Gastown Steam Clock has been displaying the wrong time for months

As Vancouver gets ready to host the FIFA World Cup, time is ticking for a fix to one of the city’s most iconic tourist attractions.

If you’ve walked by the Steam Clock in Gastown recently, you may have noticed that the iconic landmark’s hands are out of whack.

The City of Vancouver confirmed to CTV News the much-photographed clock is experiencing an issue with its mechanical system, which is affecting the movement of the clock hands.

The Steam Clock has been displaying the time inaccurately since 2025, according to staff.

“A diagnostic assessment of the issue is underway, which will help determine next steps for repair,” a city spokesperson wrote in an email.

The city says staff are “prioritizing the diagnostic work” given the summer tourist season is just around the corner, with an even greater influx of visitors coming to Vancouver for the FIFA World Cup.

A repair schedule will come once the diagnostic work is complete, the city says.

Despite its old-timey appearance, the famous clock was commissioned as an art piece in 1977 and each of its components are unique. The city says repairs are often complex and require custom-built parts.

While the mechanical part of the clock that moves the hands runs on electricity, the steam whistles use a separate system, so they are still running smoothly, playing their signature melody every 15 minutes.

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