Ilanaaq Inukshuk
Ilanaaq Inukshuk
4.5
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4.5
23 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
11
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2
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0
Terrible
0
TeamWard
Nottingham, UK5,691 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
The Inukshuk at the bottom of the English beach bay is well worth visiting, you can almost imagine it coming to life, go visit
Written 23 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PookyCake
Victoria, Canada14,505 contributions
Nov 2020
Noted as “one of Vancouver’s most iconic and recognizable art pieces,” the Inukshuk at English Bay is sure to please many. It is a marvelous feat of engineering and design; its location is extremely picturesque; and, it seamlessly blends in with its surroundings, effortlessly combining the contemporary and the ancient in an attractive way and manner. Vancouver’s Inukshuk is also an intriguing discussion piece.
I can recall one of the first times I came upon the English Bay Inukshuk. It was in February 2014 on an unusually bright yet chilly day. I’d walked down to English Bay to clear my head and relax – I guess you could call it a sort of physical (and mental) therapy. After taking in the views, I began wandering toward the Sunset Beach area and that’s when I came upon the Inukshuk. It was captivating and looked quite stunning against the clear blue sky. At the time, my ignorance had me believe this was in place because of the 2010 Winter Olympics; of course, I couldn’t have been more wrong. A plaque on site notes that the Inukshuk was commissioned by the Northwest Territories government for their pavilion at Expo 86. After the Expo concluded, the Inukshuk was gifted to the city of Vancouver and moved to its current location, overlooking English Bay, in 1987. Mind blown! So much for my thinking this was a recent installation, though it’s pretty awesome to know it’s a legacy piece of Expo 86.
My ignorance notwithstanding, it’s not uncommon for most to associate this Inukshuk with Vancouver 2010; after all, a multi-coloured Inukshuk was the official logo for those games. And while it might seem strange that VANOC chose a symbol primarily associated with the far north and Inuit to represent BC (admittedly, I’ve always wondered about this), I guess I can see why they did so. The information plaque on site notes that an Inukshuk “also represents northern hospitality and friendship.” Vancouver did want to welcome the world in 2010.
But then, there are those confused terms. The TripAdvisor listing calls this site “Ilanaaq Inukshuk.” The term “Ilanaaq” appears nowhere on the information plaque, but translates to “friendship.” Given that the Inukshuk, here, is being used to “welcome” people warmly, then using the term “Ilanaaq” makes sense; however, I’d be remiss if I failed to mention that there’s been considerable debate about whether this structure actually is an Inukshuk. According to Peter Irniq, the Inuit never built Inukshuks with a head, arms and legs. Instead, these figures are called “inunguat,” which means “imitation of man.” I actually like that.
Anyway, apparent confusion of terms aside, there’s no denying that this structure is impressive. On my most recent visit to the English Bay area, I couldn’t help but stand and admire it . . . and yes, it did have me reflecting back on 2010 again!
I can recall one of the first times I came upon the English Bay Inukshuk. It was in February 2014 on an unusually bright yet chilly day. I’d walked down to English Bay to clear my head and relax – I guess you could call it a sort of physical (and mental) therapy. After taking in the views, I began wandering toward the Sunset Beach area and that’s when I came upon the Inukshuk. It was captivating and looked quite stunning against the clear blue sky. At the time, my ignorance had me believe this was in place because of the 2010 Winter Olympics; of course, I couldn’t have been more wrong. A plaque on site notes that the Inukshuk was commissioned by the Northwest Territories government for their pavilion at Expo 86. After the Expo concluded, the Inukshuk was gifted to the city of Vancouver and moved to its current location, overlooking English Bay, in 1987. Mind blown! So much for my thinking this was a recent installation, though it’s pretty awesome to know it’s a legacy piece of Expo 86.
My ignorance notwithstanding, it’s not uncommon for most to associate this Inukshuk with Vancouver 2010; after all, a multi-coloured Inukshuk was the official logo for those games. And while it might seem strange that VANOC chose a symbol primarily associated with the far north and Inuit to represent BC (admittedly, I’ve always wondered about this), I guess I can see why they did so. The information plaque on site notes that an Inukshuk “also represents northern hospitality and friendship.” Vancouver did want to welcome the world in 2010.
But then, there are those confused terms. The TripAdvisor listing calls this site “Ilanaaq Inukshuk.” The term “Ilanaaq” appears nowhere on the information plaque, but translates to “friendship.” Given that the Inukshuk, here, is being used to “welcome” people warmly, then using the term “Ilanaaq” makes sense; however, I’d be remiss if I failed to mention that there’s been considerable debate about whether this structure actually is an Inukshuk. According to Peter Irniq, the Inuit never built Inukshuks with a head, arms and legs. Instead, these figures are called “inunguat,” which means “imitation of man.” I actually like that.
Anyway, apparent confusion of terms aside, there’s no denying that this structure is impressive. On my most recent visit to the English Bay area, I couldn’t help but stand and admire it . . . and yes, it did have me reflecting back on 2010 again!
Written 8 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sujatojo
Sydney, Australia202 contributions
May 2018
You can's miss the Inukshuk if you are walking along the beach path, its lovely and my favourite new word. So easy to build, there were lots of mini Inukshuk built by passers by on the beach.
Written 27 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris D
New Westminster, Canada3,329 contributions
Apr 2018 • Solo
Stumbled across this while walking eastward from English Bay to Sunset Beach. Not only is this piece of art beautiful on it's own, but it's location, on a spit jutting into English Bay, forms a perfect backdrop. Truly a photographer's nirvana.
Written 13 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris D
New Westminster, Canada3,329 contributions
Aug 2020
Whether it is my respect and appreciation for the ingenuity and talents of the Indigenous people who designed and built this, or the way it blends and enhances the natural setting in which it has been placed, I may never know; but it should be considered one of the hidden gems of Vancouver.
Tourists may wonder about it's bona fides: inukshuks are directional devices, used in northern Canada for centuries as a sort of road map. This edifice was a gift to Vancouver as part of Expo 86, and became associated with the winter Olympics held here about ten years ago.
And....great sunsets!
Tourists may wonder about it's bona fides: inukshuks are directional devices, used in northern Canada for centuries as a sort of road map. This edifice was a gift to Vancouver as part of Expo 86, and became associated with the winter Olympics held here about ten years ago.
And....great sunsets!
Written 13 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dawne K
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam29 contributions
Jun 2019
I love this Inuhksuk right at a great location on Beach Ave in downtown Vancouver. Walking/Biking/Rollerblading around the seawall is a great option to do with kids or without. Then outside the park you get to beach avenue and see this landmark
Written 6 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bucketlisttravellers
Sydney, Australia3,646 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
This installation is positioned looking out over the harbour. There is information to help understand the significance of the inukshuk. It is quite imposing and makes for some good photo opportunities.
Written 21 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R1chardN
Surbiton, UK626 contributions
Aug 2019
Apparently, this is well know in Vancouver but my research did not uncover it!
I was riding round Stanley Park and then you cannot miss it if you take the perimeter path. It's just a short detour off the path.
It's is calming and soothing but I am not sure why it is in the Park. I did not read the plaque but did buy a souvenir from the shop by the Totem Poles.
I was riding round Stanley Park and then you cannot miss it if you take the perimeter path. It's just a short detour off the path.
It's is calming and soothing but I am not sure why it is in the Park. I did not read the plaque but did buy a souvenir from the shop by the Totem Poles.
Written 11 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle
Gotha, Florida3,029 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
We were riding around Stanley Park and took a detour south to see this. We rode down the hill and parked our bikes near the inukshuk. It was an easy stop from the bike trail that goes around the city.
Written 12 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chrisinkingwood2
Houston, TX5,601 contributions
Jan 2019 • Solo
This was more of a drive by for me and while I could see the neatly stacked rocks as I drove by I could not read a plaque or get a photography.
Written 24 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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