It's been 35 years since Expo 86 opened in Vancouver, and while some things have stuck around over those decades, most disappeared shortly after gates closed.
Luckily people took lots of photos, and some of them contributed to the Vancouver Public Library's This Vancouver archive 'Expo Retro' in 2018. What follows is a selection of items we wish were still standing, or happening, in Vancouver.
By Sue Ceccato / Vancouver Public LibraryThe Live Chess
It may seem a bit cartoon-ish and bizarre, but that's what's so great about it. To really put a spin on it, maybe they work as a team/democracy for each move, voting on which pawn will get sacrificed.
By Dr. John Gluckman / Vancouver Public LibraryThe Wooden Elephant
While it'd be nice to think society has learned from the story of the Trojan Horse, this wooden elephant would definitely be the downfall of the city if it was dragged into the city's core behind the formidable walls, but luckily those don't exist. Instead, there are high housing prices.
By Gerald Joe / Vancouver Public LibraryThe Flotilla of Ships
Vancouver doesn't have a naval yard, leaving the city shockingly open to pirate raids. To stem this, these ships from the Marine Plaza should be rounded up and brought back to defend the region from Captain Jack Sparrow impersonators. To be honest they may not be as effective against modern-day pirates.
By Donna Bogyo / Vancouver Public LibraryThe McBarge
It's fast food on a slow-moving boat. Why did it ever leave?
By Donna Bogyo / Vancouver Public LibraryThe Boat Ballet
The little RivTow boats were the perfect vessel for this dance.
By Terry Bogyo / Vancouver Public LibraryThe H2O UFO
An early water park, this was set up in the Ontario Pavilion which is roughly where Creekside Park is, which is lacking any sort of retro hydro-entertainment, never mind alien versions.
By Donna Bogyo / Vancouver Public LibraryThe garbage can performances
Garbos would leap forth from his garbage can/entertainment venue to perform for everyone, and probably make some passerby who tossed a half-empty cup of coffee into his stage feel pretty rotten. Imagine walking through Kitsilano only to have a garbage can man start juggling at you? And now imagine that happening when you're sober.
By Philip Vogl / Vancouver Public LibraryThe giant Russian rocket engine
Predating Pavel Bure's rookie season by a couple of years, this is the OG, and while it's wouldn't be of much use, having a spare rocket around couldn't be a bad thing. What could possibly go wrong?
By Scott / Vancouver Public LibraryThis statue of a skateboarder
This is obvious, right? It should never have been taken away.
By Katherine Taylor / Vancouver Public LibraryExpo Ernie wandering the waterfront
While versions of Expo Ernie apparently still exist hidden away, it'd be great o add a couple wandering 'robots' to the False Creek waterfront to pose with anyone looking for a selfie.
