Close X
Thursday, January 16, 2025
ADVT 
National

Vancouver changes tune under Swift spell, with Gastown clock to chime 'Shake it Off'

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 05 Dec, 2024 01:31 PM
  • Vancouver changes tune under Swift spell, with Gastown clock to chime 'Shake it Off'

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is changing many things in Vancouver, from the tune of Gastown's iconic clock to traffic patterns as thousands of fans pour into the city ahead of Friday's first show. 

The City of Vancouver is warning of much slower traffic this weekend in the downtown core, not only because of Swift's three concerts, but because of other events and festivities. 

There will be full closures of several major arteries around the BC Place concert venue between noon and midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including West Georgia and Robson streets, Pacific Boulevard and the Cambie Bridge off-ramps near the site. 

The city says in a statement that people need to plan for delays and should walk, bike, ride or take transit to and from the downtown. 

The steam clock in Gastown is also being brought in on the Swift action, and has been retuned for the first time to play her hit "Shake it Off" every 15 minutes, with a longer sequence on the hour, starting today through to Dec. 13, which is Swift's 35th birthday. 

The idea started as an April Fools' Day joke earlier this year, but Walley Wargolet, with the Gastown Businesses Improvement Society, says they decided it would be a joyful way to be part of the Taylor Swift takeover of the city. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Canadian resident arrested over alleged Oct. 7 New York terror plot

Canadian resident arrested over alleged Oct. 7 New York terror plot
U.S. authorities say a Canadian resident has been arrested in Quebec over an alleged Islamic State terror plot to kill Jewish people in New York. The U.S. Department of Justice says Pakistani national Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was arrested on Wednesday in relation to the attack it says was to take place around Oct. 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel last year.

Canadian resident arrested over alleged Oct. 7 New York terror plot

Involuntary mental health care must be 'dignified and humane,' B.C. premier says

Involuntary mental health care must be 'dignified and humane,' B.C. premier says
People struggling with brain injuries, addictions and mental health issues need "dignified and humane" support services if they're committed against their will, and B.C. Premier David Eby says the government is putting its faith in a recently appointed adviser to make those services a reality.  Eby said Friday that his government is working on a strategy about involuntary care, speaking days after a deadly attack in downtown Vancouver that left one man dead.

Involuntary mental health care must be 'dignified and humane,' B.C. premier says

Rollover vehicle catches fire in Nelson

Rollover vehicle catches fire in Nelson
A man is lucky to be alive after his vehicle went off the road in Nelson, flipped over and caught fire. Police say the motorist was driving yesterday morning when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a large rock.

Rollover vehicle catches fire in Nelson

Suspicious package found in Downtown

Suspicious package found in Downtown
Police in Vancouver say officers cordoned off an area of downtown yesterday due to a suspicious package. Police say emergency response officers later examined the package and found no explosive device.

Suspicious package found in Downtown

Targeted shooting in North Vancouver

Targeted shooting in North Vancouver
North Vancouver RCMP say a man has been seriously injured in a targeted shooting overnight. Police say officers responded to calls of a shooting at 2 a-m and found a man in his 50s in the 700-block of East 29th Street.

Targeted shooting in North Vancouver

Union 'optimistic' ahead of negotiations to end accessible transit strike in B.C.

Union 'optimistic' ahead of negotiations to end accessible transit strike in B.C.
The head of the union for striking HandyDART transit workers in Metro Vancouver says he's cautiously optimistic ahead of Sunday's mediated negotiations with their employer, but members are prepared to stay on strike "as long as it takes." Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724 president Joe McCann says it's concerning that employer Transdev waited a week to come to the table with a mediator, but the union remains "optimistic" a deal can be done.

Union 'optimistic' ahead of negotiations to end accessible transit strike in B.C.