BC Place

BCPlace in the late 80s

BC place is one of the world's largest inflatable roof stadiums. It was constructed in 1983 for the purposes of serving as part of Expo86. Vancouver citizens love BC place as it hosts football and soccer games, as well as concerts and ceremonies. The first event held was by Pope John Paul II in 1984 as part of the "Celebration of Life" ceremony. From there on, the stadium has held countless events.

BC Place construction in 1981

After the 2010 Olympics, the stadium roof was redesigned and upgraded. The cable-supported retractable roof is the largest of its kind in the world, and in the Summer the roof is opened for Vancouver people to enjoy the summer festivals under the Sun.

2010 Olympics solidified BC PLACE as a Vancouver Landmark

Although 2013 marks only its 30th anniversary. To most vancouver citizens, this stadium represents a landmark that characterizes the city. After the world saw the 2010 Winter Olympics, the stadium forever became a hallmark of what the people of Vancouver represent. Attendance has increased since, especially with Football and Soccer being the main sports held. And outdoor concerts having the option of having an indoor retractable roof.

BC Place in 2012

When you ask most locals which structure viewed from the sky most resonates with the spirit of Vancouver. Many will say "BC Place" because it is one of the largest man made structure in our city. Every city in America has their  favourite stadium and BC Place stands tall amongst them. As the city continues to grow this stadium will also continue to generate great memories for the young and old.

Indoors the Olympic torches flame

New retractable roof

Construction of BC Place

The first event held in the stadium.

Night colors of BC Place

Lion's Gate Bridge

The Guinness family in the 1930's wanted to invest in West Vancouver by purchasing many acres of land. But in order for this territory to succeed, they needed a bridge to connect it to the the heart of Vancouver.

The bridge originally was designed for two lanes, but as the Guiness family predicted the two towns grew in population and eventually needed three lanes. Toll booths were in place to help fund maintenance up until 1963. Later the Guinness family added lights to the bridge for Expo86.

Guinness funding the bridge

When the bridge was built it was recognized as the longest suspension bridge in the British Empire and most complex project in Canada during the 1930s. Vancouver owe's much thanks to Sir Arthur Guinness who helped fund this project through a syndicate company called British Pacific Properties Ltd. Another person to recognize is the architect Alfred Taylor, who sought the Guinness Family to help fund this bridge.

Walking along the bridge in the 40's

Today, the Lions gate bridge is recognized across Canada as a heritage landmark of Vancouver. It represents the European influences that settlers in the early 1900's helped pave with construction projects that formed Vancouver's structures. Prior to the bridge being built West Vancouver was an unwanted isolated forest area, but thank's to the vision's of these men, West Vancouver is now one of the most affluent cities in the west.

Earliest pictures of completed bridge

Two pillars that hold the bridge

Construction of Bridge

Vancouver's China Town

Chinatown was created in the 1880's and is rich with culture and traditions. Chinese new years here is a place to behold.

The first recognizable symbol that one will find in Chinatown is the "The Dynasty Bell". The Dynasty Bell in was given to the city by China's own Guangzhou city. The Bell rests on two crossbeams memorialising the early Chinese settlers in the Vancouver region. During Vancouver's early settlements, many Chinese settlers migrated to this land as well.

The Canadian Chinese Monument is a structure that recognizes the Chinese immigrants of the late 1800's and early 1900's. The first figure is a railway worker that represents the many Chinese men who built the railway system. The second statue represents the Canadian Chinese World War II soldiers who volunteered during war times.

One of the most popular structures is the Millennium Gate, it represents Chinatown's Eastern and Western cultures and celebrates its ethnicity.

If you are looking for a place to eat authentic Chinese cuisines, then Chinatown is the place to go. Or if you are looking to get a taste of Chinese culture, one can visit the many shops and boutiques. China town is a landmark of Vancouver recognized by all tourists.

Hollow Tree

The Hollow Tree in Vancouver's Stanley Park is the most photographed tree in western Canada by tourists. In the early 1900's pictures were taken by people trying to fit their horse and carrage inside the tree and posing for the camera.

The tree is estimated to be over a thousand years old. Native legends speak of a great tree in the west part of now present day Stanley Park. The Hollow Tree is one of Vancouver's oldest and most famous landmarks, a rare surviving example of the enormous trees that originally drew the first group of non-Native people to settle in Vancouver in the 1860s. Workers from far away came to the west coast to chop down the biggest tree's possible. Today only a few ancient majestic tree's stand on the west coast.

When the city was of Vancouver was created in the late 1880's from a village called Granville. The council declared Stanley Park as its first Park. A road was built to circle the hollow tree so tourists could see the wonders of this tree.

The tree today still stands, but has been chopped down from its original size due to it being a hazard to citizens. This is because in 2006 storms caused the tree to lean 11degrees and the pavement surrounding it had degraded its health. Fortunately future generations will still get to see one of the great historical landmarks of Vancouver.

Vancouver Aquarium

Canada's largest aquarium is the Vancouver Aquarium. It has 70,000 animals with 150 aquatic displays. The facility specializes in Marine preservation and conservation.

The Vancouver Public Aquarium Association was formed in 1950 by UBC fisheries and oceanography professors Murray Newman. The Vancouver Aquarium was the first aquarium in the world to capture and display an orca. The orca in British Columbia is legendary and dates back to the ancient native's who roamed these lands centuries ago. The Vancouver Aquarium operates a Marine Mammal Rescue program which is aimed at rescuing and rehabilitating marine mammals that are found injured, ill, or abandoned, until they can be re-released into their natural habitats Preserving wild-life in British Columbia is what has made this province famous and has attracted tourists from around the world. Two hundred years ago, the waters that suround vancouver flourished whales - today thanks to organizations like the Vancouver Aquarium they are trying to keep this tradition alive, so future generations can see Vancouver in its natural beauty. This landmark is an example of the way Vancouver citizens want to preserve the tradition of the Orca and its accompanied marine wildlife that live of British Columbia.



The Aquariums indoor display marine life from the Georgia Strait and from other coastal areas of BC. They have sharks and sea turtles as well as fish from the Amazon Rainforest.

The outdoor display has Beluga whales, dolphins, sea lions, and sea otters. The tanks have indoor viewing windows to see the animals up close. The aquarium also display's South African penguins

The Vancouver Aquarium is located in Stanley Park.

If you come and visit Vancouver, you must go to the Vancouver Aquarium as it displays the aquatic wildlife that makes Vancouver special. The beauty of Vancouver's landscape is sustained by organizations like the Vancouver Aquarium. The people of Vancouver having been coming here for years, and this place is now a recognized landmark for locals and tourists.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

The famous Capilano Suspension Bridge is located at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in North Vancouver. The park also has many other outdoor activities.

The bridge was originally built in 1889 by George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer. It was originally made of hemp ropes, and was replaced with a wire cable bridge in 1903. In 1910 Edward Mahon purchased the bridge, then in 1935 MacEachran purchased the bridge and invited local natives to place their totem poles in the park. It felt necessary to add some kind of native heritage to the bridge as it was lacking a personality. But the bridge formed its own identity throughout the 100+ years of its existence, it is now part of Vancouver's heritage.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge has been visited by people since 1889. Suspended 230 feet (70 metres) above the Capilano River, the Bridge spans 450 feet (137 metres) across. Below the bridge is a canyon. Crossing the bridge is scary as your feel the bridge sway left and right.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is an amusement park. You can view the rainforest via Treetops Adventures or venture into the Cliffwalk, a 700-foot long (213 metres), 300-foot high (91 metres) walkway anchored and suspended above the river.

The bridge is located at 3735 Capilano Road in North Vancouver. There are free shuttles that will take you to the Park from Canada Place.

Early 1900's

Over a century has passed since the first people crossed the bridge, but little did they know that it would become one of Vancouver's most sought after attractions and landmarks. The bridge gives a glimpse of the surrounding wilderness area that continues to bring tourists from around the world.

Science World

One of Vancouver's best museum for children is Science World. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching kids about science and technology through interactive exhibits and displays.   It is located at the end of False Creek. The building's official name is Telus World of Science but it use to be called just Science World. The building's name change to the Telus World of Science became official on July 20, 2005 mainly because Telus donated $9-million to the museum. Prior to being called Science World it was called Expo Centre during Expo86.

Before Science World, there was an organization run by Barbara Brink was called  Arts, Sciences & Technology Centre in downtown in the early 1980's which displayed exhibits and served as an outreach program for the community. When Vancouver was awarded to 1986 World's Fair (Expo 86), a dome was designed to serve as the fair's Expo Centre with construction beginning in 1984 and being completed by early 1985. After Expo86, lobbying and fundraising was done to keep the dome and convert it into a science museum. Locals and municipality agreed that "Arts, Science & Technology" centre be transferred into Science World. The Dome had a lot of community support and they added the OMNIMAX theatre shortly after. Science world opened in 1988 after being renovated from the 1986 Expo.

A massive fund-raising campaign ensued, with donations from the federal, provincial, and the private sector contributing $19.1 million to build an addition to the Expo Centre, redesign the interior and construct exhibits. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II dedicated the Expo Centre as “Science World. A science centre for the people of British Columbia”.

During the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Science World was transformed into the Russky Dom which showed plans for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Science World is in many tourist pictures and easily recognized as a landmark for Vancouver.

Stanley Park Totem Poles

One of Stanley parks most visited places are the totem poles at Brockton Point.

These totem poles were created by BC's first nations people. Four of the original totems were from Alert Bay on Vancouver Island; additional pieces were from the Queen Charlotte Islands and Rivers Inlet on the central coast of BC.

Many of the original totems were carved as early as the 1880s, they have been sent to museums for preservation.

The totem poles are in the eastern corner of Stanley Park. Drivers can find pay parking along Stanley Park Drive, directly in front of the totems. There are usually Stanley Park Shuttles tourists can take.

One of the first totem poles to be positioned was at Lumberman's Arch in the 1920s, when the Park Board bought four totems from Vancouver Island's Alert Bay. Then in the mid 1960s, the totem poles were re-located to Brockton Point.

The Skedans Mortuary Pole is a replica as the original was given back to the owner. In the late 1980s, the remaining totem poles were sent to various museums for preservation.

The final ninth totem pole, carved by Robert Yelton of the Squamish Nation, was added to Brockton Point in 2009. The totem poles are now part of Vancouver's heritage.