Stanley Park has always embraced the holidays with open arms. The miniature railway and surrounding area is decked out in decorations nearly every Christmas, Halloween, and Easter, but this year, something new is in store for parkgoers.
Fans of the Harry Potter franchise will undoubtedly be familiar with the Forbidden Forest, the monster-riddled woods outside of Hogwarts Castle. Now, visitors can experience it for themselves (without forking over hundreds for a ticket to the Wizarding World at Universal Studios) at Stanley Park. But ever since the announcement of the November overlay days ago, the general response has been “mixed” to say the least.
J.K. Rowling, the creator of the Harry Potter franchise, isn’t exactly a saint. Quite the opposite, actually. Rowling has long been criticized for her animosity towards the trans community. Now, why exactly would Vancouver, a city that prides itself on embracing diversity, fund an installation of this nature? Well, I think we all know why.
The Harry Potter film franchise has grossed over one billion dollars. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios is one of the most critically acclaimed theme park attractions of all time. There’s a new Harry Potter television series in the works at HBO. Money is obviously the motivation behind the move, which calls into question the ethics of the Park Board. For a city that espouses its care for the 2SLGBT+ community, it’s a bizarre PR move to say the least.
So what has the response been? Nothing much. The event is still going forward, regardless of the criticism, even from the Vancouver City Council. Lucy Maloney’s plea to the board has fallen on deaf ears, with the board taking the stance that they choose to separate the art from the artist, and look forward to welcoming guests come November.
So, should you support the Forbidden Forest at Stanley Park? Well, that’s a matter of personal preference. The Harry Potter books & films hold a special place in the hearts of fans, and I must admit, I was one of them. I still enjoy the Harry Potter films, they’re delightful fantasy tales, but where the profits from those films went isn’t ok. There are so many things to do in Metro Vancouver during the holiday season, I don’t see this one as a necessity. Oh, and for those feeling they’ll miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the board emphasized their desire to create more IP-based attractions in the park, so this is probably just the beginning. Who’s excited for Stanley Park to become Disneyland? Not me.
Written by Noah Schmidt
Contact: nschmidt20@my.bcit.ca