its beginning to look a lot like christmas
By erin on November 29, 2010 | Filed Under events, faces & places
I did not grow up in Vancouver. This is not that unique really for a city of this size. In fact, I am often surprised by how many people from here aren’t actually from here. I grew up on Vancouver Island in the world’s smallest town of Cobble Hill (okay, its not REALLY the world’s smallest, but believe me as a teenager, it felt that way). However, my grandparents lived over here, so we frequently made trips for visits, especially during the holiday season.
(Editor’s note: I did grow up in Vancouver and my Dad worked right around the corner from Woodward’s in the Sun Tower and every year seeing the Woodward’s windows – and visiting their delicious food floor - was one of our family traditions that I can’t wait to introduce to our girls!)
One of our favourite destinations was Woodward’s. We would stop for a visit to Santa, pick up our stash of Woodwards brand peanut butter (which is now available again at the Nestors at Woodward’s. Thank you Nestors) and other yummy treats (the best food floor ever) and of course, gaze in wonder at the Woodward’s window display.
"Christmas Windows" (detail) Acrylic on Canvas by Brian Croft
The Woodwards window display has been a Vancouver holiday tradition since the 1960s. Each window display featured classic holiday scenes with animated characters and elaborate decor. I remember staring at each window for what seemed like hours, trying to absorb every detail, from horses and carriages, to tiny bookshops, to teddy bears at play to the always adored Santa’s Workshop. Canada Place purchased the displays in 1993 following the closure of the Woodward’s department store and incorporated them into the Christmas magic at Canada Place.
Woodwards Window Display- Book Store
This year, in partnership with corporate sponsors like Bentall Centre, BC Ferries Vacations and TD Canada Trust at Woodward’s, Canada Place is showcasing six of of these works of art throughout Vancouver as part of the Woodwards Windows Walking Tour.
The campaign launched this morning, fittingly enough, with an event at the TD Canada Trust at Woodward’s. Window display engineer and Christmas enthusiast David Rowland of Creatix Studios said that it took over 100 man hours to painstakingly recreate these iconic windows. Some pieces needed to be rebuilt, renovated, recreated and refurbished in order to bring them back to their former glory.
The final touches were being put on the windows as we watched, and it was almost like being a kid again. The horse and cart display were being brought to life piece by piece…from the fluffy snow on the ground to the nodding geese, which I TOTALLY remember from when I was wee. I wanted to leap in the window and hug the young man building the display…he was rebuilding my childhood, one animated goose at a time.
Woodwards Window Display-The Bakeshop
The walking tour is part of the 23rd annual Christmas at Canada Place. The event features the Woodward’s Windows from December 1 to 24 and Breakfast with Santa, December 18 and 19. Christmas at Canada Place raises funds and awareness for the Strathcona Food Program. Donations are gratefully accepted at TD Canada Trust at Hastings & Abbott, Monday to Saturday during business hours. Self guided walking tour maps are available at any display location and online.
I know I can’t wait to make these windows part of my family’s holiday traditions. We attended our first Santa Claus parade in Burnaby this weekend to great success, and I am sure Mr. M will be as in awe of these windows as I was. We’ll also be attending Breakfast with Santa (which yoyomama is sponsoring) so that the wee one (and his mum) can get a picture with Santa. Our holiday calendar is already filling up, and I still want to go to the Festival of Lights, the One Of A Kind Show, and of course get Mr M”s picture taken with Santa on a Harley.
I think something may have to give.
