Tourist attraction in Stanley park, Canada

Stanley park

Opening and dedication: Stanley Monument unveiled 19 May 1960  dedicating the park to the use and enjoyment of people of all colours and creeds and customs for all time. On September 27, 1888 the park was officially opened (although the legal status of Deadman's Island as part of the park would remain ambiguous for many years).

The park was named after Lord Stanley who had recently become Canada's sixth governor general (and who is perhaps best known today for having donated the Stanley Cup that was later hunded down to the National Hockey League). Mayor David Oppenheimer gave a formel the park to the public and delivering authority for its management to the park committee. The following year Lord Stanley became the first governor general to visit British Columbia when he officially dedicated the park. Mayor Oppenheimer led a procession of vehicles around Brockton Point along the newly completed Park Road to the clearing at Prospect Point. An observer at the event wrote: Lord Stanley threw his arms to the heavens as though embracing within them the whole of 1,000 acres [400 ha] of primeval forest and dedicated it to the use and enjoyment of peoples of all colours creeds and customs for all time. I name the Stanley Stanley Park.


Archaeological evidence suggests a human presence in the park dating back more than 3,000 years. The area is the traditional territory of different coastal idigenous peoples. From the Burrard Inlet and Howe Sound regions Squamish Nation had a large village in the park. From the lower Fraser River area Musqueam Nation used its natural resources. Where Lumberman's Arch is now there once was a large village called Whoi Whoi or Xwayxway roughly meaning place of masks. One longhouse built from cedar poles and slabs was occupied by large extended families living in defferent quadrants of the house.

The large extended families living in defferent quadrants of the house. The larger houses were used for ceremonial potlatchs where a host would invite guests to witness and participate in ceremonies and the giving away of property. Another settlement was further west along the same shore. This place was called Chaythoos meaning high bank. The site of Chaythoos is noted on a brass plaque placed on the lowlands east of Prospect Point commemorating the park's centennial.

Both sites were accupied in 1988 when some residents were forcefully removed to allow a road to be constructed around the park and their midden was used for construction material. The popular landmark Siwash Rock located near present day Third Beach was once called Slahkayulsh meaning he is standing up. In the oral history a fisherman was transformed into this rock by three powerful brothers as punnishment for his immorality. Tn 2010 the chief of the Squamish Nation proposed renaming Stanley Park as Xwayxway Park after the large village once located in the area.