Jonathan Cohen's photos with the keyword: Seymour Street

Designed by the architects Somervell and Putnam and constructed between 1919 and 1920, the building served as local headquarters of the Union Bank for only six years. It then was occupied by the Bank of Toronto and the Toronto Dominon Bank for the remainder of the time. The building is one of three so-called 'temple banks' in Vancouver which derive their proportions and detailing from the style of Greco-Roman temples. It was customary for the banks of the time to favour the use of this kind of historical motif to evoke a sense of security and stability, which appealed to the conservative nature of the bankers. At roughly the same time, Ben and Morris Wosk started Wosk’s as an appliance store. It grew into a major publicly traded chain of furniture and appliance stores in western Canada, but is now defunct. The Wosks were also real estate moguls and philanthropists. In 1984, the bank branch closed and the building remained vacant for several years. Vancouver was so close in losing the building, that a demolition permit was issued, and plans were underway for the demolition. Fortunately, in 1993, the building was donated to Simon Fraser University for use as an international conference and dialogue centre and in 1999 Morris J Wosk donated $3 million to the centre, which was named after him.