It was just over a year to go before the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The Organizers of the Undiscovered Spain Expo were in Town to discuss the possibility of setting up a few street festivals to create more excitement during the period. The Expo was to be held in early Summer following the Closing Ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics at the height of the Tourist Season in Vancouver. “La Tomatina” was high on the agenda as “Irunea, The Running of the Bulls” would not be accepted by the City.
It was agreed that La Tomatina would be held in the open space in front of the Art Gallery. A second venue to be considered would be the Library Square at Robson Street, just across the street from our Office. It was to be held each year on the traditional last Wednesday in August. Unfortunately, the Tomatina Miracle on Robson Street never happened as shortly afterwards, the Organizers were forced to cancel the staging of “La Tomatina” due to inadequate funding provided by the Spanish Government following the severe Recession of 2008. Though disappointed we are hopeful that some day Tomatina will make it’s return to Vancouver for after all Vancouver and the West Coast of Canada was part of the New Spain Empire.
Creative Travel 