www.vancouver21.com

As we approach the first anniversary of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games, I like to recall a wonderful journey that lead me to the discovery of some of Canada’s premier First Nations fashion designers.

A temporary cedar wood structure occupying the Queen Elizabeth Theatre plaza in downtown Vancouver was designated as the Aboriginal Pavilion during the 2010 Games. It was the place to be for visitors to learn about the Four Host First Nations (FHFN) arts and culture. Each day, thousands of tourists and locals alike lined up for a chance to cram into the small domed theatre (about 60’ in diameter) to enjoy a multimedia show about Canada’s aboriginal population and in particular the FHFN which was the full partner of Vancouver 2010. In fact, the 2010 Games operated on grounds that had been the traditional land of the Four Host First Nations (Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh) for at least thousands of years.

What many people overlooked was the five-day long (Feb 12-16, 2010) aboriginal fashion showcase that was held off site at the Vancouver Community College campus in downtown Vancouver just a couple of blocks away from the aboriginal pavilion.

The Aboriginal Fashion Showcase featured the work of a number of established and emerging native designers from across Canada. On Feb. 13, 2010, I attended a runway show that highlighted a group of younger designers – Kim Picard, Tammy Beauvais, Louie Gong, and Tracy Toulouse.

These aboriginal artists and stylists drew on the rich history of the Haida, Inuit, Metis and various First Nations tribes to incorporate traditional native arts and designs into contemporary-styled clothing.

A common denominator among many of today’s fashion designers is the diversity of background. While different cultures and upbringings provide the vitality that makes their works interesting, too exotic an approach could alienate the audience. Sometimes in an effort to be distinctive and separate themselves from the crowd, these fashionistas create work that failed to connect with the public. It is indeed difficult to find the right balance. Designers everywhere wrestle with this same problem. The First Nations designers of Canada are no exception either.

That said, I enjoyed the runway show at the Aboriginal Fashion Showcase tremendously. Part of the reason is that like many in the fashion industry, I have not been exposed to First Nations fashion designs much. In all, I find the designs to be both original and authentic. It is a new fashion statement and a welcome addition to the Canadian mainstream fashion scene. Sexy and exciting? Oh yeah, that too. In fact, this fashion event became one of the highlights of my very own experience of the Vancouver 2010 Games.

Best wishes for all the First Nations fashion designers to have a bright future and hope to see a bigger presence for Canada’s aboriginal stylists at the Vancouver fashion scene too.

I also like to mention DJ Kwe who provided the music that I used in this video. Bravo to DJ Kwe for a job well done! Kwe is First Nations herself and (for full disclosure) a dear Facebook friend of me as well.

VIDEO – FHFN Aboriginal Fashion Showcase During Vancouver 2010

VCC Downtown Campus 250 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC

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A New Year’s Eve 2011 celebration at Vancouver’s The Salt right at the Olympic Village in South East False Creek (SEFC). This is the first time ever that the public had the opportunity to dance and party in the same building where former 2010 Olympic athletes and champions socialized and partied. Performers at the NYE 2011 at The Salt event included Destineak, VanCity’s Hottest Acrobatic Dancers, DJ Johnny Omega, Meesh, Nikky and Bobby James as Dramattic.

For background on this historic Vancouver building, see Vancouver’s Latest Landmark Salt Building is Heart and Soul of Olympic Village.

Vancouver had a fantastic year with the 2010 Olympic Games. That would be very hard to top, but here is hoping for even greater and better things to come in 2011 and beyond.

VIDEO—New Years Eve 2011 at The Salt, Vancouver 2010 Olympic Village

The Salt Building – 85 West 1st Ave., Vancouver



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BC Premier Bill Bennett invited the world to visit Vancouver and BC for Expo 86 on May 02, 1985, one year before the fair was to open. [Photos by Ray Van Eng]

It was a shining political moment for then BC Premier Bill Bennett on Expo Centre opening day (May 02, 1985), a full year before the 1986 World Exposition actually allowed guests to enter through the turnstiles. The premier made the announcement to invite the whole world to come visit Vancouver and British Columbia at Expo 86.

Behind him is (left to right) Patrick Reid, Ambassador and Commissioner General, Don Mazankowski, Federal Transport Minister, Vancouver Mayor Mike Harcourt and Mike Bartlett, president of Expo 86 (who was later dismissed before the fair even opened.) Not in the picture are Mrs. Bennett, Grace McCarthy and last but certainly not least, Jimmy Pattison, Expo 86 Chairman and CEO.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, British Columbia was going through some very tough economic times, and the Bennett government decided that a large-scale exposition might help stimulate the economy and hopefully secure a better future. The year 1986 was chosen for the fair and to celebrate the city’s 100 centennial as well. It was a very expensive gamble and everyone involved knew it at the time.

When the exposition was first approved by the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris, it was called Transpo 86. Later, Patrick Reid changed the name to Expo 86 to eliminate any connotation of a trade convention. Reid was a highly decorated Canadian e.g. Officer, Order of Canada, Military Cross, Canadian Decoration, Community Leadership Award of Vancouver; Board of Trade, 1990 etc.

The actual opening of the world’s fair was on May 02, 1986 with Prince Charles and Princess Diana or the Prince and Princess of Wales in attendance. Expo 86 drew hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world and logged more than 20 million visits to the fairgrounds.

The Vancouver’s world fair had a theme of transportation and communication and was hosted on the former railyard and industrial site at the north and east shore of False Creek from May 02 to October 13, 1986. There was also the Canada Pavilion (or Canada Place) located at the waterfront of Coal Harbor in the Burrard Inlet. The off-site Canada Place and the main site at False Creek was joined together by the Skytrain, an Advanced Light Rapid Transit (ALRT) system. The Expo Centre with a geodesic dome and a 500-seat OMNIMAX theatre, Canada Place, BC Pavilion and the ALTR were all legacy buildings and facilities specially constructed for the exposition.

The fair was originally budgeted for a modest $78 million. As usual with this kind of high-dollar ventures, the cost ballooned to over $1.5 billion with a reported deficit of $311 million. However, the economic benefits of Expo 86 is not limited to the False Creek fairgrounds. The fair did wonders for many local businesses, especially in the hospitality sectors like hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs. It extended to others parts of Canada as well. It is estimated that the Canadian economy received an extra $3.7 billion as a result of Expo 86. Even for the amount of money that was supposedly lost, no one could buy the opportunities, the long term windfalls and world class recognition that the city has gotten since then.

Since Expo 86, Vancouver kept building on its success and continued on almost half and century later with the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Today, Vancouver is possibly one of the most well-known (if not the most well-known) medium-size cities in the world.

So what’s next in 2011 and beyond?

Vancouver is now a well-known brand with many appealing attributes. The world has been responding well to this commercial property. So what does the future hold for this city? Vancouver will likely maintain its status and may become even more famous. This will in turn create more opportunities and growth potentials for businesses operating in tourism, convention, international trade, hospitality and in the particular the entertainment industries e.g. clubs, bars, arts and performances, cultural activities, fashions shows, special events, friendship tours, media productions etc.

Due to the city’s beautiful surrounding, high quality of life and industry-setting environmental and sustainability practices, Vancouver will attract more people to come to live and work. That means the construction industry and the building trade will continue to thrive. High tech and the green business sectors will also expand. Being increasingly recognized as the shortest destination city to Asia and the most effective and quickest way to the North American market, Vancouver will be viewed as an even more important focal point in Asia Pacific trade.

Festivities on the steps of the Expo Centre during the ‘invite the world’ ceremony on May 02, 1985.

2010 Olympic rings lit up at night at Vancouver’s Coal Harbor during the Games

Expo Centre (Science World) 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver BC

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On November 26, 2010 when a small group of people were waiting in line to see the return 2010 Olympic medal exhibit put on by the Royal Canadian Mint at its Vancouver Retail Store on 752 Granville Street, some were reminiscent about the seven-hour wait they endured when they went to see the hardwares the first time around in downtown Vancouver during the 2010 Games. In the original exhibit, 100,000+ people went through the gate, according to Alex Reeves, Senior Manager, Communications. More than half of those came to ‘meet’ the medals.

VIDEO – The Royal Canadian Mint Vancouver 2010 Back-By-Popular-Demand Medal Exhibit


5-Ounce Gold Coin—Look of The Games $9495.95.


Each Olympic medal weights about 550g while the paralympic ones weight a little more at 650g each. The two types are different in shape. While the Olympic medals are circular, the Paralympic variety is more like a square with rounded corners. The bronze medals were made of pure copper. The silver medals were in fact sterling silver. The gold medals actually used sterling silver as a base material and then plated with a micron layer of gold weighting six grams which is a requirement set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

A total of 615 Olympic medals and 399 Paralympic medals were made. Three sets of six medals (for both Olympic & Paralympic) were assigned to the IOC, The Mint and Teck Resources Limited, the two Vancouver 2010 Official Olympic Supporters.

An estimated 996 medals were given to the winning athletes (615 + 399 – 18 = 996).

Each one of the medals is completely unique. If one were to assemble all the Olympic medals together, the graphics pattern on the medals would form an orca, a mythical and respected creature that symbolizes teamwork and power for Canada’s native people. The First Nations design was by westcoast aboriginal artist Corinne Hunt. Likewise, the Paralympic medals would form the raven, another well-known native supernatural being.

The undulating surface of the medals reflects the mountain, sea and landscape that have made British Columbia so famous around the world. It took two years from design to finish to deliver the medals. It was a collaborative effort by Hunt, Omer Arbel, an internationally renowed industrial designer, the Royal Canadian Mint, Teck Resources Limited, and VANOC.

Even the underside of the medals have interesting features. Beyond the Olympic nomenclature in Canada’s two official languages of English and French and the distinctive 2010 Olympic and Paralympic emblems, the ones that are awarded to the winning athletes also have the sport and event that they competed in. The athlete’s name does not appear on the medal though, as the individual who won it did so for his/her own country.

The paralympic medals also have braille in raised form for the blind to read.

For this return exhibit, the Mint has also brought a variety of commemorative coins just in time for Holiday Season for the public to purchase. Among them is a Fine Silver Kilo Coin – Towards Confederation (2008) which is made of sterling silver with a face value of $250 but actually cost $1,599.95 to own. Also, a $75 Gold-colored RCMP (2007) coin that retails for $499.95. But the one that catches most eyes is the Vancouver 2010 5-Ounce 24k Gold Coin – Look of The Games that is available for $9,495.95. Well, actually, if you have to ask…

Unless The Mint decided to extend the dates, the 2010 Olympic medal exhibit will be closed after Sunday. However, the Vancouver Retail Store will remain open until February 13, 2011.

Latest info on Nov. 28, 7:00 AM: All advance tickets have been sold-out but stay tuned for details – http://www.mint.ca/Vancouver/

752 Granville Street, Vancouver BC

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Back by popular demand, the Royal Canadian Mint brings the 2010 Olympic Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals and the 2010 Paralympic Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals back to Vancouver for a second exhibit from November 26-28, 2010. The first time the medals were shown in a public exhibit was in Vancouver in February and March of 2010 or during the entire duration of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This time around, the public gets a second-chance to have an up-close and personal experience in viewing and maybe handling these sports achievement recognitions that all athletes at the Vancouver 2010 Games were competing hard for. Admission to the public exhibit at the Royal Canadian Mint retail store in downtown Vancouver is free but tickets are required. Ticket reservation is available online – http://www.mint.ca/Vancouver

Friday, November 26, 2010: 10h30 to 20h00
Saturday, November 27, 2010: 09:30 to 17h00
Sunday, November 28, 2010: 10h30 to 16h00

Royal Canadian Mint Vancouver retail store – 752 Granville Street, Vancouver BC.

Don’t miss this golden (literally) opportunity to see and ‘feel’ the ultimate excitement of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games!

[Photo Credits: Ray Van Eng]

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Gold Medal

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Silver Medal

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Bronze Medal

Back side of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Gold Medal

All Vancouver 2010 medals have an undulating surface as one of its most unique features.

2010 Paralympic Games Bronze Medal

Back side of Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Silver Medal

Royal Canadian Mint logo.

Royal Canadian Mint Vancouver Retail Store, 752 Granville St., Vancouver BC

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Olympic countdown clocks being dismantled around mid-October, 2010.


In case you passed by in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery and wondered where the two much-beloved Vancouver 2010 countdown clocks (one for the Olympics and the other for the paralympic Games) had gone, they were being taken down earlier this month (October 12-14). The good news is they will be relocated to BC place and the Whistler Olympic Park sometime in the future.

One of the Omega time-keepers will be reinstated at BC Place where the huge multi-purpose stadium that was the venue of some of the biggest events in Vancouver’s history such as the opening and closing ceremonies of both the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Expo 86 were held is currently under renovation. When a new retractable roof has been installed and upgrades and improvements completed (which are scheduled for a September 2011 re-opening), the new BC Place will have the countdown clock showing the date and time. However, the one that will be put in place at the Whistler Olympic Park will once again be a countdown clock for future sporting events.

Both clocks will serve as a continual reminder and lasting legacy for many Vancouverites of one of the greatest achievements that the city and perhaps the country has ever done in hosting the wildly-acknowledged most successful Winter Games in Olympic history.

Vancouver Art Gallery 850 West Georgia Street, Vancouver

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For decades, Squamish BC has always been an insignificant little town that sits between Vancouver and Whistler BC. Things remained pretty much the same even as Whistler morphed into an international skiing mecca and playground over the last 20 years. For the vast majority of travelers on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, there are no compelling reasons to stop over at Squamish except to buy gas or food or maybe a little sightseeing at Shannon Falls or nearby areas for some rock-climbing and cliff-diving. But quietly step by step, Squamish is asserting itself and extending its influence. Government legislation changes have largely been responsible for the rise of the Squamish Nation. To its credit, the native band was also very eager to improve its livelihood as well.

First in 2002, to facilitate the 2010 Olympic bid, Squamish and Lil’wat Nations entered into an Olympic Legacy Agreement with the BC provincial government and the 2010 Olympic bid corporation that would provide the two First Nations a wide range of benefits. The agreement enabled a transfer of 300 acres of provincial Crown land into the First Nations’ possession as fee simple private properties, millions in funding to help build a cultural centre, economic development opportunities, aboriginal tourism training and the joint operation of the 2010 Olympic legacy facilities including the Whistler Sliding Centre that was used for bobsled and luge competitions.

A landmark 2002 BC Court of Appeal decision also granted Squamish Nation the rights to a prime piece of real estate property near downtown Vancouver that the CP Railway company claimed as its own in 1886, the year Vancouver was incorporated as a city. This piece of land (8.67 acre) is situated at the south end of Burrard Bridge and the western tip of Granville Island. It is currently being developed by the Squamish Nation which may one day consists of condo towers that could alter the city’s skyline.

Recently, another ruling victory for the Squamish Nation was the passage of the Bill C-24 amendments by the federal government which means that the First Nation could now own commercial land titles with certainty on Indian reserves just like any other private lot on city land across the country. This would enable Squamish to more easily attract investments for those development projects. Already the Indian band is moving ahead with plans to develop a number of condo towers near the Park Royal Mall in West Vancouver. Squamish intends to provide some of these units as social housings, particularly for the younger generation which makes up of about 60% of its population. Since these properties are on Indian reserves, city zoning by-laws do not apply. Squmaish could do as they please with these properties to maximize profits which has caused quite a bit of controversy in the past.

Have you been traveling on the Sea-to-Sky Highway lately? The signs are now bilingual – English and indigenous names sitting side by side. Just a couple of weeks ago, a Squamish Nation elder suggested that Vancouver’s world-famous Stanley Park should be also named as Xwayxway (pronounced as kwhy-kway) in the First Nation language as the 1001 acre urban oasis was where the Coast Salish people had lived for thousands of years long before Captain George Vancouver visited the Burrard Inlet and subsequently, settlers and immigrants from all over the world who arrived later.

It is becoming clear that Squamish BC is not only making itself more well-known, it is also extending its power and influence into another jurisdiction like Vancouver for example. The emergence of the Squamish Nation especially after the Olympics is just another indication that the 2010 Games legacy is not the exclusive domain of Vancouver and Whistler. Other communities can stake their own claim to bring about growth and prosperity.

[Backgrounder: The Squamish Nation was formed in July 23, 1923 when 16 chiefs who were descendants of various Coast Salish tribes signed an amalgamation and agreed to be grouped together to guarantee equality and to ensure good government. The Coast Salish aboriginals lived in the present day Greater Vancouver area, Gibson’s Landing and the Squamish River watershed.]

Two First Nation chiefs at the Squamish Nation Youth Pow Wow 2010 all decked out in full regatta.

Squamish BC

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Jody Broomfield is a native artist from Squamish, BC Canada. He designed the logo graphics for the Four Host First Nations (FHFN) Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion built for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Just a few days before the Aboriginal Pavilion was to be opened on Feb 12, 2010, I watched Jody put on some final touches to his painting of a frog on a side wall. Why frog? Because Broomfield said it will bring luck to the pavilion. It did. The Aboriginal Pavilion was widely covered by the media and hosted more than 240,000 visitors from around the world. The Aboriginal Pavilion was a temporary structure that has now been dismantled. The 2010 Legacy totem that used to stand in front of the pavilion has been moved to its permanent home at Suncor in Calgary, Alberta. Suncor is the parent company of Petro-Canada, an official sponsor of the 2010 Games.



2010 Aboriginal Pavilion, 649 Cambie Street, Vancouver BC

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The Aboriginal Pavilion was designed as a temporary structure at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and built to showcase the culture and heritage of the Four Host First Nations (FHFN), a strategic partner of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Now that the 2010 Games are over, the totem pole which used to stand at he entrance of the Aboriginal Pavilion was being transferred to Suncor Energy in Calgary, AL and received by members of the Treaty Seven First Nations in Alberta. The totem was the work of Squamish Nation carver Klatle-Bhi and commissioned by Suncor, the parent company of Petro-Canada, an official sponsor of the 2010 Olympics. The totem was meant to be a companion piece to the 1988 Olympic Torch Relay Statue. But what happened to the $3.5 million, 8,000 sq. ft. Aboriginal Pavilion? The original plan was to have it transferred and re-assembled at another location. But where? No words on that yet.

[The Four Host First Nations are comprised of Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh. The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic games was held on the FHFN traditional and shared traditional lands.]

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Aboriginal Pavilion was very popular during the Games



The 2010 Legacy Totem pole was a magnet for photographers

2010 Aboriginal Pavilion, 649 Cambie Street, Vancouver BC

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Today (June 23, 2010) is Olympic day and that’s a day of celebration for it was in 1894 that the modern Olympic Games were born. Everyone young and old, the able and the challenged are encouraged to come out and participate In some sort of sports-related activities. Of course, many are already doing that with the World Cup soccer in full swing. In about a week on July 1st, Vancouver will celebrate Canada Day with the rest of the nation. This city in particular will have the privilege of re-lighting the Olympic Cauldron at Coal Harbor where the Vancouver Convention Centre is. Watch the flame to burn bright at high noon perhaps and in the night sky too.









1055 Canada Place, Vancouver BC

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