Arc’teryx Drops on Burrard

On the opening of their new store on Burrard we reflect on North Vancouver’s greatest export.

It was a few months back while wandering through London’s Jermyn St. looking at dress shirts when I hung a left towards Piccadilly and whump, there it was: a big, slick looking Arc’teryx store proudly sitting on a very prime slice of London real estate. I felt that surge of pride all Canadians do when one of our exports—be it Ellen Page or Drake—hits it big outside of the Great White North. But here there was a special bump given that the brand is not just from Vancouver, but of Vancouver. Rugged, classic and above all waterproof to the Nth degree.London seemed an odd choice for such a store but then I thought that explorers like Scott, Livingstone and Shackleton probably all set off on their adventures mere blocks from here and all of them could have benefitted from some properly tapered seams (Shackleton in particular) and so it all sort of made sense.All of which was on my mind strolling into the new Arc’teryx store on Burrard, fittingly their largest in Canada, and an ode to all things great about the region we live in. Here’s a look at opening night.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5ssiQPuhos&feature=youtu.beBTW: That very cool Arc’teryx X Granville Island beer you see in the video? Sadly not available in the market, but it will be poured at the upcoming Climbing Camp in Squamish July 20 to 23.