NEW SPONSORS STEP IN TO SAVE VANCOUVER CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
Festival launches April 1 with support from Edge Construction, GAIN Group and Yaletown BIA
VANCOUVER, B.C. (March 15, 2023) – The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (VCBF) will
launch as planned on April 1st thanks to funding from its new presenting sponsor, EdgeConstruction. The festival has also received new funding from the Yaletown BIA, as well as Alfa
Romeo and FIAT of Vancouver, Lotus of Vancouver and Polestar Cars Vancouver (part of GainGroup).
Thanks to support from the new sponsors, the city-wide celebration of Vancouver’s 43,000
cherry trees will kick off with The Big Picnic, Vancouver’s largest outdoor picnic, held under theblossoms of 100 Akebono cherry trees in David Lam Park in Yaletown on April 1st (10:00 am to
4:00 pm).
“On behalf of our board, staff, volunteers and the thousands of Greater Vancouver residents
and visitors who treasure the cherry blossoms and our wide range of programming, I want toextend our sincere thanks to our new sponsors,” said Michael Dove, executive director, VCBF.
“It’s heartwarming to know that within just days of us putting out our call for help, these civicminded Vancouver companies stepped up with an inspiring demonstration of generosity andcommunity spirit.”
Edge Construction is a local builder of new low-rise apartments, condos, townhomes, andcommercial spaces. In addition to new construction, Edge works with the business community
to renovate offices, retail stores, gyms, restaurants, and clinics. They are one of the few
Vancouver-based construction companies who can build to the tight environmental standardsof the Passive House Association and have a LEED Platinum building in their portfolio. By taking
on the role of lead sponsor, they have saved the festival this year.
“Helping to improve local communities and complimenting the natural beauty of Vancouver iscore to who we are,” said Jaime Tarriba, Principal of Edge Construction. “Spring is when
Vancouver comes alive and there is no better way to celebrate this seasonal and mental shift
than the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. When we learned the festival was in jeopardy
without a lead sponsor, we felt compelled to take action as a way of giving back to thecommunity.”
The Yaletown BIA works to supports Vancouver’s historic waterfront neighbourhood, and ishome to the VCBF’s kick-off event, The Big Picnic at David Lam Park. The Gain Group’s support
is a collective sponsorship from Polestar Vancouver, Lotus Cars Vancouver, and Alfa Romeo
Vancouver, which are part of the GAIN Group.
"We, at the GAIN Group, and our dealerships in Victoria, Nanaimo and Vancouver are a part ofthe fabric of the local communities,” said Terry Chen, Assistant General Manager, GAIN Group.
“Our staff and clients' interests are important to us, therefore, it was logical to support theVancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. Alfa Romeo and FIAT of Vancouver, Lotus of Vancouver,and Polestar Cars Vancouver are proud and honored to support the 2023 Vancouver Cherry
Blossom Festival. We wish all guests and organizers a wonderful time."

With the 2023 Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival now on stable financial footing, all VCBF
programs and events will proceed as planned.
The festival’s many other sponsors include TD, Stir, Daily Hive, Borden Ladner Gervais, andTransLink, with additional support from the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, The
David and Dorothy Lam Foundation. We also acknowledge the financial support of theGovernment of Canada, British Columbia Arts Council, and the Province of British Columbia.
About Edge Construction
Edge Construction is a leading Vancouver builder of new multifamily and commercial buildings,
in addition to commercial tenant improvements. Our team of experienced construction
professionals combined with long-standing relationships with skilled subtrades enables us toproduce high-quality construction projects cost-effectively and on schedule. Complimentary to
our focus on quality-construction is our desire to give back to the communities we serve and tosupport and develop our talented team members. We build and grow together. To learn more
about Edge Construction, visit us online at www.edgeconstruction.ca
About the 2023 Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (April 1–23):
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is a charitable not-for-profit organization with theobjective to educate and actively engage diverse communities through accessible local arts andculture to celebrate the fragile beauty of the cherry blossom. Events throughout the city bringpeople together to celebrate nature, creativity, and Vancouver’s cherry tree heritage. Cherryblossom viewing has become a joyful Festival springtime tradition in our city now as people
marvel as 54 different varieties blossom across our city. For more information about the festival
and upcoming programs and events, visit www.vcbf.ca- 30 Contacts:
Michael Dove
Executive Director
604-679-1823
michael@vcbf.ca

Linda Poole
Artistic Creative Director, Founder
604-767-9044
linda.poole@telus.net

Website: vcbf.ca
Twitter: @OfficialVCBF
Facebook: www.facebook.com/VancouverCherryBlossomFestival