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Footloose
on Granville
Island
by
Jerry W. Bird
 Living
in Vancouver, British Columbia for many years, one
venue we never get tired of visiting, come rain or
shine, is Granville Island on the south shore of
False Creek (opposite the former Expo site). It's
an extra special treat when there's a chance to
show the area off, like last summer when we invited
several New York colleagues to the Public Market
for a Sunday
breakfast.
Just
watching their faces light up like Christmas trees,
and hearing their favourable comments was a
suitable reward. Granville Island, captures the
mood of
Vancouver in an eclectic mix of art and culture,
and in an outdoors marine setting.
Granville
Island events
From Industrial
Eyesore to Eye-Popping Spectacle
The
magical transformation of Granville Island from
acres of industrial blight to one of the coastal
city's prize jewels, is like the Ugly Duckling
story by Hans Christian Andersen. I remember
visiting the area as a youngster, and what's
happened with the new Granville Island never ceases
to amaze me. The former industrial sheds have been
painted in brilliant colours; moored yachts and
fishing boats ring the entire Island. Around every
turn you'll find an exciting photo op, as I've
learned over the years, always looking for the next
masterpiece. The same thing with shops, one of my
favourites is the "Wickanninish," which
features Haida and other native Canadian fashion
wear, plus unique boutique items of native art
pieces. It's located in the Crafts Centre
building.
Last spring when
we were invited on an afternoon Sail courtesy of
Cooper Boating Centre,) a local company with
an international reputation for yacht cruises and
quality training in the art of seamanship. The
Island is well served by City Transit, and easy to
reach by the popular water taxis, or by car and on
foot from Burrard or Granville bridges.
 As
an added attraction, an
Old Fashioned Street Car
line has
been installed from here to the Science Centre (the
Crystal Ball) near Main Street and Terminal Avenue.
The waterside
setting with city and mountain views is idyllic,
yet this island hums with activity. Stroll the
celebrated Public Market, a feast for both the eye
and the palate. Take the kids and the kid in you
for a treat at the Kids Only Market. Take in a
play, or a street performer's serenade. Watch
artists and craftspeople at work, or boats pass by
from a waterfront bistro. Walk, jog, rollerblade or
bike along the seawall in the ocean breeze. From
Granville Island you can sail around the harbor or
ski the coastal mountains There's virtually no
limit to the pleasures you can enjoy on the
island.
The Granville
Island Hotel
A retreat
located in the heart of the action but not
overwhelmed by it, the Granville Island Hotel,
operated by my friend Diamond Karim, blends
simplicity with style. Like the island, our
luxurious boutique hotel has its own distinct
character, easygoing yet elegant, relaxed but
refined. Easy to get to, but hard to leave, the
Granville Island Hotel is ideally located for
business travelers, vacationing families and
couples on a romantic getaway. We invite you to
stay with us and discover Vancouver's best kept
secret.
Granville
Island Hotel
1253 Johnston Street,
Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9
Tel: (604) 683-7373 Fax: (604) 683-3061
E-mail: reservations@GranvilleIslandHotel.com
Web site: www.granvilleislandhotel.com
Cooper Boating
Centre
1521 Foreshore Walk, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S4
Phone 683-6837, Fax 683-5844
Granville Island
Operations:
1 800 663-1840 Toll free - Canada & USA
http://www.granvilleisland.bc.ca/english/homepage.htm
Granville Island
Office, 1661 Duranleau Street, 2nd Floor
Vancouver BC, V6H 3S3, phone 604 666 6655, fax 604
666 7376
Media Inquiries
604 666 8779
Info Centre 604 666 5784
Administration 604 666 6655
Ken Tunnicliffe, Manager, Property and Development:
ktunnicl@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Michael Young, Manager Granville Island:
myoung@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Colleen Welsh, Manager Public Marcket:
cwelsh@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Michael Mackenrot, Manager, Operations:
mmackenr@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Gloria Loree, Manager, Public Affairs and
Programming: gloree@cm
Tourism Vancouver's Main Website
Visitors
requiring assistance for accommodation can
call:
Tourism
British Columbia's 1.800.HELLOBC Tourism
Vancouver's Visitor InfoCentre on Burrard Street.
604.683.2000
World66
Vancouver Guide
http://www.world66.com/vancouver/htm
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