The stone lions at the entrance to the Lions Gate bridge in Stanley Park have become the talk of the town as they sport giant blue and green Vancouver Canucks jerseys. The statues, which have been a fixture at the bridge for 85 years, have been adorned with various decorations over the years, but the Canucks jerseys have sparked a new level of excitement among fans.
After the Canucks secured a one-game lead in the opening round of the playoffs, fans were delighted to see the statues showing their support for the team. Speculation abounds as to who is behind the jerseys, with theories ranging from the Canucks marketing department to UBC engineers.
The statues have a history of being dressed up for special occasions, with the Canucks jerseys not being the first time they have been adorned with sports gear. During the 2011 Stanley Cup final run, the statues were dressed in Canucks jerseys, only to be stolen by thieves. The jerseys were later recovered and returned by the police.
Despite concerns about the statues being a distraction for drivers, the Ministry of Transportation has decided to leave them in place for the time being, citing the excitement in the city for Canucks playoff hockey. Fans are hopeful that the jerseys will remain until the Canucks hoist the Stanley Cup, adding to the fun and excitement of the playoff season.