There is a familial tie to the group portrait. The man standing on the far left is Benjamin Tingley Rogers,
1865 - 1918, owner of Rogers Sugar and of the mansion "Gabriola" on Davie Street at Nicola in downtown Vancouver, now a
heritage property.
Second from the left is my grandfather John Mcfarlane McLuckie, contractor and real estate owner, 1860 - 1927. He built the sugar refinery in 1897, and Gabriola in 1900. He also built several buildings along the CPR right of way in Gastown, notably: The Landing, Mc and Mc, and Gordon Bellyae, and other buildings such as the Abbotsford Hotel, now Days Inn on Pender Street, the Kelly Douglas building, and the Normal School, to name a few.
Third from the left is my father, Robert Macfarlane McLuckie, 1895 - 1986. He graduated from UBC after the
"Great Trek", with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After my grandfather died, my father contracted for the construction of the wall around the Hycroft mansion, and built The Inns of Court Building at Georgia and Howe; he managed this building and other properties he owned until 1960 when he retired. He sold the Abbotsford Hotel on August 1st, 1929, and the other properties gradually until his retirement. The Inns of Court Building was later appropriated by the city for the development of the complex TD Towes, Four Seasons Hotel, etc., in the 5,6 and 700 blocks bordered by Howe and Granville Streets, and Pender and Robson Streets.
And finally, seated on the right side of the carriage is Blythe Dupuy Rogers, 1893 - 1920, who succeeded B.T. Rogers after his death in 1918, at Rogers Sugar. B.D. Rogers served with the Canadian Army in World War I.
The fancy carriage that Rogers is standing beside is called a
"Barouche", and it is standing in front of the landmark "Hollow Tree" of Stanley Park. The photograph that served as the reference for this painting was taken by the Fricke-Shenck Studio of 61 Cordova Street circa 1901.
I was inspired to do the painting by the thought that, with the inclusion of myself, it represents three generations of the McLuckie family of Vancouver.
