Our North Shore Neighborhood in 1961 

Some of us may think that atmospheric rivers and damaging rainfalls are a 21st century phenomena.  But on Octboer 10, 1961 The Vancouver Sun reported:  "A Five-hour rainstrom dumped three inches of rain on North shore mountains, Monday, flooding homes and causing havoc with traffic and power lines.

Creeks overflowed, culverts were blocked and tons of sand, gravel and surface debris were washed onto the road.

The gust of winds up up to 40mph fell trees which fell against power lines and snapped the wires. . . . Some houses built over old creek beds were "floating" on a sea of mud surrounded by sand and gravel. Many North Shore gardens were completely washed away by the swirling waters.  . . " 

Also in 1961,  the overpass connecting the North and South Malls of Park Royal was opened.

Notable community citizens were members at Gloria Dei. 

  • Dave Skrien was hired as Head Coach of the BC Lions. Coming from Minnesota, he soon became a member of a newly forming Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (NB: two years later, the Lions played in their first Grey Cup and became Grey Cup champions in 1964).
  • West Vancouver and North Vancouver were one electoral district. The district’s MP was William Payne, Conservative, for Coast-Capilano. The district’s two MLAs were Liberals Gordon Gibson and Ray Perrault.

Gloria Dei's Early Days 

  • Men wore suits, white shirts, and ties to church. Women wore dresses or skirts to church (there were no pant suits for women until a few years later).
  • A Declaration of Intention to form a new Lutheran congregation was signed by 37 individuals or families (e.g. “Mr. and Mrs. Skrien”). The congregation was developed by the Board of American Missions of the Canadian Lutheran Council of the Augustana Lutheran Church; Mission Developer was Rev. Donald Sjoberg.

  • Boundaries for the newly forming congregation were to be “On the East, Lonsdale; on the West, Capilano River; on the North, Grouse Mountain; on the South, Burrard Inlet”. The new congregation would also serve West Vancouver “until there is a Lutheran Church there.”
  • February 1, Pastor Dean Berg began his ministry in the organizing congregation.
  • A parish newspaper “The Gloria Dei Lutheran Visitor” was first published in April 1961.
  • Gloria Dei’s first worship service was held on May 14, at Highlands Elementary School. Weekly services continued at Highlands Elementary until a new building was ready in 1962. A Building Committee of six “interested” men had been formed, had its first meeting on May 25, and met five times in 1961.
  • Gloria Dei congregation was formally organized October 1, 1961, with 47 confirmed and 88 baptized members. Its Charter Roll closed on December 31, 1961.

 

  • Gloria Dei’s Annual Report for the period ending December 31, 1961, indicated that Site Costs for a physical location were $23,500, Survey & Legal Costs were $24,088; Budget for a new building was $35,000.
  • In his report to the 1st Annual General Meeting (held January 30, 1962), Pastor Dean Berg reported that during 1961 average attendance at worship was 57; Communion was held monthly, with an average of 24 communing; church school for all ages was held at 9.45 a.m. before the services, with an enrolment of 54 children and adults; the first stewardship program had raised $6,000; and an elected Board of Administration (i.e. Congregational Council) of 11 men and 2 women had been meeting monthly.