Culture, Gastown This Month

Looking back at 2017 in Gastown

Capture Photography Festival

The first of April saw the neighbourhood participate in the citywide Capture Photography Festival. Our featured artist was Joseph Staples; a large scale collage artist who’s aesthetic is inspired by flowing static movements, linearity and Asian dance.

Various businesses participated with Mr. Staples’ art displayed as window decals.

Shop Hop

Shop Hop happened only once this year but it was definitely one to remember. With more than 40 of the neighbourhood’s stores participating, scores of shoppers hit the streets on the evening of June 8th to enjoy great deals and good times.

Gastown Grand Prix

July 12th saw The 34th Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix hit the cobblestones where riders from all over the world came to compete in Canada’s largest criterium race. Many thousands came out to cheer on the riders in all three categories including youth, women’s and men’s.

The competition was fierce as racers tore up the track to gain primes (special cash prizes throughout the race) as well as the highly coveted first place positions. In the Men’s Category, the winner was Eric YOUNG from Rally Cycling –Boulder Colorado with a finishing time of 01:17:08.90. In the Women’s Category it was Kendall RYAN with Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank – Ventura CA crossing the final lap to hit 1:09:10.62.

Yule Duel

This year’s Yule Duel fell on December 7th as a thick fog enveloped the neighborhood with a shroud of Christmas magic!

Record numbers attended and we were entertained with an early performance by the always jazzy Jen Hodge Allstars.

We were crooned by 20 fantastic choirs who sang their hearts out,

electrified by the eclectic Carnival Band

and deeply warmed by the soulful praises of Marcus Mosely and his Gospel Chorale.

Over $50,000 was raised this year (another record) and the weather was on our side.

@mygastown and our Instagram takeovers

We are quite proud of our Instragram account here in Gastown. And why not?! We’ve grown from 0 to 41,000 followers in only 3 years. It’s always captivating to watch the neighborhood move and flow throughout the year with the ever changing seasons, moments, faces, days and nights, sunrises and moonglow, new beginnings and inevitable endings. We had 7 wonderful Instagramers takeover our account to show us their Gastown.

Reza Assar @reza.assar (Jan 23)