Commercial Drive
Streetcar-era high street of independent cafes, delis and murals, long a haven for immigrant and queer communities.
Location
About this audio guide
This guide to Commercial Drive in Vancouver opens on an ordinary September afternoon in 1990, when two women kissing over coffee at a corner table were asked to leave a cafe on the street. You'll hear how the moment ignited sidewalk protests, a local activist's comparison to Stonewall, and staff who quit rather than stay silent. It follows the storefronts that answered in turn, from a women's coffeehouse called Josephine's to the queer-friendly cafe that took over its room.
This audio guide was created using AI.
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