Vancouver Art Gallery Christmas Tree Lighting 2009
byTonight at 5:30pm a 50-foot high Christmas tree will be lit in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery. The tree is put in place by local real estate development firm, AMACON, as they help raise funds for various local causes over the holidays.
Organizations that are supported by AMACON and its colleagues include: BC Lions Courage for Kids, Empty Stocking Fund, Rock 101 Cares, Lasting M.A.G.I.C, BC Children’s Hospital, Amateur Sports in BC, Canada Company and The Diana Krall Foundation.
Special appearances tonight include The BC Lions and the BC Lions Cheerleaders, Vancouver Children’s Choir, Arimasu Taiko Drummers, Rock 101’s Bro Jake, Vancouver Giants, and Santa. Honorary guests Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, and Sindi Hawkins will be present to help light the tree.
Update: I stood outside for about two hours to cover this event and I have to say, it’s cold out there folks. Luckily I wasn’t shivering too hard and was able to snap some shots of the festivities including many of the performers (such as the Vancouver Childrens Choir, the Arimasu Taiko Drummers).
Many cheques were also given to various organizations with members of the BC Lions and even little Lola (seen in the white coat below) were on hand to make some of the presentations.
Diana Krall and her husband Elvis Costello were on hand to accept a donation to VGH’s Krall Centre and also to push the big red button to light the AMACON Christmas Tree on the Art Gallery lawn.
Stop by anytime over the holiday to enjoy the tree. You can view the rest of my photos from the lighting ceremony on Flickr.
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[…] December 8, 2009: The 2009 tree lighting happens tonight at 5:30pm with special guests including Diana Krall & Elvis […]
It also looks like there’s a large menorah out there too this year, unless I’m mistaken.
If I get off work early enough, I’ll just make it past on my walk home.
That tree was were the scavenger hunt ended last year for FujiFilm!
I do like that snowy photo though.
Looks like the menorah lighting will take place this Monday at 5:30 PM
Thanks Rebecca. I’m a huge Elvis Costello fan and couldn’t make it. Really appreciate the pix!
Let’s celebrate Christmas and the tree tonight, its very sacred to me. The Menorah can have its turn on Friday….
Nice shots! I missed Elvis (he is only biding his time with Diana, mark my words) but the tree and menorah are vast improvements on that loathesome Olympic clock. Seriously, no matter how you feel about the Olympics themselves, that this is one big, steel lump of WTF.
Great pics! Glad you were able to make it out!
Overall it was a great night – loved the children’s choirs and old Carols, and the Tyco drummers were great too. I had to restrain myself from yelling ‘Freebird’ between the bagpipers’ set. But, that’s just because I’m weird.
Being somewhat of a Costello-head it was interesting seeing him in a new context; as a guy supporting a cause which has long been championed by his wife and her family. And kind of nice that one of my heroes is in the neighbourhood somewhere, too.
Cheers for this post, instrumental as it was in my being at the event.