver. Began
running at North Vancouver HS; member, Optimist Striders Track Club.
Won a scholarship to U. of Oregon. Was the first to simultaneously
hold world records for 100-metre and 10- yard events. Bronze medal,
1964 Olympics; gold medals at 1966 Commonwealth Games and 1967 Pan-American
games. Competed in Olympics, Mexico City (1968), retiring the same
year. Inducted into B.C. Sports Hall of Fame (1966), Canadian Amateur
Athletic Hall of Fame (1967), Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (1971).
One of only a few blacks to receive Order of Canada (1970). Administered
Premier Sports Award for athletic achievement in B.C. elementary
schools. Died of stroke.
Pauline Jewett Political scientist, politician
b. Dec. 11, 1922, St. Catharines, Ont.; d. July 5, 1992, Ottawa.
Came west as president of SFU (1974-78). Elected Lib. MP (1963-65).
Switched to NDP, and was elected for New Westminster-Coquitlam (1979-88).
First female president of a major Canadian university (SFU). Appointed
to Privy Council in 1992. Chancellor of Carleton U. Biblio: Faces
of Canada by George Lonn.
Charles Gardiner Johnson Shipping pioneer
b. Feb. 8, 1857, near Dunblane, Scotland; d. Jan. 19, 1926, Vancouver.
In 1870, at 10, went to South Seas for a four-year apprenticeship.
In the 1880s, left seafaring to farm in Souris River, Man.. On Sept.
5, 1885, broke and married, arrived in Vancouver; worked for CPR
as a laborer. In 1886 opened a shipping and insurance agency, the
first in the city. C. Gardner Johnson & Co. (Hastings and Granville)
became one of the city's major shipping agents. Addressed as major
because he served with local militia. "Father of Vancouver's
shipping industry."
Pauline Johnson (Tekahionwake) First Nations
writer, stage performer b. March 10, 1861, Six Nations Reserve,
Brantford, Ont.; d. March 7, 1913, Vancouver. Her father a Mohawk
chief. Dressed as an Indian princess, she began performing her poetry
in 1892, the start of an 18-year touring career. One of the most
popular stage performers of her generation, many of her poems and
stories were about Vancouver. Lost Lagoon, where she loved to canoe,
was named from one of her poems. Retired to Vancouver (1909). A
memorial to her was erected in 1922 near Third Beach. Biblio: White
Wampum (1895); Canadian Born (1903); Flint and Feather (1912); Legends
of Vancouver (1911).
Bob (Robert) Johnston Rower b. 1868, Elmsville,
Charlottetown, NB; d. Aug. 9, 1951, Vancouver. Known as the "grand
old man of rowing." A boat builder, he moved to West Vancouver
in 1888 and started rowing in 1889. Rowing was at its height of
popularity and he competed before thousands. Best known for challenging
world champion Jake Gaudaur of Hamilton, Ont., to a three-mile race
in Coal Harbour (1898) but lost the $2,500 purse by two lengths.
In Johnston's final race, he won the $1,000 purse by beating former
world champion John Hackett by 4.5 lengths. Coached the Vancouver
Rowing Club which won a bronze medal in the 1932 Olympic double
sculls event. Inducted into B.C. Sports Hall of Fame (1966). "A
keen, cigar-chewing coach of champions."
Charles Jones Mayor of Vancouver, 1948 See
Mayors of Vancouver.
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