Beatty Street Drill Hall
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The Beatty Street Drill Hall is a
Canadian Forces } The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force. ...
armoury located at 620 Beatty Street in
Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
,
British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
. It is the home of
The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) , colors = , colors_label = , march = "I'm Ninety-Five" , mascot = , equipment = , equipment_label = , battles ...
, an armoured
reconnaissance In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities. Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmisher ...
reserve regiment, the oldest military unit in Vancouver, and the most senior militia in the province.


Architecture

The building was designed by architect T.W. Fuller and opened on 30 September 1901 by the
Duke of Cornwall Duke of Cornwall is a title in the Peerage of England, traditionally held by the eldest son of the reigning British monarch, previously the English monarch. The duchy of Cornwall was the first duchy created in England and was established by a ro ...
(later
King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Que ...
). With two large castle-like turrets complete with
battlements A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet (i.e., a defensive low wall between chest-height and head-height), in which gaps or indentations, which are often rectangular, occur at interva ...
, and two tanks and a 64-pounder
Gun A gun is a ranged weapon designed to use a shooting tube (gun barrel) to launch projectiles. The projectiles are typically solid, but can also be pressurized liquid (e.g. in water guns/cannons, spray guns for painting or pressure washing, pr ...
alongside the large white structure, Beatty Street Drill Hall has long been a Vancouver landmark and is listed as a class-A heritage building. The walls are three and a half feet thick, and the building rests on huge granite blocks. Limestone from
Gabriola Island Gabriola Island is one of the Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia in British Columbia (BC), Canada. It is about east of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, to which it is linked by a 20-minute ferry service. It has a land area of about and a resid ...
was used for the parapet and it features a rusticated stone trim. The Drill Hall includes a parade square, offices, and store rooms. It formerly contained a firing range and bowling alley. Originally, the Cambie Street Grounds, now a parking lot across the street, was also used as part of the regiment's training facilities.


Memorials

A stone cairn was dedicated to the local war dead of the First and Second World Wars and the local veterans of the Korean War and peacekeeping. Presented by the grateful Dutch Canadians of Vancouver in 1970, a copper plaque is dedicated to the memory of the B.C. Regiment who helped liberate Holland in the 1944 - 1945 campaign. A wooden Celtic cross was dedicated to the officers, NCO's and men who fell at Vimy Ridge. A plaque was erected by their fellow officers and men in honour of the men of the 28th Canadian Armoured Regiment who died while serving in the Second World War. A plaque is dedicated to members of the 6th Regiment Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles who lost their lives in South African War of 1899 - 1902. A plaque was dedicated to Lt. Colonel George McSpadden and the fallen heroes of the 11th Regiment Irish Fusiliers of Canada. A plaque was dedicated 17 October 1994 to commemorate the affiliation of and the B.C. Regiment.


Regimental Museum of the BC Regiment

The Regimental Museum of the BC Regiment (DCO) is housed in the Beatty Street Drill Hall,
Metro Vancouver The Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD), or simply Metro Vancouver, is a Canadian political subdivision and corporate entity representing the metropolitan area of Greater Vancouver, designated by provincial legislation as one of the 28 ...
. Military displays date back to 1883, including uniforms, weapons, medals,
Nazi Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in ...
regalia Regalia is a Latin plurale tantum word that has different definitions. In one rare definition, it refers to the exclusive privileges of a sovereign. The word originally referred to the elaborate formal dress and dress accessories of a sovereign ...
, and a large collection of photographs documenting the history and artifacts of
The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) , colors = , colors_label = , march = "I'm Ninety-Five" , mascot = , equipment = , equipment_label = , battles ...
and the Beatty Street Drill Hall. The museum was established in 1982 and is open to the public Wednesdays. In addition to the BC Regiment (DCO), the 2290 British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) Cadet Corps also parades at the armoury."History 2290 BCR Army Cadet Corps,"
2290 BCR Army Cadet Corps page on the DND website. Retrieved 24 March 2007.


See also

*
List of armouries in Canada A number of armouries and drill halls exist in communities across Canada. Of these, the majority were built in Ontario and Quebec. Architecture Chief Dominion Architects The Chief Dominion Architect(s) designed a number of prominent public bui ...
*
List of heritage buildings in Vancouver The following is a list of buildings and structures classified as Schedule "A" and Schedule "B" heritage buildings by the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. These are ''designated'' heritage buildings, and as such are legally protected ...


References


External links

* {{Canadian Forces Armouries in Canada Museums in Vancouver Canadian Forces bases in British Columbia Regimental museums in Canada Heritage sites in British Columbia Heritage buildings in Vancouver Drill halls in Canada British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)