There’s a beautiful group of trees on the edge of Coal Harbour in Downtown Vancouver that hold very special meaning: A group of cherry blossoms known as Cherry Grove, located at Devonian Harbour Park near the entrance to Stanley Park, was the world’s first-known AIDS memorial.
“The first fallen pink petals were followed by too many others. Gone, but never forgotten.”
Cherry Blossoms Are World’s First-Known AIDS Memorial in Vancouver
Musician Mark Kleiner first told me about this memorial in a 2014 interview, and said it wasn’t widely publicized when the trees were planted in the 1980s. When we spoke, it had yet to be officially recognize but he said the Vancouver Park Board was working on getting a plaque installed.
“According to a Vancouver Sun article dated October 21, 1985, four cherry trees were planted near Stanley Park in the memory of four men who died of AIDS. Indicative of the homophobia and AIDS/HIV stigma prevalent at the time, particularly during the onset of the AIDS crisis that ravaged LGBT communities, the men were only identified by their first names—James, Ivan, Gino, and Randy. Furthermore, an AIDS Vancouver spokesperson at the time requested that the location not be revealed in order to prevent the trees from being vandalized.” (Source: AIDS Memorial Info)
A plaque was installed on a large boulder in July 2018:
First Known AIDS Memorial Planted on October 20, 1985 This grove of cherry trees is a living monument, planted in loving memory of those we lost in the very early days of the AIDS epidemic here in Vancouver.
In Vancouver, there is another AIDS memorial, the steel ribbon installed in 2004, at English Bay.
Vancouver has over 40,000 cherry and plum trees, in urban areas and parks. The city’s original 500 cherry trees were a gift from the mayors of Kobe and Yokohama in the 1930s, thanking the city for honoring Japanese Canadians who served in WWI.
This grove is the first known AIDS memorial. Planted Oct 20, 1985 “In loving memory of those we lost in the very early days of the AIDS epidemic here in Vancouver. The first fallen pink petals were followed by too many others. Gone, but never forgotten.” @AIDSVancouver pic.twitter.com/Fc4KASIUMk
The trees in Cherry Grove usually bloom a bit later than the rest of the city, I have taken photos and video of them in all their glory around mid-April each year. Be sure to stop by next time you’re in the area and admire the love and meaning of these blossoms.
Learn more about how your coffee goes from bean to cup at The Trail of Coffee, a new event curated by Latincouver. Guests will be connected with coffee-growing regions through engaging exhibits, presentations, tastings, and more.
Photo submitted
The Trail of Coffee
Dates: Saturday, April 20, 2024
Times: 12:00pm to 8:30pm
Location: The Pipe Shop (115 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver)
Tickets:Available online now for $25 – $35. Early-bird discount pricing ($20 – $30) is available until March 31.
Purchase a ‘Coffee Flavour Explorer Pass’ for access to exhibitions, speakers and delicious food and beverages from the Café Bar. The ‘VIP Coffee Trail Pass’ adds access to workshops and tastings for hands-on, immersive experiences, coffee cocktails, and more.
Live music, food vendors, and demonstrations, including latte art and tastings will take place all day and into the evening at a favourite venue in North Vancouver’s Shipyards District.
Latin countries in South and Central America are leading global coffee producers, building not only economic value but community by growing, processing, and exporting one of the world’s most beloved beverages. Coffee-centered festivals thrive in other parts of the world, and Latincouver is proud to bring this celebration of the bean to Vancouver. Connect with them on Instagram for more info.
With the support of his outstanding 18-piece live band and a full orchestra, audiences will be swept away from the sound of the first note and journey through an array of well-loved scores throughout Zimmer’s career. The tour marks the North American return of the “Hollywood Rebel” (according to the BBC) who has been selling out arenas around the world with his live show.
In a groundbreaking audio and visual show, the multiple Academy Award® and Grammy winning Zimmer, his band and the orchestra will perform a selection of the composer’s scores from some of cinema’s biggest films. The newly arranged concert suites include music from Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Dark Knight, Interstellar, The Lion King, The Last Samurai and Dune, for which Zimmer received his second Academy Award®.
Hans Zimmer’s extraordinary melodies and modern compositions captivate a huge worldwide fan base across generations. He has already energized countless international cinema blockbusters, in addition to the above: James Bond – No Time to Die, Inception, Dunkirk, Man of Steel, The Dark Knight trilogy, Wonder Woman, Kung Fu Panda, 12 Years A Slave, Top Gun: Maverick, and Dune: Part Two.
Hans Zimmer has scored more than 500 projects across all mediums, which combined have grossed more than 28 billion dollars at the worldwide box office. Zimmer has been honoured with two Academy Awards®, three Golden Globes®, four Grammys®, an American Music Award, and a Tony® Award.
Surrey Art Gallery presents Takao Tanabe: Printmakerexhibition on display from April 13 to June 2, 2024.
Takeo Tanabe at Surrey Art Gallery
Date: April 13 to June 2, 2024
Location: Surrey Art Gallery (13750 88 Ave, Surrey)
Tickets: Free admission
Takao Tanabe, Prairie Storm, 1976/2003, lithograph and acrylic wash on paper. Collection of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Photo: Vancouver Art Gallery
Oraganized by the Kelowna Art Gallery with Guest Curator Ian M. Thom, Takao Tanabe: Printmaker exhibition at the Surrey Art Gallery features over sixty prints by renowned artist Takao Tanabe from their collection, as well as Vancouver Art Gallery and Winnipeg Art Gallery’s collections.
Tanabe is among Canada’s most celebrated painters and printmakers, recognized for landscapes that bridge the gap between abstraction and realism.
Although celebrated for his paintings, Tanabe has also pursued printmaking throughout his life. The range of works on display span the entirety of Tanabe’s career, from his earliest linocut Christmas Cards dating from 1948 to depictions of the West Coast landscape completed as recently as 2023. As well as the tranquil, contemplative portrayals of the Gulf Islands and the Albertan plains, the exhibition includes screen-printed hard-edge colour abstractions from the 1960s, monotypes (single editions) of natural forms from the 1950s, and some of the physical woodblocks used to produce his more recent prints.
More about the artist
From the National Gallery: “The son of a commercial fisherman, Tanabe Tanabe summered in fishing camps on the Skeena River, B.C. He was interned as a Japanese alien during World War II. Tanabe’s abstract paintings of the 1950s (Interior Arrangement with Red Hills, 1957) were succeeded in the early 1960s by Japanese-influenced ink drawings (Falling Water, 1967). From 1961 to 1968, Tanabe taught at the Vancouver Art School, painting murals. In 1968 he worked in Philadelphia, moving in 1969 to New York City. Based there until 1972, he painted hard-edge geometric abstracts in strong colours (Untitled No. 4, 1968). These evolved in the 1970s into semi-abstract landscapes dominated by wide horizons, influenced by Tanabe’s encounters with northern Pennsylvania, the Hudson River Valley, and the Canadian praire and foothills. From 1973, Tanabe headed the Art Department and was Artist-in-Residence at Banff School of Fine Arts. He moved to Vancouver Island in 1980. Tanabe’s quiet, light-bathed landscapes capture the essence of time and place. He has exhibited since 1950, earning an international reputation.”
This exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated exhibition catalogue with essays by Guest Curator Ian M. Thom and Curator Christine May. There will also be two events in connection to Takao Tanabe: Printmaker including Exhibition Tour and Talk with Ian M. Thom and Sherri Kajiwara on Wednesday, April 24 (7:00pm to 8:30pm) and Peter Braune’s Talk and Printmaking Workshop on Saturday, May 11 (2:00pm to 3:30pm). Find all gallery events here.
Experience Easter in Vancouver with indulgent brunch buffets offered by local restaurants throughout the long weekend. Gather your loved ones and enjoy classic breakfast favourites alongside seasonal specialties.
H2 Kitchen + Bar Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet. Photo Submitted.
Easter Brunch Buffets & More Around Vancouver
Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet | H2 Kitchen + Bar (1601 Bayshore Dr, Vancouver) Sunday, March 31, 2024 from 11:30am to 3:00pm Hop into an egg-straordianry feast with an array of fresh colourful salads, hot entrees, and signature brunch favourites at H2 Kitchen + Bar. Save room for desserts featuring cupcakes, New York-style cheesecake, and a chocolate fountain with all the fixing. The full menu is available online. Additionally, checkout the live bunny interaction station in the hotel lobby (starting at 11:00am). Reservations can be made online.
Easter Sunday Brunch | Glowbal (590 W Georgia St, Vancouver) Sunday, March 31, 2024 from 10:00am to 2:30pm Make this Easter long weekend extra special with an all-you-can-eat Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet at Glowbal. Enjoy a festive menu featuring hot and cold West-Coast inspired creations such as brunch poutine, a chilled seafood buffet, and an eggs-benny station and of course decadent dessert options. The full menu is available online. Brunch classics waffles, pancakes, bacon, and more will also be available. Reservations can be made online.
Easter Brunch Buffet| Dockside Restaurant (1253 Johnston St, Vancouver) Sunday, March 31, 2024 from 10:00am to 2:00pm Delight in a delicious Easter Brunch Buffet surrounded by waterfront views at Dockside Restaurant. Indulge in a large assortment of cold stations, classic brunch offerings, and treats. Choose from seemingly endless options of salads, smoked and cured local fish, charcuterie, and so much more. View the full menu here. Eggs and toast, seasonal roasted vegetables and potatoes, eggs benedict station, and Belgian waffles with toppings are also available. Reservations can be made online.
