Our new building is starting to come alive—construction is progressing smoothly and the exterior artistic elements are beginning to take shape. Public art shares culture, stories, and narratives about a place. It creates a sense of purpose, identity, and pride. Who is included and who is excluded from these public narratives matters—and that’s why we’re honoured to partner with Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh (MST) artists in the exterior art and architectural aspects of our building.

In addition to the brickwork pattern designed by Debra Sparrow, we’re proud to highlight two other artists who will be contributing to art and architectural elements of our new building:

kʷǝlasǝltǝn—Mack Paul is from Xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam) and is a two-spirited queer, disabled, self-taught artist focused on traditional and modern Xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam) design. Mack is designing the art panels located on the Hastings Street façade and the entrance to the residential tower on Gore Avenue. “It’s important to me to share our stories and language to the settlers and visitors on our territory. For this collaboration, it is important that part of my art is centered around welcoming to not only provide a sense of place but also to create a safe, comfortable place for the Indigenous residents. It’s been a long time coming for our people to be recognized on our own territory for our unique design.”

ts;simtelot—Ocean Hyland is a səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) artist designing the vertical sunscreens on the western elevation of the building. These sunscreens will have custom fabricated panels featuring Ocean’s laser-cut images. “My work as an artist is to help cement my peoples’ history into these lands. Over the centuries, landscapes have shifted and changed: swamps turned to parking lots, forests transformed from towering cedars into steel and concrete. When we’re offered opportunities to share some of our wealth through the creation of art, it allows us to remember who we are and how we belong to this land. When people see our art strewn through the city, they can be reminded of who we are and how we belong to these lands.”