SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE IN VANCOUVER IN SUMMER 2005

CELEBRATE CANADA’S BIRTHDAY
It’s time to wave those red and white flags again this July 1. Canada Day is a public holiday that marks Canada’s confederation. Catch the enthusiasm as patriots and visitors alike join in the celebrations. The following are popular events to check out this year.

The True North Fun and Free
Celebrate Canada’s regional diversity with “The True North Fun and Free” this July 1 at Canada Place in downtown Vancouver. There will be activities for the whole family from 10:00am to 7:00pm.

Highlights include:
• Traditional citizenship ceremony
• Aboriginal village featuring native dancing and crafts
• Extreme shows including the WestCoast Lumberjack Show and the high-flying Radical Flow Riders bicycle stunt show
• Evening concert featuring Wide Mouth Mason

All events are free, including the concert, but wristbands must be picked up for admission on Canada Day at Canada Place. Wristbands are limited, so be sure to get there early.
www.canadaplace.ca/canadaday

An Island-Wide Family Event
Granville Island presents an island-wide family event for Canada Day, packed with free, fun-filled activities. Wearing red and white is your ticket to ride the ferries to Granville Island for a 2-for-1 price. Start off the day with a free yoga class at Semperviva Yoga’s new waterfront studio and follow with the “Truly Canadian Breakfast” at Dockside Restaurant. Special activities for Canada Day include festivities for children at the Kids Market and waterpark; watching the colourful parade; official Canada Day ceremonies and cake cutting; tasting Canada’s flavours at the Public Market; discovering unique Canadian arts and crafts; and enjoying live tunes during the TD Canada Trust International Jazz Festival – noon to midnight on five Granville Island stages.
www.granvilleisland.com
ANNUAL FIREWORKS COMPETITION LIGHTS UP THE SKY
July 27 and 30, August 3 and 6
The HSBC Celebration of Light is Vancouver’s annual international fireworks competition and brings together talented pyro-technicians from three countries. These dedicated teams light up the sky over Vancouver’s downtown core and English Bay with an amazing show choreographed to a variety of music. These incredible displays draw crowds of more than 1.5 million people over the four-night celebration. This year’s competing cities include Canada, Sweden and China, so be sure to get there early to reserve your plot of sand, pull up a blanket and enjoy a picnic dinner on the beach during this free show. Best viewing locations are at English Bay, Kitsilano Beach, Vanier Park, Jericho Beach and West Vancouver. All performances begin at 10:00pm.
www.celebration-of-light.com

For a gourmet (and romantic) addition to your evening, Provence Marinaside is offering traditional picnic baskets overflowing with tasty treats throughout the summer. Choose from the “English Bay” (serves two, $35 CAD), “Stanley Park” (serves three, $45 CAD) or the “Marinaside” (serves four, $75 CAD). All baskets feature choices from a selection of antipasti plus dessert, fruit and a baguette, and a choice of mineral water, pop or juice. Picnic orders must be placed one day prior to pick up.
www.provencevancouver.com
PRIDE WEEK 2005
July 23 – August 1
The largest gay population in Western Canada lives in this ocean-wrapped and snow-capped city, but the Vancouver Pride celebrations are not just for gays and lesbians. Pride Week is a week of diversity, and anybody who shares the “life is a cabaret” spirit will feel right at home. This year’s theme is “No Turning Back”, with parties, dances, cruises, a parade and a spectacular finale event guaranteed to make this an unforgettable celebration. Pride Week kicks off on July 23 with “Picnic in the Park”, and the main event parade and festival on July 31.
www.vanpride.bc.ca
www.gayvan.com
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER UNVEILS NEW VANCOUVER STATION
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations has just opened their new 20,000 square foot train station, located in the False Creek Flats area of Vancouver, close to downtown. A 1954 CN locomotive repair building on site formed the foundation for the new station, which has also incorporated contemporary design reflecting the Rocky Mountains through materials such as rock veneer and cedar battens. The station will service the 148 departures and arrivals of the Rocky Mountaineer trains traveling between Vancouver and Jasper, Banff and Calgary, Alberta from mid-April to mid-October.
www.rockymountaineer.com
VANDUSEN GARDEN SET TO BLOSSOM WITH MAKEOVER
VanDusen Botanical Garden will receive a $20 million makeover over the next five years. Key improvements to the facility include a redesigned entrance, a new 650-square-metre pavilion for events and classes, a new water garden, an upgrade to the current Floral Hall to create a 250-seat conference facility and a new Garden Café to complement the current Shaughnessy Restaurant.

One of the first additions is the new Phyllis Bentall Garden, a memorial water garden which was completed at the end of May. The garden features water lilies, and will eventually form part of a larger terrace which will function as the setting for a variety of events.
www.vandusengarden.org
EVOLUTION OF A HAIDA DANCE
To mark National Aboriginal Day, the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia presents the evolution of a Haida dance. At 7:00pm on Tuesday, June 21, Vancouver choreographer Karen Jamieson will workshop a new dance drama she is developing with members of the urban Haida community. Jamieson collaborates with local Haida to bring a new dimension to the earlier piece “Skidegate”, which includes original songs and dances with newly commissioned masks. Join MOA for this unique opportunity to experience the evolution of this dance.
www.moa.ubc.ca
TWILIGHT TUESDAY BARBEQUES AT THE AQUARIUM
Tuesdays, June 14 – August 30
Stay at the Vancouver Aquarium when the rest of the world goes home. Every Tuesday from June 14 – August 30, the Aquarium is hosting “Twilight Tuesday” barbeques. Enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer, burger and a salad buffet, all in the company of 60,000 amazing marine animals. Priced at $29.95 CAD (approx. $22 USD), including all-day admission, this is an experience you’ll be talking about long after you go home.
www.vanaqua.org
TEA TIME FOR TWO OR WITH THE KIDS
This summer, the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver has put a twist on tea. Grown-ups are invited to “steep” with traditional tea or a flute of champagne, while the kids can sip on Bubblegum Tea. Offered every Saturday and Sunday from 2:30pm to 4:30pm in the 900 West Dining Room, traditional Afternoon Tea ($21.50 CAD, approx. $17 USD) and Champagne Tea ($37.50 CAD, approx. $30 USD) include finger sandwiches, house-made scones, fresh strawberries and cream and tasty pastries. Children’s Tea includes items like peanut butter and jelly finger sandwiches and a giant chocolate chip cookie ($12.50 CAD, approx. $10 USD).
www.fairmont.com
OPEN UP AND SAY “SPA”
With the opening of the new $4-million luxury Spa Utopia and Salon at the Pan Pacific Vancouver, visitors can experience the city’s heralded fresh local ingredients in a whole new way. Among the signature treatments available within Spa Utopia’s immaculately appointed rooms and private suites are the “Fine Wine Pedicure”, using enzyme-charged grapes; a “West Coast Seaweed Journey” that incorporates exfoliating and nourishing BC seaweed; and the detoxifying and revitalizing “Deep Earth Mineral Voyage”.
www.spautopia.com
www.panpacific.com
TAKE THE KIDS
Summer is a favourite time for families to travel together. These Vancouver attractions have something for all ages, but are especially popular with kids.
• Maplewood Farm is home to over 200 domestic animals and birds, providing families with the chance to witness life on the farm. Kids will enjoy pony rides, milking demonstrations, and petting the bunnies and baby animals. Annual events include the Sheep Fair in May, Farm Fair in September, Pumpkin Event in October, and Country Christmas in December.
www.maplewoodfarm.bc.ca
• The Fair at the PNE has been a Vancouver “End of Summer” tradition since 1910. It features exciting shows, attractions, thrilling rides and midway games, hundreds of exhibitors and delicious food from around the world. Kids love Playland, the fair’s amusement park, which is open from April until September. This year the fair is being held from August 20 to September 5.
www.pne.bc.ca
• From cyclone chambers to shadow walls, Science World British Columbia features hands-on exhibits and activities guaranteed to entertain and educate. Upcoming exhibits include “Playing with Time”, and the “Expo 2005 Canada Interactive Network”, providing kids with the opportunity to experience Expo 2005 in Japan.
www.scienceworld.bc.ca
THE PERFECT SUMMER DAY
The summer is in full swing in Vancouver, offering a wealth of fun-in-the sun options for visitors and locals. Here are a few ways to enjoy the perfect summer day.

Start your morning off right with breakfast at the Sunset Grill – located one block from the water – before spending a day in the sun at Kitsilano Beach – the most popular stretch of sand for bikinis, buff bodies, and beach volleyball. If you’re looking for a healthy, vegetarian option, try The Naam for breakfast – they serve tasty meat-free dishes and are located close to the beach.

Stop off at the Vancouver Maritime Museum to visit the famous “St. Roch”, the first ship to circumnavigate North America. In the afternoon, take a False Creek Ferry over to English Bay for a walk on the seawall and a visit to Raincity Grill for some gourmet fare from their takeout window, perfect for taking to the grass to watch buskers entertain as the sun sets behind the mountains. To top off the day, head to La Casa Gelato to tempt your taste buds with one (or maybe two or three) of their 198 flavours – from vanilla to off-the-wall kinds like wasabi and garlic.
·  Sunset Grill: 604.732.3733
·  The Naam: thenaam.com
·  Kitsilano Beach: www.city.vancouver.bc.ca
·  Vancouver Maritime Museum: www.vmm.bc.ca
·  False Creek Ferries: www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca
·  Raincity Grill: www.raincitygrill.com
·  La Casa Gelato: www.lacasagelato.com
TOP 10 VANCOUVER SOUVENIRS

If you’re looking for the perfect souvenir to remind you of your visit to Vancouver, look no further. Here’s a list to fill your suitcase.
1.       Indian Candy (sweet salmon jerky) from Salmon Village – www.salmonvillage.com
2.       “Canadian Blend” ground coffee from Murchie’s to bring home the Vancouver buzz – www.murchies.com
3.       A copy of the new short story collection, “The Vancouver Stories”, from the Listel Vancouver Hotel – www.listel-vancouver.com
4.       First Nations bentwood box from Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery – www.coastalpeoples.com
5.       Blown glass bauble from Granville Island – www.granvilleisland.com
6.       Canucks hockey puck – www.canucks.com
7.       Cuban cigars from La Casa del Habano – phone: 604.609.0511
8.       Kitsilano Maple Cream Ale from the Granville Island Brewery – www.gib.ca
9.       $2 seed packets from VanDusen Botanical Garden to take the blooms home – www.vandusengarden.org
10.   Locally-grown ginseng from Chinatown – www.vancouverchinatown.ca

June 3, 2005   Posted in: Canada