Welcome to the Vancouver Lexicon. Its purpose is to pin down the patois of the City of Vancouver by recording its toponyms, nicknames, slang terms, personalities, places, and other Van-centric things. Full A-Z here.

Artesian | marketing | An unseen mythical creature invented and alluded to by television marketers (Chiat Day Advertising) to help sell Olympia beer to Washingtonians (and thus, British Columbians) in the early 1980s. The campaign culminated in a catchy commercial jingle that asked “Are there or aren’t there Artesians? D’ya think one will ever be found?” The water for the beer – a lager – was originally drawn from an artesian well, hence the play on the term. Olympia was brewed until 2003.

Usage: “Some kids grew up believing in dragons, unicorns, elves and faeries, but I came of age still believing in the existence of Artesians.”

See also: Wild Rainier.