In his ambitious magnum opus, The Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver, author Chuck Davis embraced 125 years of material, with the signature exuberance and talent for storytelling that made him one of Vancouver's most successful and beloved journalists and broadcasters. This volume represents the culmination of his life as a folk historian, someone who was obsessed and delighted by all things Vancouver, and of his immense contribution to historical knowledge of the city of Vancouver. It was nearly realized, but not quite completed before his death in November, 2010.

Harbour Publishing worked with Davis on The Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver for five years, and has collaborated with the Vancouver Historical Society to complete the volume in 2011 to mark the city's 125th anniversary, as was the author's plan. Arranged chronologically, and illustrated with a trove of archival photographs, this volume includes influential characters both famous, like White Spot founder Nat Bailey, and nearly-forgotten, like Sara Anne McLagan, the first female publisher of a daily newspaper in Canada, plus many tales of eccentric locals and celebrity visitors. Here too are Vancouver's unforgettable and formative events, from the tragic collapse of the Second Narrows Bridge to the city's first rock 'n' roll concert ("the ultimate in musical depravity").

The story of how Vancouver grew from a ramshackle tumble of stumps, brush and crude wooden buildings to today's urban metropolis turns out to be interesting, complicated, frequently rancorous and occasionally even funny. And the book is, as the author hoped, "fun, fat and filled with facts."

Chuck Davis (1935-2010) devoted his life to being the expert on the city's history. In 2010 he was awarded the George Woodcock Award for an outstanding literary career in British Columbia.

Chuck has prepared a comprehensive social and economic history with the care and attention to detail of a historian, and with the exuberance and flair for storytelling that have made him one of Vancouver's most successful and beloved journalist/broadcasters. Davis takes an informal, anecdotal approach to his material, retelling the city's history in a clear and entertaining style. His work is a fascinating account of the rich and colourful past of a unique coastal city, and a must-read for historians, visitors and locals alike.

Chuck Davis' profile page

• Winner, BC Book Prize

The Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver

This hefty book spans 125 years of Vancouver history starting in 1757. It is arranged chronologically and illustrated with more than 1000 archival photographs. Bolded headlines, fact boxes and extensive index make this volume a practical research tool for locating the significant events of a particular year in Vancouver’s history. Each year includes a fact box that compares Vancouver’s events to those that were occurring elsewhere in BC and the world. The timeline begins from the exploration of the West Coast and early First Nations settlements and ends with the 125th anniversary of the Vancouver Board of Trade. Feature articles examine selected events in closer detail.

This book won the BC Book Prize, Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize.

The Chuck David History of Metropolitan Vancouver

This hefty book spans 125 years of Vancouver history starting in 1757. It is arranged chronologically and illustrated with more than 1000 archival photographs. Bolded headlines, fact boxes and extensive index make this volume a practical research tool. Each year includes a fact box that compares Vancouver’s events to those that were occurring elsewhere. The timeline begins from the exploration of the West Coast and early First Nations settlements and ends with the 125th anniversary of the Vancouver Board of Trade. Feature articles examine selected events in closer detail, among them a chronicle of all of Vancouver’s riots. Municipalities between West Vancouver and Langley are included.

This book won the Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal for Historical Writing and the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize.