Vancouver Exposed

Searching for the City’s Hidden History

Reviewed by Brooke Campbell

Posted December 1, 2021

Vancouver Exposed is the latest book by award-winning author and journalist Eve Lazarus. Based on her popular blog Every Place Has a Story, the book is a collection of quirky stories about Vancouver’s past that you likely haven’t heard.

As Lazarus explains, “When people asked me what my blog was about, I told them it was about history and heritage houses and murder. But that really meant anything I thought was interesting — from street photographers to ghosts, research tips to legendary women, and others who are not typically found on the front page of newspapers.”

This assortment of topics makes for an entertaining read — flip to any page, and you are virtually guaranteed to find a surprising story. From a mock funeral for a building, to the annual Polar Bear Swim, to a teenaged axe murderer, each tale uncovers the weird, wild, and wacky history of the city.

The book is filled with remarkable archival and contemporary photographs, while the layout and graphic design are as enthralling as the stories that fill its pages. Even if you’re not from Vancouver, Vancouver Exposed provides an amusing study of the city that will inspire you to take a closer look at the history of the people and places in your own community.

Buy this book from Chapters-Indigo

This article originally appeared in the December 2021-January 2022 issue of Canada's History.

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