Hastings Park Conservancy

Despite its historical designation as greenspace for the east side of Vancouver, Hastings Park has served as a venue for horse racing, concerts, professional hockey, conventions, trade shows and the annual PNE summer fair for more than a century. As a result, the northeast sector of the city has almost no greenspace that is larger than the usual one-block field.

1888-89: City Council requests that the Provincial Government grant land to the City for a park in the Hastings Townsite. In 1889, the Provincial Government grants 160 acres of land "for the use, recreational and enjoyment of the public" by way of a Trust.

Hastings Park of Yesteryear

1892: Horse racing made its first appearance in Hastings Park, when City Council leased 15 acres of land for a racetrack.

1908: City Council leases 60 acres of land (which included the racetrack) to the Vancouver Exhibition Association (VEA) in the northwest corner of the park.

1910: the lease was expanded to include the whole of Hastings Park.

1920s: The amusement park, called "Happyland" is built.

1930s: The Livestock Building, the Pure Foods Building, Rollerland, the Forum, Showmart, and the Garden Auditorium. The stream through the park is filled in.

1942-46: Hastings Park is used for military purposes during World War II.

1950s: The B.C. Pavilion opens. Empire Stadium is christened by the famous "miracle mile" at the 1954 Empire Games, and then becomes home to the newly formed B.C. Lions football club. Happyland is demolished, and the new amusement park, Playland, is built.

1960s: The Agrodome (1963) and the Coliseum (1968) open, with the Vancouver Canucks playing their first NHL hockey game in 1970. The B.C. Sports Hall of Fame opens in the B.C. Pavilion. The Racetrack is upgraded and expanded. The stadium in Callister Park is torn down and made into a park. The Beatles perform at Empire Stadium in 1964.

1980's: Neighbourhood residents set upon reclaiming the alienated Hastings Park, according to the terms of the original 1889 Legal Trust by which Hastings Park was created. The Hastings Park Restoration Society and the Friends of Hastings Park Community Coalition triumph when, in 1994, the City agrees to return the site to parkland.

February 1996: the principles that would inform future development are published in a document entitled "The Greening of Hastings Park Restoration Program." (See 1996 Hastings Park Restoration Plan)

Both the Park Board and the City Council unanimously approve the program and set money aside in subsequent capital plans to start the project.

1997-98: Park Board remove five exhibition buildings to make way for the Park (the B.C. Pavilion, Food Building, Showmart, Display Barn and the Poultry Building).

1998-99: The first section of the Sanctuary is built.

2000-01: Italian Gardens and Playing Fields at Empire Bowl constructed.

2001: Newly elected Liberal provincial government cancels PNE move to its new home in Surrey and decides to keep it in Hastings Park, putting the rest of the '96 restoration plan in limbo.

In October, 2003, in anticipation of the transfer of the PNE to the City of Vancouver, the provincial government passes Bill 83 a.k.a. The Pacific National Exhibition Validating and Enabling Act, to permit past, present and future commercial and "non-conforming" activities on the site and avoid being liable for contravening the terms of the Trust.

January 1, 2004 Ownership of the PNE is transferred from the Province to the City.

In June 2004, Council instructs staff to solve major issues around governance and parking in order to adopt something between plan 3 & 4 submitted by staff, after a mock "visioning" process held in January 04. (To date, staff has failed to complete this planning and report back to Council).

On July 22, 2004 against public opinion, City Council approves a resolution to enact a by-law amendment to permit the use of slot machines at Hastings Park.

Oct. 4, 2005 Council enacts Bylaw No. 9119 rezoning Hastings Park to permit the use of slot machines.

In the Fall of 2005 HPC initiates a judicial review of the City of Vancouver’s procedures and right of governance.