The Shaw sign was removed from its sky-high perch on the top of a Downtown Vancouver building Friday (May 26) morning.
Due to the height of the building, the large-scale signage was removed with a bright yellow helicopter, which carried it on a long rope.
The 200 block of Thurlow Street was closed from 7 a.m. until noon to complete the airborne operation, as well as the 1000 block of W Waterfront Road. When the helicopter was flying low to the ground, the 1000 block W. Cordova Street was intermittently closed.
These streets will be closed during the same times on Thursday, June 1 to install the new Rogers sign on the skyscraper.
While it took eight trips to dismantle and transport four pieces of the Shaw signage, it will take 12 trips to install the eight pieces of the new Rogers sign; the largest piece weighs just under 1,500 pounds, according to a City of Vancouver press release.
Several locals took to social media to share photos and videos of the helicopter making trips to the Shaw Tower and across the skyline.
There goes the Sha! 🪧 🚁
— Riley Phillips (@Rileythedj) May 26, 2023
The Shaw sign being removed by helicopter from downtown Vancouver, which will rebrand as the Rogers Tower shortly. @ShawInfo @Rogers @CityNewsVAN @CityNewsTraffic #Vancouver #Downtown pic.twitter.com/EfK0nvjvXB
There goes the 'W' from the Shaw Tower sign, in #DowntownVancouver! Watch for the new Rogers sign going up soon, at Cordova & Thurlow - with a little help from that bright yellow helicopter. @RogersMediaPR pic.twitter.com/UjOZVVshnO
— Tara Jean Stevens (@TaraJeanOnline) May 26, 2023
With files from Allie Turner.
