Photo Credit: Modernchristianart.net
Chances are if you live in Vancouver you’ve driven by the iconic cross erected at the corner of Great Northern Way and Clark Drive. Written vertically in massive letters is the word East. Intersecting that horizontally is the word Van.
I’ve always thought that the cross was an especially powerful monument to East Vancouver, in many ways embodying the suffering and hopes of the neighborhood. According to a recent article in the Vancouver Sun by John Mackie, the East Van cross is indeed a potent symbol with historical roots in the area.
The iconic cross figure dates all the way back to the 1950s. Ken Lum, the artist who designed the monument pictured above, believes that it may have originally reflected the large Catholic population in East Van at the time.
But by the 1960s, the symbol had been appropriated by rebellious teens and “greasers” from the wrong side of the tracks. They would draw the East Van cross on denim jackets and scrawl it onto walls and sidewalks as a form of graffiti.
My roots in Vancouver don’t go back that far, but I can imagine what a statement that must have been back in the day: a celebration of being part of blue collar, rough-and-tumble East Van, at a time when the city itself was slowly becoming more sophisticated.
Nowadays, the cross has become an important symbol of East Van’s renaissance. According to at least one writer for the Vancouver Sun, the cultural heart of the city has officially shifted from west of Cambie Street to east of Cambie Street. Though problems with crime, drugs and poverty persist, East Van and its environs are home to some of the city’s most exciting new districts.
There’s Chinatown, reinvigorated with edgy new restaurants and bars. Main Street has been a locus for hip boutiques and eateries for years now. Commercial Drive is an alternative mecca brimming with authenticity. Strathcona is becoming a haven for artists and creative types. Even Fraser Street has witnessed a rebirth.
Does anyone remember seeing the East Van cross back in the ’50s and ’60s? What do you think of the way the cross has become a symbol for the East Van of today?
9:50 am
I’m not that old o recall 50/60′s, but I went to Templeton High School in the early 80′s and the East Van cross was prominent on the back of many jean jackets!
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11:21 am
i grew up in east van and personally don’t like the design as it makes van east look very cheap…if they stick with this design they should at least make it look more classy. it looks like a cheap motel sign. sorry.
7:14 pm
The EAST VAN CROSS?
In the 50′s and 60′s the east van cross was a symbol for a “multi-cultural city”.
Vancouver was the only city- that accepted Blacks/chinese/natives/whites.
They were the oldest graffiti artists that tagged
East Van cross everywhere they went.
Read up on the history of vancouver youth crime from the 1900-1985.
EAST VAN CROSS IS PRIDE.
consisting of – Businessmen/lawyers/doctors/dentists/city employees/hustlers/gangsters. truly what legends are made of.
also they pick the cross was picked because of its symbolisim.
Vancouver is all about RESPECT.
The East Van cross is trademarked
By Rocco Dipopolo
East van clothing is available at:
http://www.eastvaninc.com/
http://www.killa.ca
Come by support your local hustlas!!!!!
9:32 pm
Do not support eastvaninc. The fact that anyone was allowed to trademark an organic symbol of community spirit is truly sad. Violate the trademark. That, my friends, is the true spirit of East Van.
9:34 pm
Here’s the scoop on Mr. Dipopolo:
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/East+cross+image+sparks+visit+from+former+Hells+Angel+prospect/5086214/story.html
1:23 pm
I was born in E. Van in 1954. Both my parents and their combined 10 siblings were born and raised in the Renfrew Park area, from white working class families, and most of my (30) first cousins were born in E. Van. This is our family’s original homeland.
As a kid growing up, I always associated the east van cross with the tougher kids… usually the ones who were in trouble with the authorities. It was usually scrawled on school walls, public washrooms or on jackets, and I’ve even seen it tattooed on people plenty of times.
It never occurred to me that it could ever become a symbol of pride for East Vanners… but now that it has been elevated to that status, I think it’s a good idea. I certainly feel a lot of pride being an authentic East Vanner (even though I now live near Granville & 12th), and having this symbol is probably pretty cool… as long as I can detach it from the association with fear and rebelliousness, the way I saw it as a kid.
But maybe that’s just because of my age. I’m aware that things evolve, and there are plenty of symbols throughout history that have had mixed emotions attached to them, but have, for whatever reason, become entrenched in their various cultural roots. I can’t think of any other symbol that would be more identifiable for us E. Van folks.
In regards to the sign at Clark and Great Northern Way… the problem with it is simple. It’s just too damn big. As a result, it comes across as “in your face”… like whoever erected it is really trying too hard to make everyone notice it. That was my first thought when I first saw it, and that’s what I don’t like about it.
The pride we have for being East Vanners is much more of a quiet, subtle thing in my opinion. Sure there are rowdy bunches who will shout “East Van Rules” at times, but if an East Van symbol is to be erected in the form of a sign for all the world to see, it needs to be more like something that you would have to look for a bit harder, and then when you actually see it, you’ll think, “hey, that’s cool. It must be cool to be from E. Van”.
As it stands now, it’s much too gawdy and overpowering, and quite frankly, a little embarrassing. We’re generally quite cool, low-key people… and after all, we’re Canadians! Being from E. Van is largely about being cool (and a bit rough and tumble) IMHO, and having a big-ass blaring sign like this doesn’t properly reflect our spirit and who we really are.
As for the catholic thing… that’s a bunch of baloney. That was never a thought in anybody’s mind back in the ’60s. The only reason it was in the shape of a cross is because of the letter “A” which was common to both words… that’s it, period. It had nothing to do with religion. Sorry!
Anyhow, as for the sign, I hate to say this, but I think it should be taken down and replaced with a much more subtle version. That would make a whole lot of us East Vanners very happy.
I’m a graphic designer (so obviously I wasn’t one of the “tough” E. Van kids, LOL), and with every type of branding situation, it’s all about finding that delicate balance between obscurity and overkill. In this particular case, the designer has gone way overboard, and that is really unfortunate. I think that sign should be about half that size at the most.
8:35 am
It’s as tacky and vapid as the people who are not part of conservative family orientated normalcy.
12:00 am
I was born in 1954 Vancouver , grew up in East van . Beside Renfrew Park, Seen the Cross Sprayed at Windermere High scool in the late 60′s , guys wore it on their jean jackets …it was around ….I like it …Its very Vast Van…I like the big in your face sign ..it’s also very East Van….It’s got to be big so all the people down town can see it …not all guys in East van were tough guys …some were winps …some are posting here …
2:10 pm
Vancoroner must like scum. its a small city.
the cross is tacky as feces pies and blasphemous.
like vancouver. its as hoser as you can get.
its hilariously stupid. it really is. i hope the fault line from alaska to san bernadino opens up and eats your tacky bullshot port city. same with hoser toronto. EH.
1:35 pm
GFY Mike Prairie