CIVIC LEADERS | R.I.P. Mayor Art Phillips :: 1930 – 2013

Art Phillips, Mayor of Vancouver from 1973 to 1976

He beat Mr. Peanut, stopped freeways and saved Chinatown and Gastown.

He met Mitzi Gaynor (Vancouver’s Sweetheart”), rode a horse with élan, and – as pointed out by Canada’s National Newspaper – was a “handsome man with an enviable crop of hair.”

Art Phillips will be remembered for his gentlemanly nature, his philanthropy, and for his vision of Vancouver where quality of life was the measure of greatness (see excerpts from his inaugural speech, below).

Art Phillips, along with that other Arthur (Erickson) represented Vancouverites’ wishes for a better, people-centric and more equitable city during that brief shining period in the 1970s when change was in the air and made concrete. He was irreplaceable and will be missed.

“This photo shows Mr. Peanut listening in to incumbent Mayor Art Phillips talk with an unidentified man. It’s the only photo from the files of The Vancouver Sun showing the two mayoral candidates together.”

Art Phillips, Mayor of Vancouver, stands on the roof of Vancouver City Hall in November 1972 Photo > The Globe and Mail

22 August 1974 – A crowd gathers on nearly-completed Granville Mall to hear opening ceremonies presided over by mayor Art Phillips. Workmen scurried up to last minute but failed to finish job. Photo > George Diack, PNG

29 March 1974 – Mayor Art Phillips accepted a challenge to take the bus from city hall to a meeting downtown. The challenge stemmed from his recent suggestion that motorists leave home in favour of bus travel. After five minutes wait, he hopped on the bus and chatted with passengers for the 12-minute ride to the Board of Trade building. Photo > John Denniston, PNG

1974. Art Phillips as Captain Vancouver garb. Photo > Glenn Baglo, PNG

1975. Mayor Art Phillips in the saddle. Photo > Ralph Bower, PNG

CVA 2010-006.304 – PNE Parade, 16 August 1975 Photo > Ernie H. Reksten

1976. Art Phillips and Carole Taylor

1976. Art Phillips and Mitzi Gaynor Photo > Ian Lindsay, PNG

1978. Art Phillips and Pierre Trudeau. Photo > Deni Eagland, PNG

Source > City of Love and Revolution: Vancouver in the Sixties

Four Seasons Hotel Coal Harbour Vancouver

Source > Vancouver Ltd. by Donald Gutstein

What Four Seasons eventually built at Pacific Centre after being chased away from the entrance to Stanley Park

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CANADA 24 October 1973 Vancouver $1.00 on Hibrite Paper in Block of 4 Stamps Mint NH

CVA 772-255 – Burrard [Street] and Dunsmuir [Street] looking West

Photo > iioe

Discovery Square at Burrard Station renamed Art Phillips Park. Illustration of Burrard Station by the amazing Ron Love.

I had originally suggested Robson Square be renamed in Art Phillips’ honour, but the idea to rename Discovery Square came from Carole Taylor, Phillips’ wife, who soon after my column ran, emailed me that Phillips was really attached to Discovery Square.

Wrote Taylor:

“I won’t have the story exactly right, but apparently BowMac was one of three owners of that triangle space when Art was mayor and they decided to move up to Broadway. So the land was for sale, presumably to put a building there. Art thought it was the perfect place for some open space, but also to reserve for a transit stop. He went to the surrounding owners, including Bentall and said, ‘You would benefit from open space and possibly a transit stop here, so how about you guys putting up half the money? The city will put up the other half and we will preserve this open space for the public.’ Voila, open space, flowering trees and transit.”

It didn’t hurt that Phillips also happened to walk his dog, Daisy, there every day.

– Pete McMartin, “Art Phillips Park”