Vancouver, BC
Canada
Devonian Harbour Park First Known AIDS Memorial - Vancouver Cherry Tree AIDS Memorial Grove since 20 October 1985
4 names
Trees planted in memory of four B.C. AIDS victims
Four B.C. AIDS victims are dead, but their memories will live on through four cherry trees planted on their behalf Sunday in Stanley Park. The four men, identified only as James, Ivan, Gino and Randy, all died within the past year of complications of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
About 40 co-workers, friends and family members of the men gathered in the pouring rain Sunday for a short ceremony to plant the trees, all of which were donated at a cost of about $50 a tree. AIDS Vancouver spokesman Bob Tivey asked that the exact location of the trees not to be revealed to protect them from vandalism. Tivey said there will be four more trees planted on behalf of AIDS victims in the same area in the next few weeks. "We'll have a cherry forest here some day," he said at the ceremony.
The Vancouver park board approved the planting and provided staff to dig the holes.
Photo © Bill Kecy The Sun
in: 'Historically hidden first-known Vancouver AIDS memorial to receive dedication ceremony' by Craig Takeuchi straight



20 October 1985
The Sun, Vancouver