Today the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation announced plans to celebrate Stanley Park’s 125th anniversary.
Local First Nations and other celebration partners were also present as residents and visitors were invited to a major festival in August featuring free family entertainment, performing and visual arts, interactive sports, heritage experiences and First Nations cultural presentations.
Celebrate! Stanley Park will take place August 24 and 25 at outdoor locations and venues throughout the park. The event is supported by funding from the Government of Canada, local government and corporate funding, including Stanley Park Brewery as the lead presenting sponsor.
“Stanley Park is a place of remarkable significance to Vancouver’s past, present and future. It was recently ranked again as one of the world’s most stunning urban parks,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “This summer’s Celebrate! Stanley Park festivities will showcase the Park’s best ecological, cultural, and historical attributes, with a special focus on First Nations experiences and stories. I look forward to celebrating Vancouver’s first and biggest park and the special place it holds in the hearts of all Vancouver residents and visitors.”
“The Park Board, our staff and valued partners are proud to celebrate the 125th birthday of Vancouver’s most popular and beloved park,” said Vancouver Park Board Chair Sarah Blyth. “This family-friendly event will feature engaging presentations and give residents the chance to get up close and personal with lively performances in the welcoming and spectacular setting of Stanley Park.”
“Stanley Park Brewery, a proud locally owned and operated brewery, is extremely pleased to support the 125th celebration of Vancouver’s most prestigious and beloved park,” says Andy Murison, VP of Marketing with Stanley Park Brewery. “We are thrilled to enter a partnership with the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Park Board for this momentous event, and believe that Lord Stanley would be proud of the efforts of local businesses and community partners to join together to preserve the natural beauty of the park for future generations.”
Program highlights at the main celebration sites include:
Second Beach: a community picnic at Ceperley Meadow will feature a diverse showcase of mainstage performances by local musical talent.
Lumbermen’s Arch: Family Fun at the Arch will feature local children’s performances and roving entertainment; visitors can experience Coast Salish artisans and performances with members of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations; or study park species at Stanley Park Ecology Society’s BioBlitz.
Brockton Point: will feature all-ages sporting demos and drop-in games at Brockton Sportsapalooza; an evening outdoor theatre spectacular will be presented by Boca del Lupo.
Visit stanleypark125.ca for more information about Celebrate! Stanley Park. Additional details on artists, performers, events and activities will be announced closer to the festival date.
The City of Vancouver is investing $200,000 in the celebration from its Innovation Fund. The Vancouver Park Board is contributing $50,000 from the Corporate Sponsorship Fund to support the production of the event.
The City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Park Board acknowledge the generous support of Canadian Heritage through the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program, presenting sponsor Stanley Park Brewery and other corporate and media sponsors including CTV, 102.7 The Peak, and The Georgia Straight.
Since its official opening on September 27, 1888, Stanley Park has established itself as an attraction of international status and a National Historic Site of Canada. Historically, the area was the traditional Coast Salish territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Celebrate! Stanley Park’s events and activities will highlight the park’s ecology, First Nations history and its value as a modern urban park enjoyed by over eight million visitors annually.
