Description of Historic Place

The Jubilee Grove Arch sits at the corner of Kingsway and Patterson Avenue. Located within Central Park, the ceremonial arch and its decorative plantings provide a visual anchor to the northwest corner and entry point to the park. The historic place includes the arch and the surrounding landscape.

Heritage Value

Jubilee Grove was dedicated as part of the municipality's celebration of the Jubilee of the coronation of King George V and was dedicated during Burnaby's annual May Day celebrations in 1935. Much of the construction work was carried out by local citizens under the direction of the Burnaby Engineering Department through a Depression era work relief program that provided a way for local residents to pay their taxes. The garden was also chosen as the site for the ceremonial planting of an oak tree from the Royal Forest at Windsor, in honor of the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937. The original bronze garden dedication plaque and oak tree remain at the site today.

The decorative stone arch was erected in 1939 as a symbol of Burnaby's, and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia's, strong ties to the English monarchy at the time, and the arch's unveiling during May Day ceremonies shows the social role that such a commemorative feature played both to the local government and people of Burnaby. It was erected just prior to the Royal Visit of 1939, the first time that reigning British monarchs had travelled to Canada. Built of Haddington Island sandstone, the arch itself was reconstructed from a salvaged architectural element of a historic Vancouver landmark. The arch originally framed the entrance door to the Vancouver Club building in Vancouver, built in 1893-94 on West Hastings Street and designed by architect C.O. Wickenden. The building was demolished in 1930, however the arch was stored and rebuilt as the focal point of the Jubilee Grove after being bought by the Municipality of Burnaby. The work was undertaken by Italian-born stone mason Rizieri Stefanini (1879-1954), the owner of Burnaby Monumental Works. The re-use of the arch symbolizes the close tie between Vancouver and Burnaby and the joint evolution of the neighbouring cities.

Sorce: Heritage Site Files: PC77000 20. City of Burnaby Planning and Building Department

Character-Defining Elements

The Jubilee Grove Arch has character defining elements that recognize it both as a remnant of a past building and as new and individual structure. These include its:
- axial diagonal placement and prominent corner location marking one of the entries to Central Park
- visibility and accessibility as a public monument
- hand carved stone blocks of Haddington Island sandstone
- decorative twisted rope motif carved to outline the arch
- supporting rusticated sidewalls with planting urns
- original bronze dedication plaque
- flanking ornamental gardens
- Royal Oak tree and plaque