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In the 1960’s, Vancouver was home to 19,000 neon signs. The vast majority of these signs were concentrated in Chinatown, but today only a handful remain.  The City of Vancouver’s Great New Beginnings Project celebrates the history, heritage and culture of Vancouver.  The City of Vancouver hopes that by reconstructing old signs and commissioning new ones, local business owners will be inspired to create their own.

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One of the most interesting neon signs in Chinatown is real estate mogul Bob Rennie’s “Everything is going to be alright”.  The sign is the work of British artist, Martin Creed, and was brought to Vancouver by Rennie in the fall of 2009.  It is located on the roof of Chinatown’s oldest building and is visible from the Georgia viaduct.  Recently, there has been conversation among bloggers about Creed’s intended message.  Is it an ironic and cynical take on this world?  Or is it a sincere attempt to cheer us up?  Whatever the answer, the City of Vancouver has moved forward with the commissioning of new neon signs in the spirit of entrepreneurship and artistry.

The first neon sign commissioned by the project is the sign on the corner of Keefer and Quebec.  It reads “Chinatown Plaza” in English and “Chinatown welcomes you” in Chinese.

Most neon signs are hidden away in the heart of Chinatown, bringing life to the quiet streets.  The Pennsylvania Hotel sign on Carrall and West Hastings was updated in 2009.  However, with several unlit letters, it now appears to require further work.

The Rainier Hotel sign was finished in recent weeks and is now shining brightly on the corner of Carrall and Cordova.Chinatown’s recent set of neon signs are not only a nod to the community’s history, but also an inspiration for local artists and entrepreneurs to make their own contributions and bring new light to Chinatown.Written by: WANYEE LIPhotos by: ALEX YELIZAROV