Vancouver

The Great Vancouver Fire destroyed much of Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 13, 1886. The fire began as land clearing fires in the surrounding forest and quickly spread into the young city, destroying most of the buildings. About a thousand wooden buildings were replaced by other constructions such as brick or stone ones, resulting in a more robust city infrastructure.

The Second Narrows Rail Bridge in Vancouver was completed in 1915, facilitating the transportation of railway traffic across the Burrard Inlet. This bridge connected Vancouver with the North Shore, providing a crucial link for the movement of goods and resources and contributing to the economic development of the region.

On December 14, 1954, CBUT, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's television station in Vancouver, aired its first broadcast. This event marked the beginning of television broadcasting in Western Canada, and significantly influenced the cultural landscape by connecting Vancouver and surrounding areas to national television programming.

Greenpeace, one of the world's most influential environmental organizations, was founded in Vancouver on August 22, 1971. The organization started with activists opposing nuclear testing but grew to address a wide range of environmental issues worldwide. Its founding in Vancouver underscored the city’s role in global environmental movements.

The trial for the bombing of Air India Flight 182, which exploded on June 23, 1985, killing 329 people, began in Vancouver, marking one of Canada's most infamous criminal cases. The trial had significant international dimensions, as it dealt with issues of terrorism, security, and justice, and carried on for several years with a complex set of legal proceedings.

Expo 86 was a World's Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, from May 2 to October 13, 1986. The theme of the fair was 'Transportation and Communication: World in Motion - World in Touch'. It featured pavilions from countries around the world and millions of visitors attended, boosting tourism and international profile for the city.

The opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics took place on February 12, 2010, in Vancouver, Canada, marking the first Olympics held in British Columbia and the third Olympics held in Canada. The event highlighted Vancouver's capability to host large international events and had a significant impact on the city's infrastructure and tourism.

The 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot occurred on June 15, 2011, after the Vancouver Canucks lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals to the Boston Bruins. An estimated 155,000 people gathered downtown to watch the game, and the riot resulted in significant property damage and numerous injuries, drawing international attention to public safety concerns.

On October 22, 2013, the funding and construction plan for the Evergreen Line, an extension of the Vancouver SkyTrain, was approved. This significant development aimed to connect Coquitlam and Port Moody to the existing rapid transit network, enhancing public transportation infrastructure and improving commuting options in Metro Vancouver.

On April 20, 2018, Vancouver became a leading city in cannabis legalization, supporting the shift as Canada moved towards legalizing recreational cannabis. Vancouver had been host to annual '4/20' events advocating for legalization, and upon legalization in October of that year, the city emerged as a key area for legal cannabis culture and business.