Glowing English Bay Trees Mark World AIDS Day

December 1, 2006 (No. 89) - The grove of trees overlooking English Bay on Beach Avenue at Bidwell Street, will be ablaze in a new cloak of multi-coloured lights for 24 hours Friday, December 1st to mark World AIDS Day. The six stately elms are illuminated with 12,750 orbs and will be lit nightly from December 2 through the January 7, 2007 from 4 pm - 12 midnight (longer on New Year's Eve).

In keeping with Park Board sustainability goals, the trees received a complete upgrade this season to SLED lights (Seasonal Light Emitting Diodes) which will not only last substantially longer than traditional lights, but reduce energy consumption to 2,650 kWh this season from 20,400 kWh used last year. In addition, SLED bulbs can be screwed into conventional light strings thereby negating the disposal of complete strings when lights eventually burn out.

2006 marks the 20th anniversary of the lighting of the trees first envisioned by former Park Board Commissioner George Wainborn, the longest serving Park Commissioner in Park Board history (1956-1990).

This magical light display is still one of Vancouver's best kept, West End secrets and all that residents have to do to enjoy them is either gaze at them from afar at Vanier Park or follow Beach Avenue toward Stanley Park and drive, walk or cycle under them. They are a cloud of colour.

Other Park Board public light displays can be discovered at George Wainborn Park, the Lost Lagoon Fountain and Stanley Park's Bright Nights Event (December 1- January 2) and the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden (December 15 - 31).

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For more information contact Terri Clark, Communications Coordinator, at 604-257-8438
www.vancouverparks.ca

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 200 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.

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