Daily Archives: 25 July, 2022

Waterfront Park (North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

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Waterfront Park

Upon arrival at Lonsdale Quay and exiting the ferry terminal, Grace, Jandy, Bryan, Kyle and I turned to the left and, after walking less than 180 m., reached snug Waterfront Park on the banks of Vancouver Harbor. Here, there are plenty of walking trails for us to get immersed in nature, irrespective of weather.

One of the first parks in British Columbia, in the 1800s, the area of Waterfront Park was originally a sawmill. When the mill closed, the place was redeveloped and turned into a park which officially opened in 1985, just in time for Expo ’86.

Perfect for a family picnic on a nice day, wheelchair and buggy accessible Waterfront Park has plenty of benches, picnic tables and places to sit throughout the park, as well as a children’s play park. Also found within the park are a dock (Goldsworthy Dock), a large grassy area, a dog park, a small Japanese garden, a maritime memorial and restrooms. There were also several artists selling their creations.

Children’s play park

Frequently, on summer weekends, the park is activated with a festival with food, flea markets and events such as Philippine Days (cultural event in June) and Canada Day Celebrations (July 1).  Caribbean Days, a cultural festival in July, used to happen in Waterfront Park until it moved to Coquitlam in 2022.  In addition, this is a great place to watch the International Fireworks Competition from Stanley Park when it is on.

Waterfront Park is also one of about eight parks and other outdoor public venues where you can drink alcohol in public, subject to certain times and restrictions, in the City of North Vancouver. You don’t even have to buy it there as you can bring your own booze. Other venues where you can do that include Shipbuilders’ Square and Cates Deck near Lonsdale Quay, both of which are just a 5-min. walk from Waterfront Park.

Goldsworthy Dock

We strolled by the water, catching some beautiful and spectacular wide-angle views, either from the shore or the covered Goldsworthy Dock, of the Vancouver skyline, Lyons Gate Bridge and the Burrard Inlet. Here, we also watched the SeaBus come and go as well as other ships navigating the harbor.  Too bad we weren’t lucky enough to see a harbor seal or other marine mammals.

View of the Vancouver skyline from Goldsworthy Dock

We also passed some of the park’s collection of great public art honoring the history and culture of the area. Currently, within the park are three main pieces.

Cathedral (Douglas Senft)

Cathedral, the biggest and most noticeable piece of art, was created by Douglas Senft in 1985 and placed in the park in May 1986.  This archway of large flowing structural steel beams was bent and arranged to echo the outlines of the heavily-treed mountain peaks from North Vancouver to Howe Sound.

Although it’s tempting (especially for younger children), the city asks visitors not to climb on the artwork.

Harubang

A large, 9-ft. high statue called Harubang, made from porous Korean whinstone, is another notable piece of art along the waterfront. Donated to the community by South Korea to promote understanding and friendship between the Port of Vancouver and the Port of Incheon, it is similar to sculptures commonly found on Jeju Island to serve the dual function of guardian and boundary marker.

First Nations Theme Pavilion

The First Nations Theme Pavilion, at the southwest corner of the park, is also home to two Welcome Figures.  Representing a grandfather and grandmother welcoming visitors to the Great Trail, it was carved by a Squamish Nation artist.

A Welcome Figure

Not far from the First Nations Theme Pavilion is the Sailor’s Point Memorial commemorates the sailors lost in the North Atlantic during World War II. The memorial is designed like a compass with plaques and signs describing the history of the area.

Sailor’s Point Memorial

Waterfront Park: Block 200, Esplanade W, North Vancouver, British Columbia V7M 1A5.  Tel: (604) 985-7761.

How to Get There: Waterfront Park is just a 12-minute Seabus ride away, across Burrard Inlet, from Waterfront Station in Downtown Vancouver to Lonsdale Quay in the Lower Lonsdale District of North Vancouver. The park is just a 10-min. walk away.

Gastown Steam Clock (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

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Gastown Steam Clock (photo: Bryan E. Cruz)

This steam-powered clock , Gastown’s most famous (though nowhere near oldest) landmark, is one of the only functioning steam-powered clocks in the world.  It was designed and built in 1977 (to marked the completion of the city’s revitalization project) by Canadian clockmaker Raymond L. Saunders to cover a steam grate, part of Vancouver‘s distributed steam heating system as a way to harness the steam and to prevent street people from sleeping on the spot in cold weather.

The author and Jandy at Gastown (photo: Bryan E. Cruz)

At the time, it was considered as either the first (the world’s first steam clock is often credited to British engineer John Inshaw, who supposedly built the clock to attract customers to his pub in Birmingham, UK during the mid-19th century) or second steam-powered clock ever built. Saunders has since built six different public steam clocks for clients such as the city of Otaru, Japan, and the Indiana State Museum. In 2010, he built a clock for Vancouver’s York House School‘s 78th birthday.

Plaque at West Side reads:
Gastown
This clock is located at the western boundary of the old Granville townsite, known as Gastown. In 1870, the shore of Burrard Inlet was only a few yards north of this point. Through the early 1900’s, Gastown was the commercial centre of Vancouver. By the 1960’s, it had become the centre of Vancouver’s ‘skid road’. In the early 1970’s, it was rehabilitated to its former stature. The success of its rehabilitation was due to property owners, retailers, and all the people of Gastown working together with city council and civic departments. The townsite committee, composed of the property owners of Gastown, were responsible for the beautification of the streets. John W. Parker served as chairman of the committee between Jan. 1967 and Sept. 1977.

Originally, its design was faulty and, after a breakdown, had to be powered by electricity. As it had become a major tourist attraction, the steam mechanism was completely restored with the financial support ($58,000) of local businesses and private donors and, although it is of modern invention, is promoted as a heritage feature.  The Gastown clock is not completely powered by steam as the steam engine that drives the clock mechanism is assisted by an electric motor. Weighing over two tons, the component parts the clock cost $42,000.

Plaque at South Side
(facing into the street) reads:

The Gastown Steam Clock
Dedicated to the citizens of Vancouver by the community of Gastown. Presented by former Mayor Art Phillips, a freeman of the borough of Gastown, to his worship Jack Volrich, Mayor of the City of Vancouver on September 24, AD 1977

The steam used to power a miniature steam engine in the base of the clock is low pressure downtown-wide steam heating network (from the Central Heat Distributors plant adjacent to the Georgia Viaduct) which, in turn, drives a chain lift. The chain lift moves steel balls upward, where they are unloaded and roll to a descending chain. The weight of the balls on the descending chain drives a conventional pendulum clock escapement, geared to the hands on the four faces.

Plaque at East Side reads:
Gastown Steam Clock Sponsors
Anonymous Contributor
The Vancouver Gastown Lions Club
The City of Vancouver
The Gastown Historic Society, Woodward’s Stores Ltd., Marathon Project 200 Properties, John & Patricia Parker, Charterhouse Properties Ltd., Central Heat Distribution Ltd., Milton & Marion Saunders, Air Canada, Simpson Sears Ltd., Georgina M. Barnes, McNab Management Ltd., Ralph Johnstone, Otto Friedl Ltd., German-Canadian Businessman Association, John Podlesnik, Cathay & May Chan, The Harco Building, Hudson House, Ashiteru Rae, The Bakersville Inn, MacDonald & Lumsden Ltd., The Water Street Café

The gravity driven “falling ball” drive was ‘engineered’ by Douglas L. Smith. The steam also powers the clock’s sound production, with whistles being used instead of bells to produce the Westminster “chime” and to signal the time. It shoots steam at the top of every hour and announces quarter hours, sounding the chimes on 5 brass steam whistlers, with the Westminster Quarters; a common clock chime melody that’s also used by London’s “Big Ben.”  In October 2014, the clock was temporarily removed for major repairs by its original builder, and was reinstalled January 2015.

Plaque at North Side reads:
The Gastown Steam Clock
Designed and built by
Raymond L. Saunders
Horologist
The world’s first steam powered clock has been created for the enjoyment of everyone. The live steam winds the weights and blows the whistles. Every 4.5 minutes one steel weight will travel by steam power to the top of the clock. The gravity driven “falling ball” drive was ‘engineered’ by Douglas L. Smith. Each quarter hour the clock will sound the Westminster Chimes. The large whistle will sound once on the hour. The steam is supplied by the underground system of Central Heat Distributors [typo – should be Distribution] Limited. The component parts cost $42,000 and the clock weighs over two tons.

Gastown Steam Clock: 305 Water St. cor. Cambie St., Gastown, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 1B9.