British Columbia·Video

Granville Street's history in under five minutes

It all starts with the British empire and Graville Leveson-Gower, the colonial secretary who oversaw Canada. "So by naming it Granville, someone was basically sucking up to him."

Downtown business improvement association created video to celebrate the organization's 25th anniversary

The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association commissioned the video of Granville Street's history to celebrate the organization's 25th anniversary. (Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association/YouTube)

If you click on this video, you're not in for a dreary history lesson. Instead, you'll get Granville Street's storied history in under five minutes in entertaining style. 

It all starts with the British empire and Granville Leveson-Gower, the colonial secretary who oversaw Canada. 

"So by naming it Granville, someone was basically sucking up to him."

See — not your typical video. 

The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association commissioned the video to celebrate the organization's 25th anniversary. 

The BIA's president and CEO Charles Gauthier says the video was an opportunity to reflect on Granville Street's rich heritage, it's significance to the city and an opportunity to spark more conversations of what its next metamorphosis will look like. 

If the video is successful, the BIA will consider making more videos on other prominent streets in the city.