Up in the crisp North Shore mountain air, with the aroma of evergreens and a rushing river below, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park will light up with thousands upon thousands of twinkling lights for the 9th year of Canyon Lights. Featuring the world’s tallest living Christmas tree, a 250 year old Douglas-fir standing at 46.4m (152 feet) tall, Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge offers a festive experience for families from near and far.
Canyon Lights
The entire Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, including the Cliffwalk and the Treetops Adventure, will sparkle amongst the trees. Warm up in the comfort of the new Winter Pavilion with a cup of hot chocolate and a gingerbread cookie, do a scavenger hunt around the historic park, and sing along with carollers.
Canyon Lights will take place Saturday, November 29, 2014 through to Saturday, January 3, 2015. The park will be open from 11:00am to 9:00pm daily with holiday activities from 4:00pm to 9:00pm. Closed on Christmas Day, December 25th. Admission is $65.00 for a family (two adults, two children – includes memberships for BC residents) or $32.95 for adults, $12.00 for children (6-12).
Partial proceeds from admission will be donated to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. Capilano Bridge will also continue hosting its Twelve Nights of Christmas for local charities including Canuck Place, Special Olympics BC, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, North Shore Neighbourhood House, Easter Seals and Kids Up Front.
Canyon Lights Giveaway
Once again this year I have an awesome prize package up for grabs that includes:
- A family Pack of passes to Canyon Lights (2 adults, 2 kids)
- Four hot chocolates
- Four baseball caps
- Two Capilano Suspension Bridge umbrellas
Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner on Friday, November 28, 2014 at 12:00pm. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is located at 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for more information about Canyon Lights and year-round activities.
Update The winner is Randall Thomas!
The 2015 Hope in Shadows calendar is now for sale and you can scoop one up from your local vendor, located on a bustling street corner in Vancouver.
There are a few layers to the Hope in Shadows project, starting with the photographs that go in the calendars. Hope in Shadows, based in the Downtown Eastside, grew out of the work of a group of Pivot Legal Society volunteers who began working with the Downtown Eastside community in 2000 and in 2003, Pivot hosted the first Hope in Shadows photography contest in 2003.
“Single-use film cameras were distributed to people in the neighbourhood. Participants took pictures of their friends, their families, and the places in the community that mattered most to them. The top photos became the first Hope in Shadows calendar. From the very first year, the community was eager to get involved with the project, and since then Hope in Shadows contest participants have captured over 30,000 images of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Winning photos are chosen by a panel of artists from inside and outside of the community, and through a community vote. Contest winners and photo subjects are invited to share the stories behind the captivating images, and a selection of winning images is featured in the annual calendar.”
In 2010, Catherine sold me a calendar outside Waterfront Station.
The Hope in Shadows calendar is then sold through our vendor program, which provides opportunities for residents to earn an income, gain and practice skills, and act as ambassadors for their community. Every season, Hope in Shadows works with over 200 low-income people who sign up to sell the calendar. Vendors earn $10 dollars for each $20 calendar sold. Since the first calendar was published in 2003, vendors have sold over 75,000 copies.
I spoke with Project Director Paul Ryan a few years ago and he told me that selling calendars is a stepping stone for a lot of people. “It helps them gain self-esteem and build confidence. It’s a way that they can feel good about earning money again.” Some of the vendors use the program to compliment a low-income for their household as well, especially with the holidays around the corner.
A full list of vendor locations is available online including high traffic areas in Downtown Vancouver, Granville Island, and a few spots in Victoria, BC. You can also purchase a calendar online. Follow Hope in Shadows on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
There is a deep appreciation for delicious delicacies, decadent treats, and comforting home-cooked fare in Vancouver, from sashimi and Canadian caviar to vegan ice cream, donuts and gooey cheeseburgers. One sweet indulgence is cake, of all shapes and sizes, that our talented local pâtisseries and bakeries serve up for special occasions and everyday delights. Here are a few foodie-worthy photos of cakes that have been devoured throughout Vancouver history:
9 Vintage Vancouver Cake Photos
1932: Burrard Bridge cake. Archives# CVA 99-2723. Photographer: Stuart Thomson.
1937: Premier Pattullo cutting his birthday cake. Archives# CVA 371-1768.
1946: Margaret McNeil and Vancouver Diamond Jubilee cake. McNeil was the first caucasian child born in the City of Vancouver when it was incorporated. Her birthday cakes were always grand, and shared with the city. Archives# LP 129.
1945: Margaret McNeil’s birthday cake. Archives# LP 180.
1947: Vancouver Board of Trade 60th Anniversary cake presented by the Hotel Vancouver. Archives# Port P1814.03.
1950: Dal Richards 10th anniversary at Hotel Vancouver Panorama Roof. VPL# 81255. Studio: Artray. & 1966: New Westminster centennial cake. VPL# 44556. Studio: Province Newspaper.
1947: Famous Players 25 year cake. Archives# CVA 1184-1904. Photographer: Jack Lindsay.
1986: Centennial Cake. Archives# 2011-010.600.
View more photos from the archives…»
Take our turkey-fuelled Boxing Day deals, amp them up, drive up the discounts, offer them before Christmas, and you have the shopping phenomenon south of the border known as Black Friday. The day after American Thanksgiving is all about deep discounts and deals at retailers of all sizes and you can now find this holiday shopping experience at several local shopping centres around Metro Vancouver.
While you may have to dig a little to find the best deals, many of the malls and retailers are offering gift card giveaways so you’re bound to have a successful local shopping excursion.
Black Friday in Metro Vancouver
Metropolis at Metrotown
Starting at 7:00am on Friday, November 28th, Metropolis at Metrotown will be offering amazing deals and promotions to shoppers throughout the weekend with over 125 participating retailers. Door crasher specials will be available until 10:00am and early bird shoppers can enter to win gift card prizes starting at 7:30am via the touchscreen kiosks located at Customer Service and Atrium Court. Customers can access the mall through the entrance closest to Customer Service Ground Level, near Target, which will open at 5:00am. All other mall entrances will open at 6:00am.
Coquitlam Centre
List of retailer deals and specials on the Real Deals page (coming soon). Coquitlam Centre is giving away $5,000 in gift cards in their Get spotted on Black Friday promotion. Open Friday, November 28, 2014 from 9:00am to 10:00pm.
Lougheed Town Centre
Doors open at 7:00am on Friday, November 28th. Be one of the first 200 people to visit Guest Services at 7:00am and receive a gift card up to a $200 value. Enjoy live entertainment from 12:00pm to 2:00pm. View the list of deals online.
Guildford Town Centre
Starting Friday, November 28, 2014 at 7:00am, enter to win a $25,000 shopping spree. List of retailer deals and specials available in this PDF.
London Drugs
Check out flyer deals starting Friday, November 28, 2014 and special same-day shipping service for online purchases made by residents in Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond and Surrey. Customers can also order online and pick up in-store at any of London Drugs 78 locations in Western Canada within two hours of ordering.
Park Royal
Deals available from Friday, November 28th until Sunday, November 30th. Snap and share your favourite Park Royal Black Friday purchase and tag #ParkRoyalBlackFriday and @ParkRoyal for your chance to win the item and $250 more to spend at Park Royal.
Shop West 4th
In association with Kitsilano 4th Avenue Business Association, look for merchant deals and discounts appearing on the Shop West 4th website on Thursday, November 27th for Friday, November 28th.
Hunter & Hare’s Black Friday sale is November 28th to November 30th at 334 West Pender Street, 11:00am to 7:00pm daily. All sale clothing items will be priced from $5 – $30, and they will be refreshing the floor daily with new pieces.
Pacific Centre and Richmond Centre
Open 7:00am to 9:00pm on Black Friday, November 28, 2014 with retailers offering a wide variety of sales and promotions like in-mall “fashion spotting” on Black Friday rewarding shoppers with gift cards just for being stylish.
