The Point Atkinson Lighthouse and Lighthouse Park are located in West Vancouver however they’re so frequently photographed, from above, below, the rocks, and the water, that they’re the perfect fit for the Vancouver Icon photo feature series:
Charted and named by Captain George Vancouver in 1792, Point Atkinson was an ideal geographic aid to shipping as colonial activity in the area increased. Late in the 19th century, the Government of Canada set aside 75 hectares as a lighthouse reserve, preserving the area for the park we enjoy today. The park is maintained by the Municipality, which leases it from the Department of National Defence. [West Vancouver Parks]
The park derives its name from Point Atkinson, one of Canada’s first manned lightstations. While a lighthouse has been on Point Atkinson since 1874, the current lighthouse was built in 1912, the year West Vancouver became a separate municipality. The lighthouse is a municipal landmark and can be seen from several viewpoints in the park. Old military buildings can be found near the lighthouse, remnants of the site’s military importance during World War II. [West Vancouver Parks]
Explore Lighthouse Park for yourself by walking its 5km network of trails that wind through old growth stands just off Marine Drive in West Vancouver.
Other Vancouver Icons posts include: English Bay Inukshuk, Hollow Tree, Hotel Europe, Lions Gate Bridge Lions, LightShed, Granville Bridge, 217.5 Arc x 13′, Canoe Bridge, Vancouver Block, Bloedel Conservatory, Centennial Rocket, Canada Place, Old Courthouse/Vancouver Art Gallery, Dominion Building, Science World, Gastown Steam Clock, SFU Burnaby, Commodore Lanes, Siwash Rock, Kitsilano Pool, White Rock Pier, Main Post Office, Planetarium Building, Lord Stanley Statue, Vancouver Library Central Branch, Victory Square, Digital Orca, The Crab Sculpture, Girl in Wetsuit, The Sun Tower, The Hotel Vancouver, The Gassy Jack Statue, The Marine Building, and The Angel of Victory. Should you have a suggestion for the Vancouver Icons series please feel free to leave a note in the comments. It should be a thing, statue, or place that is very visible and recognizable to the public.
Kitsilano is a big part of what makes Vancouver such a great city – from beaches and restaurants to fashion and yoga. At the core of the community is West 4th avenue, linking the East and West sides of the city and providing a walkable shopping district.
“Kits is a very, very healthy part of Vancouver. People can enjoy a Yoga or Pilates class, buy their organic groceries and multi-vitamins and even learn more about health and wellness without leaving West 4th. Kitsilano residents have a unique lifestyle and a unique way of staying healthy and our merchants are making it easier for people of all ages to meet their goals for 2013.” – Russ Davies, Executive Director of the Kitsilano 4th Avenue Business Improvement Association
Refresh your mind and spirit at Semperviva and YYoga, pick up natural ingredients for dinner at Whole Foods, supplement your diet with vitamins from Pharmasave, YVS, and Reflex, and take a moment enjoy a few sips at The 05 Tea Bar. The Kitsilano 4th Avenue Business Improvement Association wants to get the word out about how the shops, studios, and services along its popular thoroughfare can encourage and promote healthy living so they have put together an impressive prize pack (valued at $385) for me to give away. This includes:
Here’s how you can win this health-conscious prize pack from the Kitsilano 4th Avenue Business Improvement Association:
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Follow Shop West 4th on Twitter and Facebook for more information about their shops, services, and special events.
Update The winner is @kickingbabe!
Spring Break wouldn’t be complete without PlayDome at BC Place, Western Canada’s largest indoor carnival with over 45 rides and attractions.
Where: BC Place Stadium
When: Saturday, March 16, 2013 to Sunday, March 24, 2013
Hours: Open daily from 10:00am to 9:00pm (until 6:00pm on March 24th)
PlayDome at BC Place Dome Passes are $29 (valid for full day, all rides) and Ultimate Passes are $49 (unlimited-day Dome Pass). Guest passes (for spectators and guardians) are $6 and children under 2 years old are free (although for safety reasons they cannot go on the rides).
Rides this year include Zero Gravity, the Ring of Fire, and the Super Shot. Popular favorites such as 1001 nights, The Ferris Wheel and the Zipper are all back to be enjoyed. Follow @BCPlace and the tag #PlayDome on Twitter for updates.
An Evening to Conquer Oral Cancer is coming up next month in support of the BC Cancer Foundation. It aims to increase awareness about oral cancer and raise funds for putting cutting-edge research into action.
Oral cancer is one of the major human cancers (more common than cervical cancer) with one of the worst survival rates of all cancers. Even among survivors, treatment can be disfiguring and debilitating. Oral cancers are unpredictable and may affect the throat, mouth, and tongue. Currently, oral cancer is often identified late and is usually at an advanced stage by the time it is noticed by either patients or medical professionals. However, if caught early, patient survival rates can be significantly improved and chances of disability from treatment are much lower.
An Evening to Conquer Oral Cancer takes place Thursday April 25, 2013 at 6:00pm (registration) and 6:30pm (cocktail reception and silent auction) at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The reception will be followed by dinner at 7:00pm then a live auction along with entertainment from The Agency Girls and a special “up close and personal” appearance by Colin Arthur Wiebe. CTV Morning Live’s Norma Reid will be the MC for the evening.
Last year, The Province’s Fred Lee named it the “Most impressive inaugural event of 2012” and 2013 won’t disappoint. Tickets are on sale now for $400 per person or $3,200 for tables of eight.
If you don’t want to miss out on this event, I have a pair of ticket available to give away as well. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow An Evening to Conquer Oral Cancer on Facebook and Twitter for more information about the event and the cause. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, March 15, 2013. Must be 19+ to attend.
Update The winner is Heather!
The Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”) is reporting that the Pacific great blue herons have returned to their nesting site in Stanley Park after successful 2012 season. This is the 13th year the herons have nested in the park and they have started to return to the trees above the Park Board’s Administrative Offices and the tennis courts over the last week.
According to the SPES, last year, 117 nests were counted in the colony and 86 of these were occupied by heron pairs. In total, an estimated 169 young herons fledged from the colony in 2012, 69 more than in 2011 and 49 more than in 2010.
The nests are quite the sight to see but you don’t want to get too close. There are fences in place to reduce disturbances to the colony and to protect visitors from falling debris. The colony is also at risk from predators like raccoons.
To support the research and protection of these birds you can join the SPES Adopt-a-Nest program and follow updates from the Stanley Park Ecology Society on Facebook and Twitter.
