WORK IN PROGRESS

1994: Construction begins on a new container terminal, known as Deltaport, beside the Roberts Bank coal port; opening in spring 1997, it effectively doubles capacity at Vancouver's port. Ten years later, the Fraser River Port Authority and the North Fraser Port Authority merge with the port to form Port Metro Vancouver– Canada's biggest port and North America's third largest. 1997: In its first year of operations, after Frank Giustra and Avi Federgreen launch it, Lionsgate Films sees revenue of just $42 million; 20 years later, publicly traded Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. is making north of $2 billion a year, and has a licence to print money in the Hunger Games franchise. Giustra has moved on to mining, philanthropy–and making some mighty fine olive oil.

1998: Lululemon Athletica Inc. launches in Vancouver's Kitsilano as a design/yoga studio; by 2000, the store is selling a line of “yoga wear” – and a global retailing craze is born. Controversial founder Chip Wilson resigns as chairman in 2013 and helps his wife and son launch a “leisurewear” competitor, Kit and Ace, the following year. May the formfitting-est fashionista prevail!

1999: BC Tel and Telus, based in Edmonton, merge–creating a national telecom player, to be called Telus Communications Inc. and headquartered in Vancouver. Darren Entwistle joins as president and CEO a year later, and he's been there ever since–except for that weird spell, 2014-15, where he kinda left but didn't (Joe who?). During Entwistle's 17 years, the shareholder return on Telus stock has been almost 400 per cent. 1999: Shareholders approve the sale of B.C. forestry icon Macmillan Bloedel Ltd. to U.S. giant Weyerhauser. A round of layoffs ensues–the beginning of a seven-year stretch in which B.C. will lose an estimated 30 per cent of its head-office jobs. On the positive side, the Arthur Erickson– designed Macblo building on Georgia endures as one of Vancouver's architectural jewels.