Kitsilano Beach is formerly known as Greer Beach, named after settler Sam Greer. Samuel Greer (aka “Gritty”) was born in Ireland in 1843 and moved to the States where he fought in the Civil War. After returning to Ireland, the Gold Rush brought him to BC where he was successful with a few claims.
1904 – Greer Beach, before being renamed to Kitsilano Beach. VPL Accession Number: 7202
He settled in Chilliwack with his family, where he was the area’s first constable and customs officer, before moving to Kitsilano where he preempted 160 acres of land, bounded by lst Avenue, Trafalgar and the beach. [sources: Mountain View Cemetery, Kitsilano History]
Back in the day, preempting was a method of acquiring provincial Crown land by claiming it for settlement and agricultural purposes. In 1884 however, the province gave 6,000 acres to the CPR to build a terminus in Kitsilano and Gritty’s land was a part of the bundle. He and his family were forcibly removed in 1887 the scene that ensued sounds like something from the old wild west.
New Westminster sheriff Thomas Armstrong tried to remove Gritty, his wife and six children. Gritty shot several times, hitting the sheriff and his deputy. After a second posse arrived, he gave himself up and his farm was razed. In 1891, convicted by Judge Begbie of wounding a sheriff, he served a term in the New Westminster jail where he often ate lunch on the beach. [source: Vancouver History]
The land ended up in the CPR’s hands in the 1890s and they then opened it up for settlement. Greer’s Beach became a popular seaside hang out for swimmers, sunbathers, and campers.
As Greer was considered a squatter, officials wanted to find a more suitable name for the beach. Postmaster Jonathan Miller was asked to rename the site and he referred the request to Professor Chas. Hill-Tout who recommended Kitsilano, in honor of the First Nations in the area. Greer Beach was then assigned the name of Kitsilano Beach.
Gritty passed away in 1925. Greer Ave in Kitsilano is named for this famous early resident.
I recently discovered that the City of Vancouver Public Art Program has a blog. Our City Our Art features photos and information about art pieces, installations, and local artists.
The blog was created by two media students from Emily Carr University who were doing an internship with the City in 2010. Diego Rodriquez and Sophie Bégin wrote about their personal investigations of public art works in the city and the blog is kept up today by City of Vancouver Public Art program staff.
Our City Our Art features the latest public art news as well including information about the installation of five new marble and granite structures (weighing from 5,000 to 10,000 pounds) that will be installed at the Queen Elizabeth Plaza today. These pieces by Cameron Kerr are “associated with images and forms that we see around us but don’t necessarily register”.
There are so many forms of public art in Vancouver that fall into the following categories: Olympic, Gift, Civic, Community, Park Board, Private Development, or Purchase.
Public art pieces that have been gifted include the A-Maze-Ing Laughter statues at English Bay (recently bought by Chip Wilson of Lululemon), the LightShed along the Coal Harbour Seawall, and even the Lord Stanley statue in Stanley Park. Public art by private developments includes pieces like the lights on West Pender Place, The Drop at the new convention centre, and the pendulum in the HSBC building.
While content has just picked up again on the blog — there’s a gap between 2010 and 2012, with nothing for 2011 — I’m hoping that Our City Our Art will provide more insights and news stories about public art in Vancouver in the future. I would love to see it grow, either where it is now or hosted through the City’s new website network.
Related links: Artist Opportunities Page, City of Vancouver Cultural Services, City of Vancouver Public Art Registry, Vancouver Cultural Services Mailing List. For even more public art check out Vancouver Biennale.
It’s time for students of all ages to return to school to begin another year of academic growth. I always enjoyed back to school shopping even though it meant we were that much closer to returning to class. Highlighters, binders, duo-tangs, pencil crayons, Trapper Keepers and geometry kits (always a new geometry kit even though kits from previous years were barely used). Fall also means snuggling up with a blanket and a good book while multicoloured leaves float to the ground outside your window.
Chapters Indigo recently released their Fall Gift Guide that includes Notable Books for Fall like Neil Young’s Waging Heavy Peace, and J.K. Rowling’s Casual Vacancy. For business-minded readers they have a Dragons’ Den Collection, and for the home chef there’s a collection of farm-to-table and comfort food reads like A Country Cook’s Kitchen and The Best Soups in the World.
They have also stocked up on lifestyle items, games, home accessories, journals, and everything that compliments a good book in your home. Tea pots, throw pillows, candles, headphones, radios, party supplies and gadgets. These items are available at Chapters Indigo locations throughout Canada (including Robson/Howe, and Broadway/Granville) and online.
To celebrate their new fall items, Chapters Indigo has put together a prize pack for a lucky Miss604 reader. This includes: Play Video Memo Pad, Water-Powered Clock, Magic Bonasi Tree, Apples to Apples Junior, Tea Forte World of Teas, Alphabet Journal, Spot it!
Here’s how you can enter to win this bundle (valued at $150):
- Leave a comment recommending a book that everyone should read (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow Chapters Indigo on Twitter and Facebook for deals, specials, and product information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries next Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 12:00pm.
Update The winner is Maureen!
The London 2012 Paralympics get underway today and our Team Canada members are ready to represent and make us proud. You can find a list of BC athletes competing in the Paralympics here and a full Team Canada roster is available online.
Television & Web Broadcasts
Paralympic.ca will also have coverage along with the CTV and RDS websites which will have five digital streams offering a total of 580 hours of live coverage.
The opening ceremony of the Paralympics will be streamed live on Paralympic.org at around 12:30pm (PT) on Wednesday, August 29th. RDS2 will carry the opening ceremony live and then replay at 6:00pm (PT) on TSN2 and AMI with described video. CTV will air the opening ceremony on Saturday, September 1st at 1:00pm (ET).
The Broadcast Schedule for all competitions is available online. TSN2, Sportsnet ONE, RDS, RDS2 will have live coverage.
Competition Schedule
The schedule is available online and the Canadian Paralympic Committee has noted in which events Canadians are competing. The first events will be archery, cycling, equestrian, judo, swimming, and wheelchair basketball. Our flag-bearer Garett Hickling and the rest of the rugby team will be in action starting September 5th.
Social Media
The main tag is simply #Paralympics but you can follow @CDNParalympics and #London2012 on Twitter to join the conversation about the games.
The Canadian Paralympic Committee is also on Facebook and YouTube, and they’re encouraging the use of #GoCanadaGo on Twitter. They also have a full Twitter list of Team Canada members that you can follow.
The London 2012 Paralympics will wrap up with the closing ceremony on September 9, 2012.
The Fair at the PNE will close and the kids will return to school but summer isn’t over just yet. Between more festivals, outdoor activities, film and theatre festivals, there’s plenty on tap for September in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Gastown BBQ & Chilli Festival
Invergarry Bike Park Grand Opening in Surrey
Compassion In Action / Pet Blessing by Kyabgon Phakchok Rinpoche
Vancouver Latin American Film Festival
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Victory Square Block Party
Vancouver Latin American Film Festival
Monday, September 3, 2012
Labour Day Fall Fair at Burnaby Village Museum
Music in the Park at Cleveland Dam
Vancouver Latin American Film Festival
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Vancouver Latin American Film Festival
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Britannia Fresh Air Cinema Volunteer Movie Night in Grandview Park
Vancouver Latin American Film Festival
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Fashion’s Night Out Vancouver
Where’s My Flying Car?! at the Vancouver Fringe Festival (until September 16)
Zanna, Don’t! at the Vancouver Fringe Festival (until September 16)
The FOG Theatre presents Tom Stoppard’s HEROES (until September 30)
Vancouver Latin American Film Festival
Vancouver International Fringe Festival
Friday, September 7, 2012
Etsy Craft Party Vancouver
Mexi-Go! Travel and Trade Expo
Vancouver Theatresports League: Scared Scriptless, The Comic Strippers
The Bills Album launch for Yes Please
Vancouver Latin American Film Festival
Vancouver International Fringe Festival
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