[BCMA] The "Naughty Little Tour" is Back!

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Sins of the City: Back for Another Season

 

Vancouver (February 9, 2010) - Vancouver's rowdy history is the focus of the
Sins of the City Walking Tour offered by the Vancouver Police Museum. Back
for a special Games-time run, this two-hour guided "naughty little walking
tour" takes participants through the oldest parts of Vancouver-Japantown,
Chinatown and Gastown-exploring the early history of the city's sex and drug
trades, alcohol laws and much more.

 

"For all the talk today about turning Vancouver into a respectable host
city, we have a long history of barely-restrained behavior," says Chris
Mathieson, Executive Director at the Vancouver Police Museum. "This was a
city built on a foundation of vice-'Gassy Jack' Deighton and 'Portuguese
Joe' Silvey were selling booze and running cock fights before the place even
had a name."

 

"Much time is spent trying to present a polished view of our city to the
world," continues Mathieson, "but our roguish side is just as compelling,
and it seems people are keen to learn about those naughty bits." 

 

Covering ten city blocks, the tour highlights some of the many brothels,
opium dens, gambling houses and bootlegging joints that once called this
city home. Also presented are some of the many fascinating characters-on
both sides of the law-that battled for the heart and soul of Vancouver.

 

In the middle all this history sits the Vancouver Police Museum, which has
seen significant growth in the last five years-from 3500 visitors in 2003 to
over 21,000 in 2009. "Programs like the 'Sins' walking tour have helped
significantly to raise the profile of the museum", says Mathieson. "People
are starting to realize that our museum is housed in an amazing building and
we have countless compelling stories to tell."

 

These walking tours take place, rain or shine, twice-daily at 11:00 AM and
2:00 PM (except Sundays) from February 12 to 27, 2010. The fee is $15 for
adults, $12 for students and seniors; Reservations are required 24 hours in
advance by calling (604) 665-3346. Participants are also invited to visit
the Police Museum on the day of their walking tour at no additional charge.
More information can be found on the museum website at
www.vancouverpolicemuseum.ca.

 

-30-

 

For interviews, photos or additional background, contact:

 

Chris Mathieson, Executive Director

Vancouver Police Museum

240 East Cordova, Vancouver BC

Direct: 604-665-2207

chris at vancouverpolicemuseum.ca

www.vancouverpolicemuseum.ca

 

The Vancouver Police Museum is a self-funded non-profit organization and
registered charity dedicated to sharing the history of the Vancouver Police
Department; it receives no operational funding from any level of government.


 

It also happens to be the second most-followed museum in Canada on Twitter
(www.twitter.com/policemuseum).

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