411 Dunsmuir St. Vancouver, BC V6B 1X4 Phone: (604) 684-8171 Fax: (604) 681-3589

History of the 411 Seniors Centre Building

For the past few decades, the 411 Seniors Centre Society has occupied the 411 Dunsmuir Street building in Vancouver, owned by the Province of British Columbia.  We are pleased to report, however, that the Province gifted the Society with building in March 2006, and we are now the proud new owners.  As the following will show, the story of the building and 411 are interconnected in many ways. 

The Vancouver Trades and Labour Council constructed the 411 building in 1910 at a cost of $80,000.   It has a long history of various occupants.   These include:   Vancouver Trades and Labour Council (1910 to 1921 - the year the building became the property of the provincial government); Vancouver Technical School (1921 to 1928); Headquarters for several provincial government departments relating to labour; Workmen's Compensation Building (1930); Unemployment relief headquarters for single men living in the downtown core during the Great Depression; and headquarters for provincial welfare, old age pensions and employment services of Canada (1930's).   It is also rumored that during the late 1920's the city's police department used 411 Dunsmuir to house street workers.

The 411 building began its history with seniors in 1947, when offices for provincial government programs related to seniors were established on the first and second floors.   In 1968, volunteer senior counselors worked in the building alongside these offices to assist seniors in applying for benefits.   In 1972, a tea and coffee service started for the seniors who were coming to the government offices, and this marks the beginning of 411 Seniors Centre itself.

For a complete and detailed account of the 411 Dunsmuir Street building please click the link below.

411 Dunsmuir complete history