Short answer: yes
Long answer:
The official name of the Norm is the Normand Bouchard Memorial AMS Theatre. The name was officially bestowed on it by a meeting of the AMS Student Administrative Commission (SAC), the student body that oversees the SUB.
The name was bestowed in November 1995 to honour Normand Bouchard, a long-time member and executive of the AMS Film Society (Filmsoc) who had died earlier that year. Before that, the auditorium was just referred to as the SUB Auditorium. The Norm dates back to the original construction of the SUB in 1968.
June 1st, 1971: game 6, after Black's 13th move.
Thirty-five years ago Vancouver hosted one of the highest-level chess competitions ever to take place in B.C., the Fischer - Taimanov quarter-final candidates match. Controversy often followed Fischer in the wake of his demands over playing conditions, and this match was no exception. He originally wanted no spectators present, but: "The match was scheduled to be played at the UBC Graduate Centre, but on the 12th the Russians vetoed it. Besides disagreeing with the no spectators rule of Fischer, Taimanov felt claustrophobic in the 20' x 35' room: 'I can't breathe...' Discussions between the USSR, the USA, and the CFC went on until midnight. On the 13th the factions toured UBC, searching for another spot. One was almost found at the Centre's library, but Classics dean McGregor vetoed this. This prompted a flood of anti-UBC, anti-CFC, anti-Canadian rhetoric from Kotov, who declared that Canada was a poor country, for chess especially. 'Spain, yes, Belgrade, yes. But Canada, no, no.' After Fischer rejected Taimnov's proposal of the Education faculty auditorium, the S.U.B. theatre was agreed upon. For Fischer, this meant spectators; for the Russians, the only victory they won in the match. 'Let's play,' said Fischer, 'I'm willing to play anywhere.'" [Northwest Chess, June 1971]
Fischer's subsequent 6-0 demolition of Taimanov is now the stuff of legend, but the games were a lot closer than the final score indicates. Taimanov's play was marred by several blunders, brought on through a combination of Fischer's intense will to win and the pressure of being the first Soviet road-block on Fischer's path to the world championship. Taimanov complained of suffering from high blood pressure, but as Nathan Divinsky noted, "Fischer's play is calculated to give any opponent high blood pressure." Bozidar Kazic was the chief arbiter, Elod Macskasy his assistant. B.C. Champion Peter Biyiasas operated the onstage demo board, while Ken Morton performed similar duties with a second demo board. The ending of the fourth game has since aquired classic status and appears in many endgame texts.
Searching for Taimanov
Here's a view of Fischer and Taimanov--backstage preliminaries looks like. The table and pieces are the same used for the Havana Olympiad. Likely requested by Fischer as he also used this table/pieces combo at the USSR v. The Rest of the world match in 1970, and at board #2 the only such table used at the venue.
The official name of the Norm is the Normand Bouchard Memorial AMS Theatre. The name was officially bestowed on it by a meeting of the AMS Student Administrative Commission (SAC), the student body that oversees the SUB.
The name was bestowed in November 1995 to honour Normand Bouchard, a long-time member and executive of the AMS Film Society (Filmsoc) who had died earlier that year. Before that, the auditorium was just referred to as the SUB Auditorium. The Norm dates back to the original construction of the SUB in 1968.
Thanks for the information !
If you don't mind, could you tell me your source for the above info on The Norm?
Amy
Here's a view of Fischer and Taimanov--backstage preliminaries looks like. The table and pieces are the same used for the Havana Olympiad. Likely requested by Fischer as he also used this table/pieces combo at the USSR v. The Rest of the world match in 1970, and at board #2 the only such table used at the venue.
Thanks for the photo.
Nice table. It looks like it even has built-in holes for the national flags !
The official name of the Norm is the Normand Bouchard Memorial AMS Theatre. The name was officially bestowed on it by a meeting of the AMS Student Administrative Commission (SAC), the student body that oversees the SUB.
The name was bestowed in November 1995 to honour Normand Bouchard, a long-time member and executive of the AMS Film Society (Filmsoc) who had died earlier that year. Before that, the auditorium was just referred to as the SUB Auditorium. The Norm dates back to the original construction of the SUB in 1968.
Thanks for the information !
If you don't mind, could you tell me your source for the above info on The Norm?
Amy
Sure can...
Alma Mater Society of UBC Vancouver
http://www2.ams.ubc.ca/index.php/campus_life/category/norm_theatre
Might as well post the link to the other info I found, too...
http://www.chess.bc.ca/Bulletins/bccfbulletin96.pdf
I'm leaving work now so no more researching out of boredom until tomorrow 
I'm leaving work now so no more researching out of boredom until tomorrow
Thanks, firecow, for finding this out.
Hello,
To anyone interested, the above information is correct as far as we are aware. We believe that the background wall seen here (http://www.nwchess.com/articles/history/NWC_197106_Fischer.pdf) is still present in the theatre today. Additionally, we believe that some of the stage lights in the theatre are those specifically requested by Fischer as described in the above article. We are happy to provide tours or photos upon request.
This is a rather strange request.
The famous 1971 Candidates Match between Fischer and Taimanov was held in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the University of British Columbia campus. After quite a few disputes, the Student Union Theatre was selected as the tournament site. At least this is what I've discovered searching the Web and other sources.
My question is this: Is this the same Student Union building that currently exists on campus, and is the theatre where the match occurred the one that is currently known as the Norm Theatre?
Any information is greatly appreciated.