1

The B.C. Refining Company was incorporated in 1908 as part of Standard Oil of British Columbia. A refinery was built on the CPR Terminus site. ( The CPR had just abandond the site and moved to the second CPR station which been built closer to town) The first CPR station was utilized as part of the refinery. A smaller dock was constructed to replace the deteriorated CPR wharf. Oil products were shipped in and out by tankers and barges. In 1925, Union Oil took over the refinery and subsequently by British American Oil Co., who in 1960 moved the refinery farther up the hillside and relocated the dock further west.

2

The B.C. Refining Company Plant
1908-1925
Port Moody, Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
Port Moody Station Museum - Acc. # 1971.018.010

3

The B.C Refining Company Plant
1911
Port Moody, Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
Port Moody Station Museum - Acc. # 1987.085.001
Vanouver Public Library
Phillip Timms

4

A Tanker at the Union Oil Refinery
1930s-1950s
Port Moody, Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
Port Moody Station Museum - Acc. # 1982.130.003 (d)

5

The Imperial Oil Company (Ioco) refinery was built in 1914, across the inlet from Port Moody. There was also a wharf at Ioco, which would service tankers coming to the refinery. Unfortunately, the first tanker headed to the refinery with crude oil was captured by the Germans, and so crude oil was not processed at the site until 1915. By 1919 the refinery processed 2,000 barrels of crude oil a day. After a re-build in 1952-53, the refinery was able to produce 25,000 barrels of crude oil a day. With the completion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline in 1953, crude oil was no longer shipped in. The Baird family, who owned a tug boat business in Port Moody from the 1920s-1960s, would often use their tugs to tow barges to and from the refinery. Barging oil products was common until the end of the 20th century. The refinery closed in 1995 becoming a storage facility.

6

View of Imperial Oil from Inlet
1920s
Ioco, Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
Port Moody Station Museum - Acc. # 1983.042.001

7

Tankers Docked at the Imperial Oil Wharf
1920s-1940s
Ioco, Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
Port Moody Station Museum - Acc. # 1983.042.008

8

A Tanker at the Imperial Oil Refinery Wharf in Winter
1920s
Ioco, Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
Port Moody Station Museum - Acc. # 1983.042.006

9

A Tanker Docked at the Imperial Oil Wharf
1920s-1940s
Ioco, Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
Port Moody Station Museum - Acc. # 1983.042.002

10

Tanker on the Inlet
1920s-1950s
Eastern Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
Port Moody Station Museum - Acc. # 1979.029.001 (af)

11

Tankers at the Imperial Oil Refinery
1920s-1940s
Ioco, Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
Port Moody Station Museum - Acc. # 1979.029.001 (i)

12

Bob Thompson Remembers Working at Imperial Oil
20th Century, Circa 1999
Ioco, Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
Port Moody Station Museum - Acc. # 1999.021.012

13

A Tanker at the Imperial Oil Wharf
1920s-1940s
Ioco, Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
Port Moody Station Museum - Acc. # 1979.029.001 (y)

14

Ships Docked at the Imperial Oil Refinery Wharf
1920s-1940s
Ioco, Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
Port Moody Station Museum - Acc. # 1983.042.003