The first ever Russell & Roots concert series, sponsored by Russell Brewing is happening at Softball City in Surrey on July 29th with a Rock Night theme and August 12th with a Country theme. Both nights feature talented artists and each will be rounded out with a local musical performance voted through and online Battle of the Bands style competition.
Events are all ages, kids 10 and under are admitted free with purchase of an adult ticket.
July 29th Rock Night is presented by CFOX and headlined by Marianas Trench, Big Wreck, Default, and The Wild. Rock Night is guaranteed to be a celebration like no other with a lineup of killer bands to get heads banging and fists pumping, a “Russell Mania” pro wrestling show presented by local promoter Wrestle Core, food trucks and ice-cold Russell Beer to keep the crowd fuelled and refreshed.
Don’t miss the performances on August 12th Country Night presented by 93.7 JR Country featuring LOCASH, James Barker Band, Meghan Patrick, Mark Ledlin, and Dane Bateman.
Russell & Roots is guaranteed to be a good time, but it’s also an event with a big heart, with all net profits going to support community organizations like the Surrey Fire Fighters and LIFTED Children & Youth Mental Health Foundation, an initiative created by country legend Dallas Smith. LIFTED is dedicated to ensuring that children and youth in British Columbia have access to the necessary resources and opportunities that can positively impact their lives.
Follow the Russell & Roots Concert Series on Instagram for updates.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators will look to the sky over English Bay this week as the Honda Celebration of Light Fireworks in Vancouver return for three nights this summer. Here are a few more details about the evening events that include some traffic impacts, road closures, and more:
Periodic traffic control for load-in on Beach Ave, Pacific to Davie
Beach Ave closed to traffic, bike lane detour 5:00pm to midnight
6:00pm to 11:00pm: Public vehicle access restricted
Stanley Park – west of Pipeline Road
6:00pm to midnight: Full road closures
Beach/Pacific St from Stanley Park to Thurlow
Davie St from Denman to Burrard
Denman St from Alberni to Beach
Local Traffic Access Points
Burnaby St at Thurlow St
Nelson St at Thurlow St
Denman St at Alberni St
Vehicle access in the West End and Kits Point event areas will be limited to residents with a local parking decal or vehicle registration displaying a local neighbourhood address.
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, in partnership with BC Achievement Foundation, has announced the recipients of the third British Columbia Reconciliation Award.
This award recognizes four extraordinary individuals and two organizations who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to furthering reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in the province of British Columbia, or inspired others to continue reconciliation efforts.
2023 Reconciliation Award Recipients
2023 Reconciliation Award Recipients
Individual Recipients:
Dr. Daniele Behn Smith (Victoria)
Dr. Danièle Behn Smith is Eh Cho Dene of Fort Nelson First Nation and Franco-Manitobain/Métis from the Red River Valley. Danièle has dedicated her medical career to serving rural and First Nations communities across Canada (read more)
Chief Willie Sellars (Williams Lake)
Chief Willie Sellars’ leadership embodies integrity, respect, and a commitment to furthering reconciliation. His efforts inspire others to participate in the collective journey of healing and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities (read more)
Klith-waa-taa, Dr. Barney Williams (Campbell River)
Klith-waa-taa, Dr. Barney Williams, a hereditary leader from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation, is renowned for his expertise in Indigenous healing and counselling (read more)
Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn (Burnaby)
Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn (Otahkotskina) is an Indigenous engagement leader in archaeology and academia whose trailblazing efforts have paved the way for subsequent generations of Indigenous scholars and students to thrive in these fields (read more)
Organization Recipients:
Last Post Fund – BC Branch (Burnaby)
The Last Post Fund (LPF) is dedicated to ensuring that no Veteran is denied a dignified funeral, burial, or military gravestone due to insufficient funds at the time of their death (read more)
The Exploration Place & Lheidli T’enneh First Nation (Prince George)
Prince George’s The Exploration Place (TEP) works alongside Lheidli T’enneh First Nation (LTFN) to safeguard and conserve their cultural assets. In a strong partnership, TEP serves as the designated repository for LTFN’s material history (read more)
“Reconciliation acts as the cornerstone for fostering meaningful connections and bridging the divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. By acknowledging the historical injustices and illuminating transformative actions, we inspire others to tread the same path,” said Cloy-e-iis, Judith Sayers, a member of the board of BC Achievement.
“As we enter the third year of the British Columbia Reconciliation Award, we continue to shine a light on empowering approaches that allow Indigenous peoples to flourish while positively impacting all communities. On behalf of BC Achievement, we take great pride in announcing and commending the accomplished recipients of the 2023 award. Congratulations to the awardees, and heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering commitment to our shared journey of reconciliation.”
It’s another busy weekend for events in Metro Vancouver. Enjoy free family entertainment in Burnaby this Friday, then a full lineup of festivals, markets, live music, sports, fireworks, theatre, and a new flower festival in the valley – there are so many things to do! Make sure to check out the ongoing list of featured attractions and exhibits at the bottom of this post as well:
Weekend Events in Vancouver Things to do July 21-23, 2023
Sunflowers, lavender, and so much more! Lakeland Flowers presents the first-ever Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival where Insta photo and TikTok video ops abound and the sweet colours and aromas of the season fill the sun-drenched valley.
This is the largest summer floral experience in the Lower Mainland, where guests can wander through 45 acres of lavender, sunflowers, buckwheat, phacelia, and more feature flowers.
Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival – Lavender Field – Robyn Bessenger – Lakeland Flowers
Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival
When: July 21 to September 4, 2023
7 days a week, including Stat Holidays from 10:00am to 6:00pm
Children under 3 get free access to the flower fields.
Every paid admission includes a 5-stem bunch of sunflowers from the Upick field.
Tickets for special events occurring outside our usual business hours (10:00am to 6:00pm) will be available for purchase separately.
The festival has three focal points beginning with the lavender fields in full bloom including Provence and English lavender. Next is 20 acres of sunflowers, with over 1 million blooms, 30 varieties, a u-pick field, and photo spots including raised wagons, frames, canoes, tractors, and swings. The final area offers a 10-acre meadow of phacelia pastels, a buckwheat sea of white, and an array of colour with the feature flowers, ranging from snap dragons and Black-Eyed Susans to coneflowers and Woodland Sage.
For an elevated floral experience, guests are invited to attend two special event nights:
Amidst the lavender, a comedy show featuring comedian Cliff Prang will be held on July 28th with a specialty seasonal cocktail called Lakeland Lavender Lemon Fizz and local wines and beers.
On August 19th, guests can wander the sunflowers, listen to live music and enjoy seasonal bites at Tourism Abbotsford’s Sun and Soil Series Concert.
For answers to frequently asked questions including wheelchair rentals, food truck days, pet-friendly access, and shaded seating spots, visit the Lakeland Flowers website. For timely updates and field reports, follow Lakeland Flowers on Facebook and Instagram.
