Posted on July 2, 2026 by admin By Samantha Johnson For Southern Alberta Newspapers June 29, 1886 – Vancouver Advertiser Vancouver, a city scarcely six-weeks old, was completely destroyed by fire in one hour on the afternoon of Sunday, the 13th. During the six months previous to Vancouver becoming a city, a conflagration of enterprising businesses, shrewd speculators and far-seeing capitalists had constructed imposing buildings, business blocks, stores and warehouses.