Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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On June 13th 1966 CBC Radio interviewed five survivors of the fire 80 years earlier. The audio is very clear, it does not sound like a broadcast for the mid 60s.

Honestly, I am blown away that this audio exists.

The fire started in the slash piles being burned by the CPR to clear the West End. The wind was strong and the whole town was burned down in 45 minutes.

Vancouver was not much at the time, but it was clear it was going to be a major port because it was the end of the line for CP.

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discord.gg/VhMXDz8Q

More information at this link:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Vancouver_Fire
Vancouver seniors:
Mrs. John MacKee
Mrs. W.M. Drainey
Mrs. Gertrude E. Gao
Mrs. Eliza Jane Beach
Alex M. Matheson

Written and produced by Bill Herbert
Narration by Bill Herbert and Bob Switzer
Research by Heimey Koshovoy
Technical operation and tape editing by Omar Winton.

Images and audio are public domain

The raw audio file is at this link:
searcharchives.vancouver.ca/black-sunday-in-gastown