The launch of our region-wide transit fare card is almost here! But first, some testing needs to take place and that’s where you could help make sure things are running smoothly.

The Compass Card will eventually match up with fare-gates that have been installed at SkyTrain and Canada Line stations and tap pads on buses. The “tap in/tap out” system is starting to take shape so Translink is looking for a group of people to test it out this fall before it gets fully implemented:

Your mission as a Compass Card Beta tester? – simply “tap in” and “tap out” of the Compass system. Easy, right? Your taps will help us make sure the system is working properly and efficiently. It’s an important job, and we need your help.

And, if you’re extra-eager, there will also be extra tests you can help with, such as the testing of Compass Vending Machines. These special tests won’t be included in the general test program, but if you’re chosen as a tester, keep an eye on your email for invitations to these events.

We’ll be taking the results of all the tests and using it to make changes where needed, and fix things that need fixing. [The Buzzer Blog]

The Compass Beta Test has been designed to include a representative sampling of equipment and Beta Testers from across Metro Vancouver. The number of Compass Beta Tester positions is limited, so Translink will be evaluating applications based on criteria that ensures the testing process is as comprehensive as possible.

Applications are being accepted until August 9, 2013. The Beta Test will then take place in fall 2013, for three or four weeks. The exact dates will be determined once additional system testing is complete. Because a Compass Beta Tester card can only be used for testing purposes, Compass Beta Testers will still be required to carry valid fare at all times. Follow @TheBuzzer on Twitter for updates about this program.

The dog days of summer are here and as temperatures peak, pet parents are finding new ways to keep their pups cool. Trips to the off-leash beach, portable water bowls, splashing around with a sprinkler in the backyard, and looking cool with Doggles. I had no idea that sunglasses for dogs existed but The Village on False Creek’s own The Bone & Bowl has this hot item in stock.

Over 15 years of experience has made the Doggles ILS dog sunglasses the very best in dog eyewear. Whether you’re best friend accompanies you on a motorcycle ride, hangs their head out of the truck, loves to sunbathe or is sensitive to light Doggles will be sure to keep their eyes safe! You can rest assured that they are safe and they’ll love the extra attention wearing dog sunglasses gets them!

Doggles offer 100% UV protection, are made from shatterproof Polycarbonate, are anti-fog, have an extremely flexible rubber frame with elastic adjustable straps (head and chin), foam-lined frames for comfort, and extra deep lens cup keeps the lenses away from the eyes. They also come in a variety of ten different colours.

The Bone & Bowl would love to outfit your four-legged friend in a pair of Doggles for the summer so we’re giving away three pairs. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment here with your favourite Doggles colour (see here for reference) for your dog (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw three contest winners at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, July 22, 2013. The Bone and Bowl is open at 1610 Salt Street in the Village on False Creek from 10:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Saturday and from 11:00am to 5:00pm Sundays. Follow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for product information, news, and special events.

Update The winners are ‏@corgipants, Mr Nacho King, and Pat B!

This post has been contributed by Dan Straker, Dipl. Tech., B.A., Co-Existing with Coyotes Coordinator with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”). I have been following SPES since I moved into the West End almost eight years ago and I recently became a member. I wanted to offer the team an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I have created “SPES Saturday” where they will be contributing stories with my audience once a month.

Cool Down This Summer in Stanley Park

If you’ve been in Vancouver for the past couple weeks, you’ve probably noticed that summer is in full swing. There’s never been a better time to cool off in the shady forests and beaches of Stanley Park and learn about some of the amazing wildlife that live in them, many of which are doing their best to keep cool themselves. Join our Beavers, Brooks, and Bogs* walk (Sunday July 21 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm) and learn about the wetlands and streams around Beaver Lake that play such an important part in the local ecosystem, providing clean water and a safe place to call home for many species of plants and animals, including our very own beavers.

A Beaver at Beaver Lake in Stanley Park. Photo credit: Mark White.

Beaver Lake is now home to five beavers that work tirelessly in hopes that they will keep the water level in Beaver Lake high enough for the winter by damming the flow to Beaver Creek. Beavers love lakes and are natural ecosystem engineers. In fact, beavers are the only animal other than humans that have built a structure that is visible from outer space! They work so hard because they need an aquatic environment to store their winter food, which mainly consists of the outer layers of woody branches and trees. That way, when the lake freezes and they are sitting cozy in their lodge, they can use their secret underwater passage and grab a quick snack from the bottom of the lake without having to expose themselves to predators or having to spend a lot of energy, much like a squirrel stores nuts for the winter.

If cooling down in the shade of the forest isn’t for you, you can always head to the beach instead and find out how intertidal creatures keep cool. There is a whole world waiting to be discovered that you can only see for a few hours a day while the tide is out. If you’ve ever wondered where beach crabs come from or how seaweed holds on without roots, you’ll find out on our Life at the Beach Walk (August 4th from 11:00am to 3:00pm, free to drop in).

Maybe you just want to be cool, like the bald eagles of Stanley Park, which know a thing or two about playing it cool. We now have five nesting pairs of bald eagles in Stanley Park and I don’t think anyone can deny that they are one of the ‘coolest’ animals around. With the help of volunteers, SPES monitors bald eagle nests all over Vancouver, read our June update to find out the locations of these nests in the Park.

Currently the young eagles of the Park are learning how to fly and hunt, and they better learn quick too, since they and their parents will soon leave their nests behind in search for better hunting grounds at the end of July and early August. They will be looking for tasty salmon and won’t return to the Park again until October. Join SPES for a walk and talk all about Stanley Park’s Eagles* (July 14 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm).

If you want to support a non-profit organization that makes a difference for wildlife and people in Stanley Park, please make a donation or become a member of SPES. For more information visit the Stanley Park Ecology Society website. Follow SPES on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates.

*Nature Program Fees: $5 for SPES members, children and seniors. $10 for non-members. We recommend pre-registering for programs due to popularity of our programs. For more information on SPES events, please visit our events calendar.

The Vancouver Art Gallery‘s popular adults-only Friday night FUSE event, which takes place only three times annually, is coming up again on July 19th. The theme is Grand Ballroom FUSE, inspired by the current Grand Hotel: Redesigning Modern Life exhibit. This summer edition of the event series will feature a multi-room party with performers, installations, projections, and DJs inside the art gallery.

Grand Ballroom FUSE

In honour of VIVA Vancouver’s new summertime plaza, “Corduroy Road” on Robson between Hornby and Howe, there will be special treats outside the gallery during FUSE as well, along with food carts. Other features of Grand Ballroom FUSE are:

• Contemporary dance artists House of La Douche, Waacouture and choreographer Jojo Zolina perform in the Gallery and on Robson Street in conjunction with VIVA Vancouver.
• DJs Cherchez La Femme and friends, on Robson Street in conjunction with VIVA Vancouver.
• 2 FUSE Lounges: One outdoors on Robson Plaza by the patio bar, and one indoor with Paul Wong’s ambient Art Bar featuring signature projections and DJs.
• Psychedelic, experimental sounds by Vancouver-based band Von Bingen in the 4th floor rooftop pavilion.
• Ambient art rock music from Victoria’s Freak Heat Waves in the 4th floor rooftop pavilion.
• Spectacular projections in the rotunda by H Four, and an unforgettable performance by opera singer Jessica Lalonde, with synthesizer by Juno-Award winning composer Chris Gestrin.
• A roving, interactive dance collaborative by Kinesis Dance on the 1st and 2nd floors… and more!

Those who attend FUSE also get access to exhibits like Grand Hotel: Redesigning Modern Life; Persuasive Visions: 17th Century Dutch & Flemish Masterworks and Contemporary Reflections; Martin Honert; Portraits in Time; James Hart: The Dance Screen; and In Dialogue with Carr: Gareth Moore – Allochthonous Window.

FUSE will run from 8:00pm until 1:00am on Friday, July 19, 2013. Tickets are just $20, or free for Vancouver Art Gallery members. If you would like to attend, I have a pair of tickets 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 Tuesday, July 16, 2013. Must be 19+ to enter and attend. Please enjoy responsibly.

Update The winner is Kate!

Berries have to be near the top of any “eat local” enthusiast’s list in Metro Vancouver with our abundance and proximity to blueberry, strawberry, blackberry, and raspberry growers. To celebrate this bounty, Vancouver Farmers Markets are hosting the 2013 Berry Festival at the Main Street Market on Wednesday.

What: Vancouver Farmers Markets Berry Festival
When: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at 3:00pm (market runs 3:00pm to 7:00pm)
Where: Main Street Station Farmers Market (1100 Block Station Street)

Market shoppers will be able to pick up some recipes, Fast & Fresh Strawberry Jam, Raspberry Salsa, Blackberry Cobbler and Gooseberry Chutney, and various other fresh berries and berry preserves.

The Berry Festival will also include an amateur vs professional berry pie bake-off with entries judged by Mijune Pak (Follow Me Foodie) and Jackie Ellis (Beaucoup Bakery). To enter, you can fill out this PFD form and submit it by Monday, July 15, 2013.

Follow Vancouver Farmers Markets on Facebook and Twitter for more information about this event and others at local markets. Be sure to get your nominations in for the “We Heart Local Awards“. Voting closes July 15, 2013.