Vancouver’s biggest event, and the world’s largest offshore fireworks competition, returns to English Bay this summer as the Honda Celebration of Light illuminates the sky on July 26th, July 30th, and August 2nd.
Rain or shine, the fireworks begin at 10:00pm as hundreds of thousands of spectators take to the shore to witness this spectacle. Plan your day and enjoy all of the following activities, entertainment, food and experience options.
Vancouver Fireworks Dates and Countries
Saturday, July 26, 2014: USA; Pyrotecnico
Wednesday, July 30, 2014: France; F.C. Pyro
Saturday, August 2, 2014: Japan; Akariya Fireworks
Food Truck Festival
The Sunset Beach parking lot will host some of the city’s best mobile dining options. Head down early and enjoy dinner on the beach.
Vancouver Fireworks Premium Seating
There are many viewing locations for the fireworks but if you would like to amp up your experience, you can purchase tickets in the Keg Lounge or the YVR Observation Deck bleachers.
The Keg Lounge The Keg Lounge presented by The Keg Steakhouse and Bar will once again be located on top of the Bath House Roof at English Bay for the festival. The Keg Lounge offers guests prime viewing opportunities, delicious food offerings, and intimate music experiences from the English Bay SHOREfest stage. This 19+ area opens at 6:30pm, with entertainment beginning at 7:15pm. Proceeds from The Keg Lounge benefit the not for profit Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society. Price: $169.55 (includes welcome drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and more).
YVR Observation Deck
Fans of the fireworks can secure reserved seats at the YVR Observation Deck located at English Bay. These convenient seats offer simulcast of the fireworks, prime viewing and dedicated services. Price: $57.55.
Vancouver Fireworks Concerts
ShoreFEST SHOREfest presented by Shore 104.3FM will host a fresh lineup of Canadian bands on two stages at English Bay and Sunset Beach. This year, Shore 104 is very pleased to announce that Juno-winners The Sheepdogs will be headlining the festival and rocking Vancouver into the twilight.
The Honda Celebration of Light mobile App will once again allow festival goers to keep informed of artist schedules for SHOREfest, search through an interactive map and vote for their favourite pyrotechnic team. The app will also play the audio simulcast for each fireworks presentation.
More information and ticket purchase links can be found on the Honda Celebration of Light Fireworks website. You can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
Over the years I have profiled bloggers from the Northwest Territories to the Fraser Valley, anyone that interests me and that I hope will interest you as well. A few years ago I started asking a standard set of questions and this is the latest instalment of this continuing series.
How long has your blog been around?
I’ve been developing the idea of the blogazine about a year ago, it was officially launched 2 months ago.
What is your role?
I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief of LFORLIFE.COM.
What does your site do/what is it about?
I call it “blogazine”, it is a lifestyle blog written mostly in Chinese. I love to share stories. With the nature of my previous work, a lifestyle reporter; and my strong editorial background, I want to create a platform where Chinese Canadians, new immigrants and Chinese international students can find useful local lifestyle information by sharing my own adventures in searching these “hidden gems”.
What can people see, read, and do when visiting your site?
There are 5 categories in my blogazine – Style, Food, Travel, Pets and Life.
For fashionistas, you will find the latest trend reports and shopping guides, I also do beauty product reviews. For food lovers, you will find my own experiments in the kitchen. In travel section, I focus mainly on local hidden spots that people will never find in travel books as well as my own travel stories to other cities.
I love my dog, every day I learn a new lesson on how to become a better dog owner, if you are also a pet owner or if you are planning to become one soon, I might have some very good tips for you in the Pet section. Also, our guest writer VB, who has 10+ years experiences in veterinary and pet supply industry, will feature her stories to all pet owners too!
Life section is about art, LGBT and fun things to do in the city, check out regularly to find out the latest events!
Why do you blog?
My love for writing and sharing stories. I have worked in the magazine and newspaper industry for almost 10 years. Although it was fun to work as a team, it is difficult at times to express freely on paper.So when time calls, I decided to quit my day job to start my own “publication”. Blog / website is a great platform to share stories and to interact with people, I encourage my readers to leave comments and share their finds.
What is the ultimate goal for your site, how would you like to see it grow?
I wish someday my blogazine will become one of the major Chinese lifestyle medias. I’d be thrilled if my articles would enrich how people live their lives.
Summer in Vancouver means warm strolls at sunset on the sea wall, fireworks in the sky, and Bard on the Beach. The annual festival under the iconic red and white tents at Vanier Park will celebrate its 25th season starting June 11th.
Bard on the Beach Summer 2014
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Shakespeare’s beloved comedy returns to Bard! Oberon, King of the Fairies, is upset with Queen Titania. He commands his servant Puck to produce a magical nectar that will cause love at first sight. The mischievous sprite arranges for Queen Titania to fall for Bottom, a simple weaver (now transformed into an ass) while hilariously misdirecting the affections of four runaway lovers. Get Tickets
Directed by: Dean Paul Gibson
Location: BMO Main Stage
Run Dates: June 11th to September 20th
The Tempest
Prospero, a magician and exiled Duke, is stranded on an enchanted island with his daughter Miranda, the spirit Ariel, and the slave Caliban. He conjures up a storm that shipwrecks his enemies on the island’s shores. As Prospero and Ariel weave a magical web, murder plots are hatched, unlikely alliances form and romance blooms between Miranda and the son of Prospero’s deepest enemy. Get Tickets
Directed by: Meg Roe
Location: BMO Main Stage
Run Dates: June 12th to September 18th
Equivocation
Palace intrigue and backstage humour share the spotlight in this entertaining ode to art, politics and the dangers of negotiating both! King James’ Prime Minister has charged Shag (William Shakespeare) with writing the “true history” of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. The playwright struggles to figure out where fiction stops and the facts may lead – without losing his head in the process! Get Tickets
Directed by: Michael Shamata
Location: Howard Family Stage
Run Dates: July 2nd to September 19th
Cymbeline
All is not as it appears after Imogen defies her father, King Cymbeline, to secretly marry Posthumus. The enthralling story that follows is driven by love, jealousy, betrayal and redemption and features a host of memorable characters, including one of Shakespeare’s most finely-etched female leads. Get Tickets
Directed by: Anita Rochon
Location: Howard Family Stage
Run Dates: July 4th to September 17th
Special Events
Bard-B-Q & Fireworks: Enjoy one of this season’s four plays followed by a delicious salmon barbecue and scrumptious desserts, complimentary tea and coffee; then enjoy a private view of the Celebration of Light fireworks.
Gazing Back: Join Christopher Gaze as he recalls highlights, hiccups and some well-kept secrets from twenty-five years of fascinating Festival history.
Opera and Arias: Shakespeare’s Opera: Featuring beloved arias and ensembles inspired by some of Shakespeare’s greatest works including Hamlet, The Merry Wives of Windsor and Romeo & Juliet.
Celebrating Red & White: Join host Sandhill Wines for a special tasting of award-winning VQA wines from BC’s Okanagan region, paired with delicious cheeses.
Play ticket prices (adults) include all fees and taxes and are $47 (evenings) and $33 to $35 (previews, matinees and long weekend evenings) with a $27 Global BC Youth Rate (6-25 years, all play performances). Early Bird regular adult tickets are priced at $43 to May 30. Prices for special events, groups and multi-play ticket package discounts can be found on the Bard website. Early booking is recommended for best seat selection (all seats are reserved). Order by phone (604) 739-0559 or 1-877-739-0559, or online, and follow @BardontheBeach on Twitter for season updates.
On July 19th, Be Like Ada will host 500 high school girls for a full day coding bootcamp. The girls will spend a day learning the basics of coding and the elements of code fundamentals for any programming language.
Be Like Ada (named after Ada Lovelace, the founder of scientific computing) is for girls new to or somewhat versed in programming. They’ll learn how to think like a programmer and learn real code.
Be Like Ada Coding Bootcamp for High School Girls
Where: Rocky Mountaineer Station @ 1755 Cottrell St, Vancouver When: Saturday, July 19, 2014 from 8:30am to 5:00pm Cost: Register online for $45 What You Will Need: Bring a laptop and power adapter, any laptop made after 2010 should work. Browsers supported include Chrome 13+ , IE 10+, Safari 5+ (Mac OS X 10.7 or better), FireFox 4+. Lunch will be included, some parking is available.
In Canada there are less than 20% female engineering undergrads. Canada is also facing a shortage of software engineers. Soon most jobs will require an understanding of programming. Unfortunately, programming is often not promoted to girls nor taught in girl-friendly environments. The Be Like Ada bootcamp will be fun and show relevant applications. The 500 girls will be presented to female role models and have the ability to build peer-to-peer connections with the other girls at the bootcamp.
“Coding shows up in everything from music creation to robotics. It’s important to show girls the broad range of applicable career choices,” said Sandra Wear, Be Like Ada, Organizer. “We’re showing girls that coding is fun and is like developing their own superpower.”
Importance of Girls Learning Code
Be Like Ada was the brainchild of Jot Kali and Sandra Wear. Together, they aim to get 50% female engineering undergrads and two times the number of engineers within Canada. Sandra told me that Be Like Ada will combine a physical approach to code (with LEGO as learning tools) with the fundamentals of programming with Python.
Her goals is to fuel and enable girls’ engagement through this bootcamp, continued online engagement and future after school programs. Soon girls will be able to have the option of coding after school along with Girl Guides, sports, and other existing activities.
Personally, pulling websites apart to see what made them run was how I got into basic coding, and how I learned to not only make my first website in 1997 but also build a WordPress theme development company 6 years ago. Learning code was one of the most important things I did to further my career, and to create one in the first place. Going beyond the coding of a website and learning how commands make things run, from an app on your mobile to a program on your computer, is such a valuable skill.
Registration is open now for Be Like Ada in Vancouver on July 19th. Follow Be Like Ada on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Today’s collection of photographs from the City of Vancouver Archives is in honour of the quasquicentennial of one of our region’s most recognizable and popular tourist attractions. The Capilano Suspension Bridge, almost as old as the City of Vancouver itself, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
Engineer George Grant MacKay, builder of the original Capilano Suspension Bridge, came to Vancouver from Scotland in 1888 after learning about the city at the 1883 Glasgow Exposition. When he was 12 years old, August Jack Khatsahlano, namesake of the Kitsilano neighbourhood, helped MacKay build the very first Capilano Suspension Bridge. This first span was made with hemp ropes and were anchored to buried cedar logs, one of which is still visible in the park today. In 1903, Bruno Stelzer commissioned engineer Harry Burgess to draw plans for a new wire bridge to replace the rope bridge. Find more history online »
1930: Archives# CVA 260-197 by James Crookall & 1905: Archives# Br P59.2 & 1910s: Archives# CVA 1477-813.
1900s: Archives# CVA 371-460.
1906: Archives# CVA 677-891 and 2011: Photo by Bryan Garnett-Law on Flickr
1930: Archives# CVA 1477-803 & 1917: Copyright Canada by F. Gowen. Archives# CVA 1376-101.
1910: Archives# Out P94 by Arthur C. Buswell.
1949: VPL# 84436 Photo by Artray & my photo from 2009.
1966: VPL# 39730 Photo by Grodon F. Sedawie & my photo from 2009.
Capilano Suspension Bridge 125th Anniversary
Throughout the next month or so, you can share your Capilano Suspension Bridge memories and stories by following and contributing to the tag #CapBridge125 on Facebook and Twitter.
On July 19th, 
Be Like Ada was the brainchild of Jot Kali and Sandra Wear. Together, they aim to get 50% female engineering undergrads and two times the number of engineers within Canada. Sandra told me that Be Like Ada will combine a physical approach to code (with LEGO as learning tools) with the fundamentals of programming with Python. 
