The Leo Awards, for excellence in BC film and television, were handed out last week during three ceremonies that culminated with the gala dinner at the Hotel Vancouver on Sunday, June 14th. Unable to attend myself, I sent my trusted friend — and BC film and TV aficionado — Laura Yee-Lim to the red carpet.
Danny Virtue (recipient of the Outstanding Achievement award) & his special guest, Casey Wright
Hosted by Christopher Heyerdahl, Sunday’s event handed out awards in 28 categories and recognized legendary stuntman, Danny Virtue with the Outstanding Achievement Award. Violent, the filmmaking debut by Andrew Huculiak (also of BC rock band We Are The City), was the biggest winner in the Motion Picture category, landing trophies for Best Motion Picture, Best Direction, Best Screenwriting, Best Musical Score and Best Casting.
Best Lead Performance in a Motion Picture honours went to Matthew MacCaull (Black Fly) and Julia Sarah Stone (Wet Bum). Sara Canning was named Best Lead Performance Dramatic Series (Remedy) and Anna Marie DeLuise got a Supporting nod for her performance in western drama Strange Empire. Louis Ferreira won Lead Performance by a Male for his role as Detective Oscar Vega in Motive.
This year there were 57 feature-length dramas, 35 dramatic series, 54 short dramas and 34 documentaries amongst the 1,202 eligible entries. Check out the full list of winners online.
Leo Awards Red Carpet Photos
Stephen Lobo, John Cassini & Adam Greydon Reid
Julia Sarah Stone (Wet Bum), Zach Lipovsky (Afflicted), Sara Canning (Remedy)
Sonja Bennett & Preggoland co-stars, Joel Salaysay (Lifers) & William Valenzuela, Carmen Moore (Blackstone)
Michael Eklund and the Leo Awards models
Gabrielle Rose & Maureen Bradley (Two 4 One)
Leo Awards models’ tribute to “604”!
Jacqueline & Joyce Robbins, David Feuillatre & Diana Donaldson, MacKenzie Gray, Kristin Lehman (Motive) & Adam Greydon
Julia Benson (What an Idiot) & Peter Benson
Find more of Laura’s photos on her Instagram. Follow the Leo Awards on Twitter and Facebook for more information about BC film and TV throughout the year.
Listed among the NY Times’ places to go in 2015, Squamish is home to world-class recreation and a mountain lifestyle like no other. They also have a major music festival, one of the largest loggers sports shows in North America, and an award-winning craft brewery that was recently named Best Brewpub in BC. Squamish knows the outdoors, and it knows good — strike that — GREAT craft beer, which is why it is hosting the Squamish Beer Festival on July 11th.
The Squamish Beer Festival features a selection of the some of the best handcrafted beer from craft breweries in BC and around the world. Meet the brewers, sample the latest beer and cider releases and learn about traditional small-batch brewing. Sample Postmark Brewing, Steel and Oak Brewing, Bridge Brewing, Powell Street Craft Brewery, Hoyne Brewing, Squamish’s own Howe Sound Brewing, and more at this outdoor event.
40 Breweries. 120+ Craft Beers. Live Music. Local Food. One Ticket.
When: Saturday, July 11, 2015, 1:00pm to 6:00pm
Where: O’Siyam Pavilion (Block 10 Cleveland Ave in Squamish, BC)
Tickets: Available online. General admission tickets include a tasting glass and six tastings (4oz pour) and VIP tickets include the tasting glass, six tastings, site access 1 hour early and VIP amenities.
Let someone else do the driving and book the shuttle to/from Downtown Vancouver or to/from Whistler for $25. There are also a few Squamish hotel options within walking distance of the festival site (including Howe Sound Inn & Brewery).
Win VIP Squamish Beer Festival Tickets
I have a four pack of VIP tickets to give away! Here’s how you can enter to win:
Follow the Squamish Beer Festival on Facebook and Twitter for more information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Must be 19+. Please enjoy responsibly.
Update The winner is @sarahsim!
The Group C teams that we’ve come to know and enjoy at BC Place have moved on to new venues for their final matches of the round but not before a pair of impressive showings in front of the Vancouver crowd last Friday. With over 5,000 more spectators in attendance, Switzerland blanked Ecuador in a multi-record setting match and Japan held off Cameroon to automatically advance to the Round of 16.
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Second Match Day in Vancouver
Taking my place once again in the 400 level media tribune, the Top 40 tunes blasting through the loud speakers switched over to AC/DC as teams took to the pitch to warm up. The big screen panned through the crowd to find super fans sporting face paint, flags, drums, and one Swiss supporter with two giant cowbells about the size of soccer balls.
Switzerland‘s speed and spot-on combinations put them ahead 2-0 in the first half against Ecuador but the fire in their bellies must have been lit during the break because the team came out in the second half with their boots blazing. Fabienne Humm scored at 47′, 49′ and 52′ to earn the fastest hat trick in FIFA Women’s World Cup history. With a final result of 10-1 in favour of Switzerland over Ecuador, the match was tied for the highest scoring in the tournament’s history. Another record!
One thing I’ve noticed about these women’s matches is that the pace is incredibly quick. If a player is knocked down, it’s rarely embellished and within a few second she gives a “thumbs up” to show she’s fine and play can continue. Even this has only happened a few times in the last four matches I’ve seen in person, including once this match when a player from Ecuador hit the turf and was up again within a minute.
In the post match press conference, Edcuador’s coach Vanessa Arauz said that this match proved that Switzerland can play at a higher level. “For Ecuador, this is our first world tournament and it has been difficult for us to control the ball, but we were able to do it for 25 minutes in the first half.”
“We in Ecuador have a lot to learn, we need more support to achieve a more heightened level of play,” coach Arauz added. Her players are all amateurs and have learned a lot so far, and have even more room to grow. She’s hoping to get some support back home to help develop women’s soccer. Every match is a part of the development of their story as a team and paves the way for future generations. “Hopefully in some years you will see a better Ecuador.”
Despite the overwhelming loss, they are still optimistic and find solace in the fact that the players have had this experienced, and have been exposed to this level of play. As a host city spectator, it was great to see every debutant team score at least one goal.
Coach Martina Voss-Techlenburg was in much better spirits today following her Swiss team’s triumphant win. “I don’t want too sound arrogant, but I was expecting us to score a lot of goals.” When she was asked about racking up the score, continuing to put pressure on goal even though they had a runaway victory. She said it’s always important to keep scoring, then looked over at Ramona Bachmann, the Player of the Match, and asked her if she liked scoring. Yes? Then keep scoring! “We tried to keep on scoring because we knew it could be important in the final group standings.” Bachmann gave a nod to the Ecuador team who did quite well to make things difficult for them during that first half.
During the second match of the double header the attendance of 31,441 was announced. Japan‘s supporters kept up a steady stream of chants as Cameroon soon made fans out of the entire stadium for their valiant and powerful effort against the champions. They charged up the field with every chance they had but Japan kept their cool, made the right connections and combinations, and came away with a 2-1 victory.
Coach Enow Ngachu of Cameroon was happy with the effort put forward by his team. “We played very well after being down two goals to none… We expected to have difficulties after playing against one of the best defences in the world.” Coach said he was very happy and excited to see the support for Cameroon in the stands at BC Place and it was his hope that Canadians would support them. “We’ve still got a game against Switzerland and we are going to do everything possible to qualify for the second round.”
The Player of the Match was Aya Miyama of Japan, her second honour of the tournament. She told the press conference crowd that it was a difficult match but they were successful in their defending. “The game was very tense and had close moments but it was fun.” Coach Norio Sasaki said that the technical level of play between the teams has been very close, even for those with very different world rankings, so he says they won’t have any easy games in the future.
Matches like those on Friday amplify everyone’s excitement for this tournament. The scene outside BC Place post-match has been the same on both nights I’ve been there, a lineup forms at the box office as fans clamour to book their next FIFA Women’s World Cup experience in Vancouver.
Next Matches at BC Place
Three of the four teams that set out in Vancouver earlier this month were making their FIFA Women’s World Cup debuts, and the fourth was the reigning world champion. Ecuador will now face Japan in Winnipeg while Switzerland and Cameroon will play (what I anticipate to be a very exciting match) in Edmonton.
Coming up, the next matche at BC Place is Tuesday, June 16th with Nigeria vs USA.
Sunday, June 21, 2015: Round of 16 (1st of Group A vs 3rd C/D/E)
Tuesday, June 23, 2015: Round of 16 (1st of Group C vs 3rd A/B/F)
Saturday, June 27, 2015: Quarter Final
Sunday, July 5, 2015: FINAL
Check out the full schedule for all Canadian host cities online and be sure to get your tickets as well, let’s fill those seats in BC Place!
Win World Cup Tickets
I’m still giving away World Cup tickets via the City of Vancouver’s Fan Zone located at Georgia and Cambie in Downtown Vancouver. Stop by the celebration site, watch some matches, have some fun, snap a selfie, tag it @Miss604 and #VanFanZone on Twitter and you could be the ticket winner that day. The Fan Zone is open June 15, June 16, June 21, June 23, June 27, July 1 (Canada Day), July 4, and July 5. Get the detailed schedule here.
Car Free Day Vancouver, now in its 11th year, takes over four Vancouver neighbourhoods this weekend with events on Saturday, June 20th and Sunday, June 21st. This annual multi-site arts and culture festival reclaims traffic thoroughfares as community-focused public spaces, enagaing residents, artists, performers, artisans, non-profits, and businesses.
Car Free Day Vancouver Locations
West End on Denman, from Georgia to Davie
Saturday, June 20, 2015 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Twitter / Facebook / Tag #CFWest
Check out the West End Art Jam, the West End Kidz Zone at the Community Centre, the PuddleCity Arts Stage at Denman Place Mall, outdoor stages, entertainment and more all along Denman Street.
Main Street
Main from Broadway to 30th
Sunday, June 21, 2015
12:00pm to 7:00pm
Twitter / Facebook / Tag #CFMain
Check out The Reef’s Soca Music Block Party, St. Patrick’s Church Choir performances, the NEPTOON Records Stage, Red Cat Records Stage, Granville Island Toy Company Kids Zone, Chocolate Land and French Quarter Parklet, Terminal City Rollergirls, Anti-social Skateboards, and much more.
Commercial Drive
The Drive from Venables to Grandview
Sunday, June 21, 2015
12:00pm to 7:00pm
Twitter / Facebook / Tag #DriveFest
Commercial Drive is the birthplace of Car Free Vancouver Day, a festival that has grown to 15 blocks of fun with roller disco, parading drummers, healing gardens, DJs spinning beats, and of course some great food.
Kitsilano (various neighbourhoods)
Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21, 2015
Kitsilano does something different for Car Free Day. Instead of closing off a major street, people throughout Kits host block parties with their neighbours. Individual block parties will be listed this week. Follow Car Free Day Kitsilano on Facebook for updates.
Follow Car Free Day Vancouver on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
This post has been contributed by Jill Taylor, Native Plant Demonstration Garden volunteer with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”). I have been following SPES since I moved into the West End a decade ago and I have been a member for three years. I wanted to offer the team an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I have created “SPES Saturday” where they contribute and share stories with my audience once a month.
A Blooming Good Time
Stanley Park Ecology Society’s Native Plant Demonstration Garden
It certainly has been a crazy year so far weather-wise! We may love the extra sunny warm days, but how do plants react to unseasonable weather?
The volunteer stewards of the SPES Native Plant Demonstration Garden at the foot of Robson Street have been logging the flowering dates of our 100+ species for the past five years. It has become abundantly clear that some plants are totally dependent on the length of the day, always flowering on almost the same date every year, come rain or shine. Other plants bloom at quite variable times, depending on our daily temperatures.
For example, the red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) can flower any time from early March onwards depending on the weather. Our shooting stars were very early this year, with the blooms almost finished by mid-May when SPES often offers a garden tour and talk. This year we had a dozen interested folk attend the tour, and even though two hours seemed plenty of time to explore our tiny garden, it was hard to pack in everything that excited us and interested others.
Alternative ground covers such as wild ginger (Asarum caudatum), plants for hummingbirds like the native honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa), and plants for bees such as the native red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) are all on display and on schedule for blooming.
Wild ginger / Western honeysuckle. Contributed photo.
Located next to the Stanley Park Community Garden, the SPES Demonstration Garden offers good examples of native plants alongside those that have been bred for flower gardens. Anecdotally, SPES’ Conservation Programs Manager has noticed that exotic plant species like those found in many flower gardens (not native to the Pacific Northwest) are more sensitive than their native counterparts to unusual weather conditions – blooming much earlier with unseasonably warm, sunny weather.
How did your garden do this year? Do you think your plants reacted differently to a warmer, drier winter and spring? We’d love to know! We’ll compile and post your comments on our Facebook page. Send your observations to: [email protected].
Red columbine. Contributed photo.
Our Native Plant Demonstration Garden stewards are becoming more knowledgeable every year on native plant gardening, and they can also introduce you to the benefits of keeping mason bees to pollenate your fruit trees and veggie garden.
Keep an eye out for next year’s garden tour, or contact the Stanley Park Nature House (604-257-8544) to find out when our stewards are available to answer your questions about incorporating some native plants into your garden.
