New permanent VANCOUVER sign's installation further delayed until early 2027
Will the new permanent VANCOUVER civic pride sign at the Canada Place plaza be ready in time for the start of the 2027 cruise ship season, when the area sees a consistent flow of visitors?
The giant three-dimensional letter sign spelling out the name of the city was set to be installed at the entrance plaza into the Canada Place pier building in May 2026, just in time for the FIFA World Cup.
However, that never happened as originally planned, and it was subsequently delayed until Fall 2026.
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As of this week, the midpoint of the Fall 2026 season, there is still no construction activity at the site.
In response to an inquiry, the City of Vancouver told Daily Hive Urbanized this week that the sign is now expected to be completed and unveiled in early 2027. Site exploration work for the installation will begin this month, and specific construction timelines will be confirmed afterward.
The plaza is not solid ground but rather the rooftop of an indoor hallway linking the West and East buildings of the Vancouver Convention Centre. The broader area sits on an elevated structure, including the Canada Place Way roadway, which is a viaduct.
This plaza has been home to various temporary VANCOUVER signs in recent years, including the temporary sign that was in place during the FIFA World Cup.
New updated location for the new permanent “VANCOUVER” sign, November 2025. (City of Vancouver)
The new temporary VANCOUVER sign for the FIFA World Cup at the Canada Place plaza, as seen on June 10, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)
Temporary winter season VANCOUVER sign at the Canada Place plaza on Dec. 17, 2023. (Kenneth Chan)
Temporary VANCOUVER sign on the West Georgia Street plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery, as seen on Dec. 5, 2025. (Kenneth Chan)
Under the direction of the previous makeup of Vancouver City Council, the municipal government first began pursuing the public art project of a new permanent VANCOUVER sign after the highly apparent, immense success of previous temporary installations in the area — beginning with a winter-season sign that first appeared in 2023 and a summer-season sign by Cadillac Fairview for the Junction Public Market activation in the summers of 2024 and 2025 at Granville Square’s plaza.
A new temporary green-coloured sign appeared at Junction Public Market for its Summer 2026 season, replacing the activation’s original temporary pink styrofoam sign due to its very poor condition.
August 2025 deteriorated condition of Cadillac Fairview’s temporary summer season VANCOUVER sign at Junction Public Market at Granville Square. (Kenneth Chan)
Temporary new VANCOUVER sign at Granville Square plaza for Junction Public Market, during the FIFA World Cup in July 2027. (Kenneth Chan)
Unlike the various temporary signs, the future permanent sign is intended to be highly resistant to inclement weather, vandalism, and other wear and tear.
According to the City’s previous procurement files, the forthcoming construction work involves building a foundation and establishing utility connections, such as electricity for nighttime illumination.
As well, unlike the temporary signs, the permanent sign will have more thoughtful unique design considerations that also reflect local culture and symbolism.
The municipal government has yet to formally reveal the permanent sign’s design, such as by releasing conceptual artistic renderings, but it is believed to be a highly unconventional three-dimensional letter sign — an anamorphic-style public art sculpture installation that visually spells out VANCOUVER when viewed from one spot in the plaza. This is very much unlike the temporary signs or the iconic permanent destination name signs in Toronto and Amsterdam.
There is also a First Nations design component to this installation, with the City selecting local First Nations artists earlier this year to contribute to some of the sign’s design aspects.
The selected First Nations artists are not known at this time, but they will each be paid $25,000 for their work. In early 2026, the City selected Toronto-headquartered design agency Entro Communications to lead the sign’s fabrication and construction, under a contract worth about $203,000.
The project’s cost is being covered by the municipal government (up to $300,000), local tourism authority Destination Vancouver ($200,000), and Vancouver Hotel Destination Association (VHDA). Downtown Van, the local business improvement association for Downtown Vancouver, is also providing support.
Giant three-dimensional destination names are highly popular worldwide, becoming some of the most photographed objects by visitors in some places.
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