Vancouver may stop lighting up city hall for other countries

A staff report recommends ending illuminations that celebrate national days of independence to avoid political controversy

Published Sep 22, 2024  •  2 minute read

Vancouver city hall is often lit up to commemorate events, such as this display for the 2010 Winter Olympics. A commemoration of Israel's 76th independence day earlier this year proved controversial. Photo by Mark van Manen /PNG

On May 14, Mayor Ken Sim and Vancouver city council were heavily criticized for illuminating city hall and the Burrard Bridge with blue and white lights to commemorate Israel’s 76th independence day.

It may not happen again, for Israel, or any other country.

The city has signalled it may back off light displays that commemorate international events and countries.

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In a report to council, the city clerk is proposing a protocol policy amendment that would see the city’s illumination program focus exclusively on local events, Canada, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and avoid any international recognitions.

The program, established in 2016 to recognize local events and cultural celebrations, has seen an uptick in requests to recognize national days of significance in other countries, from one request in 2018 to 27 in 2024.

The revised eligibility for the illumination program would allow annual official celebrations approved by city council, awareness campaigns based on requests, local festivals and community events, Vancouver professional sports teams and major international sporting events hosted in Vancouver.

The proposed new policy would bring Vancouver in line with a growing trend to keep landmark illuminations non-partisan and local.

The municipality of Toronto’s illumination policy specifically excludes lighting for other countries’ national days. Calgary Tower regularly lights up for traditional religious holidays including Hanukkah, Christmas and Eid al-Fitr, but refuses requests for political events or observances. And the City of Coquitlam limits applications to those supporting local events.

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Vancouver’s program regularly commemorates what it calls “ongoing illuminations.” Some of this year’s include Jan. 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day (yellow); Jan. 29, Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia (green); Feb. 1, Black History Month (black, red, green and gold); and Feb. 10, Lunar New Year (red).

However, city hall and the Burrard Bridge frequently light up for other nations. City hall and the Burrard Bridge lit up blue and yellow in 2022 to show solidarity for Ukraine after the Russian invasion. Over the years, the landmarks have recognized independence days for countries like Indonesia and the Philippines; and Guatemala’s independence day was commemorated as recently as a week ago.

When Vancouver illuminated city hall to commemorate Israel’s 76th independence day last May, several Palestinian advocacy groups protested the decision, saying it signalled an endorsement of the suffering of Palestinians, and support for a “plausible genocide” in Gaza.

Advocate Tamer Abu-Ramadan called the decision “the latest in a string of statements and actions that reveal the inherent bias against, and dehumanization of, Palestinians.”

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Thirty local organizations sent a letter demanding the display be cancelled.

Sim defended the decision to support the blue and white illumination at the time. In a statement, the mayor said the city upholds fundamental freedoms of speech and the ability to peacefully protest, adding that illuminations do not imply support for the politics of any country. Sim said all illumination requests are “assessed fairly and impartially.”

Sim declared that his council would continue to “carry out its duties despite threats to disrupt city hall,” and that all illumination requests are assessed impartially “in line with eligibility criteria and precedence.”

The proposed criteria changes will come before council on Wednesday.

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