It’s not just people who celebrate birthdays.

Institutions and nations mark anniversaries as well.

Birthdays are momentous occasions.

They’re also a perfect reason to throw a party.

It’s not clear why the City of Vancouver does not regularly commemorate its founding.

Whatever the reasons are for not doing so, councillor Colleen Hardwick wants to city to start regularly celebrating its birthday.

Hardwick has filed a motion proposing the annual celebration of Vancouver’s birthday on April 6.

The city was incorporated on April 6, 1886, an event known as Incorporation Day.

“We have sporadically been celebrating Vancouver’s birthday, when we have an opportunity to celebrate it annually,” Hardwick wrote in her motion.

The first-term councillor noted that the last time the city celebrated its birthday was in 2011, when it marked its 125^th anniversary.

Hardwick’s motion is included in council’s agenda Tuesday (March 5).

“The City’s official celebrations and observances are meant to recognize days and significant events in our history, and Vancouver’s birthday should be considered a significant event in our history,” according to Hardwick.