Hogan’s Alley tours commemorate Vancouver’s Black history

It’s a walk down memory lane, remembering the rich — and often hidden — history of Hogan’s Alley.

As part of Black History Month, Shayla Bird has been taking Vancouverites on a tour of the city’s first and only Black community, showcasing how it was displaced by the construction of the city’s viaducts.

Formed in the 1900s, the area was well known for its distinctive culture, blues musicians, and tasty eateries.

“In the 40s and 50s when Hogan’s Alley was in its prime, it was when Billie Holiday was visiting, Jimmy Hendrix, Louis Armstrong,” said Bird.

“All these different celebrities and music professionals coming to dine at Vie’s Chicken and Steak House, Sarah’s Café, and a variety of different women-owned businesses.”

Much of the history of Hogan’s Alley is just that: history. The area was demolished in the 1960s and a substantial amount was gentrified to make way for construction and new developments.

The Hogan’s Alley Society — a Black-led organization in Vancouver focused on advancing the well-being of people of African descent — is working to restore the community by bringing back businesses, homes, and the social capital that has been lost.

“In 1967, city council approved a transportation plan, which included developing viaducts that would connect suburbs to downtown,” said Djaka Blais, the society’s executive director.

“And the viaducts would cut directly through the block. And due to those discriminatory policies and the building of the viaducts, we really saw a displacement of the Black community that had formed in the area.”

Blais says the organization announced in 2022 that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Vancouver to enter into a long-term lease for one of the blocks that will be freed up when the viaducts come down.

“With that lease, then we will be developing the block to deliver a Black cultural centre, a significant amount of social housing, spaces for business and childcare and other amenities for the community.”

Each stop on the Hogan’s Alley walking tour highlights a historic landmark that contributed to the community’s character.

Bird says the tours start at Union and Main.

“I decided to start the tours here because Union and Prior were really some of the two main streets in Hogan’s Alley,” she said.

“And to be able to start the tour where the Georgia viaduct is really just adds that element of significance on how much this bridge really did separate these two streets of people.”

The tours take place every Saturday afternoon in February.