Many tourists around town have asked, tweeted or emailed us wondering where the fireworks/celebration gathering for New Year’s Eve (NYE) in Vancouver will be? The answer, there isn’t one and we wonder why city council and their fun police hasn’t put something together. Cities all over the world ring in the new year in style, yet Vancouver, a ‘world class’ city, has nothing. The city has done well to bring back the Canada Day celebrations and for the time being the Celebration of Light Festival has been saved. However, there is still nothing for NYE.
Why doesn’t Vancouver host a major NYE celebration? We have the public space to do it. Robson Square, Jack Poole Plaza or Granville Street would fit the bill nicely, albeit Robson Square still needs a lot of work to become a REAL square. Close off a few streets, have people gather around and have a fireworks display from the top of that disgusting Sears building, or the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Perhaps if there was some sort of benefit to the cycling community Mayor Robertson and his staff would have put something together in a heart beat. Hell, the mayor can spin beats at the event if he’s so inclined. Just give the people an official celebration.
The people in charge of fun in this city either don’t see the big picture or need additional funding. Either way, they have to find a way to make it happen. We’ve grown up as a city, Vancouverites like to stay out a little longer and it’s time that city hall realize this. Like it or not, ever since the Olympics the people of Vancouver demand more in terms of outdoor, large scale public events. At the very least there is a need for a family friendly “First Night” style celebration.
Until we get an official celebration, I guess many Vancouverites will converge at Robson & Granville and watch the clock countdown on the Futureshop screens (if they are doing that again this year) or watch the Roman Candle fireworks being set off in South East Vancouver.
Image: David Lin
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