Celebrating 20 years of Geocaching! 2000-2020
September 26th 18:00-20:00
These 20th Anniversary events are all about celebrating the Geocaching Community. Guelph Park has always been the centerpiece of community life in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood. As one of Vancouver’s most vibrant artistic neighborhoods since the 1950s, it was only logical that the park became the recipient of some slightly subversive stealth art.
It all started in 1991, when a piece by sculptor Michael Dennis titled Reclining Figure was installed in the park. Reclining Figure struck some in the neighborhood as an impressionistic vision of just some guy kicking back. A “dude chilling,” you might say. For years the name gained traction, to the point where most locals referred to the small patch of green space as “Dude Chilling Park.”
Without permission, in 2012 local artist Viktor Briestensky erected a lighthearted sign renaming the park. Briestensky’s sign was identical to the official Vancouver Parks Department signs, but instead featured the park’s beloved nickname. Unsurprisingly, the city took the sign down. After all, the park had an official name, one derived from the old family name of Queen Victoria no less.
But while the city may have taken it down, the name lived on, and the removal of the joke sign did not go without public outcry. The people of Mount Pleasant had come to love the name, and a petition was signed by over 1,500 people in support of the sign’s return. It took a couple of years, but in 2014, the sign was re-erected in the park as an official public art piece.
And so this evening we'll come together to Celebrate 20+ years of Geocaching and our Geocaching Community as well as our own communities. Like this community of Mt Pleasant. This park is not fancy in fact it's a simple ordinary little park but it's really extraordinary in many ways. A place to just hang out especially in the difficult days of the past year. So, let's also celebrate the ordinary.
This community art spirit has continued. As you walk around the park, you will see other examples. Trees have had crocheted sweaters wrapped around their limbs, yarn has been weaved through the chain link fences, ornamental pieces have been added.
To truly celebrate the community and give back as geocachers, you are welcomed to continue this community art - feel free to bring your own yard to weave through the chainlink, tree baubles to hang up, painted rocks for the gardens, anything artsy to add! This is very much optional. We'll meet for a few prize draws (donations happily accepted), and enjoy some laughter, some time together and some Tim Bits!
To have some fun, buggirl1975 will bring her photo booth for those group shots and adding some silliness to your celebration photos!
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Let's Celebrate, Vancouver!
Community Celebration Events - 2020
This Event is part of a limited release of Community Celebration Events to celebrate 20 years of geocaching. Geocachers hosted events between May 2, 2020 and December 31, 2021. Learn more about Community Celebration Events on the Geocaching Blog.