The Ubyssey review of the Stanley Park Companion

Stanley revealed

THE STANLEY PARK COMPANION by Paul Grant and Laurie Dickson [Rainforest Books]

by Greg Ursic/culture writer

Few parks around the world are as closely associated with their cities as Central Park in New York and Vancouver's own Stanley Park. Both are large (at a shade over 1000 acres—650 acres of forest and 350 acres of gardens—Stanley Park is a shade bigger than her southern sister), provide a respite from the hectic pace of the everyday and are popular with tourists and residents alike. They share few other similarities however: Central Park, located in the center of the city, is bounded by development on all sides and is actually a wholly manmade creation. Stanley Park, meanwhile, is an area of wilderness that was set aside as a park, and sits on the periphery of the city.

The first thing that you'll notice about The Stanley Park Companion is its cover—four striking pictures taken within the park that instantly elevate it to coffee table status. But this is not a mere fluff piece. Paul Grant and Laurie Dickson have collected copious amounts of information about the park, from its inception, creation, evolution and the central role it has played in Vancouver's history. Having lived in Vancouver for 15 years and cycled the Seawall innumerable times, I was surprised when I began reading how little I actually knew about Stanley Park.

Named after Governor General Lord Arthur Stanley, the park opened on September 27, 1888 for the "use and enjoyment of peoples of all colors, creeds and customs." It was an immediate hit with residents and continues to be today. Grant and Dickson lead in with a brief history of the park, then take the reader on a calculated journey, beginning at the southeast end of the Seawall and proceeding around the park in a counterclockwise direction. They point out every landmark, both natural and manmade, and showcase the park's beauty with dozens of full-page pictures.

The prose is light, thoroughly accessible and peppered with anecdotes and little known facts. For example, most people would likely be shocked to know that the ashes of several people who made Stanley Park what it is today—such as stone mason James "Jimmy" Cunningham who supervised construction of the Seawall for over 30 years—now rest within its borders. Or that the eight breeding pairs of gray squirrels donated by New York's Central Park Authority have since displaced the native squirrels and run their own little mammal mob.

I do have a few minor qualms with the book. While The Stanley Park Companion is a fantastic resource and guide, at 25cm by 21.5 cm it is ungainly and doesn't lend itself to portability like a Frommer's or Lonely Planet Guide, which is a shame as anyone wanting to explore the Park would surely want to bring the book with them. Another thing that I found disconcerting was that in several instances the authors will give a brief description of something then elaborate on it much later in the book. Okay, enough nitpicking.

Grant and Dickson have achieved the perfect balance between souvenir book, nature guide and historical tome. It is comprehensive, entertaining, an enjoyable read, beautiful to look at and is destined to be treasured by both tourists and locals alike.

From The Ubyssey

Two of my photos appear in The Stanley Park Companion

Photo 1

Photo 2