12.03.18

Vancouver Squatting #3: Crabtown was centered around a sliver of coastline along the south edge of Burrard Inlet in Burnaby. 117 structures were demolished once the National Harbours Board evicted all 130 residents from the diverse, well-organized community. The site is now marked as a stop along the Trans-Canada trail just east of the Ironworker's Memorial Bridge although no remnants of the stilted village remain, and access is difficult without crossing the rail line. Canoe or kayak would be advisable for a water side approach.

These tiny thumbnails are made available (with gratitude) by the Burnaby City Archives at super low resolution. Roy Kivisto, Aili Rintanen, and Trudi Rintanen are featured along the edge of Crabtown between 1937-45.

The image below is captioned: "Photograph of Trudi Rintanen (later Tuomi) sweeping of the stairway at the Burrard Inlet squatters' site known as Crabtown, where she and her family lived. Her cat is sitting at her feet as she sweeps. The Burrard Inlet is visible in the background."