VANCOUVER | Granville Island

In May and June 2023, we travelled from east to west across Canada. From Halifax in Nova Scotia to Montreal in Quebec, to Toronto in Ontario, to Vancouver and Whistler in British Columbia. Along the way some night trains and commuter trains, the Niagara Falls and – imagine this – a bus journey. A true Trans-Canada Train Trek.

After an excursion to Whistler, we returned to Vancouver and checked it at the Belmont. Review will follow soon. We had a table booked that night at St. Lawrence Restaurant, but had time for an activity. We went to Granville Island.

Granville Island is a popular tourist destination and a vibrant cultural hub located in Vancouver. Despite its name, it is not actually an island but a peninsula situated in False Creek, adjacent to downtown Vancouver.

To get there you take one of the Aquabus Ferries. Cute little rainbow-coloured boats with hot sailors!

Presentation

Granville Island offers a unique blend of attractions, including a public market, arts and crafts studios, theaters, restaurants, and shops. The Granville Island Public Market is one of the main highlights, featuring an array of fresh produce, seafood, baked goods, gourmet treats, and specialty items. It’s a great place to sample local foods, purchase unique ingredients, or simply enjoy the lively atmosphere.

In addition to the market, Granville Island is known for its thriving arts community. There are numerous art galleries, craft studios, and workshops where visitors can explore and appreciate a wide range of artistic disciplines. The island is home to the Emily Carr University of Art + Design, further contributing to its creative atmosphere.

Granville Island also boasts several performance venues, including the Granville Island Stage and the Arts Club Theatre Company, where visitors can enjoy live theater productions, musicals, and other performances. The island hosts various festivals, events, and live music shows throughout the year, attracting locals and tourists alike.

If you’re interested in nautical themes and maritime culture, be sure to explore the Maritime Market. You’ll find shops specializing in maritime-themed gifts, home decor, and clothing, as well as boat supplies and equipment.

With its picturesque waterfront location, Granville Island offers beautiful views of Vancouver’s skyline and the surrounding mountains. Visitors can stroll along the boardwalk, rent kayaks or paddleboards, or even take a scenic boat tour around the area.

Under federal management

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, Granville Island is managed by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)”, the website says. I don’t know why, but Granville Island falls under the federal Government of Canada.

“In the 1970’s, Granville Island began its successful transformation from an industrial wasteland to one of the most beloved public spaces in Vancouver”

As Vancouver’s premier artistic and cultural hub, located in an urban, waterfront location and steeped in a rich industrial and maritime heritage, this unique destination attracts millions of visitors each year from Vancouver and around the world.

The charm of Granville Island lies in its unexpected mix of uses. The famous Public Market, open daily from 9 am to 7 pm, is home to more than 50 independent food purveyors and contributes to the Island’s appeal as a renowned culinary destination. In the Net Loft Shops and in the Artisan District, many of Canada’s best artists and designers can be found. Granville Island is home to many cultural venues and hosts numerous performing arts and cultural festivals year-round.

Operationally self-sustaining, Granville Island is home to more than 300 businesses employing more than 3,000 people.

Giants

Not to be missed are the silos. Six towers, each some 21 meter tall, now feature a colorful crew of giants. Half of them face the boats on False Creek, and the other three look inward, towards the Ocean Concrete plant.

The silos are the work of Brazilian twins Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo, known collectively as OSGEMEOS, Portuguese for The Twins. The duo has making graffiti art since 1987.

OSGEMEOS were commission in 2014 to bring their ‘Giants’ series to Vancouver.

The twins chose the silos on Granville Island to add depth to the two-dimensional pieces they normally create.

They used 90 gallons or 341 liter of paint for the undercoat and 1,400 cans of spray paint.

‘Giants’ was part of the Biennale’s Open Air Museum, which curates international art in the city’s public spaces. None of it is intended to be permanent though; after two years the pieces are taken down or painted over to make room for new projects, unless a donor intervenes. But they stayed.

Maintenance cost money though so their future is uncertain. The area was closed off for maintenance when we were there in June 2023.

So?

We were on Granville Island on a sunny Saturday during Pride Month and it was busy. It’s clear why it’s a popular spot. When Danny and I visited in 2016, it was a grey or even rainy weekday and it seemed a bit desolate. If I were a Vancouver resident, I’d certainly go and visit once in a while.