[mr.x]

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/2de3e3f6-b472-4835-9142-3ead50913788/1804gate.jpg?size=l

$3-million India Gate to built in Punjabi Market
Tribute to Indo-Canadian pioneers will stand at 50th Ave. and Main Street.

Kim Bolan, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, April 17, 2008

VANCOUVER - Premier Gordon Campbell is poised to announce the construction of a special India Gate in Vancouver's Punjabi Market to be completed before the 2010 Olympics, The Vancouver Sun has learned.

Campbell will make it official at Saturday's Vaisakhi parade in south Vancouver, near the spot where the gate will go at 50th Avenue and Main Street.

The $3-million gate is designed to be a tribute to the pioneers of the Indo-Canadian community who first settled in Vancouver more than a century ago.

Construction is expected to begin soon so the gate can be completed before the Olympics in February 2010.

So far, both the city and the province have committed funding to the project, but efforts are still being made to get a federal contribution.

Punjabi Market Association president Daljit Singh Sidhu has spent a decade lobbying for the gate, which he said would enhance tourism in the city and give historic recognition to the South Asian community.

"It is very good if the announcement comes on Saturday. We are hoping for the big day," Sidhu said Thursday. "This will be very unique for tourism."

Longtime area businessman Kewal Pabla, who owns the Himalaya restaurant near the planned site, said everyone is excited about the gate finally being built.

"It is very happy news. This is good for all of British Columbia, even Canada, and not only for my community. This is a heritage gate for every community. It is a good symbol," said Pabla, who has also been a key cog in the campaign. "Everybody is talking about it."

Sidhu said it is important that the gate "reflects every corner of India."

"It could be a little bit education to have the history of South Asians, how they came, how they settled and how they contributed to the economic, cultural and political stripes of this beautiful country in Canada," Sidhu said.

"It is not just a structure of steel and cement. It should reflect something. It should have a soul and mind in there."

Vancouver's Chinatown already has its historic Millennium gate marking its place in the city. The India Gate will be similar, they said.

"As Canadians we should all be proud of what the South Asians have achieved and contributed to this country. It is part and parcel of this great country. We have to keep this great country going in the right direction with prosperity, peace, harmony and cultural diversity and learn from each other," Sidhu said.

At least two dozen politicians from all three levels of government are expected at the Vancouver Vaisakhi parade to mark the holiest day on the Sikh calendar, as well as the harvest.

A stage will be set up for speeches, right at the spot where the gate will be constructed.

The parade is expected to leave the Ross Street temple at 10:30 a.m. with the Vancouver Police Band leading it, Sarwan Singh Randhawa, of the organizing committee, said Thursday.

It will be followed by five men, called the panj piaras, who walk in front of the float carrying the Sikh holy book - the Guru Granth Sahib.

Randhawa said tens of thousands of spectators and participants are expected for the parade, which runs west along Marine Drive to Main Street, up Main to 49th, east on 49th to Fraser, south on Fraser to 57th, then down to Ross Street and back to the temple.

There are 20 floats as well as two TransLink buses donated to carry seniors and disabled people who can't walk the parade route.

Randhawa said there will not be any controversial imagery or Sikh separatist slogans in the parade.

"It will be a colourful, very peaceful event and everyone is welcome to attend," he said.







As long as they don't start displaying photos of terrorists on the gate....

[nikw]

It seems to me that Campbell is announcing some new multi-million dollar project at least once every week these days.

Needless to say i like this.

[mr.x]

It seems to me that Campbell is announcing some new multi-million dollar project at least once every week these days.

Needless to say i like this.

I'm glad too.....go on a spending spree when the economy is doing well, save when the economy is circling the drain.

[alta-bc]

This would be an exciting announcement. It would be great to see a return of these gates, especially after seeing the historical photo thread http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=148019

[Yume-sama]

I like it. These things add a lot of character.

[Hong Kongese]

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/2de3e3f6-b472-4835-9142-3ead50913788/1804gate.jpg?size=l










As long as they don't start displaying photos of terrorists on the gate....

:laugh:

[raggedy13]

"As Canadians we should all be proud of what the South Asians have achieved and contributed to this country. It is part and parcel of this great country. We have to keep this great country going in the right direction with prosperity, peace, harmony and cultural diversity and learn from each other," Sidhu said.

As corny as it sounds, it's statements like these that make me proud to be Canadian! Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/2de3e3f6-b472-4835-9142-3ead50913788/1804gate.jpg?size=l

^Is that a semi-trailer/bus driving under the gate? That gate is going to be huge! It looks at least twice as tall as the Chinatown gate... though perhaps my memory isn't so accurate. Not that I have any problem with the size... it will make it an even more impressive landmark.

[crazyjoeda]

I think that is cool. I like it.

[worldwide]

i love little punjab, i'm always down for 2 samosa's on the dollar

[excel]

cool propsal, does look huge.

[hollywoodnorth]

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=49.22499,-123.100798&spn=0.002249,0.005665&t=h&z=18

where exactly will this puppy go........looks great imo :)

[mr.x]

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=49.22499,-123.100798&spn=0.002249,0.005665&t=h&z=18

where exactly will this puppy go........looks great imo :)

From the Local Vancouver homepage, I saw that you posted in this topic and I was so certain that it would be "GO GORDO GO!"

[hollywoodnorth]

well that is a given ;)

[Nutterbug]

Isn't the Little India on Scott Road in Surrey/N. Delta bigger?

Why don't they get anything?

[Rusty Gull]

For the same reason that No. 3 doesn't have a gate. Too sprawly/suburban/modern. In short, too real.

Punjabi Market and the old Chinatown are quaint, cute and (I say this in a good way) ripe for Disneyfication.

Now that you mention it, though, why not throw up some cultural gates on No.3 Road, Scott Road, or even Lonsdale Ave (Little Persia).

PS -- the Punjabi Market gates look awesome!

[jhausner]

Optics Nutterbug.

"Vancouver" 2010 Olympics... not "Surrey" 2010 Olympics. A lot of this stuff is to boost the image of Vancouver alone for the Olympics. Let's be real, if we hadn't landed 2010, a lot of the stuff being considered to 'pretty up' the Vancouver city, wouldn't be on the table right now.

I can understand it though I don't 100% agree with it. Either way optically and for the city of Vancouver, it's a good thing.

And it does look huge.

[twoNeurons]

Because they started out here, is my guess. Similar to how Richmond is bigger than Chinatown.

[Nutterbug]

At least two dozen politicians from all three levels of government are expected at the Vancouver Vaisakhi parade to mark the holiest day on the Sikh calendar, as well as the harvest.

A stage will be set up for speeches, right at the spot where the gate will be constructed.

The parade is expected to leave the Ross Street temple at 10:30 a.m. with the Vancouver Police Band leading it, Sarwan Singh Randhawa, of the organizing committee, said Thursday.

Did they specify a date?

[Nutterbug]

For the same reason that No. 3 doesn't have a gate. Too sprawly/suburban/modern. In short, too real.

Punjabi Market and the old Chinatown are quaint, cute and (I say this in a good way) ripe for Disneyfication.

Now that you mention it, though, why not throw up some cultural gates on No.3 Road, Scott Road, or even Lonsdale Ave (Little Persia).

PS -- the Punjabi Market gates look awesome!

How about a Japanese gate on Powell, since they did have quite a presence and role in our early history, even though the Japantown no longer exists due to internment?

Or an Italian gate on Commercial.

[joeblowurho]

Did they specify a date?

It's tomorrow.

[deasine]

The gate is huge wow... well I guess this will make up for the time they didn't change Langara - 49th Avenue Station to Punjabi Market.

It's great to see these gates actually. In the Heritage Vancouver Photos thread, flight_by_kamakura showed us many of the gates that were taken down [so unfortunate]. It would be cool for a few more gates across Metro Vancouver, i.e. Richmond. I wouldn't mind seeing some huge MODERN gate outside of Yaohan Centre.

[flight_from_kamakura]

awesome!

now if we could just get those olympic arches built...

[mr.x]

How about a Japanese gate on Powell, since they did have quite a presence and role in our early history, even though the Japantown no longer exists due to internment?

Or an Italian gate on Commercial.

If we're gonna have a gate for every frickin ethnicity or minority group, I want a rainbow over Davie!

[clooless]

If we're gonna have a gate for every frickin ethnicity or minority group, I want a rainbow over Davie!

Actually, I was thinking it would be more like a giant anus. :P

[hollywoodnorth]

Actually, I was thinking it would be more like a giant anus. :P

well we got the balls already on Bute and Hastings.........:tup:

[quobobo]

For those of you who weren't bored enough to estimate the height from that little image, it's about 14m tall assuming that truck is 2m tall.

...which is almost exactly the height limit in C2 zones (13.8m), unsurprisingly enough.

[jhausner]

Depends on what the truck is. Tractor trailer and it is higher than 2m. Van, and you're probably spot on. Tough to say since the buildings look 3 stories high and on average 1 storey = 3 metres. That would put the arch around 23m high at the very top, 9m to the base of the arch.

If it is only 2 stories then that's 6m to the base and 20m to the top of the spire. Hard to tell.

[mr.x]

Well, considering the average person is 1.7 to 1.8-metres tall and if you stack up that one guy, you have 24 of him....this is a pretty crude estimate, but:

1.7m x 24: 40.8-metres
1.8m x 24: 43.2-metres
(including the spire)

[SpongeG]

it looks like it has stairs - so can people go up and view from it?

[arashi_1987]

so is this india gate actually being constructed now? Anyone have any pictures?

[ravman]

GO Drunken GORDO GO and actually build this... btw i did not see any construction when i was in the area few days ago.....

[nova9]

Perhaps any construction would have been covered up by all the stupid snow. I like the gate but what's the reaction from the denizens of the Punjabi Market there - is it a busy pedestrian place like Chinatown?

[mr.x]

^ they're definitely welcoming the Gate, but the district is nowhere near as being busy or vibrant as Chinatown.

[djmk]

does the area really need a gate? according to the Vancouver Sun, the neighbourhood is dying


Punjabi market falls on hard times
Competition from Surrey's South Asian population, economic conditions to blame

Rebecca Tebrake
Special to The Sun

Saturday, December 27, 2008


Shelina Virani folds a black sari in her colourful shop and recalls the times when the street was filled with pedestrians and parking was scarce in Vancouver's Punjabi Market.

Business was booming when Virani opened Roshan's Saree Centre in 1980. Today, the market has fallen on hard times. "I don't see much of a future here," said Virani, who is considering closing her shop.

She isn't alone. At least 10 storefronts between 48th and 51st avenues are papered over and displaying For Rent signs.

Business competition from Surrey's growing South Asian population and difficult economic conditions are leaving shopkeepers with concerns about the market's health.

The Punjabi Market took off in the 1970s and '80s with businesses including Guru Bazaar, Frontier Cloth House and Roshan's Saree Centre setting up shop along Main Street in the heart of the Punjabi community.

The first South Asian immigrants settled in Kitsilano to work in sawmills along False Creek, said Kesar Bhatti, senior vice-president of the Khalsa Diwan Society. When the mills shut down in the 1950s, people were attracted to the growing industry along the Fraser River and the residential space available in South Vancouver. The area also gained religious significance when the Ross Street Temple was constructed in 1969.

In the 1990s, "you couldn't go wrong" with a store in the Punjabi Market, said Madan Dhingra, owner of Mona Cloth House. "It didn't matter what you were selling. Everyone would come to shop. It was the only established market in Western Canada." People would come from as far away as Calgary.

But today's changing demographics are challenging Main Street's dominance. According to Statistics Canada's 2006 census, Surrey is home to 107,810 South Asians, with just over 32,000 South Asians living in Vancouver.

Shopkeepers report that housing prices in Vancouver have made Surrey an attractive alternative for South Asian families, and high gas prices keep them away. South Asian markets such as Surrey's Punjabi Bazaar on 93A Avenue have popped up to serve these customers.

The economic climate in Vancouver has also taken its toll. Rising taxes resulted in relatively high rent, meaning store owners have had to sacrifice profits to stay in business.

"[Profit] has gone way down," Dhingra said. "You can still probably pay your mortgage and afford to pay your bills, but that's about it."

Learning from Chinatown

Some business owners are now left wondering what to do, but the answer may be closer than they think. Vancouver's Chinatown, which is 50 blocks north on Main Street in the downtown core, used to be the only place to buy Asian goods in the Lower Mainland. That is, until immigration patterns shifted to the suburbs, leaving a struggling economic centre with more than one in 10 stores on Pender Street vacant.

"The new settlers would choose to stay in Richmond, Surrey and Coquitlam," said Albert Fok, a business leader in Chinatown and chairman of the Chinatown Revitalization Committee. "Once it gained a critical mass, people had the idea of: 'Why do we have to drive to downtown Vancouver every weekend to do our shopping for the week?'"

These changes, along with the social problems and the economic decline of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, compromised businesses in Chinatown, according to Helen Ma, a policy planner with the city's Chinatown revitalization program.

In response, the city and community leaders in Chinatown launched the revitalization program in 1999. Chinatown's leaders built the Millennium Gate, implemented a "We Speak English" :haha: campaign, attracted more diverse consumers, restored heritage buildings, beautified streets with lampposts and banners, and increased links with tourist organizations.

The Chinatown Merchants Association also secured a 17-per-cent reduction in property taxes. They created a popular night market. In 2006, the storefront vacancy rate on Pender Street had sunk to eight per cent.

Chinatown's revitalization is continuing and is not meant to compete with merchants in Richmond, said Ma. Chinatown will be a place to experience the history and culture of Chinese Canadians, not just a place to shop.

The Punjabi Market Association has noticed Chinatown's efforts, met with Fok and started similar initiatives, including a $3-million India Gate to be built at 49th and Main.

The Punjabi Market Association is also encouraging businesses to reach new customers through trade shows, new products and new media advertising, according to Daljit Sidhu, former president of the association.

Other merchants are taking the approach of Chinatown and trying to forge a distinct role for Punjabi Market.

"We have tried to give the image that we have better stuff than Surrey," said Dhingra. "We have better service than Surrey. We have more professionals than Surrey. That is the image we are trying to convey to the traditional market."

"We hope it will come back to the same height we used to have," said Sidhu. "We did not even have time to think. There were customers. There were goods. There was excitement everywhere."

REVITALIZING AN ETHNIC MARKET

1858: The first Chinese immigrants come to Vancouver from California.

1885: Thousands of Chinese immigrants arrive to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway. They are forced to settle around First Avenue in Vancouver because of discrimination.

1971: Chinatown is declared a historic area.

1970-80: With an influx of wealthy immigrants, the Chinese population begins to shift to the suburbs. Chinatown loses its status as the only Chinese market in the Lower Mainland.

1993: Woodward's department store, a major economic driver in the Downtown Eastside, closes.

1995: Chinatown Memorial Square is created.

2000: The storefront vacancy rate on East Pender Street, in the heart of Chinatown, reaches 14.2 per cent. The City of Vancouver begins the Downtown Eastside revitalization program, including the Chinatown revitalization program. The focus is on community safety and economic revitalization.

2002: City council adopts the Chinatown Vision document outlining the revitalization plan. The plan includes initiatives to help businesses attract new customers. The Chinatown Millennium Gate opens.

2003: Vancouver approves heritage incentives in Chinatown.

2005: The Chinatown community plan is adopted to support the implementation of the Chinatown Vision.

2006: The storefront vacancy rate on East Pender Street drops to eight per cent, one of the lowest rates in the city.

ONLINE: See a photo gallery on the Punjabi Market at vancouversun.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2008


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maybe the gate may help....

[SpongeG]

yah there is nothing there really its quite dead - surreys punjabi shopping centres are much busier and there are so many of them - along 128th there must be at least 4 plus all the shops on 120th/Scott Road

[mr.x]

^ not to mention, the size of the "market". It's just one street, two blocks long with stores on both sides of the street. Hardly an attraction in my opinion.

[hollywoodnorth]

yup. let it die out.....good riddance.

[SpongeG]

there is a place with good somosas and pakora and really cheap you can get filled up for like $3

[hollywoodnorth]

there is a place with good somosas and pakora and really cheap you can get filled up for like $3

the place at Fraser and 41st is better and as cheap ;)

[Jai]

It's rather unfortunate that the gate doesn't seem to reflect either Punjabi or Indian architecture.

Who was the chump who approved this bright idea?

[ravman]

Who was the chump who approved this bright idea?

Well... since the mods dont want to start a political debate here and since this is a political question and since i dont want to get suspended, even though the mods so desperately want to suspend me again, I shall quote Mr.x2....

Gordon Campbell is poised to announce the construction of a special India Gate in Vancouver's Punjabi Market to be completed before the 2010 Olympics

[Hong Kongese]

since i dont want to get suspended, even though the mods so desperately want to suspend me again,

Didn't know you get banned before.

[nova9]

And that's what may have 'doomed' punjabi market - the 41st to 49th ave intersections of fraser and main have many indian oriented stores but that breaks up the concentration so you don't have a cohesive india-town. And then you have the sikh temple all the way down on marine drive. it's unfortunate really.

[raggedy13]

I'd imagine that if this project is still going ahead they'd want it done in time for the Olympics, no?

Well... since the mods dont want to start a political debate here and since this is a political question and since i dont want to get suspended, even though the mods so desperately want to suspend me again, I shall quote Mr.x2....

Personally, I like you and don't want to suspend you at all if it can be avoided. :)

And it doesn't matter if you answer "Gordon Campbell". We just don't want any long politically charged rants that provide little to no relevant information on the topic at hand. Or better yet, let someone else answer those political questions. ;) A good rule of thumb to follow on this forum: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. :P

[Jai]

I personally don't know Canadian politics from a hole in the ground, and my question was mainly rhetorical. Punjabi architecture is culturally unique and has a linage of centuries of tradition. Sadly, this dome thing, not even an Indian style dome mind you, is as reflective of Indian architecture it is to French.

It really does nothing but reinforce stereotypes, is my fear.

[fever]

I don't know. I'd expect it to have some Sikh references because of the large Sikh community in Vancouver. It's kind of similar to this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Golden_Temple_1194.jpg

[LotusLand]

Being a Sikh I think I can speak to the architecture (although being born and raised here might hinder it somewhat lol). The gate is pretty much in line with most of the temples around the city and in the state of Punjab in India. The dome is culturally symbolic for Punjabi's and not as much as the rest of India.

I think the gate would be awesome, seeing that the first Indians settled in Vancouver when first coming to Canada. Even if Little India is struggling I think it would be a great visual reminder and a tourist attraction at the southern end of the city. :banana:

[WBC]

Maybe the gate could be aged so it looks ancient...Think about that!

[SpongeG]

Being a Sikh I think I can speak to the architecture (although being born and raised here might hinder it somewhat lol). The gate is pretty much in line with most of the temples around the city and in the state of Punjab in India. The dome is culturally symbolic for Punjabi's and not as much as the rest of India.

I think the gate would be awesome, seeing that the first Indians settled in Vancouver when first coming to Canada. Even if Little India is struggling I think it would be a great visual reminder and a tourist attraction at the southern end of the city. :banana:

its a great idea but when you get there its nothing exciting - the area is hardly orthy of showing off

a handful of shops and restaurants

[deasine]

Well... since the mods dont want to start a political debate here and since this is a political question and since i dont want to get suspended, even though the mods so desperately want to suspend me again, I shall quote Mr.x2....

I'm quite disappointed that you would think that way. This just shows how immature you are. If you don't want to get suspended, then follow the rules. Quite simple.


A good rule of thumb to follow on this forum: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. :P

Agreed.