Vancouver I (Temple)/ Caribou Hill

Vancouver was only about 2 years old when the Army came. Vancouver I was opened as Corps #289 on Dec. 18, 1887 by Capt. Mary Hackett and Lieut. Lizzie Tierney. They were soon joined by Lieut. Hannah Lynes and Lieut. Iverack (who had been delayed by a snowslide at Donald) “Carrying a flag, a drum, and a tambourine, and, followed by a straggling crowd, all men, they marched to Hart’s Opera House, a mere shed, on Carrall Street in Chinatown, within which was held the first indoor meeting.” In 1889 a hall was secured on Water Street and Vancouver became the Divisional Headquarters with Adjutant Tom Scott as the first DC.

The headquarters and living accommodation for all officers was on row of terrace houses on Hastings Street just east of Westminster Avenue. In the 1893 pictorial history carried in the War Cry (Feb. 11), great optimism for the future was expressed:

“The corps is marching forward,

  And we never will give in,

The prize that’s set before us

Through Jesus we shall win.

In the strength of our Jehovah Lord

  The Ancient one of days

Vancouver we mean for Jesus

  So saith brave Captain Hayes.”

 From about 1895 to 1900, the Army worshipped in a rented hall in the Alhambra Hotel on the corner of Carrall and Water Streets, from 1900-1907 in asssorted rented halls. In 1907 the corps purchased the Windsor Hotel at 301 Hastings St. (see description in WC, July 20, 1907). It was renovated, and worshipped in for forty years, the corps growing to as many as 300 soldiers in that time —its band alone comprising some 48 members.

In 1947 temporary places of worship were used until the site could be cleared and a new Vancouver Temple, "perhaps the finest Salvation Army barracks in the world," with a seating capacity of 700, was opened on Jan. 5, 1950 (this building, like the previous, also housed the Divisional Headquarters).

With increased urbanization and decentralization of city services, it was eventually realized that a downtown corps could not grow, most people having moved to the suburbs —a difficult decision had to be made, especially given the fact that the Army had been, traditionally, a downtown mission. But, stepping out in faith for a newer membership, the Temple was closed in Aug. 1982, and a new site was purchased on Cariboo Hill Road, which, though seemingly removed from the downtown area, was geographically in the centre of greater Vancouver.

The new Cariboo Hill Temple was opened on June 15, 1985. A quote of the corps history: "Cariboo Hill Temple is a long way from Hart's Opera House.... [But] despite the loss of some soldiers and adherents during the two years in the schools, 51 new people became regular attenders. Since the opening in June, 40 new people have made Cariboo Hill Temple their church home. This represents a total of 91 people in three and a half years since the Temple moved out of '301'."