If you only had one day, three days, or a week to spend in Vancouver what would you see and do? On the back of an American tourist map from 1925, one of those ephemeral artifacts I have handy in my family’s personal local archives, I found a suggested itinerary for a time when our city was barely 40 years old.
90 years after this map’s publication, I’d say most of these suggestions are still spot on. Beaches, Stanley Park, scenic viewpoints, cultural hubs, Squamish, Capilano, Kitsilano, and more. It even suggests taking transit.
Prepared by the Vancouver Publicity Bureau, here is what the suggested itinerary includes:
Vancouver Tourist Tips from 1925
One Day in Vancouver
MORNING– STANLEY PARK, a natural park of 1,000 acres–primitive beauty, wealth of foliage, and giant trees. ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, BROCKTON POINT, FIRST NARROWS, SIWASH ROCK, SECOND BEACH, BOWLING GREEN, and delightful ENGLISH BAY. Tour the West End residential district–magnificent views of forest, city, ocean, valleys and snow-capped peaks. ENGLISH BAY–Well equipped bath-houses, boats, and canoes. Civic tennis courts.
AFTERNOON– CAPILANO CANYON, on the Inlet at NORTH VANCOUVER, SUSPENSION BRIDGE 450 feet long, 200 feet high above the roaring waters. SECOND CANYON, excellent views of BURRARD INLET and of VANCOUVER.
WAR MEMORIALS– Corner Granville and Cordova Streets (seen on the way to the CPR pier) erected by the CPR in memory of their fallen heroes. Hastings and Cambie Streets, erected by the city in honour of the VANCOUVER MEN who fell in the GREAT WAR.
LEFT: Second Canyon Bridge, 1912. Archives# GN 994.
RIGHT: Capilano Suspension Bridge, 1930. Archives# CVA 1477-806.
A Sojourn of Three Days
FIRST DAY. See guide for One Day.
SECOND DAY– MARINE DRIVE, 25 miles along the sea-front, viewing KITSILANO, JERICHO CLUB GOLF LINKS, GOVERNMENT AERODROME, GOVERNMENT WIRELESS STATION, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA grounds, completely circle POINT GREY, overlooking Georgia Strait–shore-line of VANCOUVER ISLAND in the distance. Stop at the LOOKOUT POINT–fine view of the islands and mouth of the FRASER RIVER. If air is clear, MOUNT BAKER can be see (80 miles away).
BC ELECTRIC OBSERVATION CAR– A two-hour, 25-mile scenic trip through industrial sections, residential suburbs, and to POINT GREY, KERRISDALE, and SHAUGHNESSY HEIGHTS. From the Heights you obtain an unobstructed panorama of VANCOUVER, GEORGIA STRAIT, and the DELTA OF THE FRASER.
KITSILANO BEACH– Take Kitsilano car (No. 12) going south on Granville Street, over the Kitsilano Bridge to Kitsilano Bathing Beach and Park. Boating, fishing, and bathing. Civic tennis courts.
SIKH TEMPLE– Take Fourth Avenue car (No. 4) going west or south.
THIRD DAY– INDIAN RIVER PARK, a 20-mile boat trip up the NORTH ARM OF BURRARD INLET through scenery equalling a Norwegian fiord. CATHEDRAL CANYON and SPRAY OF PEARL FALLS. A call is made at BUNTZEN–electric power developing plant and the site of a nitrogen fixation plant.
A Sojourn of One Week
See guide for Three Days.
FOURTH DAY– SQUAMISH, at the head of HOWE SOUND. A one-day trip viewing en route a panorama of islands and majestic fiords, calling at BOWEN ISLAND, a delightful summer resort, and at Britannia Mines, one of the largest copper mines.
1930, English Bay beach & bathhouses. Photographer Stuart Thomson, Archives Item# CVA 99-2118
Related Posts: English Bay Pier, Brockton History, Siwash Rock, Kitsilano Pool.
Free outdoor movies return to Ceperley Meadow at Second Beach in Stanley Park with the EVO Summer Cinema running every Tuesday night in July and August.
Free Outdoor Movies in Stanley Park
Make your way to Second Beach in Stanley Park every Tuesday night in July and August for free movies with 5,000 other locals and visitors. Arrive early for the best lawn seating and to enjoy the following films:
Pitch Perfect: Sing-A-Long Version
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
The Breakfast Club: 30th Anniversary
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Tuesday, July 21, 2015 Note: Start time is 9:35pm
Grease: Sing-A-Long Version
Tuesday, July 28, 2015 Note: Start time is 9:26pm
Top Gun
Tuesday, August 4, 2015 Note: Start time is 9:15pm
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Tuesday, August 11, 2015 Note: Start time is 9:03pm
Jurassic Park (Original)
Tuesday, August 18, 2015 Note: Start time is 8:50pm
Tomorrowland
Tuesday, August 25, 2015 Note: Start time is 8:36pm
Movie start times are approximate and scheduled films subject to change without notice. No reservations are required for the free seating, simply bring your friends and your picnic blanket or lawn chair to the show to enjoy this summer evening tradition. If you forget your blanket there will be some for sale at the Fresh Air Cinema Snack Bar.
Yellow Pages Reserved VIP Seating
Fresh Air Cinema and Yellow Pages are also offering guests the ultimate summer date-night package with a VIP twist. Upgrade your experience at the park and reserve a guaranteed seat in the new Yellow Pages VIP Seating Zone. This is a front-row, reserved General Admission VIP ticketed seat on one of the 100 reserved Adirondack cottage-style chairs.
Rush Seat VIP tickets may be also released on the Monday prior to the show, and available for purchase online and/or in person at the park on night-of-show.
Dinner & A Movie Seating
Browse and select West End dinner/restaurant reservations with the new Dinner & A Movie package, available through the online ticketing system. You will receive one restaurant reservation and set meal or dining credit (beverage, taxes & gratuity excluded) and one VIP reserved general admission seat (weather permitting) in the Yellow Pages VIP Seating Zone at Stanley Park per person, per film.
Enjoy the West End neighbourhood and take transit to and from this event. The #5 Robson or the #6 Davie will get you onto Denman where you can walk into Stanley Park, or you can walk along the sea wall from English Bay to Second Beach.
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.
