Daniel Francis

Reading the National Narrative

Blog

February 2, 2022

The transformation of False Creek from an industrial centre to an urban playground -- that's it above -- is one of the major developments of the past 50 years in Vancouver's  history.

If you were unable to attend my illustrated talk on the evolution of the post-war city, hosted by the Vancouver Historical Society, it has been...

January 26, 2022

I got my start as a historical researcher studying the records of 18th-century fur traders written by candlelight with a quill pen in frozen trading posts on the shores of Hudson Bay.

So when the folks at The Ormsby Review invited me to review a new history of the Hudson Bay Company, naturally I agreed. The result has just been posted and can be found...

January 21, 2022

I will be speaking to the Vancouver Historical Society about my new book next Thursday, January 27, at 7 p.m. It is a Zoom event. If you are not a member of the society and wish to listen in, here's how.

Meanwhile, the admirable news website The Tyee has...

January 19, 2022

I've been reading Stendahl to start the new year, Scarlet and Black. No particular reason. I've always wanted to and suddenly the opportunity presented itself.

My local coffee shop (Brazza on Lonsdale Ave. in North Vancouver) added a "lending library" during a recent renovation. Take one, leave one. I was browsing through the books on offer and there was Stendahl. So I took.

...
December 16, 2021

After many (and I mean many) years, the new Museum of North Vancouver has opened near the bottom of Lonsdale Avenue next door to the Shipyards district.

I have not had a chance to visit yet, but plan to do so over the holiday. I urge you to do the same, if for no other reason than to see the refurbished streetcar, full-size, planted in the museum's lobby. But there is much else to see and...

Pages