Choklit Park’s sweet history as a former Vancouver chocolate factory

One of the best views in the city is tucked away in Fairview Slopes on a neighbourhood street once occupied by Vancouver’s own Purdys Chocolatier, which dates back more than a century.

Today, it’s home to a tiny city park with a delicious name and origin story: Choklit Park.

The Willy Wonka of Vancouver

It all started when Vancouver’s own Willy Wonka, Richard Carmon Purdy, arrived on the candy-making scene. A newcomer to the city, Purdy quickly became known for his homemade confections at the turn of the 20th century, according to Purdys’ website. By the time he opened his first storefront on Robson Street in 1907, Purdy had amassed a small but loyal following that only grew in size as his book of recipes thickened.

Next came a second location on Granville Street shared with a popular cafe that earned him the title of “one of Vancouver’s finest chocolate makers.” In 1914, Purdy established his own corporate identity, “R.C. Purdy Chocolates Limited,” according to Purdys’ website.

While Purdys struggled to stay afloat in the 1920s amid overwhelming debt, the business was saved by bookkeeper Hugh Forrester, who was sent by the company’s top creditors. In 1925, Forrester purchased Purdys for the token sum of $1 — which would be around $16 today. Undeterred and his debt paid off, Purdy went back to cooking up delicious treats in his home kitchen, eventually starting a new shop in Burnaby called Window Made Candy before retiring.

Flash forward a couple of decades, and Purdys had become a household name, despite the challenges brought on by the Second World War. In 1945, Frank Forrester succeeded his father and quickly immersed himself in the family business, learning as much as he could about the chocolatier way of life. According to the company’s website, he began experimenting with new varieties of chocolates, machinery, and modern production methods, many of which are still in use at Purdys today!

Purdys first chocolate factory

By the late 1940s, the business had outgrown its location on Robson Street, moving to West 7th Avenue in a shiny new facility. The factory marked a notable location in the neighbourhood, remaining in operation until the 1980s.

“Choklit Park stands in recognition of more than 30 years of Purdys in the area,” reads the website.

In 1963, neighbours Charles Flavelle and Eric Wilson purchased Purdys from the Forresters, dedicating themselves to continuing on Purdys’ legacy and building a supportive workplace for its employees. This included the creation of Choklit Park in the summer of 1970.

Choklit Park was born

Flavelle’s daughter and current Purdys CEO, Karen Flavelle, tells Curiocity that the reason “it all came together” was twofold: “There was a need for a children’s park in the area and better loading facilities for Purdys Chocolatier.”

She tells me that the Oak and 7th neighbourhood at the time consisted of mainly “single-parent family homes with no backyards, locked between four busy roads with no park inside that quadrant. So Purdys Choklit Park gave many kids the freedom to play.”

Flavelle decided an adventure playground was the logical next step for the park, which he constructed from scrap lumber and materials he supplied himself. Another representative of Purdys shares that “he and his youngest son built a fire pole and platform, accessible only to kids old enough to hoist themselves onto the first rung.”

Once complete, the park became a huge draw for the neighbourhood, attracting families from across the city. According to Purdys, Flavelle initially pointed out the glaring error in the spelling of “chocolate” on the park sign. However, a small crew replied that “choklit” was how children usually spelled it — and the name stuck.

Purdys shares that “these were some of the happiest years of Charles Flavelle’s working life.” He watched children playing in his new park from his office windows and could take in the vista of Vancouver’s skyline to the north.

Purdys continued to make its chocolates at this factory location until 1982 when production moved to its current 57,000 sq/ft facility at 2777 Kingsway. Today, there are Purdys stores across the country, with the company heralded by Karen Flavelle and her family.

Protected city views

Once Choklit Park entered the city’s park system, it evolved into the more passive design that it has today. Blink too fast, and you might miss it! But if you’re on a walk in the area, there’s no better place to enjoy sweeping views of False Creek and downtown — and feel like you have your own personal patio.

In fact, the view corridor from Choklit Park is considered a “protected view,” according to the Vancouver Heritage Foundation. City Council-approved areas like these are protected to shape development in Vancouver’s central neighbourhoods, preserving landmark views for generations to come.

Choklit Park

Where: 2400 Spruce Street at West 7th Avenue