Park Royal Hotel: Demise
of a West Vancouver Icon
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A West Vancouver icon for 50 years, the Park Royal Hotel is closing its doors and the wreckers ball will arrive shortly. In a year, I will be able to look at the fine façade of a condominium tower from my office window across the street.
“This is a crappy day!” I exclaim to Mario. He agrees. But I guess one calls this progress.
I take a final circuit of the fabulous grounds, flowers and plantings on the banks of the Capilano River. I even manage a snapshot of the garden, with the hotel in the background and, in the window, Carol Leigh probably serving just about her last guest.
This fine institution was the scene of many weddings, many dinner parties, and many political meetings for West Vancouver Capilano constituency. Remnants will live on in the classic furniture we purchased for ridiculously low prices, at the rummage sale which followed closing. I felt like we were bidding on the leftovers of the estate of a recently deceased, honoured and much loved friend. I did not feel good about it.
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and maintained by the West Vancouver-Capilano Association of the B.C. Liberal Party