[kiujygtyujik]

It was representing an inukshuk - native eskimo culture that is about as far from Vancouver as Mexio is. Culturally it would have made as much sense to have an easer island statue.

[pbhjpbhj]

No matter where the inukshuk originates from this one, http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?q=1600+Beach+Ave%2c+Va... / http://www.seethewestend.com/inukshuk/inukshuk.htm, seems pretty close to Vancouver to me.

[kiujygtyujik]

Those were erected as tourist things by hotel chains.

There is Cleopatra's needle in the centre of London - but it wouldn't make sense to have the pyramids and Sphinx as the symbol for London 2012.

[pbhjpbhj]

>Those were erected as tourist things by hotel chains.

The second link says you are (at least partly) wrong.

[icegreentea]

On the other hand, Canada has a whole has been adopting the inukshuk as a symbol of Canada as a whole. The Canadian government has gifted several inukshuks to foreign countries as symbols of friendship.

They also appear in national parks cause hikers/campers think that their fun to make.