Everybody loves a parade! This photo shows the City and District of North Vancouver’s float in the 1951 Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) opening day parade on Hastings Street in Vancouver. It shows the crowds gathered to watch the parade on the northwest corner of East Hastings at Main. The theme of the float was to promote North Vancouver as “Canada’s fastest growing community” – a great place to live and work.
For six decades, the PNE Parade, which ran from 1935-1995, was one of the biggest events in town. The PNE Parade kicked off the start of one of the most beloved annual summer events and became part of the collective history of the city and its environs.
Municipalities, community groups, and organizations from all over the Lower Mainland, the province, and even from the United States would participate with municipal floats (like this one), marching bands, and other displays. To mark the fair’s 100th anniversary in 2010, a special parade along the English Bay waterfront was held.
Visit the MONOVA website for more information about the history of the North Shore and to learn about MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver opening in Fall 2021.
Currently, MONOVA: Archives of North Vancouver at 3203 Institute Rd. in Lynn Valley is open by appointment only. Contact: archives@monova.ca
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