Hippies Occupy Jericho Beach Airbase

Back in 1969, the Canadian military was still using the airbase here at Jericho Beach. They were planning to move out, but the federal government hadn't decided what would happen to the land. This uncertainty led to a group of hippies deciding to occupy the base.

They saw an opportunity to create a utopian community. So, on June 4, 1969, about two dozen people moved onto the property. They called themselves the "Plastic People" and they had a vision for a free-form university, a community garden, and a cultural center. They set up tents and teepees and started building their new society on the old military grounds.

The occupation quickly grew, attracting more people who were looking for an alternative way of life. They held concerts, art shows, and communal meals. The atmosphere was pretty peaceful, but the authorities weren't too happy about it. The city of Vancouver and the federal government were trying to figure out what to do with the land, and this occupation was complicating things.

There were some clashes with the police, and arrests were made, but the Plastic People kept coming back. They were really committed to their vision for Jericho Beach. The occupation lasted for several months, drawing a lot of attention to the future of this site. Ultimately, the federal government decided to hand over a large portion of the land to the city for park use, which is why we have Jericho Beach Park today. It's wild to think that this peaceful park was once a military base, then a hippie commune, all within a few years.