Finding Fresh Food, Indigenous Art, and Uncommon Things at Vancouver’s Granville Island
At the conclusion of our cruise on the Ruby Princess from Los Angeles to Vancouver, British Columbia, I spent an extra day in the majestic port of Vancouver to explore local arts, crafts and foods that make up Western Canadian culture. I had heard about Granville Island, an award-winning mixed-use development filled with artisans, makers, culinary purveyors and so much more. Join me on my day-long adventure to this historic and artistic Island.
Granville Island is a peninsula located on the traditional territory of three First Nations. The Squamish, the Musqueam and the Tsleil-Waututh Nations are indigenous to Vancouver, having lived on these lands for thousands of years. From its humble beginnings as a sandbar, to an industrial area populated by small machine shops and factories, to its redevelopment by the federal and provincial governments between 1973 and 1982, Granville Island has become Western Canada’s most beloved market, entertainment destination, and a thriving artists community. The Island is now home to over 300 businesses, most of them locally owned and independent. Wikipedia
Granville Island, Vancouver, British Columbia (mfron)
In addition to the amazing art, crafts and food offerings, Granville Island offers maritime activities and rentals, special events, nightlife, entertainment, a hotel and more. There’s also a Kids Market filled with toy shops, games, foods, a magic shop, a Pet Treatery, a Princess Spa, Adventure Zone, arcade and more fun-filled family activities.
Something new that I’d never seen before was a “Puppy Port”. It is a small dog house located onsite that can be rented for your furry pal to be safely homed while shopping in pet-free establishments. I know my dog, for one, wouldn’t have it. But it’s a clever idea!
Due to the abundance of Things to see and do, Granville Island’s website helps visitors maximize their time at the property by suggesting itineraries and creating a plan by experience segments. These include Artists at Work, Indigenous Art, Galleries Galore, and Shop Like a Chef. Very helpful for visitors on a tight schedule.
Artists at Work
Granville Island is home to an Artisan District and Net Loft where working studios enable visitors to watch craftsmen and artists at work creating unique objects that you just have to see to believe. Here is just a sampling of those I visited on this trip.
Kingsmill Studio Pottery
This working studio features a collaboration of art by 5 potters. Visitors to Kingsmill Studio Pottery will discover functional pieces, sculptures, wall hangings and more. The work is colorful, full of textures and whimsy. I had the pleasure of watching one of the talented artists at work.
Amity Design Studio
This colorful shop is filled with unique fiber and jewelry designs from three talented artists. What caught my eye first were the colorful silk scarves which can be worn a variety of ways. Amity Design Studio also features beautiful kimono jackets, kaftans, ponchos and shawls, which are unique works of wearable art. They are each patterned, dyed and painted in-house by hand. Many are reversible as well.
BC Blacksmith
Miran Elbakyan has been a sculptor of metal art since 1994. When I visited, he was busy welding a new design in his forge, which is located adjacent to the gallery. The two-story BC Blacksmith studio is filled with whimsical designs such as circus performers, animals, plants and nature. In addition to his beautiful metal sculptures, Miran designs handmade, one of a kind wrought iron gates, furniture, lighting fixtures and home décor. His work is truly spectacular.
Dalbergia
Visitors who love art crafted from natural materials must visit this working studio featuring hand-made wood forms, wall art, furniture and décor. I met with the artist himself, Mike Sasaki, who says “The sculptures to me are like visual poems where the abstract elements act as the words.”
Dalbergia’s designs reflect movement with curvatures created by utilizing positive and negative space. Mike has collected a variety of hand tools that he has sourced from around the world for his intricate wood carving process. He demonstrated a beautiful piece that he just completed, that when spun on a turntable reveals a mesmerizing movement of color, pattern and design.
Vancouver Studio Glass
This open concept working studio and gallery offers fine contemporary glass art, craft and design. Visitors can watch artisans fire and blow glass in the studio and select a piece of Canadian glass crafted by over 25 Canadian artists and craftspeople.
I spoke with artist Benjamin Kikkert, who creates beautiful abstract sculptures by combining hot glass with mixed media. Benjamin says that he and his apprentices “Try to bring the most genuine, direct (glass blowing) experience to visitors on the shop floor.”
The resulting textures and colors at Vancouver Studio Glass are rich and intriguing. Artwork in the gallery includes jewelry, dish ware, vases and sculptures of all sizes.
Fibre Art Studio
Five artists come together in this studio to create hand-dyed and hand-spun yarns for fiber artisans and fashion designers. The studio also offers beautiful knitted, felted and handwoven scarves, shawls, hats, blankets and more. The colors are rich, and the fibers are silky soft. Each design of apparel, accessories and home décor at Fibre Art Studio is an original work of art to be cherished for generations.
Granville Island Broom Co.
A truly uncommon shop specializing in the art of handcrafted broom making. Sisters Mary and Sarah Schwieger make the brooms using traditional Shaker methods, and while they look like pieces of art, they are designed to withstand years of regular use.
Did you know there are many different types and styles of brooms? Granville Island Broom Co crafts round and flat floor brooms, fireplace brooms, sailor brooms, whisk brooms, cobwebbers, even marriage brooms. Each style is made with foraged and found woods such as manzanita, birch and hickory. The brooms are as beautiful they are functional.
Galleries Galore
Galleries at Granville Island feature a diverse collection of artwork crafted in a variety of mediums including paint, ink, clay, metals, gemstones, glass, photography and more.
Circle Craft Co-op
Since 1972, Circle Craft Co-op has grown to represent approximately 140 artists from throughout British Columbia, many of whom exhibit across Canada and internationally. The shop’s artisan crafts include ceramics, glass, jewelry, metal, paper, textiles and wood, all of which are beautifully displayed throughout the gallery.
Grandharva Loca
Although not a traditional gallery per se, this “World Music Store” is filled with musical instruments from around the world, including India, Peru, China and more.
Owner Tim Corlis is more than welcoming and happy to share his knowledge of each instrument, its history, how it is constructed and what the resulting sounds are. Grandharva Loca is home to the largest Japanese Taiko Drum in Canada, presented in the video below.
Hammered & Pickled
Specializing in sterling silver, jewelry artists Mishi and Sebastian, melt, roll, draw, form, shape, pierce, solder, pickle, grind, buff, set - well, you get the picture. Each sparkling piece of jewelry at Hammered & Pickled is handmade from start to finish. Semi-precious gems are integrated into many of their unique designs as well.
Beadworks
This beautiful shop is truly a wonderland of color. Visitors will find unique and memorable jewelry pieces all locally crafted and handmade. Visitors can also select from an array of semi-precious stones, pearls, crystals, chains and trinkets at Beadworks to request a custom-made piece crafted especially for them.
Indigenous Art
There are several galleries featuring Indigenous Art at Granville Island. The Inukshuk Gallery, Granville Island Treasures, Eagle Spirit Gallery and Wickeninnish Gallery. Each provides unique insight and an homage to the creative Native Peoples from this region. I had the pleasure to visit 2 Indigenous art galleries on this visit.
Inukshuk Gallery
Filled with an amazing collection of Canadian and Native art, this shop offers an array of authentic items influenced and designed by indigenous artisans. From Inuit prints to soapstone carvings and handcrafted silver jewelry to native designed clothing, scarves and accessories, visitors are sure to discover an Indigenous-crafted treasure to take home. Inukshuk Gallery promotes learning and understanding more about Vancouver’s Native People, their history, beliefs and traditions.
Wickeninnish Gallery
What drew me in to this shop, brimming with Indigenous arts and crafts, were the colorful deerskin bags crafted by Clifton Fred, a Tlingit Native. Once inside, I was impressed by the handcrafted ceramic pots, wood carvings, traditional silver jewelry and expertly designed blankets. Founded in 1987, Wickeninnish Gallery showcases artwork of many Indigenous artists, most of whom are Native to British Columbia. They often accept custom orders as well.
Live entertainment at Granville Island also gives insight into the Indigenous history of this sacred land. During my visit, a talented musician shared his gift while giving further perspective to the unique instruments available at Grandharva Loca.
Shop Like a Chef
Home to over 50 local food purveyors, Granville Island Public Market sets the bar high as a unique culinary experience featuring fresh foods, canned goods, spices, condiments and more, all locally sourced from nearby farms and kitchens. There is an abundance of hand-prepared packaged foods, condiments and sweets that visitors can easily take home from their visit. Here are a few delicious Things that I discovered.
Hobbs Pickles
Produced like a New York style deli pickle, Hobbs offers pickle connoisseurs a tasting bar in the Public Market. Hobbs Pickles flavors include the traditional Kosher Dill and Bread & Butter chips, but also tempting pickle flavors such as Jalapeno, Horseradish, Honey Mustard and Blazing Sours.
Benton Brothers Fine Cheese
The Benton Brothers cheese mongers create artisanal cheeses to suit every palate and plate. Behind their European style counter, they cut cheese to order with no artificial flavors. Benton Brothers’ “Cheese Library” consists of cheese flavors and types from around the world. They provide cheeses to chefs, stores and restaurants throughout British Columbia. They can also ship a basket home for visitors with limited luggage space.
The Preservatory
This farm based artisanal food company specializes in seasonal preserves, made in copper kettles, using traditional cooking methods and innovative flavor pairings. Much of The Preservatory’s fruit is sourced from their own farm, Vista D’oro, which is also home to a winery. Their jams are also delish in cocktails, deserts, dressings and marinades.
Northern Bars
Have you tried a Nanaimo Bar? It is a popular British Columbian confectionery, that visitors often purchase to take home as a souvenir of their visit to Canada. Northern Bars owners, Sam and Michellle, have elevated the recipe to the next level and created artisanal bite-sized bars packed in beautiful, travel-friendly packaging. Select from flavors such as Classic, Saskatoon Berry & Lemon, Apple & Cinnamon and Smoky Maple.
Bubble Bombs
This is something I’d never seen before. Bubble Bombs are spheres that look like caviar but are filled with delicious fruity juices or cocktails. The shells that hold the contents are made from unflavored seaweed materials. Bubble Bomb alcoholic and non-alcoholic offerings include passionfruit, pineapple rum, Absolut peach, strawberry, fruity schnapps for prosecco, and many more.
On that note, if you are searching for Canadian crafted libations, I highly recommend the following purveyors for locally produced wine, beer and spirits which can be enjoyed while visiting Granville Island or purchased to share with friends and family at home.
Artisan SakeMaker
As the first boutique premium sake winery in Canada, sakemaker Mas Shiroki produces wines in small lots with new styles crafted to complement local West Coast foods. In 2015, Artisan SakeMaker launched its first sake produced with 100% Canadian ingredients.
The shop features a tasting lounge allowing visitors to increase their knowledge of sake, and to partake in sake flights and Japanese snacks. They can also view the sake production facility and shop for handcrafted sake glassware and gifts.
Granville Island Brewing
Opening in 1984 as Canada’s first licensed micro-brewery, the company launched with a signature brew called Island Lager. Since that time, their menu has expanded to include dozens more craft specialties. When I visited, Grandville Island Brewing was undergoing a renovation, with plans to open again in late summer 2024.
The Liberty Distillery
The team at Liberty Distillery were most welcoming and insisted on creating a specialty craft cocktail for me while I heard a bit about their history. (I’m not one to argue!) Standing at their 125-year-old antique bar, I learned about the artisanal distilling process used to create their spirits by using only 100% organic BC grains. Thus, their motto, From Grain to Glass.
The Liberty Distillery uses artisan copper pot stills which were meticulously handcrafted and configured to produce their ultra-premium spirits, which are a variety of aged and unaged whiskeys, gins and vodkas. My craft cocktail was amazing!
Public Market Artisans
Surrounded by the colorful foods and delicious aromas of Granville Island’s Public Market, many talented craftspeople showcase their creations as Day-Vendors. All goods are locally made and handcrafted to include soaps, lotions, candles, pottery, textiles, jewelry and more. While not in a “working studio” per se, many craftspeople are creating their artistic items onsite daily.
JJ Stone Craft
JJ Heo is a Vancouver bases artist and knife maker. His knives are made of obsidian and each knife is handcrafted using an ancient technique called flintknapping, a skill passed down by ancestors from the Stone Age. This art is still used to create tools by traditional knife makers within Native American cultures.
JJ Stone Craft knives are made of obsidian volcanic rock, while the handles are made of antler, cactus, animal jaw, bone, horn and wood. Mike also crafts stunning obsidian pendants. All materials are sourced legally from Canadian hunters.
A Toad’s World
A collection of sassy and costumed animal character dolls that will steal the hearts of young and old. Each doll is handmade by Diane Jordens with metal inserts for posing. The costumes are made of opulent fabrics. Eyes, noses, mouths and whiskers are hand beaded, giving each doll its unique character.
In addition to traditional story book animal characters such as Puss n’ Boots, Curious George and Beatrix Potter, A Toad’s World also had hand crafted animal characters inspired by Diane’s travels abroad that include farm animals, safari animals and birds.
David Friedman
David is an accomplished musician and artist who works with precious and semi-precious stones, many of which he personally prospected in British Columbia. Metals include gold, silver and copper, while stones range from turquoise to rose quartz, jade to moonstone and many more. David Friedman hones each piece into jaw dropping wearable art pieces and designs custom jewelry for visitors as well. You can even bring your own stones or crystals for setting.
Granville Island is a must-see on every itinerary to Vancouver. The shops listed above are just a sample of the talented artisans, makers and chefs I discovered during my visit. I look forward to returning to Vancouver to experience more of Western Canada’s distinctive arts, crafts, decor, fashion and foods.
Join me on my next shopping journey as I cruise to the pink sand beaches of Bermuda. You’ll be fascinated by the array of local artisans and craft makers that call this breathtakingly beautiful island home.
Till then, keep cruisin’ through life, discovering your own special Things!
CHEERS!
