Placenaming and renaming can play a key role in helping to advance the goals of reconciliation – and today’s announcement is especially exciting given the prominence of these two important public spaces.

You can read the City’s media release below, and find audio-clips and pronunciation guides on the City’s website.

Media Release

In historic move, two high-profile public plazas given Indigenous names

At a special ceremony today it was announced that new, Indigenous names have been given to the Vancouver Art Gallery north plaza and to the space formerly known as the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza.

At the direction of Vancouver City Council, and as part of its ongoing commitments as a City of Reconciliation, the City worked with representatives of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh to find appropriate names for the two plazas.

Leading the naming ceremony was Ray Harris, a member of the Stz’uminus First Nation and former elected chief, who has been instrumental in organizing Coast Salish Gatherings and the formation of the Coast Salish Council, which focuses on environmental and resource health in the region.

The witnesses for the ceremony included Howard Grant, representing Musqueam, Khelsilem from Squamish, Gabriel George from Tsleil-Waututh, and Chief Robert Joseph representing Reconciliation Canada.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson was joined at the event by the Honourable Jinny Sims, the provincial Minister of Citizens’ Services, City Manager Sadhu Johnston, Sandra Singh, the City’s General Manager of Arts, Culture and Community Services, Wendy Soobis, representing the Vancouver Civic Theatres Board and Kathleen Bartels, Director of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

“Our government, like the City, is deeply committed to meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in British Columbia,” said Sims. “Renaming these plazas will help ensure these three local Nations have a prominent presence in the downtown area, which is in the heart of their traditional territory.”

“Vancouver is committed to a new partnership with Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh that’s based on mutual understanding and respect, and on caring for these lands and waters” said Robertson. “The living legacy of Coast Salish Peoples is always with us and today is an opportunity to acknowledge this legacy by naming two of Vancouver’s landmark public spaces.”

The new name for the plaza adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre is šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn, which refers to a place one is invited to, and a place one is invited to celebrate, and is connected to the past use of the plaza as a gathering place for the Walk for Reconciliation.

The new name for the plaza on the north side of the Vancouver Art Gallery is šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square, which refers to a place where a cultural gathering occurs such as a wedding, funeral, naming, honouring, or coming of age ceremony.

City staff are currently collaborating with Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh on signage design for each of the plazas, with the signage expected to be installed sometime in the fall.

A joint naming committee consisting of representatives of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh and the City of Vancouver collaborated to recommend the two plaza names, each using both hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, the language of Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, the language of the Squamish Nation.

The Queen Elizabeth Theatre falls under the jurisdiction of Vancouver Civic Theatres and the City of Vancouver. The plaza adjacent to the art gallery is leased to the City by the Province, which also leases the building to the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Visit the City’s web site for audio and video pronunciation guides for the new plaza names.

The renewed square looks great, and we will be interested to see how the space is used – both formally for events, and informally, for everyday activities or a more casual nature. It’s a large plaza with some interesting design challenges – including a northerly orientation, and busy arterial streets on three sides. It will be intriguing to see what sorts of anticipated – and unanticipated – activities take place in this renewed square. One thing is for certain: the redesign is an improvement on where things were at just a few years ago.

Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza – Concept Rendering, November 2015

Up next, the 800-block of Robson… the North Plaza’s more intimate counterpart. The redesign of this plaza started last year after Council voted to permanently pedestrianize the block. A design concept was presented to Council in December, and work is expected to begin in the not too distant future.

In the meantime, check out the new North Plaza and let us know what you think. Good public spaces always take on a life of their own – so pop by and tell us what you see going on there!

Here’s the media release from the City of Vancouver:

VAG North Plaza reopens as Vancouver’s most compelling public square

Upgrades to the North Plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery are completing this week in time for the Jazz Festival on Saturday.

“The plaza to the north of the Vancouver Art Gallery is host to Vancouver’s most significant events and is a popular place for people to pass through, sit and relax, and meet one another,” says Paul Mochrie, Deputy City Manager for the City of Vancouver. “We at the City have the honour of maintaining this remarkable public gathering space, and we are excited to see how it will be used going forward.”

The new plaza complements Robson Square on the other side of the Art Gallery and the surrounding heritage buildings. The new fully accessible space enhances safety for large gatherings, improves flexibility for events and day to day use.

Design features include:

• A flexible space that can be used for solitary and small group use, as well as large events.
• A safe, inviting environment for formal and casual use.
• A surface with pavers that will be long-lasting and durable for heavy use.
• Full accessibility for all users.
• A continuation of the Hornby Street maple trees, with new trees added along the west side of the plaza.
• A flexible pavilion / bus stop on the east side which can be used during events and can accommodate future use as a food/beverage stand or tourist information centre.

The plaza redesign was led by Nick Milkovich Architects, HAPA Collaborative , and Matthew Soules Architecture, and construction was completed by Jacobs Brothers contractor.

Going forward, the plaza will be maintained and managed by the City of Vancouver, and event organizers interested in using it can apply through the City of Vancouver’s special events office.

Correction: An earlier version of this post quoted a City Media release that incorrectly referred to Hapa Collaborative as Hapa Collective. Further, the post suggested that the plaza was fully-reopened. Rather, it is being utilized for various events throughout the summer, but is still closed to everyday use while the remaining work is completed. Additional clarifying text was added around the potential usage of the site.

Poster for the City’s “Block 51” Events & Consultation

The City of Vancouver has just announced two events related to the potential expansion of Robson Square and the future of the north end of the Art Gallery. Both events are coming up next week (October 15 and October 17). They’re free, but you’ll need to register to attend. Act now, as seats are expected to go fast!

The events look at the past and future of the city’s “Block 51” – the parcel of land bounded by Robson, Howe, Georgia and Hornby. The focus of both will be on the important open-space areas to the north and south of the Art Gallery – and the opportunities for their potential enhancement.

At the south end, the popular 800-block of Robson Street has been temporarily closed for several months now, and the City is studying the possibility of improving this gathering area by keeping the street permanently closed to vehicles.

At the same time the City is also looking at potential design improvements to the north side of the Art Gallery site (variously known as Old Courthouse Square, or Centennial Square). Structural repairs need to be made to protect the underground Art Gallery facilities – and this presents an opportunity for other upgrades to the space.

While the VPSN’s attentions have been mainly focused on the closure of the 800-block of Robson, we’re also deeply interested in the future of the north end of the gallery. Both sites have played an extraordinary role in the city’s public life and we’re excited to see what comes out of these two events and the larger consultation.

Here are the details:

Monday, October 15 – A Look Back
Vancouver Art Gallery, 7:00-10:00 p.m.
750 Hornby Street 

The 1973 National Film Board film “Chairs for Lovers” and a panel with members of the original team for Robson Square will set the context of how this block came to be.

:: Register for “A Look Back”

Wednesday, October 17 – A Look Forward
Vancouver Art Gallery, 7:00-10:00 p.m.
750 Hornby Street

Short and inspirational presentations will look at how this block has been used over the last few years and draw on inspiration from other cities.

:: Register for “A look forward”

Both events will include an illustrated brainstorming exercise that will collect ideas on what type of future uses are desired in each site.

:: For more information– City of Vancouver – Block 51 webpage

Related News

Our good friends at Vancouver Is Awesome just wrote a great letter in support of the permanent closure of the 800-block of Robson. You can check it out here. Thanks for your support VIA!

Why not write your own letter? Send your thoughts and ideas on the future of the 800-block of Robson Street, the north-end of the Art Gallery, (or both), to Mayor Gregor Robertson and members of Council – at mayorandcouncil [at] vancouver [dot] ca.

If you like the Twitter approach, consider following the discussion through that forum. The hashtag is #block51.

In April of 1966, artists from across the city gathered at the courthouse (now the Vancouver Art Gallery) and went to work paint the hoardings that surround the construction of the centennial fountain. The artists were invited and encouraged by Mayor Bill Rathie (to raise the ire of the Premier). Rathie was somewhat upset at the construction of the ‘secret’ fountain in such a central and integral public space with very little public input.

Behind the fountain was Premier W. A. C. Bennett. He refused to let anyone see the designs and put up the hoarding so no one could see it until it was complete. The Paint-in made the public space public again and in a way, it was a very successful (and simple) case of public engagement. Crowds of up to 700 amassed to see the paintings and painters in action. It was widely covered by the media (even internationally!). In this newspaper article, one woman lamented: “Everything is going to be so dull when it’s over.” Was she ever right.

When I passed the Art Gallery the other day, I saw that the great steps, formerly the grand entrance to the Courthouse on the Georgia Street side, were fenced off. I assume it’s to dissuade people from using them (re: Occupy Vancouver). Here’s how it looks when I walked by:

Public Space?

I think it’s time for an intervention in a very important public space in Vancouver. How about a paint-in? Public art as expression, as protest. How about? Leave a comment if you’re interested.

The Vancouver Archives finally has some more photos digitized from one of their private collections. Take a step back in time:

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This article was re-posted from Brandon Yan’s Masters Planning Blog.