Berto_Tony_201307_PhD .pdf - University of Guelph

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cultural centre ("Granville"). The Island is operated by the Granville Island Trust, an
advisory body composed of nine members drawn from and representing business, artistic,
residential and government interests ("Granville"). The site has five theatres, a number of
studios and art galleries, an art school, boutiques, shops, and a market interspersed with
pedestrian walkways, seaside picnic areas, parks and street performers. It is known as a
tourist area, and is accessible from the city core by a short ride on a sea-bus. The theatre’s
location has easy access to a large part of the population, and Granville Island’s location
appears to be a place where a wide section of multi-cultural audiences might venture for
entertainment. To the south it is mostly surrounded by medium-rise residential housing and
condominiums. This area was mostly built after a period of the urban renewal which began
with Expo ’86. A short trip across False Creek to the north lie newer high-rise
condominiums and the downtown. The theatre is also in proximity to Vancouver’s "gay
ghetto" or the "West End" ("Neighbourhoods"). Gordon Ingram describes this area's
importance: "The West End has been a strategic and mythic locale in Canada’s homosexual
male, gay, lesbian, and queer cultures and politics . . . (1).
Granville Island advertises itself as "a place moulded by a fascinating history,
buzzing with a colourful artistic community" ("Granville"). Its website claims one would
find "a vibrant and diverse mix of people and activities," which appears to indicate a
presence of both multicultural patrons and activities. The area’s multi-cultural appeal is
gleaned through the various programming and community events. Native Canadian, Asian
and Inuit arts are advertised on their website “Arts and Culture”). While multi-culturalism
may be considered to include a vast array of subcultures, one can not find any reference to
non-heteronormative subcultures in Granville Island’s self-description.