On February 15th, 1965 our country had a new flag design and the very first time it was hoisted was at Vancouver City Hall. Because of the time differential, the new flag went up at 6:00am which made this its first appearance in Canada after its official proclamation [source]. It’s been almost 49 years since the red, white, and maple leaf first waved in the Pacific breeze and in honour of this I have rounded up some photos of our nation’s flag from around the city over the years…
The Canadian Flag in Vancouver
…That, and with Canada’s stellar performance at the Sochi Winter Olympics so far, it seems like as good a time as any to show off our flag a bit, eh?
The 3rd annual Underground Comedy Railroad tour is coming to the Rio Theatre as a part of Black History Month. Introducing the voice of black Canadians, the tour is scheduled to stop is 10 cities across the country, arriving in Vancouver on February 22nd at 8:30pm.
The history of the Underground Railroad is not something to make light of. That network of safe houses and secret routes brought slaves to Canada, and freedom, in the 19th Underground Comedy Railroad tour will introduce the voice of black Canadians to fellow citizens and give centre stage to one of the country’s visible minorities.
The Underground Comedy Railroad tour showcases some of Canada’s accomplished comedians who offer a remarkable perspective that is uniquely Canadian. The line-up includes the following black Canadian stand-up comics:
- Rodney Ramsey (Montreal) – a Just for Laughs veteran who has appeared on CBC Radio’s “The Debaters” and CBC TV’s “This Hour Has 22 Minutes”. He is the creator of the Underground Comedy Railroad tour and co-creator of a new hit web series called “The Flipside”.
- Gilson Lubin (Toronto) – has made appearances on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend”, Comedy Now, and MTV Canada. He has also opened for some of his favourite comedians, including Dave Chappelle.
- Andrew Searles (Montreal) – named “Top 10 Best Stand-up Comedians in Montreal” for four consecutive years and has been featured on SiriusXM Radio, CTV, and CBC TV. He is also the co-creator of the Underground Comedy Railroad tour.
- Kwasi Thomas (Vancouver) – a crowd pleaser across the country from Montreal’s ComedyWorks to Ottawa’s Yuk Yuk’s to Vancouver’s own Comedy Mix, Kwasi Thomas has spent a healthy portion of his life on stage. He has participated in both the Just for Laughs Homegrown Comedy Competition and Best of the Fest Showcase. In addition to stand-up, he is a member of the Dead Comics Society sketch troupe and has produced a series of successful comedy events in Montreal – “The Drunken Show”, “The Drunken Show II: Menace 2 Sobriety”, and “Return of the Drunken Masters”.
Tickets are currently available online for $25. I also have a pair to give away, 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 at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Saturday, February 15, 2014. Follow the tour on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Update The winner is Kevin!
If you are familiar with Lions Gate Bridge history then you’ll know that its construction was made possible by the Guinness family (yes, that Guinness) but did you know that its iconic string of lights was nicknamed Gracie’s Necklace?
The Guinness family, of Irish beer fame, was convinced to invest in land over in West Vancouver, purchasing 4,000 acres for $18.75 an acre in 1932 –- and they got busy developing it. This is when a connecting roadway from the north shore to downtown Vancouver would come in handy so the family made it happen. Bridge construction started in 1937 and was completed the following year for just under $6 million. In 1955 the Guinness family sold the bridge to the provincial government though the tolls continued until 1963.
Guinness’ final involvement in the life of the Lions Gate Bridge came in 1986 when they privately sponsored lights that were added to its cables, giving the span its recognizable night time glow. This gift to Vancouver, for EXPO 86, was coordinated by MP Grace McCarthy and thus the lights were nicknamed “Gracie’s Necklace“. The lights went on February 19th, 1986.
In July 2009, the bridge’s lighting system was updated once again, ahead of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. New LED lights to replaced the existing system of 100-watt mercury vapour bulbs. This switch was expected to reduce power consumption on the bridge by 90%.
It’s Family Day in BC and White Spot is known across the province for its legendary burgers, seasonal menus, value packages, and of course those lovable Pirate Paks.
One of my favourite memories when I was growing up in the Lower Mainland was going for an afternoon drive with my family. We’d pile into our van and my dad would plot a course to park, playground, beach, or historic site — it was always quality time spent playing and learning together.
When it was time to head home, on occasion, we would get a very special treat: a stop at the White Spot Drive-In. If it was after lunch we would forgo the Pirate Paks and order pie and milkshakes, which would wobble precariously on the long car-hop tray sliding across from driver-side to passenger windows. Cheeks rosy red from playing outside, bellies full of blueberries and whipped cream, and nodding off just enough that I would get carried inside the house when we got home. That’s my kind of Family Day.
You can share your own White Spot memories online here.
Right now you can enjoy the Comfort Foods menu with BBQ Glazed Short Ribs, Portobello & Smoked Mozzarella Bigger Burger, Parmesan Chicken with Roasted Mushroom Ravioli, or gluten free items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
To celebrate Family Day, White Spot is offering one of my readers a $100 gift certificate and 4 vouchers for tickets to any remaining regular season Vancouver Giants game this season. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment about how you’re spending Family Day in BC (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow White Spot on Twitter and Facebook to learn about their latest menu offerings. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, February 14, 2014.
Update The winner is @lindymum on Twitter!
