Gassy Jack Statue at Maple Tree Square

The Gassy Jack statue stands in Maple Tree Square, the small triangular plaza where Water Street, Powell Street and Carrall Street meet in Gastown, Vancouver, British Columbia. The location is tied to the founding of the settlement: in 1867 John 'Gassy Jack' Deighton, a talkative former steamboat captain, rolled a barrel of whisky ashore and, according to local tradition, workers from the nearby Hastings Mill helped him build a saloon within a day in exchange for drinks. The square takes its name from a large maple tree that once stood there, and the saloon became the nucleus of the Granville townsite. The bronze statue shows Deighton standing on top of a whisky barrel and was unveiled in 1970. It was created by the sculptor Vern Simpson and is a popular photo subject at the heart of the historic district. The figure is monumental in scale and depicts Deighton in period dress, gesturing outward as if addressing a crowd. The statue's meaning has become more debated in recent years, as Deighton married a young Squamish woman, Madeline Dominique, known as Quahail-ya, and the story of the Indigenous presence on the inlet is increasingly told alongside the founding legend. In 2022 the statue was removed from its pedestal for a period after protests, and discussions about its future have continued with Indigenous and community input. Visitors should therefore check current local reports for the statue's status. Maple Tree Square also holds heritage buildings, such as the Gaoler's Mews area nearby, and the surrounding blocks have been restored as part of the Gastown Historic Area. The statue itself is outdoors and open at all hours, and the area is readily combined with the Gastown Steam Clock.