The Story of the Vancouver Block

In 1912, this 14-storey building was topped by the largest clock in the Dominion. With four clock faces that are each nearly eight metres across, the Vancouver Block has become a landmark for generations of Vancouver residents. It stands today as one of the last remaining buildings from this era in the city.

Over the years, the building's tenants have included jewellers, lawyers, optometrists, and even the studios of renowned photographer Leonard Frank. In the 1940s, a group of Vancouver's top horseracing bookmakers known as the Big Nine - guys with names like Massie, The Flea, Yum Yum, and Noodles - rented the top floor as a headquarters and giant betting room.

Doctors of Optometry have been seeing patients in the Vancouver Block Building for over 60 years. Dr. McDougall and Dr. Reinders have continued this practice since 1995. We moved our clinic to the street level location in 2001. The new space was designed to complement the original 1912 design and its current restoration.

There is nothing old-fashioned about our practice except the personal service. The Doctors use state-of-the-art equipment to test your eyes and vision, and digitally record your eye health. The onsite optical lab produces eyeglass lenses to your exact specifications, along with carefully selected lines of eyeglasses and contact lenses for your every need and function.

Copyright © 2004 by Vancouver Block Optometrists.