403 Powell Street
SECORD HOUSE HOTEL 1893-1908 | IMPERIAL HOTEL 1909-1941 | TAI IKU DOJO 1932
The original facade consisted of a wrap-around balcony with a narrow breezeway down the side of the building that led to a horse stable. As the building’s management and name changed over the years - Imperial to Marr Hotel - the building stayed as a place of welcome to everyone in the community.
"We used part of the beer parlour as a judo gymnasium. After Japanese School, we’d have our supper and then head to the judo club and practice for two, three hours… Our sport was nice and clean; there was no rough stuff." - Tadao Wakabayashi
The original facade consisted of a wrap-around balcony with a narrow breezeway down the side of the building that led to a horse stable. As the building’s management and name changed over the years - Imperial to Marr Hotel - the building stayed as a place of welcome to everyone in the community.
"We used part of the beer parlour as a judo gymnasium. After Japanese School, we’d have our supper and then head to the judo club and practice for two, three hours… Our sport was nice and clean; there was no rough stuff." - Tadao Wakabayashi
Artist Comments and Additional Information
In this panel we see the recreational activities that took place at this site, which was used by Mr. Sasaki to run his Judo club. Two men practice judo juxtaposed by a drawing of horse and carriage (reference to a portrait photo taken at Stanley Park). The back alley breezeway also contained a horse stable. Tucked in by the dogwood flowers is an archival photograph of the Imperial Hotel in the 1930s, depicting its elegant external balconies had a basement beer parlour with a separate entrance off the back alley.
