This article provides a historical description of key gangs and relevant events in BC, focusing on Vancouver, from 1909 to 2012 with a focus on the main incidents and themes of violence. A primary goal of this article is to dismiss the delusion that we are a more violent society today than ever before and face the harsh reality that violence and gangs in Vancouver are not new, nor are they a product of this new generation. While this nostalgic view of the past may be pleasing to our memories, an examination of newspapers and historical police documents suggests that violence in BC has been relatively constant for more than a century. From 1909 to 2012, gangs were consistently violent: there were murders, shootings, and gang fights. Innocent bystanders were shot, maimed, injured, and killed. Policymakers can’t blame the new generation, media, police, video games, or rap music – it has always been a part of our social fabric. This recognition is important to our current understanding of the gang landscape in Vancouver and our responses to these violent affronts to our society.
