Toronto+Vancouver City of Labyrinths Project

Originally I thought to carve “Vancouver Public Labyrinth” into this same log.

Perhaps “LOVE Everyone” is the message that belonged here all along . . .

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#LoveEveryoneGraffiti on log by #Seawalk at #FalseCreekSouth in #VancouverBC Sept. 26, 2020.

A post shared by James T. Cooper (@jamestcooper) on Sep 26, 2020 at 7:12pm PDT

“Walked to the Labyrinth,

Walked the Labyrinth and back with @tillie.king today.

This is the farthest I’ve walked in quite some time.

Today was a perfect day for contemplation with the sun playing with the clouds and rain,

The reflections of high tide and the perfect graffiti at the Labyrinth.”

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Walked to the labyrinth, walked the labyrinth and back with @tillie.king today. This is the farthest I've walked in quite some time. Today was a perfect day for contemplation with the sun playing with the clouds and rain, the reflections of high tide and the perfect graffiti at the labyrinth. #yvr #vancouver #olympicvillage #falsecreeksouth #mustbevancouver #selfcarewalks

A post shared by Sapphire Dumaresq (@sapphiredumaresq) on Sep 24, 2020 at 2:52pm PDT

“Sunday,

We came across this cool little Labyrinth stone circle by False Creek.

Intrigued by one of my friend’s friend explanation of how it is meant as a reflective meditative journey/walk to contemplate and to feel,

We of course had to try this fun little exercise out.

The 3 of us tried it.

I was surprise – it worked.

The 3 of us came to the exit with very different thoughts and emotions invoked:

• a sense of peace with decisions made,
• an openness to what the world is offering followed by noticing three simple words ‘Love is Everywhere’ etched on a log ahead,
• and oddly the rush of anxiousness wondering when am I going to get the heck out of this circle.

Perhaps it is the slowing down to realize how far we’ve come along.

Perhaps it highlighted the present moment.

Perhaps it is the unknown of how many more turns before I get there;

I should embrace the unknown a little bit, lol.

Fast forward.

Today I did the grouse grind after work.

My mind was only focused on the goal at top.

There was no musing, only pushing myself harder, faster, stronger – feeling my legs and my lungs.

The circle, the grind, and the musing!

Try it, if not for the musing, for the curiosity.

It’s good to slow down once in a while 🙂 “

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@i.amavocado Sunday, we came across this cool little labyrinth stone circle by False Creek. Intrigued by one of my friend’s friend explanation of how it is meant as a reflective meditative journey/walk to contemplate and to feel, we of course had to try this fun little exercise out. The 3 of us tried it. I was surprise – it worked. The 3 of us came to the exit with very different thoughts and emotions invoked: a sense of peace with decisions made, an openness to what the world is offering followed by noticing three simple words ‘Love is Everywhere’ etched on a log ahead, and oddly the rush of anxiousness wondering when am I going to get the heck out of this circle. Perhaps it is the slowing down to realize how far we’ve come along. Perhaps it highlighted the present moment. Perhaps it is the unknown of how many more turns before I get there; I should embrace the unknown a little bit, lol. Fast forward. Today I did the grouse grind after work. My mind was only focused on the goal at top. There was no musing, only pushing myself harder, faster, stronger – feeling my legs and my lungs. The circle, the grind, and the musing! Try it, if not for the musing, for the curiosity. It’s good to slow down once in a while 🙂 #musings #labyrinth #falsecreek #grousegrind #meditationtime

A post shared by J (@jhcn6) on Aug 11, 2020 at 11:18pm PDT

During the Pandemic,

Many have been waiting for Barber Shops and Hair Salons to re-open.

People need haircuts.

Likewise,

The Vancouver Public Labyrinth has been in need of a Grass Cut.

Today was that day . . .

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#Labyrinth by #Seawalk at #FalseCreekSouth at #OlympicVillageVancouverBC

A post shared by James T. Cooper (@jamestcooper) on Jun 21, 2020 at 2:12pm PDT

Grateful to The City of Vancouver / Vancouver Parks Board staff for carefully cutting overgrown grass around the Vancouver Public Labyrinth !

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#SailBoat docking at #Seawalk and #HabitatIsland in #OlympicVillageVancouverBC

A post shared by James T. Cooper (@jamestcooper) on Jun 21, 2020 at 2:04pm PDT

Even though I wasn’t able to walk my Vancouver Public Labyrinth on this Pandemic Summer Solstice,

Grateful to see that at least one Vancouverite did . . .

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A rainy summer solstice at the labyrinth 🌻☀️☔ #rainydays #litha #walkingmeditation #labrynth

A post shared by Yette Gram (@yetteruth) on Jun 20, 2020 at 6:33pm PDT

This drone image of Habitat Island captured by Vancitypixels was inspired by Jeremy Lee’s Drone Image of the same.

Like Jeremy’s drone photograph of Habitat Island in False Creek,

This image incidentally also includes TWO of my Labyrinths !

First one, Vancouver Public Labyrinth, is easily visible and shown here.

The second one is barely visible,

That’s my Green Masking Tape Labyrinth I made on the round cement art podium in Hinge Park.

This drone photograph was captured around 7 p.m. on June 6 2020.

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Inspired by @jw.klee Truly a stunning 🌅 . . . . . °-°-°-°-°-°-°-°-° #vanlife #vancouvervibez #vancouver #vancouverbc #vancouverparks #views #dronephotography #dronestagram #vancity #vancityfeature #vancitybuzz #vancityvibe #vancityhype #canada #vancitygallery #citizensofvancouver #vancouver_canada #creatorsofvancity #vancouverCanada #illgrammers #CuriocityVan #dailyhivevan

A post shared by Vancitypixels | 🇨🇦 (@vancitypixels) on Jun 7, 2020 at 1:15pm PDT

It’s that time of year when the grass grows tall and the rocks outlining the design are almost hidden from view, yet the Path of The Labyrinth remains well worn, and The Centre is visible.

My Friend and Brother in Islam, Jeremy, on this Friday, Direct Messaged this photograph of him standing inside The Centre of Vancouver Public Labyrinth.

To my knowledge,

this is the first aerial drone image of my Vancouver Public Labyrinth.

Grateful to Jeremy Lee in Vancouver for sharing his drone image on Instagram.

His intention was to capture Habitat Island,

My Stone Labyrinth being in view was a bonus.

I rotated the Instagram image 90 degrees to reflect a true east-west orientation.

Incidentally,

The round cement circle you can see in Hinge Park is the location of my Green Masking Tape Labyrinth !

My Hinge Park Labyrinth has since become a Ghost Labyrinth with barely a walkable masking tape outline remaining at present.

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[Vancouver's Oasis] . . . . . A little island around Vancouver that feels strangely different than the rest of the city. I encourage yall to find it and check it out! The maze in the bottom corner was a piece done by @labyrinthsdotca ! ° • . • ° • . • ° • . • ° • . • ° #jwkleerunsaround #vancity #vancityfeature #vancouver #agameoftones #creatorsofvancity #Wandervancouver #illgrammers #moodygrams #instagood #vancitybuzz #vancityhype #VancityVibe #canadasworld #CuriocityVan #VancouverCanada #artofvisuals #urbanandstreet #dailyhivevan

A post shared by Jeremy Lee (@jw.klee) on May 25, 2020 at 11:00am PDT

The south east quadrant of the Vancouver Public Labyrinth dips just enough to allow rainwater to pool into puddle nurturing tall grass . . .

You can still make out the path.

It follows where the grass grew tall around the rocks and stones which outline the Labyrinth . . .

Nature nurturing a Hedge Maze from within my Stone Labyrinth ?

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#LDperspective @ldphotolab @londondrugs

A post shared by Greg Leong (@keen900) on May 24, 2020 at 12:08pm PDT

Happy to see my Vancouver Public Labyrinth remains well trodden, still walkable, and mostly intact.

Grateful.

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Meditation labyrinth by the sea wall. We chattered all the way through though so it wasn't very meditative… . #falsecreek #vancouver #meditation #labyrinth #olympicvillage #welltroddenpath #dailyhivevan #photos604 #vancouverseawall

A post shared by Ruth Hartnup (@vandaffodil) on Mar 29, 2020 at 2:48pm PDT

Behind this pup is my slightly green-covered stone Vancouver Public Labyrinth . . .

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Please get my good side! 😋 🐶 🐾 #model #modeling #chilling #petme #feedme #flurrythegreatgoldenpyrenees #flurry #goldenretriever #greatpyrenees #goldenpyrenees #puppy #dog #dogsofinstagram #smile #puppyoftheday #chillin #adorable #vancouver

A post shared by F l u r r y 🇨🇦 (@flurry.bear) on Feb 24, 2020 at 2:51pm PST

Grass has overgrown, yet look closely and you can see some of the stones peeking up above revealing outline and path of my Vancouver Public Labyrinth . . .

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Beautiful day in Vancity! #falsecreek #vancouver #vancouver_canada #vancouver_ig #vancouverisawesome #autumn #vancouverisbeautiful #veryvancouver #vancouvercanada #beautifulvancouver #beautifuldestinations #beautifulbritishcolumbia #greatnorthcollective #pacificnorthwest #earthoutdoors #outdoorvancouver #canada🍁 #livelovecanada #tourcanada #bc #roamtheplanet #hellobc #vancity #explorevancouver #explorebc #explorecanada #dailyhivevan

A post shared by Alexandre Légère (@legere_photos) on Oct 29, 2019 at 2:29am PDT

“I had the privilege of attending the “Crossing the Threshold” weekend from Birthing from Within in Vancouver.

I am in love with their philosophy and approach and I couldn’t be happier I attended.

As a First Nations woman and physician, it isn’t easy to ever feel fully “at home” in any type of training I attend, but this one had all the feels.

It informs not only how I work with birthing families, but my entire way of practicing medicine and being a human.

I was blown away by the weekend and the amount of reflection, compassion, and transformation they packed into such a short period of time.

I am standing in the middle of this Labyrinth in this photo, and I have loved learning more about the symbolism of this ancient path.

The First Nations Health Authority generously sponsored my attendance to this training without question.

It is serendipitous and perfect everything came together for me to attend, as it is exactly what my soul needed in this moment. 🌀🌱✨”

– Dr. Ellie Saumier, M.D.

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I had the privilege of attending the “Crossing the Threshold” weekend from @birthingfromwithin in Vancouver. I am in love with their philosophy and approach and I couldn’t be happier I attended. As a First Nations woman and physician, it isn’t easy to ever feel fully “at home” in any type of training I attend, but this one had all the feels. It informs not only how I work with birthing families, but my entire way of practicing medicine and being a human. I was blown away by the weekend and the amount of reflection, compassion, and transformation they packed into such a short period of time. I am standing in the middle of this labyrinth in this photo, and I have loved learning more about the symbolism of this ancient path. The First Nations Health Authority generously sponsored my attendance to this training without question. It is serendipitous and perfect everything came together for me to attend, as it is exactly what my soul needed in this moment. 🌀🌱✨ #humbled #grateful #threshold #growth #reflection #birth #choice #perspective #intersectionalfeminism #labyrinth #herosjourney #purpose #spirit #community #connection #holdingspace #familydoctor #obstetrics #birthworker #birthkeeper #culture #cultureismedicine #traditionalknowledge #ancientways #indigenousmotherhood #meditation #mindfulness #presentmoment #nonjudgemental #serendipity

A post shared by Dr. Ellie, MD (@elliesaumier) on Aug 11, 2019 at 8:05pm PDT

More Photos

Grass around the stone outline of my Vancouver Public Labyrinth has grown tall.

It you didn’t already know there was a Labyrinth here, looking towards it from False Creek Seawall pedestrian path way, you’d miss it entirely.

Nevertheless, a few stones are peeking through the grass hinting it’s still here . . .

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Watch the world just float on by

A post shared by Clinton Yeung (@clintonyeung) on Jun 3, 2019 at 8:15am PDT