Weather in Vancouver is always a hot topic, even when it’s dreary and soggy. By now, I’m certain everyone in and around the city has seen the forecast for the next week or so, featuring bright and smiling yellow sunshine icons. The only umbrellas we’ll see around here will be at the beach so to celebrate, I’ve scoured the Vancouver Archives for some old-time beach pictures:
1905. English Bay Beach. Archives item# Be P12.05. Photographer: Philip T. Timms.
1900. English Bay Beach. Archives item# Be P1.2.
1908. Kitsilano Beach. Archives item# CVA 677-138. Photographer: Philip T. Timms.
July 1, 1911. Dominion Day at English Bay. Archives item# Be P101. Photographer: Stuart Thomson.
1925. White Rock Beach. Archives item# CVA 677-896.
1928. Kitsilano Beach. Archives item# Be P15.1. Photographer: Leonard Frank.
1946. Third Beach. Archives item# CVA 586-4570.
Aside from its obvious function as a departure and arrival terminal for our region, the award-winning Vancouver International Airport (“YVR”) is known for its transit access, artwork, views, and free WIFI. Over the years the airport has engaged the public in a variety of unique ways to promote its other offerings such as retail options and the Observation Area. Keeping with this trend, they’re bringing back Take Off Fridays for the third year. This is family-friendly event takes place throughout the terminal with food, prizes, entertainment, and more.
Every Friday from now until August 31, 2012 there will be treats like samples from Jugo Juice, frapps from Starbucks, chocolates from Rogers, and discounts at World Duty Free and terminal restaurants from 9:00am until 3:00pm.
Live DJs will provide beats, acrobats and artists will entertain, and kids can get a balloon twisted or their face painted. There’s also a special Take Off Fridays parking rate of $5 (for up to four hours) if you want to head to the airport just for fun.
Follow the airport’s blog or Twitter account for more community information.
The Developmental Disabilities Association is sponsoring their 5th annual Vancouver Canadians game this summer. The Canadians, known for their community promotions and support of local non-profits are a great partner for the DDA, which is dedicated to raising funds and awareness in support of children and adults with a developmental disability.
“In 1952, twelve parents of children with developmental disabilities came together to work towards integrating their children into public schools. By the 1990’s, that parent group, called the Vancouver-Richmond Association for Mentally Handicapped People, had become Canada’s largest charitable society of its kind west of Toronto. In 1998, recognizing changes in society, the wishes of its members, and its expanded role in the community, the Association changed its name; it is now the Developmental Disabilities Association…” [more history…]
DDA’s Night at the Nat will take place Wednesday, July 25, 2012 when the team takes on the Everett Aquasox. Tickets are just $12.50 and proceeds will suppose their work in the community. You can purchase tickets on-site with a cheque made out to the Developmental Disabilities Trust to make a direct donation or email jsmith[at]develop.bc.ca.
Donation bins will also be parked outside Nat Bailey Stadium. Through recycling items received in these bins (which can be found all around Metro Vancouver) the DDA is able to continue funding programs and services.
How to recycle with DDA:
- Bins: Drop clothing, bottles, and more items in bins as-marked.
- Pick-up: Have household items picked up (toys, games, dishes, records, stationary etc.)
- Drop-off: Donate anything from couches to tools at the Donation Station at 2643 No. 5 Road in Richmond.
The DDA is a cause close to my heart and they were kind enough to give me a tour of some of their facilities a few years ago. They have graciously offered up a pair of tickets to their special evening at the ballpark — 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 next Friday, July 13, 2012 at 12:00pm. Update The winner is Katherine Erica Son!
Heritage Vancouver has recently released their list of summer walking tours with an impressive roster of guides to help you discover more about our city.
1959 – Granville Street. Archives item# CVA 672-1. BC Jennings Photographer.
Date: Saturday, July 21, 2012 from 11:00am to 1:00pm
Tour: Vancouver’s Granville Street: 1885-2012
Guide: Michael Gordon
Where to Meet: Tour begins 200 Granville Street Plaza (North of Cordova St).
Date: Sunday, July 29, 2012 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Tour: Delamont: Kitsilano’s oldest city block of houses
Guide: Bruce Macdonald
Where to Meet: The tour will start in the small park at the northeast corner of Arbutus & 7th.
Date: Saturday, August 11, 2012 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Tour: A Planning tour of Vancouver’s West End
Guide: Gordon Price
Where to Meet: Barclay Heritage Square (between Nicola & Broughton, Haro & Barclay).
Date: Sunday, August 19, 2012 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Tour: Hippie Kits: The ’60s & ’70s
Guide: Michael Kluckner
Where to Meet: Tour begins at Kits House, 7th & Vine.
The best thing about heritage walking tours is that you get a high quality of information from the city’s finest historians, authors and researches, and the tours are interesting for visitors and residents alike.
Tickets are $10 for Heritage Vancouver members and $15 for non-members and they’re available online — be sure to scoop yours up as these are known to sell out. Follow Heritage Vancouver on Twitter and Facebook for updates and event information.
The Vancouver Heritage Foundation also has a series of tours including one with an Art Deco theme next Friday.
Fresh, ripe, and locally-grown strawberries are ready for devouring around Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. With a healthy dose of rain and now a helping of sunshine, the sweet, plump berries are ready to be picked.
There are 13 farms that belong to the Fraser Valley Strawberry Growers Association so you’re bound to find a great selection from Richmond to Chilliwack.
There are pre-picked and U-Pick options along with a variety of products like pies and jams available at Bisset Farms, Driediger Farms, Ellis Farms, Emma Lea Farms, KBF Nursery and Farm, Krause Berry Farms, Maan Farms, Surrey Farms, W and A Farms, Birak Berry Farm, Abby Produce, Shoker Farms, and Neufeld Farms.
If you would like to enjoy the bounty of the strawberry harvest, I have a gift certificate available for a 10 pound box of strawberries. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Post a comment naming your favourite way to eat strawberries (pie, jam, whole, etc.) (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow the Fraser Valley Strawberry Growers Association on Facebook and Twitter for more information about the crop this year. I will draw one winner at random from all entries Friday, July 6, 2012 at 12:00pm.
The gift certificate will have names of farms on it, listing where it can be redeemed. This is a quick turnaround as this first crop of strawberries is going fast. Be sure to get out to the farms this weekend if you can otherwise there will be another crop from the ever-bearing berries later in July.
Update The winner is Shauna!
