Beatty Street Drill Hall

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The Beatty Street Drill Hall is a Canadian Forces armoury located at 620 Beatty Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the home of The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (RCAC), an armoured reconnaissance reserve, the oldest military unit in Vancouver, and the most senior militia in the province. The building was opened on 30 September 1901 by the Duke of Cornwall (later King George V). With two large castle-like turrets complete with battlements, and two tanks and a 64-pounder Gun alongside the large white structure, Beatty Street Drill Hall has long been a Vancouver landmark, and is listed as a class-A heritage building.^[1][2] The walls are three and a half feet thick, and the building rests on huge granite blocks. Limestone from Gabriola Island was used for the parapet and it features a rusticated stone trime.^[3] The Drill Hall includes a parade square, offices, and store rooms. It formerly contained a firing range and bowling alley.^[4] Originally, the Cambie Street grounds, now a parking lot across the street, was also used as part of the Regiment's training facilities. The Regimental Museum of the BC Regiment (DCO) is housed in the building, with displays dating back to 1883, including uniforms, weapons, medals, Nazi regalia, and a large collection of photographs documenting the regiment's (and the Drill Hall's) history. The museum was established in 1982 and is open to the public Thursday afternoons.^[5] In addition to the BC Regiment (DCO), the 2290 British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) Cadet Corps also parades at the armoury.^[6]

[edit] References

1. ^ "A Proud History," British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own). Retrieved 24 March 2007.
2. ^ 2003 Top Ten Endangered Sites," Heritage Vancouver. Retrieved 24 March 2007
3. ^ "Ghosts of Vancouver: Our City's Best-Known Haunts," City of Vancouver Archives. Retrieved 24 March 2007.
4. ^ "A Brief History of British Columbia Regiment and Beatty Street Drill Hall," 2290 BCR Army Cadet Corps website. Retrieved 24 March 2007.
5. ^ "The Regimental Museum," The British Columbia Regiment, (DCO) page on the DND website. Retrieved 24 March 2007.
6. ^ "History 2290 BCR Army Cadet Corps," 2290 BCR Army Cadet Corps page on the DND website. Retrieved 24 March 2007.