Cambrian Hall Has Been Home to the Vancouver Welsh Society for 80 Years
 THE CAMBRIAN HALL was officially opened in 1929. |
By EIFION WILLIAMS
VANCOUVER - This year marks the eightieth anniversary of the building of the Cambrian Hall, the only Welsh hall built specifically for that purpose in North America.
Early Welsh immigrants brought with them the rich cultural traditions of their homeland, including the eisteddfod and the gymanfa ganu. By the 1920s the Welsh of Vancouver had come together to form the Cambrian Society to celebrate and coordinate their contributions to the cultural life of the city.
By the end of the decade they came to realize the need for a hall where they could hold their various activities.
The Cambrian Hall was built largely by voluntary labour and financial donations. The Society was fortunate at the time to have some wealthy donors, whose names are commemorated on the cornerstone of the building at Seventeenth and Main.
Land for the Cambrian Hall was sold to the Cambrian Society for $1 by Joseph Jones, the owner of a Vancouver dairy and a long-term school trustee.
Among the other donors commemorated on the cornerstone are Chris T. A. Spencer, owner of the Spencer's department store chain, later sold to Eatons; developer and philanthropist Jonathan Rogers, who built the downtown Rogers Building; and prominent Vancouver businessman Thomas Edwards.
The Cambrian Hall was officially opened before a large number of visitors on September 1, 1929 by Marion Malkin, the mayor's wife. The ceremony was followed by a sold-out afternoon and evening concert presented by Society members.
During the grim years of the Depression and the Second World War the Cambrian Hall continued to be the focus of Welsh activities, with the holding of an annual Gymanfa Ganu and Eisteddfod.
In 1941, the Vancouver Province headlined the accomplishments of a young Japanese-Canadian named Bobby Ito, who won several prizes in the Eisteddfod at the Cambrian Hall. It is not recorded whether young Bobby was later one of the Japanese-Canadians forcibly relocated from the West Coast by the Federal Government.
In the years following the War, the various cultural activities continued at the Cambrian Hall. Gradually, however, immigration from Wales declined and it became difficult to attract new members. There were serious discussions on the future of the hall, including the prospect of selling it.
The Hall was saved in the 1970s with the renovation of the Lower Hall, which was converted into the Red Dragon Lounge where Welsh Society members could hold events and socialize. This was followed in the 1980s by further renovations to the Upper Hall, including the addition of a stage and washrooms.
The conversions were carried out through voluntary labour by a building party consisting of members, many of whom are still active in the Society. The renovations had two income-generating results: a club bar was installed in the Red Dragon and the Upper Hall became available for rentals.
In recent years the building has been plagued by structural problems that have been a financial drain on the Welsh Society. A few years ago, the roof had to be replaced.
Money has been raised through events such as concerts by visiting Welsh choirs and the fraternal Vancouver Welsh Men's and Vancouver Orpheus Choirs. Fortunately, rentals of the Upper Hall have increased substantially in the last few years.
The Hall has also benefited from voluntary work carried out in recent years by dedicated members of the Society. A monthly work day has been instituted to carry out repairs and maintenance on the building.
In the 1980s the Vancouver City Council recognized the cultural significance of the Cambrian Hall by designating it a Heritage B building.
Today, it is home to the Welsh Society and many of its affiliates and offshoots, including the Cambrian Circle Singers, the Vancouver Welsh Men's Choir, the Vancouver Orpheus Choir and the Dylan Thomas Circle.
On the second Sunday of each month a bilingual church service is held in the Hall and there is also a monthly Welsh-speaking session.
Plans are now being developed to celebrate the Cambrian Hall's eightieth anniversary during the annual Welsh Weekend in November.
This will include a celebration dinner and the traditional Gymanfa Ganu. Information on future Cambrian Hall events can be found on the Welsh Society's website www.welshsociety.com.
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