There are certainly silver linings to this past year of enjoying a little hometown tourism without the crowds and well, tourists!
Let’s take a self-guided Downtown Vancouver Walking tour and discover what exactly is up with the many unique statues and sculptures we’re so used to driving right by.
Gassy Jack
1 Water Street, Gastown
This fellow holds the number one spot in his namesake neighbourhood for more than one reason! His statue is located where his saloon, Deighton House, used to be. Jack had a successful business and the gift of gab to boot (hence his nickname “Gassy” Jack)
Gastown Steam Clock
305 Water St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1B9
An old classic just metres from Jack is the famed Gastown Steam Clock. Many don’t know that this steam power clock is mostly only antique in appearance having been built in 1977.
Angel of Victory
601 West Cordova Street
We all know it, it catches any eye passing Waterfront Station — but what does it represent? Rectified in 1921, with the depiction of an angel carrying a fallen soldier its memorial to WWI seems to be a given, but why here? It was commission by the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway) in honour of more specifically their many worker who tragically sacrificed their lives for both King and Country [Canada]
Terry Fox
Terry Fox Memorial Plaza
National hero and icon Terry Fox is depicted as he runs his Marathon of Hope in an incredible and moving set of four statues which increase from life size to eventually a larger-than-life figurine, accurately representing what Terry became to the nation. The statues of this athlete are placed appropriately in front of BC Place in what is known as Terry Fox Memorial Plaza.
Terry lost his leg to cancer before beginning his cross country run in 1980, and tragically lost his battle with the disease in 1981, at the age of 23.
Digital Orca
Jack Poole Plaza
Erected in 2009 to commemorate the workers of Burrard Inlet and Coal Harbour this Orca marries the timeless nature our now digital and modern city is famously wrapped in.
This aluminium and stainless steel killer whale was designed by artist Douglas Coupland and can be found next to the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Inukshuk
English Bay (Bidwell and shoreline walk)
As with the rest of the list, there is more than meets the eye with this too. This very Canadian, Inuit symbol was built of granite in a traditional human likeness, standing 6 meters high and weights a cool 31,500kg.
When did it arrive? Just in time for Expo 86! Learn More.
Lord Stanley
Stanley Park, Vancouver BC
Stanley Park, the Stanley Cup… Who was Stanley!? Frederick Stanley, or Earl of Derby and Lord Stanley of Preston, was the Governor-General of Canada from 1888-1893.
Fun Fact: in honour of International Women’s Day we’d like to note that while Lord Stanley’s sons were hockey fans, his daughter Isabel broke the social norms of the day as both a fan and a player as well. It was Isabel Stanley who reportedly encouraged her father to award the top amateur team with the Stanley Cup award. Learn more.
With so many wonderful spots to stop we couldn’t get to them all! There are hundreds of monuments scattered across our beautiful downtown Vancouver.Tag us in your favourites at @stayvancouverhotels on Facebook and Instagram and let us know which ones we missed.
Don’t get downtown enough? Head to our homepage to see the latest deals on Downtown Vancouver staycations!