People love putting images to music through videos and timelapse captures, recording their vacation footage, and creating their own unique films about our region. I searched through Vimeo and YouTube to put together another small sampling of videos about traveling to and from Vancouver.
Boats to Some Boats on a Boat – Haida Gwaii 2012 from Adam Bognar on Vimeo.
No Diving from Peabody Wormsworth on Vimeo.
You see a lot of flags and banners at Whitecaps games in BC Place stadium but there’s one symbol that is repeated in the home venues of the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers as well. It’s a blue, green, and white flag with a big silhouette of a tree down the middle. Known as the “Doug Flag”, the tree being a Douglas Fir, it represents the idea of Cascadia — a whole new country in the Pacific Northwest.
The name Cascadia is taken from Cascades like the Cascade Mountain Range (that spans from Northern California to BC) or the Cascade Rapids. However it wasn’t until I started following Major League Soccer that I heard the word “Cascadia” used so often. Road trips to Cascadia, the Cascadia Cup, and Cascadian folk anthems popping up on YouTube.
In these instances, Cascadia is a symbol of solidarity with those who share our Pacific Northwest coast. In others, the notion of a nation of Cascadia is taken very seriously.
There is a Cascadian Independence Project that includes a social movement to celebrate “the things that define our unique regional character” such as bio-diversity, geography, geology, history, culture, and more.
“We are not a political movement because in many respects, we as Cascadians already form a nation,” the social movement states. “Not in the sense that we have a military, or rigidly defined borders that would be defended to the death. No, Cascadia is a nation in the sense it is a gathering of individuals and communities who reflect similar desires and needs, a unique cultural identity and most importantly, a common future.”
The idea of a nation on the Pacific Coast of North America is not a new one. In the 19th century border lines were fluid until the Oregon Treaty was signed in 1846 and in 1860 there were three different statements from separate influential individuals on the creation of a “Pacific Republic”. [source: A Self-Governing Dominion, California, 1849-1860]
Whatever the future of Cascadia as a district, region, nation, and fan base, we’ve always had close ties to the Pacific Northwest of the United States here in Vancouver. Many feel we can relate more to salmon-slinging at Pike Place than we can to tapping Maple Syrup and making snow pops. We know at least a dozen different ways to describe the rain, bull-kelp bulbs litter our beaches, bike lanes are busy, and brunch line-ups are always out the door.
When it comes to soccer, Seattle and Portland will remain our bitter rivals but in reality, our coastal neighbours are also our closest siblings.
Catch Vancouver WhitecapsFC vs the Portland Timbers this Saturday live from JELD-WEN Field in Portland at 7:30pm on Sportsnet Pacifc and TEAM Radio.
The Sequoia Company of Restaurants presents the 1st annual Dinner in the Park for KidSport on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at Seasons in the Park.
The multi-course meal will feature dishes prepared by each of the Sequoia Company restaurants including Seasons in the Park, The Teahouse, Cardero’s, and The Sandbar.
Proceeds will benefit KidSport in Vancouver and special guests at the event will include two-time Olympic medalist, swimmer Ryan Cochrane of Victoria, and Paralympic athlete Michelle Stilwell of Calgary. Live music from Acoustic Groove and an auction will round out the evening.
KidSport BC: “We believe that no kid should be left on the sidelines and all should be given the opportunity to experience the positive benefits of organized sports. KidSport™ provides support to children in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sport.”
Tickets are currently on sale for $165 per person, with group purchase options available. A menu for the event is available online as well. Follow @SeasonsInQEPark on Twitter for more information.
Over the years I have profiled bloggers from the Northwest Territories to the Fraser Valley, anyone that interests me and that I hope will interest you as well. A few years ago I started asking a standard set of questions and I’ve sent these out to a few local bloggers for this week’s series. Click, share, explore, and enjoy.
Blog: AmyFabulous.com
Twitter: AmyFabulous
Facebook: /AmyFabulous
How long has your blog been around?
My blog has been around for five years.
What is your role?
I created the site and I am a blogger for it. I also contribute my articles to The Huffington Post, The Vancouver Sun and have a relationship column in the 24 Hours Newspaper.
What does your site do/what is it about
My articles on the blog are focused on relationships, lifestyle and travel. I first started blogging because it was a way for me to express myself during life’s ups and downs. I started receiving positive response from readers who could relate to my writing and eventually, people started sharing their stories with me and asking for advice. If I can help one person feel a little less alone, a little more understood and help shed light on a healthier way of thinking, to me, that is success.
What can people see, read, and do when visiting your site?
My blog offers insight on how to have healthier relationships – with the self and with others. I focus a lot on empowerment, self-worth and reflection, using personal experiences as a way to connect concept to reality. My goal is to discuss important topics that aren’t talked about enough and to provide different perspectives on relationships and societal issues. Because I’m a bit of a food and travel buff, I also write about tips and recommends on where to eat and stay around the world. I used to rate and review luxury hotels in my previous company, so I filter hotels and restaurants with a critical eye so that my readers will be up to date on the best of the best.
Why do you blog?
Writing is therapeutic for me. It is an outlet for me to explore my own thoughts and feelings and enables me to think about matters and life experiences in a deep and analytical way. I also blog because I feel that it is my way of contributing to the world. I have an ability to articulate these core needs in a way that resonates with others. Every week, I receive emails from strangers who share their stories and tell me that my writing has helped them in some way. I find that extremely fulfilling. Life can be challenging, and I want others to know that they are not alone in their feelings and experience. After all, we are all after the same thing – love and acceptance.
What is the ultimate goal for your site, how would you like to see it grow?
Growing my site and increasing readership will allow me to get my message out to more and more people, which equates to positive impact. I would like to grow my readership internationally and eventually provide a forum for people who are self-reflective and interested in growth to be able to converse on my site, and build a community of support. In addition, I want to publish a book one day, and my blog will be a great platform for me to launch my book when that time comes.
Follow Amy: AmyFabulous.com, on Twitter, and on Facebook.
Read all entries in my Blogger Profile series and feel free to suggest a blogger for possible feature in the comments of this post.
Bring on the tents, the sauces, the smokers, the wood chips, and the moist toilettes! The 7th annual BBQ on the Bypass in Langley is coming up September 16th with a massive BBQ championship cook-off, live music, and more.
BBQ on the Bypass will take place Sunday, September 16, 2012 from 10:00am to 4:00pm at 20771 Langley Bypass. The event is free for all to attend. Parking is available in adjoining parking lots and transit options are available (like taking the 502 from King George SkyTrain station in Surrey).
Founded in 2005 by Angie Quaale, owner of Well Seasoned gourmet food store and cooking school in Langley, the goal was to invite teams from all over Langley, BC, and the Pacific Northwest to compete in one, ultimate, BBQ’ing event.
The BBQ competition will include five meat categories of chicken, brisket, ribs, pork butt and an “anything but”/open choice category. Teams with the most points in each category can win trophies and cash prizes. The winner with the most points in all categories wins the Grand Championship and up to $10,000. The event will also host the 3rd annual Great BC Bake Off.
Team registration is still open and full competition rules and regulations are available online. Follow BBQ on the Bypass on Facebook and Well Seasoned on Twitter for more information leading up to the event.
