The area we call False Creek – Olympic Village is the stretch of waterfront in the Fairview residential neighbourhood that runs from the east end of False Creek’s southern shore all the way to Granville Island. The Olympic Village facet of it is a massive residential development called The Village on False Creek in what used to be an industrial wasteland. The Village was the last work of architecture by Arthur Erickson (done in collaboration with many other firms), and the headquarters/residences of international Olympians during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. A long, snaking stretch of picturesque seawall connects it to Granville Island, which is home to the iconic Granville Island Public Market and a variety of artisan outposts, arts institutions, shops, galleries, and eateries.

In False Creek – Olympic Village at the moment (our HOOD palettes are ever-changing), we’re seeing the amber stain of the wooden tables in Granville Island Public Market; blooming crocus flowers; the seven colours of the Aquabus’ rainbow branding; a freshly boiled spot prawn exoskeleton; the hull of the Organic Ocean moored at False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf; ubiquitous condo tower same-same Vancouver tri-colour; the roof of the Salt Building; chocolate glazed doughnuts from Lee’s; Terra Breads’ yellow; giant House Sparrow sculpture tri-colour.

FURIOUS DRAGON BOAT RACES
BC’S MOST EXTENSIVE RETAIL COLLECTION OF TEQUILA AT LEGACY LIQUOR STORE
FOLSK LOUNGING ON THE OVERSIZED GRANITE STEPS THAT LEAD TO THE TIDAL WATERS
PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS DOUBLING AS LOUNGE FURNITURE
THE WEE AQUABUS FERRYING PASSENGERS AROUND FALSE CREEK
CANDLELIGHT YOGA AT THE CREEKSIDE COMMUNITY CENTRE (NOT A JOKE)
TOURS OF THE LIBERTY DISTILLERY
A VERY FINE PRINTMAKING OUTFIT
THE GLORIOUS ESCAPE OF BEER ISLAND
SEAGULLS EATING STARFISHES WHOLE (FOR REAL)
GIGANTIC HOUSE SPARROW SCULPTURES BY MYFANWY MACLEOD
FOOD TRUCK FEST IN THE SUMMER
PICNICS IN THE PARK AT 1ST & COLUMBIA
THE WATERPARK AT GRANVILLE ISLAND’S FALSE CREEK COMMUNITY CENTRE
TOURISTS MESMERIZED BY THE MECHANIZED BALL CONTRAPTION OUTSIDE SCIENCE WORLD
THE ANNUAL SPOT PRAWN FESTIVAL
JAPANESE STAINLESS STEEL SAMURAI SCISSORS AT PAPER-YA
ROTATING EXHIBITIONS IN THE ECUAD CONCOURSE GALLERY

– To accommodate the expansive Western terminus of the Canadian National Railway, more than 300 acres of False Creek tidal flats were filled in from Main Street to Clark Drive.

– The famous Dragon Boat races at False Creek were held for the first time in 1989.

– Craft Beer Market has 140 beers on tap.

– False Creek was known throughout up to the 1950s as the industrial capital of Vancouver.

– Vancouver’s first five-alarm fire destroyed the BC Forest Products plant on the South Side of False Creek in 1960, which led to decreased commercial activity.

– At the end of World War II, shipbuilding at False Creek was Vancouver’s largest industry.

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