Property damage caused by the explosion. Archives# CVA 586-3598. Photographer: Don Coltman.
March 6, 1945
“If you were here on March 6, 1945 you will remember the waterfront explosion of the 10,000-ton freighter Greenhill Park, easily the most spectacular and disastrous event in the port’s history,” wrote historian Chuck Davis in his History of Metropolitan Vancouver.
March 9, 1870
Debate began on the “admission” of British Columbia into Canadian Confederation.
March 10, 1870
On this day the settlement know locally as Gastown was given its official name: Granville Townsite. Lord Granville was the Colonial Secretary at the time and the Granville Townsite was selected as the terminus for the Canadian Pacific Railway. It wasn’t until 1886 that the townsite was renamed, when it incorporated, as the City of Vancouver.
The Main Post Office opened on Georgia Street. The 5-storey structure—capped with an oblong 3-storey slab—covers an entire city block (1.2 hectares) and encloses a total floor area of almost 16 acres (686,000sq ft). Designed by the firm McCarter Nairne & Partners, the building used state of the art technology, and contains numerous commissioned artworks [source]. In 2012 and 2013, the building was listed as one of Heritage Vancouver’s Top 10 Endangered Heritage Sites.
March 15, 1930
A group of people gathered in Green Timbers Urban Forest to plant more than 120 baby trees in BC’s first “forest plantation”. Today, Green Timbers Urban Forest is a vital part of Surrey’s major park systems.
It’s only March but everyone’s been talking about summer in Vancouver, since we’ve been having such spectacular weather lately, and summer in Vancouver means fireworks nights. The Honda Celebration of Light announced its dates this morning along with a renewed partnership with Honda and even more entertainment options this season.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Honda Celebration of Light will take place July 25th, July 29th, and August 1st in 2015. In this morning’s press release, it was announced that on top of one of the greatest fireworks displays on earth, fans will also be able to enjoy three days of cultural programming, sponsor activities and Canadian music at English Bay and Sunset Beach.
In addition to The Keg Lounge and licensed seating at the YVR Observation deck, another VIP Lounge is being offered on the Inukshuk Peninsula and families are invited to enjoy food trucks and a licensed area in Sunset Beach this year.
Competing countries for the 2015 event will be announced at the end of March and tickets will go on sale for all VIP viewing areas on April 1st. Follow the Honda Celebration of Light on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
Update on March 31, 2015
The participating countries are:
Saturday, July 25 – China; Team Lidu
Wednesday, July 29 – Brazil; Group Vision Show
Saturday, August 1 – Canada; Archangel Fireworks
Formed on CelticFest’s stage in 2006, Delhi 2 Dublin is one of Canada’s most buzzed-about bands and they’ll be returning to CelticFest Vancouver on March 15th.
Who: Delhi 2 Dublin with special guest Troy MacGillivray and Mairi Rankin When: Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 8:00pm Where: Imperial, 319 Main Street, Vancouver Tickets: $25 in advance online, $30 at the door, must be 19+
I first heard the Bhangra / Celtic sound of Delhi 2 Dublin when strolling down Granville during Juno Fest 2009. The distinct pulsating melodies mixed with Dub Reggae and Electronica caught everyone’s attention as the tent hosting the group had the crowd spilling out from the street and onto the sidewalk.
I saw them again at the Commodore in 2010, where the audience threw up their hands and pogo’ed up and down while chanting for D2D. Sitar music blended with wicked violin as kilts and saris twirled on stage. Beats made the crowd bounce as the energy was contagious — everyone was having a blast.
Win Tickets to Delhi 2 Dublin at CelticFest Vancouver
Over the last few years they have topped world music charts in Canada, toured extensively in Canada, the UK and the USA, and made their way around the Pacific Rim and Europe. Catch them at home in Vancouver by entering to win two tickets from Miss604 and CelticFest:
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RT to enter to win tickets to see @Delhi2Dublin at @CelticFestVan from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/JQqPh
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Follow CelticFest Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
The peaks of the North Shore mountains are mirrored in the towering glass of Downtown Vancouver, and the whitecaps on the water recreate the snow-capped Lions a thousand times over. We’re so lucky to see our city skyline twice on a clear day, once above us and once below in the calm waters of False Creek or Coal Harbour. Here are a few of my favourite reflection photos of Vancouver:
Starting at 11:00am, the St Patrick’s Day Parade will follow its 2014 route, which begins on Howe and Davie, heads north on Howe to Georgia, and ends at Georgia at Granville Street.
Throughout the weekend, Granville Street between Robson and Nelson will be closed to vehicle traffic. On the day of the parade, Howe from Davie to the Granville Bridge will be closed from 8:00am to 2:00pm, all southbound traffic on the Granville Bridge and Granville Street (except buses) from Davie to West 4th will be closed, and Drake Street, one block east and one block west of Howe and Davie will be closed. From 10:00am to 2:00pm, Howe will be closed from Davie to Georgia; Georgia will be closed from Hornby to Seymour, and Granville will be closed from Georgia to Pender.
Organizers anticipate that crowds of 200,000 will come out to cheer on over 2,000 parade participants including award-winning pipe and drum bands, Celtic musicians, Scottish and Irish dancers, acrobats, stilt walkers, vintage cars, the Vancouver police motorcycle drill team and pipe band, fire and police dogs, mounted horse drill teams, multi-cultural organizations and performers, local businesses, distinguished guests and many more.
Throughout the weekend of March 14th and March 15th, you can stop by the Celtic Village and Street Market on Granville Street and at Robson Square for free entertainment. Follow CelticFest Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
