Squamish artist Jody Broomfield unveils Steinway grand piano

By Kelly McManus - North Shore Outlook (January 11, 2010)

Jody Broomfield's one-of-a-kind grand piano

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Squamish Nation artist Jody Broomfield, who designed Spirit of Vancouver's beautiful Eagle in the City, Aquilina, unveiled his design on a one-of-a-kind grand piano – valued at $500,000 – at North Vancouver's Chief Joe Mathias Centre.

The Steinway piano, titled "The Way of Our Ancestors," will feature in concerts around B.C. before it is auctioned off after the 2010 Olympic Games. Partial proceeds will go to the BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities.

Tom Lee Music General Manager Graham Blank, who worked with the BC Lions Society to commission the piano, said the initial plan grew from one to two instruments that celebrated aboriginal artwork because project coordinators couldn't pick one artist to represent the "incredible diversity" of West Coast cultures.

Last June Haida artist Jay Simeon unveiled his Steinway grand piano design "Kuniisii – Music and Mythology," also up for sale after the 2010 Winter Games.

The Broomfield and Simeon designs make a set called "Black and White in Harmony."

The pair is valued at $1 million.

At the piano's unveiling, blues singer Murray Porter gave the inaugural performance and Squamish Nation members shared traditional protocol.

Photo couresy of Daniel Pi

Vancouver International Airport Authority (YVR)

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Ranked among the world’s top ten airports, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is Canada’s second busiest passenger gateway. In addition to being the major West Coast airport closest to Asia, YVR is ideally situated on the Great Circle Routes, with infrastructure and services to handle the largest aircraft in the world under extreme weather conditions.

Passengers at YVR enjoy leading-edge technology and more than 160 shops, services and restaurants. The airport provides direct service to some 130 destinations in Canada, the United States and around the world, keeping B.C. at the crossroads of international travel, tourism and trade.

Vancouver Airport Authority, the community-based, not-for-profit organization that operates YVR, is undertaking a $1-billion construction program that will ensure the airport meets the growing demand for air travel and continues to be developed as a premier global gateway and economic generator for British Columbia.

While the airport’s reach is global, the Airport Authority remains firmly rooted in the local community and is pleased to be a founding partner of Spirit of Vancouver.