It’s the first of May and over the last century Vancouverites have been celebrating May Day by crowning dancing around the Maypole, crowning a May Queen and ringing in springtime. To this day you can catch May Day festivals around the world and a few locally, like May Day Celebrations at Trimble Park in Point Grey where the Vancouver Morris Men performed this morning or New Westminster‘s May Day (that will be May 25th). New Westminster’s is actually one of the Commonwealth’s oldest, ongoing May Day celebrations.
May Day is also known as a day to honour workers. The following images from the Vancouver Public Library have all captured May Day throughout the city’s history:
1906 & 1907: May Day New Westminster. Archives item# CVA 677-759 & CVA 677-753.
Photographer: W.T. Cooksley.
1948: May Day ceremony in Burnaby’s Central Park. VPL# 80580 & 1950 May Day parade
on Marine Drive. VPL# 81314. Photographer: Artray.
1935: Men and women marching in May Day parade for unemployed during the Depression. VPL# 8814.
1936: May Day labour demonstration at the YMCA. VPL# 13320.
1930s: May Day Parade on Burrard at Hastings. VPL# 8090. Photographer: Leonard Frank & 1920s:
Stanley Park May Pole Dance. VPL # 30200. Dominion Photo Co.
1936: May Day celebrations at Hastings Park. Archive item# CVA 260-390 & CVA 260-392.
Spring blossoms and fresh-cut grass are signs that summer is on its way but you could say the same for itchy watery eyes, congestion, and runny noses if you’re an allergy sufferer. For the next few days you can find refuge in Pacific Centre in the Allergy Relief House.
This free, interactive experience is to help Canadians manage (and perhaps prevent) their allergy symptoms. The Allergy Relief House is setting up in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal this week and it features:
- Top brands like Aerius®, Claritin® and hydraSense®
- Three different environments to get you better acquainted with each brand
- Profiling stations to help you better understand your specific symptoms
- Interactive touch screens with presentations on allergy symptom management
- An on-site allergy expert to answer your questions
You can stop by for free at Pacific Centre from 8:00am to 9:00pm today until Friday, then from 10:00am to 7:00pm on Saturday and Sunday this week.
The Honda Celebration of Light fireworks return this summer, filling the sky with bursts of colour as thousands gaze upward along the shores of English Bay. The participating countries for the the world’s largest offshore international fireworks competition along with the concert headliner have been announced for 2013.
Participating Countries
During last year’s barge tour Pyrotechnic Producer Patrick Brault introduced the concept of having different competing countries from different continents every year for the next nine years, which rings true this year.
For 2013, we’ll see displays from the United Kingdom, Canada, and Thailand on each of the three fireworks nights July 27, July 31, and August 3rd.
SHOREfest Concerts
“Stompa” your feet because four-time JUNO winner Serena Ryder will be headlining the opening night of SHOREfest this year. The free concert series presented by SHORE 104 will feature local and emerging talent on the English Bay stage and the Rogue Stage in Kitsilano. More SHOREfest artists will be announced as the fireworks nights draw closer.
You can also listen to the soundtrack for the fireworks displays on SHORE 104.3FM, on SHORE’s website, and through the Honda Celebration of Light app. Follow @CelebofLight on Twitter for more information about the fireworks, participating countries, free concerts and activities this summer.
The Arts Club Theatre Company presents Dreamgirls from May 9th to July 7th, 2013 at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage.
Karen Holness, Aurianna Angelique, and Starr Domingue. Photo by David Cooper.
Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, the musical Dreamgirls tells the rags-to-riches tale of a 1960s girl group, loosely based on The Supremes. Young, black, and with talent to burn, the hopeful divas Effie, Deena, and Lorrell fantasize about playing the Apollo Theater. After getting their big break, The Dreamettes seem unstoppable—until rivalry and betrayal enter the group. Share their elation and tribulations on the road to stardom, told through the unforgettable sounds of Motown.
Dreamgirls will run Tuesdays at 7:30 pm, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets are $29 to $70, inclusive of taxes and fees. Special events for this production include Sunday Coffee Talks (May 19th at 1:00pm); Wednesday High Teas (May 22nd at 1:00pm); Talk Back Tuesdays (May 28th); and VocalEye live audio description (June 2nd at 2:00pm).
Directed by Bill Millerd, eight shows are already sold out for this Motown Musical but I have a pair of tickets to give away this month. Here’s how you can win your way into this show:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow the Arts Club (now in their 49th season) on Facebook, Twitter, and the Arts Club Blog.
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. The winner will be able to choose their show date between May 16th and May 29th excluding Saturday nights.
Update The winner is @NewGrad_RN!
The sound of 140 participants pouring out buckets of LEGO bricks simultaneously filled the room as children laughed and parents snapped photos feverishly at the sold-out Vancouver LEGO Games yesterday.
The Firefighter’s Club in Burnaby was packed with about 200 people in attendance from all corners of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Split into age groups (ranging from 5 years old to teens and adults) and colour-coded tables, children and adults alike competed for LEGO building glory in this friendly competition that saw proceeds benefit Canuck Place.
Members of the Vancouver LEGO Club brought in impressive pre-built pieces, including one of Poseidon that had moving parts. Children could also bring in pre-built pieces for the competition using the theme “What Vancouver Means to Me” as inspiration.
When the live build competition got underway participants were given a theme as well: “Play”. Hands and fingers moved quickly to assemble LEGO creations using only the bricks provided.
Refreshments were served at the back of the room and there was a general play area for younger children or those not competing. Kids got VIP badges worn on lanyards and LEGO gift bags, touches that would make anyone feel like a rockstar. A VIP in the LEGO world, Robin Sather, was also on hand for the day. Robin is Canada’s only LEGO Certified Professional.
T-Shirts for Canuck Place
If you missed out on the Vancouver LEGO Games you can still support the cause by purchasing an official Vancouver LEGO Games t-shirt online and $10 from every sale will go to Canuck Place.
Organizer Darian Kovacs told me that there was such a response on Facebook when they posted the design for their volunteer t-shirts that they decided to make more and sell them. “We had such a huge uproar of people wanted to buy them but we didn’t want to become t-shirt producers so we found that there was an organization called CauseShirts. They sponsor a new charity every week with a new t-shirt design. Because we already had a shirt design they adopted us right away.”
CauseShirts has graciously extended the Vancouver LEGO Games shirts/Canuck Place donations for a few more days so you can still make your purchase until Wednesday, May 1st.
Follow the Vancouver LEGO Games on Twitter and Facebook to find out about future events.
