Still Got It: A Rock-Solid Vancouver Icon

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Siwash Rock stands in the water off Stanley Park like a guy who’s been waiting for the bus since Confederation and refuses to sit down out of principle.

You can see it from the Seawall, which in Vancouver is less a walking path and more a competitive sport. Joggers glide past in neon spandex, tourists wobble on rental bikes, and there it is — this tall column of rock, just offshore, looking unimpressed with all of us.

The story goes that a man was turned to stone for his devotion and moral strength. Which is honestly the most Canadian superhero origin story imaginable. No cape. No laser eyes. Just: “He was steadfast.” Boom. Geological formation.

At sunset, the sky goes full West Coast drama — turquoise fading to gold, mountains stacking up in polite layers like they’re apologizing for being so scenic. The Rock doesn’t move. It’s not dazzled. It’s not checking Instagram. It’s been here through steamships, floatplanes, cruise ships the size of condo developments. It has watched the Lions Gate Bridge go up and watched generations argue about housing prices.

Some evenings the water turns into a mirror and Siwash Rock sees itself. I like to imagine it thinking, “Still got it.”

Meanwhile, there’s always one person standing on the nearby shoreline, staring at it as if the Rock might suddenly explain their life choices. It won’t. It’s a rock. A very dignified, culturally significant rock. But still — not a therapist.

What it does offer is perspective. You feel small next to it. Not in a bad way. In a “maybe I don’t need to refresh my email again” kind of way. It’s a vertical reminder that some things endure longer than our deadlines and our diet plans.

In a city obsessed with views, Siwash Rock doesn’t chase attention. It simply exists. Solid. Patient. Slightly smug.

And honestly? After a long week, that’s the kind of energy I aspire to.