News release
Mayor launches Vancouver’s 125th anniversary celebrations
January 17, 2011 – Mayor Gregor Robertson tonight launched Vancouver’s 125th year-long anniversary celebrations by announcing a series of exciting cultural events and celebrations. The celebrations coincide with Vancouver’s designation as a Cultural Capital of Canada this year.
“Vancouver 125 is an exciting year-long celebration of arts and culture that will showcase our vibrant creative communities and the tremendous diversity of our city,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “This year we once again get to show the world all the reasons why Vancouver is an international hub of creativity and cultural expression by exploring our past and celebrating our future as a City. During 2011, Vancouver will be the place to be for arts and culture.”
To mark the day on which Vancouver was incorporated, the City will hold a free Birthday Live event on April 6 at Jack Poole Plaza. July 8 through 10, 2011, the Summer Live event will showcase Vancouver’s vibrant arts scene through a free, multi-stage celebration in Stanley Park.
In addition to the Birthday Live and Summer Live events, Vancouver 125 is supporting the work of cultural organizations which will present events, exhibitions, festivals and other artistic projects throughout the anniversary year.
The Mayor made the celebration announcement at the opening of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival. The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival is a stellar example of why Vancouver’s cultural community is renowned nation wide for innovation and artistic excellence.
Vancouver 125 also includes community events that bring opportunities to explore Vancouver’s history, diversity and innovative cultural scene in neighbourhoods across the city. Information on events, blogs, photos, videos and social media for Vancouver’s 125th anniversary will be available at: CelebrateVancouver125.ca
Vancouver 125 celebration highlights
The City of Vancouver was incorporated on April 6, 1886 and will mark its 125th anniversary in 2011 with an array of celebrations, events and initiatives. Vancouver has been designated a Cultural Capital of Canada for 2011 and the City of Vancouver gratefully acknowledges the Government of Canada’s $1.75 million contribution to Vancouver 125 initiatives.
Vancouver 125 celebration highlights include:
Civic celebrations
On Wednesday April 6, 2011 the City of Vancouver will produce Birthday Live, a free, family event at Jack Poole Plaza to celebrate our city’s official date of incorporation with a birthday party with birthday cake, lighting of the Olympic Cauldron and unique cultural performances.
On July 8 through 10, the City of Vancouver will produce Summer Live in Stanley Park. This multi-disciplinary, outdoor event will be presented on multiple performance stages—all of it free to the public. Summer Live celebrates Vancouver’s vibrant cultural community, drawing on its rich ethnic diversity, Aboriginal heritage and contemporary creative focus.
Cultural events supported by Vancouver 125
The City of Vancouver is proud to support dozens of Vancouver cultural organizations through a grant program created to ensure widespread collaboration with Vancouver’s cultural community during the anniversary and Vancouver’s year as a Cultural Capital of Canada.
Vancouver 125 civic initiatives and community celebrations
125th anniversary public art projects falling under three themes – Changing Times, Platforms and the Mural Program. Projects were adjudicated fall 2010 with 250 submissions featuring proposals for work across neighbourhoods, themes and artistic practice. The artworks will be announced shortly and fabricated and installed over the next 12 months.
Vancouver’s Poet Laureate, Brad Cran, will coordinate a poetry conference in the fall. More information: vancouververse.ca
Participation in the national Culture Days event this fall, from September 30 to October 2. More information: culturedays.ca
Poster-making workshops will celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 at community centres throughout the city. Workshops will honour the remarkable women who led change in the Disability and LGBT communities, with diverse cultural and First Nations communities including the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. More information: vancouverparks.ca
Vancouver Archives will be digitizing resources such as Early Vancouver and the collections of Yaletown Productions to make them freely available on their website: vancouver.ca/archives
The City’s Heritage Planning Division will upgrade the 25-year-old Heritage Register. More information: vancouver.ca/heritage
The City of Vancouver’s Summer Spaces program will launch Open Streets this summer to encourage non-profit community organizations to transform a section of commercial street space into accessible and creatively used public space. More information: vancouver.ca/summerspaces
Additional Information
For information on Vancouver 125 anniversary programs, including the 125th Anniversary Grants program, which has a final deadline of February 25, 2011, please call 3-1-1 or visit the City’s website at: vancouver.ca/125
Visit CelebrateVancouver125.ca as the information source for events, celebrations, initiatives and projects.
Social media updates can be found on:
Twitter: twitter.com/vancouver125
Facebook: facebook.com/Vancouver125