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A Torch Relay Day 1 Experience

November 3, 2009 | Tips from Us > Victoria, Festivals & Events

On Friday October 30, 2009, I was in Victoria to watch the start of the Olympic Torch Relay. School children dressed in red and white holding Canadian and Olympic flags created corridors to the stage and were greeted by the Olympic mascots - Miga and Quatchy.  Around me were all sorts of people: couples, families, business people, and international students all waiting with excitement. As the TV cameras scanned the crowd, people cheered if they saw themselves on the big screen that was set up next to the stage. The big screen also entertained us with videos from the Vanocouver 2010 website - "Meet the Vancouver 2010 Mascots" and the "Lights Will Guide You Home" video which always gets me teary-eyed.

Anyways, there was great excitement amongst the crowd as everyone watched the flame latern as it made its way from the aboriginal boat in the harbour to the stage in front of the Parliment Buildings.  Welcome speeches were made and then it was time to light the Celebration Cauldron. The crowd held their breaths as Darlene Poole and John Furlong had a little bit of troubles lighting the cauldron - "oooe-ing" and "ahh-ing" in disappointment when the flame didn't take. Eventually the cauldron was lit and everyone cheered with excitement.  Simon Whitfield and Catriona Le May Doan lit the first torch from the cauldron and then began the leg of the relay through the crowds.
 

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Posted by jeanine, vancouver at 05:13 PM

Touring the Vancouver Biennale by Bike

October 6, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Vancouver, Festivals & Events

The Vancouver Biennale is a series art installations around the city and the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition partners up with the Bienalle on its official opening for the "bikenalle" which is a bike tour of the installations that allows you to view the art and also see a lot of Vancouver. I decided to hop on my bike and take the tour.

I thought it was a great way to ride the seawall that now goes almost all the way around downtown.  I saw parts of the city that I hadn’t seen in years, the art was fantastic and I was reminded how beautiful and bike friendly Vancouver actually is.

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Posted by Ivan Hughes, Squamish at 10:51 AM

Great Festivals in the Kootenays

August 18, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Nelson, Festivals & Events

 

The fourth annual Little Fest took place a few weekends ago at the Little Slocan Lodge. Performers included Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, The Cave Singers, Frazey Ford & Ora Cogan, United Steelworkers of Montreal, The Pasties, Fish & Bird, Widow Maker and Kenny Konrad & Old Blind Crow.

There was an outdoor stage, beverage garden, food concession and free camping. The great music went from noon till 2 am.  The atmosphere was so incredible and you could feel it even from walking up the path. The mountain music was drifting through the trees; it was a very unique venue.

Despite the rain, wind and hail the crowd at Little Fest continued to dance and have a good time; nearly 450 people braved the weather and enjoyed all the very talented emerging bands.

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Posted by Katie, at 08:22 AM

Ultimate Saturday at the 2009 World Police and Fire Games

August 10, 2009 | Field Reports > Vancouver, Festivals & Events

I went down to Vancouver's Plaza of Nations for the Ultimate Saturday of the 2009 World Police and Fire Games. There I watched the Dragon Boat races and the Ultimate Firefighter competition and asked a few of the competitors what they thought of Vancouver.  What an amazing event!

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Posted by Ivan Hughes, Squamish at 07:32 AM

Dawson Creek Fall Fair Parade 2009

August 7, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Dawson Creek, Festivals & Events

 

Today from 9:30 to 11:00am the Dawson Creek Visitor Center staff participated in the Dawson Creek Fall Fair Parade. It was a blast! Yes, we were super hot, but all the kids and cheering people made it very fun. The Visitor Center staff and the Art Gallery staff, next door, teamed up and the product was an amazing float that earned us 2^nd place! The theme was ‘aliens and tourists’ celebrating 51 years of Dawson Creek with Area 51. The Art Gallery has been working hard for months to prepare the float and costumes. They had green paper mache faces and silver body suits. As for the Visitor Center staff we went home, raided our closes and found shorts, Hawaiian shirts, hats, cameras, socks and sandals. My legs are now very tired from the fourteen odd blocks we walked. But the 2^nd place ribbon looks great!

The parade consisted of many horses, some people were riding English but most rode western. There were the most adorable little kids atop some horses, and one miniature horse was even on a float. The floats ranged from small to large tracker-trailers. Many were representing businesses in town while the rest were for clubs in the area, some coming from as far as Beaverlodge, Alberta. Not far in front of our float there were two rodeo trick riders, dressed in pink and standing atop their horses for much if the parade. There was even a chuck wagon on a low-bed being pulled in the parade. All of the clubs, businesses, and local people put tremendous amounts of effort into our small town parade!

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Posted by VIC Gals, Dawson Creek at 02:47 PM

Checking in on the 2009 World Police and Fire Games

August 3, 2009 | Field Reports > Burnaby, Festivals & Events

I took a trip out to Burnaby to watch some of the free events during the 2009 World Police and Fire Games. With over 10,000 athletes participating from 56 different countries in all sorts of events that are all free to the public this is definitely worth checking out.

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Posted by Ivan Hughes, Squamish at 06:42 AM

Jordan World Circus

July 26, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Dawson Creek, Festivals & Events

 This weekend my friend and I took her two year old daughter to the circus.  Jordan World Circus is traveling around Northern British Columbia and Northern Alberta.  There were many terrific performances and some unbelievable stunts.  For animals they had poodles, bears, and elephants.  They also had moterbikes, a bounce slide, pictures with the bears and poodles, rides on the elephants, and stunt performers.  The stunts performed were amazing and displayed unique talents.  Our favorite part was the elephants and we really enjoyed ourselves.  

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Posted by VIC Gals, Dawson Creek at 12:15 PM

Chamber Girls @ the Breast Cansor Golf Scrabble

July 25, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Smithers, Festivals & Events

 There we are! I much enjoyed this day; a scrabble at the Smithers Golf and Country Club made the end of a day that much more enjoyable.  Teams were scheduled to six holes, and we all got to hit the ball from the closest to the target.  A dinner and a silent auction was to follow.

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Posted by Erica's Smithers Snap Shot, Smithers at 05:00 PM

Smithers RCMP Musical Ride 2009

July 25, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Smithers, Festivals & Events

 On July 15, 2009 the RCMP came to Smithers to show some talent at our very own Fair Grounds.  The two shows at 2 and 7 filled the stands.  This was a awsome treat for residents, and the very special people from out of town.  This was the first time the show has been held in Smithers for almost 20 years.  The proceeds went toward funding local community policing initiatives.

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Posted by Erica's Smithers Snap Shot, Smithers at 04:23 PM

Kids Festival

July 23, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Dawson Creek, Festivals & Events

 Last week the Dawson Creek Visitor Center hosted their 2^nd Annual Kids Festival out front of their building on the lawn. A four year old little girl that I know participated in the afternoon events. Even with a cast on her leg she was able to do most of the activities and have a blast.  She got to decorate moose shaped cookies with brown or white icing. Then she hobbled over to the WOW bus and got a tour. After the tour she went and watched some local fiddlers playing music in the shade.  Nearby she was also entertained by circus performers on stilts. Unfortunately she couldn’t participate but other children were walking around on the tall wobble sticks with the aid of a performer. There was also a tunnel, holla-hoops, and toys to play with. However, the coloring contest and prizes was the biggest hit of the afternoon.  The pictures were of moose or deer; those that colored a picture and handed them in to the Visitor Center staff got prizes! During all of this fun she found time to go into the museum and listen to the story telling. A local lady with the Historical Society dropped in and read a story, and she also brought popcorn! Then it was back out side to get in line for the face painting. A lady from the Art Gallery, next door, came over and did some phenomenal art work on the childrens’ faces.

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Posted by VIC Gals, Dawson Creek at 02:33 PM