February 16, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
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Let's face it, here in the Peace River Country, we don't fool around when it comes to winter. We are a hardy lot and we know how to thrive in our northern climate.
Ask anyone who lives here and they will say that with an adventurous spirit, some planning, a positive attitude and a sense of humor, winter is an enjoyable season.
Have you been here in the winter? Did you get around OK? Did anyone give you some basic advice on how to prepare your self and your vehicle?
Here are 5 Down to Earth Travel Tips:1. Make sure your vehicle is winterized. Make sure you have a block heater and extension cord, ice scraper etc. There's nothing like the satisfaction of turning the key on a cold winter morning and being rewarded with an easy start. You'll also want winter antifreeze and good winter tires.
2. Make sure you keep a cell phone, extra warm clothes, a blanket and a flashlight etc in your vehicle. It's like insurance... you hope you never need it, but it gives you peace of mind. We all do this.
3. Drive smart. If you aren't familiar with winter driving conditions... adopt a slower is better attitude. Take your time and keep your distance.
4. Keep your gas tank filled. Winter is not the time to be living on the edge with a near empty tank.
5. Please watch for wildlife. Our moose are really big and really plentiful. Our deer are really big and really plentiful too. We like them and we want to keep them safe. You should know they have a tendency to hang around the roads when the snow is deep in the bush.
For this Mile O Citizen, winter is an adventure and being prepared makes it fun!
February 16, 2010 | Field Reports >
Richmond, Historic & Heritage Sites
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One of the longest dragons in North America, at 100-metres, highlighted Chinese New Year celebrations in Richmond, BC. Huge crowds of all nationalities were wowed by the dragons, cultural dancing, Tai Chi demonstrations and more. A high-flying lion dance was a spectacular delight and something you have to see to believe. The day was filled with fun, entertainment and great food! It finished off with a concert by the hottest band out of Taiwan, F.I.R and some amazing fireworks! What a way to ring in the year of the tiger!
February 16, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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After watching coverage of Alexandre Bilodeau receiving his mogels gold medal, it was time to get out and celebrate Canada's first gold at a winter Olympics. I headed down to Livecity Yaletown for the Matisyahu concert.
Unbelievably the queues to get in were even longer than Saturday's Wilco lines – and we were still waiting as the opening tracks rang out. Luckily we got a decent view through the fence.
Cutting a striking figure in his black baseball cap, and skater jeans, Matisyahu was on fire, bounding around the stage and building his mix of rock, hip hop and reggae to blinding sonic heights. A Hasidic Jew from New York he seamlessly blends culture, religion and politics in his lyrics – and does a kicking human beatbox number to boot.
“Hey Vancouver, thanks for coming together in the rain tonight – PEACE!” he yelled to sodden fans. We were treated to hits like King Without a Crown, the lilting Jerusalem and my fave, the epic One Day off his latest album Light.
February 15, 2010 | Field Reports >
North Vancouver, Festivals & Events
Grouse Mountain, the Peak of Vancouver is such a hot spot that NBC's Today Show is broadcasting LIVE during the Olympics. The Mountain is open 24/7 which means you can ski, snowboard, skate or catch a live taping and then watch the sunrise. In this video, I caught local singing sensation, Micheal Buble's performance live!
February 15, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Art Galleries & Artists
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In downtown Vancouver for some shopping at The Bay, and Pacific Centre mall, I took a stroll along Granville Street to see the Cultural Olympiad’s LunarFest. Different installations all link Canada culturally with Taiwan, starting off with the Lantern Forest. Steel trees support thousands of brightly-coloured lanterns that are designed by schoolchildren from both countries. At night they’re all lit up like big fireflies.
Next to the lanterns are sculptures called Love, Life and Light. Again these are transformed into neon brilliance at dusk. Brue Voyce’s mythical creation, ‘Confusion Fusion’ is made from recycled materials like pop bottles. And artist lu Ping-Cheng has built an elaborate umbilical cord, symbolically connecting Taiwan and Canada.
Further down the street, people are posing for photos inside sculptural cut-out shapes of Olympic skiers, skaters and boarders. I can’t resist.
February 15, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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“QUAAAAATCHIIII!!!! SUUUUUUMIIIIII!!!! MIIIIIIGAAAA!!!!!” Hysterical fans of 2010’s cuddly Olympic mascots were screeching their heads off just for a chance to pet or hug the giant furry creatures. I thought I might be the only big kid at Robson Square’s GE Plaza in Vancouver but no, ‘kids’ of all ages crammed around the ice rink to meet their idols. You’d have thought Madonna or Brad Pitt was in town – such was the level of excitement.
The ice rink had been transformed into an enchanted forest and other skaters in leafy green outfits twirled in formation around the stars. A commentator gave us the lowdown on the Winter Games Mascots: Miga (black and white) is a sea bear, which in First Nations mythology is part Orca whale and part Kermode bear. A snowboarding fanatic, she normally lives in surf capital, Tofino. Quatchi (huge and fluffy with blue ear muffs) is a Canadian sasquatch from the Great White North – and he loves ice hockey.
Mascot to the Paralympic Games, green Sumi loves skiing. He wears the hat of an Orca, flies with Thunderbird wings and skates on furry bear legs. Their sidekick marmot, Muk Muk was absent, maybe marmots just don’t skate?
At the end, we all did get our moment with the mascots as they glided around for big hugs, and putting wide grins on little faces. And afterwards it was time to put on skates (rentals are $3) and make the most of the free ice rink.
February 15, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
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Just ask anyone who lives here now or has lived here in the past what comes to mind first when they think of the Peace River Country and sure-as-shootin' they will bring up our incredible big blue skies, sunshine, clean air and Northern Lights.
Nestled in a lovely valley, we are so spoiled with our panoramic view above and our easy access to complete solitude a couple of minutes out of the city.
Have you gone for a walk in the country on a clear Peace Country night? With every star vying for your attention? With the full moon lighting the fields for miles and miles? With the Northern Lights dancing in brilliant colors above?
Have you ever just stood in the silence... away from all sounds of humanity and listened?
I did a couple of nights ago... and I heard some crashing in the bush way off in the west... it was probably a moose moving about... I heard the coyotes yipping and I heard... silence... no motors, no sounds...
The next time you come to Dawson Creek, make sure you take a night drive out into the country, park and go for moonlight walk...
For this Mile O Citizen this is heaven here on earth...
February 14, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Richmond, Sightseeing Tours
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Complementing the myriad of shows, installations and games at Richmond’s Olympic OZone complex is BC Street. I took a stroll along its collection of stalls showcasing British Columbia’s diverse communities, from log cabins in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast to alpine peaks in the Kootenay Rockies. All offered competitions to win awesome holidays in the province.
At the Comox Valley tent, I delved back into pioneer history on a virtual heritage walk. Exhibits at the Vancouver Coast & Mountains stall included guest ranching, scuba diving and winery touring. I made the most of their free samples of local honey and cheese.
Vancouver Island’s Sooke demoed its ‘Wild by Nature’ side, with a killer whale replica and mock marina, complete with lighthouse. Also coastal and wild, Tofino’s booth proved a real hit, taking photos of visitors on green screens, then superimposing them onto surfing or salmon fishing scenes. My husband can now boast he caught the Tyee (the “big one” in Aboriginal parance).
February 14, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Richmond, Festivals & Events
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Catching the sleek new Canada Line Skytrain to Richmond’s OZone for more Olympic fun, I got through the gates just in time to see crowds massing around the Main Stage for the Chinese New Year celebrations: the Double Dragon Dance.
Everything about today seemed to be super or super-size; from the sunshine, the sheer size of the OZone complex – to the 100-metre long Chinese dragon, held up by hundreds of volunteers. Along with its partner dragon and a couple of lions, the fiery creature swirled, ducked and circled spectators, sending whoops of delight among us all, before bowing in respect to Richmond’s mayor and councilors on the stage.
A mass Tai Chi performance followed, creating a flowing red sea of bodies around the dragons – truly graceful.
Aside from bands and shows, the Ozone is packed with activities. I got a chance to try the outdoor skating rink (perfect on a sunny Sunday afternoon), learn about the Richmond Oval legacy which promotes sports for youth, and take a virtual bobsleigh ride in the 2010 Games Dome.
On the way out I took in the Ice Gate - a colourful, jagged ice sculpture by BC artist Gordon Halloran. It reminded me of Vancouver’s mountainous skyline at sunset – something I had a great view of on the way back to the Skytrain.
February 14, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Dining
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On the way to the Olympic OZone venue in Richmond, my husband and I decided to celebrate Chinese New Year with authentic dim sum. Just over the Fraser River from Vancouver and a hop away from the airport, Richmond's large Asian community offers some of the best Chinese food this side of Beijing.
On a reliable recommendation we plumped for the Continental Seafood Restaurant (11700 Cambie Road) and were soon seated in a huge banquet hall among hundreds of extended families welcoming in
the Year of the Tiger and catching the Games on flatscreen TVs.
Smartly uniformed staff wheeled trolleys laden with steaming delicacies for diners to pick. We loaded up on char siu buns filled with barbequed pork, choi sum greens, sticky rice and prawn dumplings, washed down with jasmine tea. Somehow we still found room for sweet egg buns - just as tasty as the ones I used to eat growing up in Hong Kong. Gung hay fat Choy indeed!