February 27, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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Having never been to the beer-swilling, sausage-eating extravaganza that is Germany’s Oktoberfest, I was keen to try its replica - German FanFest in Gastown, Vancouver. Set up for the 2010 Winter Games, this 600-capacity tent features big screens, long tables and several barbeques serving up tasty Bratwurst and Thuringian sausages with sauerkraut. Perfect washed down with a pitcher (or ‘stein’) of beer!
Just steps away is historic Gastown. Once the heart of Vancouver it’s named after a chatty Yorkshireman called ‘Gassy’ Jack Deighton who had a statue and even a pub named after him. You can stroll along cobbled streets that have undergone a recent revival, with local designer-owned boutiques, restaurants and bars.
My favourites include Spanish restaurant Cobre, sampling cheeses and meats at the eclectic Salt Tasting Room, unusual cocktails at the uber-hip Black Diamond – and a pint of Guinness at the Irish Heather pub.
Halfway along Water Street is the much-photographed steam clock, built in 1977 to look like London’s Big Ben. Every 15 minutes it belches steam and lets out a piercing whistle.
February 27, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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I’m sure I wasn’t the first person to have nearly wept in disappointment. The line to get into the Royal Canadian Mint pavilion on downtown Granville Street was six hours long! These patient people would get in to see, and even handle the 2010 Olympic medals. Weighing over 500g each, the exquisite medals are among the heaviest in Games history. Unique in other ways too – they’re the first medals whose shape is undulating, and their First Nations design was inspired by the Orca whale.
Thankfully, all was not lost. I discovered a second, far shorter line that brought me into the Mint pavilion to see its world-famous million-dollar gold coin, the Vancouver 2010 circulation coins (including the ‘Lucky Loonie), and commemorative gold coins to mark Canada’s first Olympic gold medal on home soil.
Peering into the glass cases, I was blown away by the intricate detail of the gold and sterling silver 2010 collection, one symbolizing the Four host First Nations, another featuring the Olympic torch and one showing Canada Place and Vancouver’s North Shore Mountains.
A photo booth to capture Mint memories had been set up for free and there were interactive games on computer screens, with kids activities taking place from 3-5pm.
A little retail therapy was then in order, to make up for missing out on the medals. I headed up the Street where there are two great department stores, the Bay and high-end Holt Renfrew, with the Pacific Centre shopping mall close by.
February 26, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Art Galleries & Artists
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Exploring the Olympic celebrations in Vancouver, I’ve spotted loads of giant, fiberglass eagles, wings spread and talons outstretched. Eagles in the City are in fact third in a trilogy of sculptures commissioned by the BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities – and they’ll be around until April 2010. Follow out the Eagle flight path at eaglesinthecity.com.
Another thriving art scene – and more apt for a rainy day – is a set of galleries along South Granville Street (a short bus ride over the bridge from downtown). During the Olympics, several artists have created sports-related pieces.
Windsor Gallery (3025 Granville St) – Artist Paul Wong’s installation features the bright and cheeky Mural Number 5, which is also on a billboard at the Granville & Georgia Canada Line Station.
Elissa Cristall Gallery (2245 Granville St) – Anda Kubis’s collection Split Second is all about speed, with blurry brush strokes and pixilated colour channeling athletes in action.
Bau Xi (3045 Granville St) – Vancouver painter Lisa Burke’s exhibition shows hockey players on a melting ice rink and athletes trying to free themselves from knotted cords. “Eye candy with a hint of acid,” is how she describes her work.
February 26, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Sightseeing Tours
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“Meet our moose – Saxel,” said one of the jovial ambassadors of Saxony Olympic House in Vancouver (aka the Tudor-style Vancouver Rowing Club). He then had me in stitches with his version of their special Olympia song – a real oompa anthem, normally performed by the band De Erbschleicher in the evenings, along with DJs, big screen coverage of the Games, Saxony beers and (meaty!) cuisine.
I’d decided to make a day of it, and renting a bike at one of the bicycle and skate shops on Denman Street in the West End, I pedaled off into one of the largest urban parks in North America – Stanley Park. Densely populated by giant cedar, hemlock and fir trees, its perimeter seawall offers amazing views of the city and North Shore mountains.
After Saxony House I continued round to the colourful set of totem poles (carved by various First Nations artists), then on to the Nine O’Clock Gun (a cannon that fires nightly) and the little Brockton Point Lighthouse.
Under the Lions Gate Bridge at Prospect Point, were lots of gaps where trees used to be – a grim reminder of the winter storm in 2006. At the café, a cheeky raccoon begged for scraps and I stopped to take photos of the elegant Siwash Rock that juts out of the sea around here.
Next I headed towards English Bay, passing the outdoor swimming pool. This was my cue to turn inland, passing the Lost Lagoon before arriving back at the West End.
One place I’d highly recommend in the Park, is the Vancouver Aquarium – if you have a couple of hours to spare – go and visit the belugas, sea otters and undersea creatures!
February 26, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Historic & Heritage Sites
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Anyone who lives here in Dawson Creek is used to driving carefully through downtown so as not to run over the frequent tourists jaywalking into the middle of the intersection to have their photo taken on our world famous Mile O Post.
Its quite common to see local residents offering to take the photo so that everyone gets in the picture. I wonder how many photos of our post exist... Do you have one?
The Mile O Post is one of the most recognizable and frequently photographed landmarks in the country. It symbolizes the beginning of the Alaska Highway and lists the distances to major destinations along the highway in miles.
- Fort St. John 48
- Fort Nelson 300
- Whitehorse 918
- Delta Junction 1398
- Fairbanks 1523
The original post sat a couple of blocks away at the traffic circle, but apparently someone ran into it in 1946 so it was replaced and moved to the center of town especially for visitors to our community.
Make sure you touch a piece of history when you come to Dawson Creek and have your picture taken at the Mile "O" Post. Don't hesitate to ask one of us to take the photo, we're always glad to do it.
"Rolling out the red carpet..."
February 25, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Historic & Heritage Sites
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Performing dances passed down through generations in ceremonial potlatches, these Le-La-La dancers are from North Vancouver Island. The lobby of the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver had been transformed into the Kla-how-ya (meaning "Welcome") Aboriginal Village for the 2010 Olympics. As well as these fantastic shows, I got to see a beautifully carved Ravensong canoe by artist Bill Helin, drums, moccasins and baby baskets crafted by the Tsilqoti'n Aboriginal band in BC.
February 25, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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Since hockey legend Wayne Gretsky lit the Olympic cauldron after the 2010 Winter Games opening ceremony, it’s become a powerful symbol of hope for sports fans and athletes during this nail-biting fortnight.
Down in Coal Harbour, next to the new convention centre, I gazed up at the enormous green-glass structure with four brightly-burning flames. This Olympic flame has travelled such a long way to get here, starting in Greece before embarking on a 106-day torch relay across Canada, through over 1,000 communities.
So it was no surprise to see huge crowds paying homage to the cauldron. In line for the viewing platform I got chatting to Dave and Angela from Yorkshire, UK. Apart from all the Olympics action in Vancouver, they also visited Victoria in BC. “We loved pottering about in Victoria and even had tea at the Fairmont,” Angela told me. “But the ferry over there, through all the little islands was just beautiful. We even saw seals on the rocks sunbathing!”
Afterwards I decided to walk right through Coal Harbour to the Saxony House in Stanley Park. There’s always so much happening along this stretch, from floatplanes swooping down to land in the sea, to luxury yachts, charter boats and whale watching zodiacs plying the water. You can even rent bicycles from the Seawall Adventure Centre to tootle round a little quicker.
Restaurants also offer sea views, across to North Vancouver. Choose from Mills Marine Bistro (with its splash park for kids), great seafood at Cardero’s or the upscale Lift that sits on stilts over the water.
February 25, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
On any trips to Vancouver a must see place to visit is Robson Street. There is great shopping, pubs, and people watching. During the Olympics you have to check out the great storefronts (complete with enough pizazz to make Simon Doonan smile). One one stroll down this street to pick up the iconic red mittens we crossed this impromptu sing-a-long to "Oh Canada."
Other notable things to do while visiting Robson Street during the Olympics:
1. Check out the live, CTV set
2. The nightly light and fireworks show
3. Skating and zipling
Ready. Set. Go!
February 25, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
Vancouver has been a wonderful host to the Olympic games. From the wonderful hospitality, fabulous scenery, and efficient organization I was blown away. But the icing on the cake for me was how much attention was paid to every last detail. Along the way to events there were unique vignettes that just added to the excitement and energy. And spoiler alert, for any of you "Glee" fans out there this might sound and feel familiar. This chorus was performing on the night we walked up for the Pairs Figure Skating Free Skate. Enjoy!
February 25, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Historic & Heritage Sites
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I took a tour of our
Alaska Highway House located right beside the World Famous Mile 'O' Post in downtown
Dawson Creek the other day.
I was transfixed and transported back in time to the building of the Alaska Highway. The story of this astounding feat is woven as you walk through the museum of artifacts.
I learned that 30,000 US Army troops and civilians built the highway through ice and mud and mosquitoes in just nine short months in 1942.
I saw an original Willys Army Jeep on a recreation of a "corduroy road". Nothing like the comfort of the vehicles we enjoy today.
No power steering, seat warmers and air conditioning, satellite radio or cushion seats... just steel and mud, inside and out...There is a life size model of a Quonset hut that has been designed as a movie theater where you can watch films and actual footage of the construction.
There is also a large impressive scale model of the famous Kiskatinaw Bridge, the longest curved bridge in North America.
While you are in the Alaska Highway House, you can sit in a customized RV and record a video message for your friends and family.
When you come to Dawson Creek, make sure you take the tour...you'll be impressed... this is a top drawer experience...
"Rolling out the red carpet..."