False Creek Olympic Village destination walk

Science World

Formally known as the Expo Centre until 1987, the Telus World of Science is an iconic structure at the Eastern end of False Creek. “Science World is a non-profit organization which engages British Columbians in science and inspires future science and technology leadership throughout our province”.

In 2010, The Telus World of Science also began to repair, expand and green the building. Extensive community consultation resulted in the creation of an outdoor science gallery and exhibition space called SWITCH: The Outdoor Science Experience.

During the 2010 Winter Olympics the Telus World of Science was transformed into Sochi House, the Olympic Pavilion home to the Russian Athletes. Its grandiosity represented Russia’s enthusiasm for hosting the world during the next Olympic Winter Games in 2014.

Creekside Park

The park was developed and opened in the early 1990s. It is a popular venue for summer events and dragon boating festivals, with wonderful green space and a children’s play area.

Collective Echoes

This project is part of a larger youth led project called Systems of Sustenance which addresses issues of sustainability by focusing on the Coast Salish fish bone ceremony. This ritual returned salmon bones to the water to thank the salmon spirit and to ensure future bountiful harvests.

A public performance involved three spirits with offerings of fish bones made of sodium bicarbonate, which bubbled and dissolved when dropped into False Creek.

This piece is a monumental sculpture carved from three cedar stumps.

Source: Young People at the Centre: Participation and Social Change, edited by Jane Foster, Kumi Naidoo

Listening. On. and Waking Terrain

Artist: Bracken Hanuse Corlett

Underneath Main St and Terminal Ave and extending back towards present-day Clark Drive, existed a biologically rich lagoon and marsh area that was used by the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. The area was covered over to make room for industry and the CPR railway.

The attempted removal of the space by the colonial forces of the time was thorough and it continues to be built upon today. When looking at some of the public art in Vancouver and other cities we often see a romantic depiction of industrial beginnings and labour. What existed before is often covered and ignored.

Hinge Park

Immediately west of the Olympic Village is Hinge Park. It is a thoughtfully developed park with many standard features, such as benches and picnic areas. It also includes state of the art play equipment, a story circle, a big rusty bridge constructed from sewer pipe and a water pump with metal runnels at the top of a small hill. The park includes a rainwater wetland and native plants that will slowly naturalize the former industrial area.

Habitat Island

Habitat Island has been developed as an urban sanctuary. Completely surrounded by water at high tide, it is an oasis for many birds and small creatures. Replicating coastal British Columbia, the Island was developed with great attention to detail. Deep layers of soil were laid down to provide nourishment for the newly planted specimens. More than 200 native trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses have been planted along the waterfront path and on the Island. Boulders and driftwood logs were placed to provide homes for small animals, insects, crabs, starfish, barnacles and other creatures. Habitat Island is a great source of pride for those interested in celebrating coastal biodiversity.

A False Creek

Artists: Rhonda Weppler, Trevor Mahovsky

Painted blue stripes were applied to ten Cambie Bridge pilings and fifteen lampposts along the seawall. The stripe pattern starts at ground level, and runs up each piling and lamppost to a point that is five meters above sea level.

Read more at afalsecreek.ca External website, opens in new tab

The Olympic Village is one of the greenest communities in the world In keeping with Vancouver's Greenest City targets, the Olympic Village uses innovative energy efficiency and sustainability systems like solar heating and green roofs.

Built on the last remaining large tract of undeveloped waterfront land near downtown, the Olympic Village was created for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. It housed athletes and Olympic officials coming from across the world. After the Olympics, the accommodation became a mixed-use community, with approximately 1,100 residential units. The area includes several parks, a large central plaza and a growing number of retail and service outlets. The development aligns with the City's goals, addressing environmental, economic, and social issues.

The Birds

Artist: Myfanwy MacLeod

Vancouver artist Myfanwy MacLeod has always been interested in the ability of public art to convey political and historical meaning. The Birds, her new work for Southeast False Creek Olympic Plaza, has been shaped by this community’s focus on sustainability. The work attempts to highlight both the lighter and graver sides of what can happen when a non-native species is introduced to an environment, how the beauty of birds can sometimes mask their threat to biodiversity.

See more of Myfanwy's works External website, opens in new tab

Salish North Star in Maple Leaf

Artist: Wade Baker

Stainless steel with sandblasted finish on granite base, the design is a contemporary Coast Salish North Star within the Canadian maple leaf symbolizing the Winter Games and welcoming the world to the community.

Wade Baker is Coast Salish, Kwakiutl, Tlingit, and Haida. See more at skyspiritstudio.com External website, opens in new tab