About: East Van Cross

The East Van Cross is a symbol formed by the words East written vertically and Van written horizontally in capital letters, intersecting at the shared letter A, and forming the shape of a cross. Van is short for Vancouver, and the reference is to the city’s Eastern half, traditionally less wealthy, and harder-edged. The East Van Cross traditionally was the work of graffiti artists, said to express the "marginality and defiance" of East Vancouver. The symbol is alluded to in the packaging of one beer made by an East Vancouver brewing company.