With Valentines Day just around the corner, I thought it would be the perfect time to mention that a Vancouver landmark has just celebrated its 100^th year of brining sparkle to our city. Last night Birks jewelers celebrated its 100^th anniversary in Vancouver with an event at its flagship store on Granville & Hastings.

Birks was founded in 1879 in Montreal but came to Vancouver in 1907. Henry Birks & Sons expanded to Vancouver when they purchased a local business from George Trowey. Trowey had just purchased a 6.5 meter clock which he included in the sale. The clock then became what we all know now as the Birks clock.

After the demolition of the Birks building in 1974, one of the most beautiful buildings in Vancouver’s history, the Scotia Tower/Vancouver Centre was built in its place. When Birks moved into Vancouver Centre it seemed to lose its spark and began to struggle. In 1993 Birks declared bankruptcy and sold the company to Regaluxe Investment a Swiss and Italian company. Count Lorenzo Rossi di Montelera, Birks’ chairman of the board, kept the focus on maintaining the Birks reputation as a high-end jeweler. As a result Birks now has eight outlets in BC and 39 across Canada.

What better way to celebrate this milestone than to head down to Birks and pick up something special for your Valanetine.