Giant waterfront 'VANCOUVER' sign draws crowds, and calls to make it permanent

Perfectly placed on the waterfront between Canada Place and the new Vancouver Convention Centre, a light-up sign spelling out VANCOUVER in giant red letters has become this holiday season’s must-have Instagram photo.

Perfectly placed on the waterfront between Canada Place and the new Vancouver Convention Centre, a light-up sign spelling out VANCOUVER in giant red letters has become this holiday season’s must-have Instagram photo.

Residents and tourists alike are lining up to take their picture with the sign. And for the team behind it, that’s the whole point.

“People love a great Instagram moment, and that’s what this is about,” said Eduardo Ottoni, the owner of Event Lab.

His company designed Liven Up Coal Harbour, a winter festival sponsored by Stay Vancouver Hotels. Ottoni decided to include the Vancouver sign in the festival because photos of large city signs in picturesque locations are so often posted to social media, essentially providing free advertising.

“We are placing it in a high traffic area where people going to want to take photos,” said Ottoni. “Looking at other cities, it’s clear these types of signs resonate with folks.”

There are large city signs in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, and many cities around the world, and they’re always a magnet for photo takers.

“It’s a really good idea,” said Jimena Espinoca, who is visiting Vancouver from Costa Rica and dropped by the sign to take photos. “When people visit over here, its really pretty to take pictures and everything.”