Pauline Johnson documented and shared “Legends of Vancouver” over 100 years ago, telling famous tales of the Lions peaks and giving Lost Lagoon its name. Many of Pauline’s works are in the Public Domain and her book, “Legends of Vancouver” is available on iBooks, and for free on Kindle. In the last post I featured Lost Lagoon and this week’s theme is a tribute to our April showers.

Rainfall by E. Pauline Johnson

From out the west, where darkling storm-clouds float,
The ‘waking wind pipes soft its rising note.

From out the west, o’erhung with fringes grey,
The wind preludes with sighs its roundelay,

Then blowing, singing, piping, laughing loud,
It scurries on before the grey storm-cloud;

Across the hollow and along the hill
It whips and whirls among the maples, till

With boughs upbent, and green of leaves blown wide,
The silver shines upon their underside.

A gusty freshening of humid air,
With showers laden, and with fragrance rare;

And now a little sprinkle, with a dash
Of great cool drops that fall with sudden splash;

Then over field and hollow, grass and grain,
The loud, crisp whiteness of the nearing rain.

Photo credit: Barry Ferg on Flickr

Related posts: Lost Lagoon, Pauline Johnson Opera by Margaret Atwood, Pauline Johnson’s Legends of Vancouver, Pauline Johnson Exhibit at Stanley Park Nature House, Pauline Johnson Memorial at Stanley Park, Vancouver History: The Lions, The Two Sisters.

The Vancouver Sun Run has been Canada’s largest 10K road race since its inception in 1985 and it’s taking the city by storm again this weekend as tens of thousands of walkers and runners hit the streets on Sunday, April 27, 2014 at 9:00am.

Photo credit: JWalk* on Flickr

The Vancouver Sun put together a very handy information page where you can find everything you need for Sunday’s event. Here are just a few key points that I’d like to share as well.

Vancouver Sun Run 2014: Road Closures

The 10K course starts at Georgia and Burrard and will be lined with water stations and live musical performers. For the safety of the 50,000 participants, various road closures will be in effect between 5:00am and 1:30pm. These closures may restrict parking and access to and from your building.

Road Closure Details

Vancouver Sun Run 2014: Start Times

Competitive (unassisted) wheelchair racers start at 8:40am. GoodLife Fitness aerobics instructors lead a warm-up starting at 8:42am. Walkers and runners are grouped into waves according to their estimated finish time, and start at timed intervals. The first wave starts at 9:00 and there will be multiple waves.

Start Area Map

If you are a walker in the purple and red zones, you are encouraged to arrive at the start by 9:00am, but be aware that you may not cross the start line until about 9:45am. More info »

Vancouver Sun Run 2014: Getting There

SkyTrain’s Expo and Millennium Lines will start service half an hour earlier, with the first train leaving King George Station at 6:38am and Lougheed Station at 6:45am. Both will operate “rush hour” level service before the start of the race and also in the afternoon until the crowds clear. They will then resume regular Sunday service. Canada Line will begin service at the regular time of 4:48 a.m. and will provide increased train frequency for crowds travelling to and from the race.

The West Coast Express will operate a special Sun Run Train. It will depart Mission City Station at 7:00am. arriving at Waterfront at 8:15am. The train will depart Waterfront Station at 1:00pm. for the return trip. SeaBus will start operations one hour earlier than normal, with the first sailing leaving Lonsdale Quay at 7:00am and sailings leaving every 15 minutes from Waterfront until 2:45pm. More info »

Vancouver Sun Run 2014: Have Fun!

You don’t need to be a runner, a jogger or a walker to have fun. Bring along the family or a friend to watch the race from the sidelines, and join in the fun and festivities on the course and at the finish line. The party starts at BC Place at 8:30am, just in time to entertain the Shaw Mini Sun Runners and the first of the elite runners crossing the finish line at about 9:30am. There will be snacks and entertainment for everyone.

Along the route participants will enjoy music from 18 bands and artists including: The Neurotics (Start Line); Quickness (Georgia & Granville); Bad Motor Scooter (Front of the Art Gallery); Jennifer Hershman (Robson & Denman); Warren Dean Flandez (Denman & Beach); Studio Cloud 30 Singers (Beach at Bidwell); Sandcastle Theory (Beach at Cardero); Rock Paper Moon (under Burrard Bridge North End); Sandi Melody Band & Harmony House Students (Burrard Bridge North End); BC Regiment Band (near Molson Building on Burrard); Mai Tai Friday (Burrard & 2nd Ave); Spakwas Slolem/Eagle Song Dancers — Squamish Nation (Fir near 2nd Ave); Des Larson (under Granville Bridge at 4th Ave); Scary Lizards (grassy area where 4th and 6th Ave meet); X-Kalibre (6th Ave near Ash); Deep Blue (6th Ave under Cambie Bridge); Not Sold Separately (Mini Sun Run); Ten Souljers (BC Place). More info »

Vancouver Sun Run 2014: Causes

Although not designated as a charity event, The Vancouver Sun Run has donated close to $2.11 million for designated causes since its inception in 1985. This year, The Vancouver Sun Run will once again support The Vancouver Sun’s Raise-a-Reader campaign and BC’s amateur athletes with significant donations.

Follow The Vancouver Sun on Twitter for more up-to-date information and instructions and be sure to look for your race photo in the paper on Monday, April 28, 2014.

The Surrey Party for the Planet, one of BC’s largest Earth Day celebrations, is happening this Saturday, April 26, 2014 at The Plaza at New City Hall. John and I have been to every Party for the Planet as I’ve had the pleasure of being a sponsor every year since the event began in 2011. It’s free, it’s fun, it’s family friendly, and there’s always a great entertainment lineup. If you weren’t already convinced to join us on Saturday, here are…

5 Reasons to Visit Surrey Party for the Planet

Source: City of Surrey.

City Hall Open House

The Grand Opening of the New City Hall will also take place during Party for the Planet starting at 2:00pm. There will be opening remarks by Mayor Dianne Watts and Council, a ribbon cutting, cupcakes, tours (from 10:00am to 1:00pm), and a public art unveiling.

Lights at the 2013 P4TP

Music

Wander between the Main Stage, Children’s Stage, Atrium Stage, and Centre Stage throughout the full day of live music, from the Kwantlen Glee Club, Jodi Proznick Quartet, and Surrey Strings to Jeremy Fisher, Jordan Klassen, Dear Rouge, Andrew Allen, and Said The Whale. Check out the full lineup online.

Entertainment for Kids

Visit Kids World for face painting and eco-themed crafts, and check out the Children’s Stage – Library Schedule for entertainment from Mad Science, Juggler Mike Battie, Storytime, Surrey Libraries’ Poetry Contest Winner, Raptors Ridge Birds of Prey Demo, Robin and the Magical Tree: Music & Puppets. Bobs & Lolo will also be on the Main Stage twice.

Tree Sale

Returning this year is the popular Tree Sale with $20 trees ready to be planted. You can also find the Surrey Urban Farmers Market, food producers, and artisans in Farmer’s Alley, Sustainability Way House, the Nature Nook, and other featured activity areas.

Mini Donuts and More

If you don’t arrive hungry, you’ll soon be craving some of the tasty treats being served up at Party for the Planet. You’ll find Poutine by Big Red Poutine and authentic polish food by Old Country Pierogi on site along with artisan ice-cream by Rocky Point Ice Cream, gourmet burgers, corn on the cob, corn dogs, coffee, mini donuts, and take-home snacks from the Honeybee Centre and Sweet Thea Bakery.

Note the NEW layout/location this year, just across from Central City

Surrey Party for the Planet takes place Saturday April 26, 2014 from 10:00am to 9:00pm at Surrey City Hall Plaza, 13450 104 Avenue, Surrey. It is accessible by transit (Surrey Centre Station) and a bike valet will be on site.

Brentwood in Burnaby recently launched a campaign to spread some cheer on what they’ve dubbed Feel Good Fridays.

Every Friday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm, up to 10 lucky guests will learn there is such a thing as a free lunch when Brentwood’s guest services team swoops in and surprises them by picking up the tab, no strings attached. They’ll have DJ Juice providing a Top 40 and old school soundtrack during your shopping experience along with free chair massages. If you’re around Centre Court or the Food Court on a Feel Good Friday, it might just be your lucky day.

To spread even more cheer Brentwood is offering up a $50 gift card to one lucky Miss604 reader to enjoy a relaxing shopping experience and to treat a friend to lunch on the house.

Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment naming a Brentwood retailer (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

Brentwood, on the corner of Willingdon and Lougheed (and at Brentwood SkyTrain station) is home to 110 stores and services including Sears and London Drugs. Follow Brentwood on Twitter and Facebook for more information about their shops, services, and special events.

I will draw one contest winner at random from all entries at 9:00pm on Wednesday, April 30, 2014.

Update The winner is @chat2michelle!

Created in 2006, Terminal City Rollergirls (“TCRG”) is a member-owned and operated, non-profit organization consisting of close to 100 skaters, a team of sharp officials, incredible volunteers, generous sponsors, and an army of passionate fans. The Terminal City Rollergirls 2014 season is well underway but there’s still plenty of action coming up over the next few months.

Terminal City Rollergirls Schedule

For the first time in nearly three years, Vancouver’s Terminal City Rollergirls will be welcoming fans back to New Westminster’s Royal City Curling Club for its next two regular-season, house-team roller derby doubleheaders.

The famous DougieDog diner truck will be on site for both of the Sunday events serving up hotdogs, and a beer garden will be hosted upstairs in the RCCC lounge, providing a seated window area for audiences to watch the action from a bird’s-eye view. The club is likely to reach capacity quickly, so patrons are reminded to arrive early and bring a chair as club chairs are limited.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids aged 6-12, and available by cash at the door, or online. Kids aged five and under are free.

There is also an all-stars match-up on Friday, July 11, 2014. Terminal City All-Stars take on Houston Roller Derby All-Stars at Minoru Arena in Richmond, doors at 7:30opm, whistle at 8:00pm.

Last year Erin “Miss E. Masculator” Morrisette wrote a guest post for me, featuring “5 Reasons to Love Roller Derby“. In case you missed it, here are those reasons again:

5 Reasons to Love Roller Derby

You’ve seen the posters on the Drive. You’ve overheard discussions on the Skytrain. You’ve even seen the skaters fly by on the seawall…and you still haven’t been to a roller derby bout? Don’t worry; there has never been a better time than now to check out the Terminal City Rollergirls, Vancouver’s first female roller derby league. Need convincing? Here are five reasons why we’re sure you will love roller derby:

1) The sport: Fast-paced and hard hitting, flat-track roller derby is the fastest growing women’s sport in the world. Since the first modern day women’s leagues formed in Texas and Arizona in 2002, there are now about 1400 active teams worldwide, including over 100 in Canada. And it’s no wonder. You won’t find balls, stunts or alligator pits; modern roller derby is not fake or pre-determined. With four blockers from each team trying to stop the opposition’s point-scoring jammer while also helping their own jammer score, roller derby is a highly strategic game where offense and defence happen at the same time. Teamwork is essential, but huge hits and breakneck speed play their part, too. Sit in the front row and you just might find yourself a part of the action – at your own risk, of course.

Photo credit: Bob Ayers on Flickr

2) The event: The Terminal City Rollergirls host big, lively events that look and sound great. Of course, the 2000 or so fans are treated to an action-packed sports event, but their appetites are also pleased with offerings from the beer garden and food trucks on site. During breaks in the action, DJ Shawn LaRock spins booty-bumping tunes, and there is half-time entertainment by the likes of the Vancouver Dodgeball League, EastVan Pillowfight League, Vancouver Bike Polo and more. After the bouts, little fans can collect autographs from their favorite players, and grown-up fans can buy their favorites a victory beer at the after-parties. Et tu, Canucks?

3) The crowd: Diverse and hilarious, people-watching at a roller derby bout is almost as fun as watching the sport itself. From families with bouncing kids to raucous bachelorette parties, roller derby events draw a wide range of people. The tattooed and mohawked sit next to hardcore sports fans and diminutive grandmas – everyone’s a roller derby fan once the whistle blows.

4) The players: Terminal City Rollergirls are hyper-competitive, strong and colourful women from all different backgrounds. Everyone has heard the old story of the shy-librarian-by-day-fierce-derby-girl-by-night – and the TCRG does have a couple of those – but the players represent so much more. From bank managers to architects, video game designers to elementary school teachers, these women take their sport very seriously and train hard to be the best players they can be. Their incredible athleticism and big personalities will make it difficult to pick a favourite player, but you’ll try.

Photo credit: Bob Ayers on Flickr

5) The league: TCRG is a member-run league that has been around since 2006. They have four house teams (the Bad Reputations, Faster Pussycats, Public Frenemy and the Riot Girls) with rabid local fan followings, and the TCRG All-Stars rep team that plays internationally. The All-Stars made history last year, making the biggest rankings jump in the history of WFTDA (the NHL of roller derby). The league has a reputation to uphold and a lot of fantastic neighbouring leagues to challenge. They’ll be holding one bout per month (starting in April) so Vancouver fans will have ample opportunity to catch the rollergirls in action. More information on the upcoming season can be found on their website at terminalcityrollergirls.com.

Follow the Terminal City Rollergirls on Twitter and Facebook for more league and event information.