Make West Vancouver the focus of new Bridge Festival, citizen urges

Above: Royal Canadian Legion Colour Party marching in the West Vancouver Community Day Parade, June 6, 1987. PHOTO: West Vancouver Library

A local citizen is calling upon the district to make West Vancouver the focus of the new Bridge Festival.

West Vancouver citizen Christine Ballantine said the theme of the new festival could be “The Best of West Vancouver” with far more emphasis on the display of the West Vancouver community flag and Coat of Arms, much like the Canadian flag on Canada Day.

“There is so much that could be done with West Vancouver’s name and flag on T-shirts, water bottles, and mugs etc, and the proceeds of the sale can offset the costs. Small West Vancouver paper flags could be handed along the parade route–a souvenir to take home along with civic pride,” she said.

Ballantine said the district could also have a competition for best displays and floats, and offer cash incentives for best and most colourful displays and encourage different cultural groups to be part of the festival.

Meanwhile, another West Vancouver citizen has written to the district asking how district would mitigate traffic and noise impact from the two-day festival.

Fiona McIssac said she isn’t against having such festivals in the community, but the district must actively mitigate concerns around traffic, noise, and extra parking in residential neighbourhoods.

McIssac said the district should consider providing extra parking in schools and shuttle bus service for people while encouraging people to take transit.

The Community Day celebrations in West Vancouver will transform into Bridge Festival–a new two-day multicultural event that will take place on May 31 and June 1.

This new festival will include interactive cultural pavilions, performances, a parade, activities that the district hopes will provide opportunity for guests to play, share and socialize.

The event will feature some of the traditional Community Day activities, as well as host new activities including music and dance performances, multicultural pavilions, activities for kids and lots of different food options, said Kristi Merilees, West Vancouver’s manager of community relations and communications.

The event will also host a multicultural themed walking parade that will showcase along West Vancouver’s waterfront and into the centre of the event, Merilees added.

The event is titled Bridge Festival – where people love to be together, is intended to “bridge” people and places together, in addition, the Lions Gate Bridge is symbolic of West Vancouver and helps identify the location of the event, Ambleside Park, she noted.