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Page 2 GENERAL MEETING, mST VANCOUVER MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY - JANUARY 25, 1990 l>Jho says January isn't the greatest month for meetings? We filled every one of our 83 seats - an attendance record not equalled since Charlie Baldwin's address on "The CPR Princess Ships" in January of '88 - and was the audience in for a treat! For Nancy Stibbard, the present owner of the Suspension Bridge complex consisting of the bridge, the Trading Post, Canyon Galleria and Bridge House Restaurant, is not only "beauty and brains" personified, but charming to boot - totally in command of her subject and situation and very much at home with an audience. Her easy introduction of guest speaker Eleanore Dempster, author of "The Laughing Bridge" (so named by the Indians because the wind, coming down the canyon, 'played with the hemp rope until the bridge started laughing'), prepared an already eager and on-the-edge-of-their-seats audience for a fresh and friendly approach to an old, familiar landmark. Eleanore Dempster, whose husband Peter is the nephew of North Vancouver pioneer Edward Mahon, served up an absorbing oral essay, including a great slide presentation which triggered a lively question period curtailed only by the lack of time. Fortunately, Eleanore had brought along copies of her book and what a gem her Personal History of the Capilano Suspension Bridge is! For those of you who missed the meeting, tarrying eleswhere over feasts of hairst bree and haggis, this book will put you right onto the swaying bridge or overlooking the dizzying depths of the canyon from a table at the open-air porch of the old tea house. Look for "The Laughing Bridge" the next time you are at the Trading Post and tell the sales staff that the Historical Society sent you. Thank you, Nancy. Thank you, Eleanore. PRESIDENT'S REPORT FOR 1989 1989 was a very eventful year for the Society. In January, we received a second $5000.00 grant from the B.C. Archives Council enabling us to renew our contract with our Archivist, Laura Coles, until March 31, 1990. This grant is to be used to catalogue and preserve 3 of our major archival collections: The Lawson Family May Day 1931 to 1973 West Vancouver Schools Public Relations - We participated in a number of community events throughout the year starting with Heritage Week in February at Park Royal. In May, we once again represented the Municipality at Port Day '89 with a display at the Pacific Marine Training Institute in North Vancouver. We were also involved with displays on Community Day and at the Ferry Office. Through generous donations from some of our members, we furnished the Ferry Office with 14 glass-enclosed, wall display cabinets. Laureen Jones designed an attractive blue folder handout giving a history of the building. A membership application form was enclosed. Member Communications - We held 5 general meetings as well as a Christmas Party. Guest speakers at 3 of the meetings were Jim MacCarthy, Tom Sewell and Rupert Harrison all of whom gave lively and interesting talks on different aspects of early West Vancouver History. A New Home - In June, we moved our headquarters from Pauline Johnson School to Cedardale Elementary School on a 1-year lease. We have now received written confirmation that the lease will be extended to June 30, 1991.