Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If you fancy a further taste of the 2010 Games, nip along the subterranean pedestrian
tunnel between the two convention buildings. You'll find a small display of medals,
Olympic torches and even a podium from the event, where you can pretend you won
the skeleton event gold.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
HIDDEN ARTWORK
Enter the lobby of the Royal Bank building at the corner of W Georgia and Burrard
Sts, and head up in the escalator that's directly in front of you. At the top you'll
find one of the largest First Nations artworks in western Canada. Measuring 30m
long and 2.5m high, the nine carved and painted red cedar panels of the spectac-
ular 'Ksan Mural dramatically cover an entire wall of the building. It took five carv-
ers three months to create in 1972, and it tells the story of Weget (or Man-Raven)
and his often mischievous exploits. Well worth a look, the artwork seems a world
away from the bustling streets outside.
BILL REID GALLERY OF
NORTHWEST COAST ART
GALLERY
(
www.billreidgallery.ca
;
639 Hornby St; adult/child $10/5; 11am-5pm Wed-Sun; Burrard)
Showcasing carvings, paintings and jewelry from Canada's most revered Haida artist,
this tranquil gallery is lined with fascinating and exquisite works - plus handy touch-
screens to tell you all about them. The space centres on the Great Hall, where there's
often a carver at work. Be sure to also hit the mezzanine level: you'll come face to face
with an 8.5m-long bronze of intertwined magical creatures, complete with impressively
long tongues.
The gallery offers a comprehensive intro to the creative vision of Reid and his Haida
co-creators, and also hosts occasional artist talks - especially when there's a new exhib-
ition - that bring the works to life.
CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL
CATHEDRAL
(
www.cathedral.vancouver.bc.ca
;
690 Burrard St; 10am-4pm; Burrard)
Completed in
1895 and designated as a cathedral in 1929, the city's most attractive Gothic-style
church is nestled incongruously among looming glass towers. It's home to a wide range
