Earth Hour is coming up this Saturday, March 31, 2012 from 8:30pm to 9:30pm local time, wherever you might be. This initiative from the WWF is the world’s largest environmental initiative with thousands of cities and millions of participants turning off their lights and unplugging for a full hour.
Vancouver has been participating in Earth Hour for several years, from turning off the string of lights on the Lions Gate Bridge to extinguishing office tower fluorescents. This year you can also set the mood with romantic candlelight dining at several local restaurants. Tourism Vancouver has already put together a full list:
If you’re not up for going out, stay in and play board games, have dinner by candlelight, or read a book with the kiddies. You can join Earth Hour online, download posters for your office or school, and get ideas for activities in the dark during this 5th annual global event.
The Vancouver International Auto Show will return to BC Place April 3rd to April 8th, 2012. There are handfuls of contests and giveaways that you can enter at the show on top of the dozens of exhibitor booths, showrooms, and a marketplace.
Features
Clean Energy Vehicle (“CEV”) Showcase, Dream Car Lottery (enter to win both a BMW X5 and Z4), Hagerty Classic Alley, SuperCars and Luxury Lane, the new Redline Stage, the new TruckCity, RC 110 Drift Club (Friday to Sunday), Drive Up Saturday, and more.
Show Details
General admission is $15, children 7-12 are $4, 6 and under are free with an accompanying adult. Students and seniors are $10. Show hours are Tuesday to Friday 12:00pm to 10:00pm, Saturday from 10:00am to 10:00pm, and Sunday from 10:00am to 6:00pm.
Over the last few years I’ve had some exciting opportunities with cars. I’ve driven a Camaro on the Sea to Sky, I’ve taken a Yukon Hybrid through the Fraser Canyon, I’ve completed a scavenger hunt around town in a Ford Focus, and had extended test drives with a Lexus CT200h, 2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Pilot. Most recently I’ve raced around a frozen snow-covered track at the Mecaglisse in Quebec with Michelin Tires.
I have three pairs of tickets to the Vancouver International Auto Show and to enter to win, I’d love to hear what your dream driving experience would be. It could be cruising down the California coast with the top down or trying your hand at being an ice road trucker.
Leave a comment on this post to enter to win a pair of tickets. You can also paste the following on Twitter for a bonus entry:
RT to enter to win 1 of 3 pairs of tickets to @VanAutoShow from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/9VTo0
Follow the Vancouver International Auto Show on Twitter or Facebook for more information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 5:00pm on Sunday, April 1, 2012.
The City of Vancouver has launched their plan for maintaining order during the Canucks’ Stanley Cup Playoff run this year. Last year we made headlines around the globe after a riot broke out downtown following a public viewing of the Stanley Cup final. To avoid getting remotely close to the same situation this year, the city is being cautious.
The CBC reported earlier that the focus would be on neighbourhood celebrations and that appears to be a core aspect of today’s official plan.
The City of Vancouver said they don’t want to shut down all celebrations during large events, but they want people to celebrate responsibly to minimize the risk to the public so as to avoid the events during the Stanley Cup final last year.
The City’s plans include implementing ideas such as allowing public viewing of games and celebrations at community centres, bars, pubs, and maybe theatres, should the Canucks advance into third and fourth rounds of the playoffs. But no crowds would be allowed downtown.
There will be no outside screens to watch the game. The City said they are considering block parties, but those would have to be organized by an event planner and no alcohol would be allowed.
The Vancouver Canucks will be involved and have partnered with the City. They will also be matching the City’s funding for the celebrations, which could be between $50,000 to $100,000. [Source: GlobalBC]
It’s always nice to watch games, especially of this magnitude, with friends and other fans. We need to remain safe and show the world that we’re not a region of sore losers with bad judgement. Remember how fantastic it felt when Canada won gold at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics? If we can regain even an iota of that sentiment — pride and respect — through our own hockey club this year just imagine how great that will feel.
I’d love to know, should the Canucks go the distance again this season, what would be your ideal plan for public viewings?
‘This is Our Home’ is an extension of the organization’s season long efforts to strengthen that message, which has included in-arena videos and recognizing “local heroes,” to further raise the expectations that Canucks fans enjoy the hockey experience while conducting themselves in a respectful way.
Easter arrives in early April this year as it brings spring showers, blooming flowers, and the ability to finally wear all that white you put away at Labour Day. There are several family-friendly Easter events happening around the Lower Mainland including egg hunts, swims, and afternoon tea.
Burnaby
What: Easter Egg Hunt
Where: CG Brown Memorial Pool, 3702 Kensington
When: Sunday, April 8, 2012 from 12:00pm to 1:30pm
Who: For ages 7 and younger, bring your bathing suit
Cost: Loonie swim rate
Surrey
What: Eco Easter Egg Hunt
Where: Surrey Nature Centre at Green Timbers (off 96 Ave)
When: Saturday, April 7, 2012 from 10:00am to 3:00pm
Who: 0-3 (10:30am), 4-6 (11:30am), 7-8 (12:30pm), 9-12 (1:30pm)
Cost: $5 per child
Richmond
What: Easter Party
When: Saturday, April 7, 2012 from 10:00am to 11:30am or 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Where: Steveston Community Centre (4111 Moncton St)
Cost: $9 per child. Preschool to 5 years, and 6 years to 12.
What: London Heritage Farm Easter Tea (all ages)
When: Saturday, April 7, 2012 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Where: London Heritage Farm (6511 Dyke Rd)
Cost: Free to explore the gardens, $8.50 for Easter tea inside
Vancouver
What: Easter in Stanley Park
When: Friday, April 6 to Monday, April 9, 2012 from 11:00am to 4:00pm
Where: Miniature railway area in Stanley Park
Cost: Free to explore, regular miniature train rates reply for rides
North Vancouver
What: Easter Bunny Hop
When: Sunday, April 1, 2012 from 9:00am to 12:00pm
Where: John Braithwaite Community Centre
Cost: $1 drop-in, for parents and tots ages 0-5 years.
Should you know of any other community events, Easter or generally happening in April, please feel free to submit them for possible listing in my monthly event roundup.
If you live in Vancouver, chances are that you’ve passed a building designed by architect Francis Rattenbury. From Victoria and Nanaimo to Revelstoke and Jasper, several of Rattenbury’s houses, commercial buildings, and CPR-commissioned hotels still stand today.
Photo credit:
1892: Roedde House
This is arguably the first structure that Rattenbury built in Canada. It was for Vancouver’s first bookbinder, Gustav Roedde, and his family. Today, the restored heritage home is a museum in the heart of the West End. It hosts school programs, teas, and tours. Read my post about Roedde House & Barclay Heritage Square.
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1893-1898: BC Legislature
An icon in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, our capitol building is home to BC’s legislative assembly. Rattenbury won the contract for the building when he was 25 years old. Adorned with white marble and Baroque decadence, it was originally budgeted at $500,000 but the final cost was $923,000. It is open for free tours, both self-guided and guided.
Vancouver Archives item# M-3-8.
1888-1900: 1st Hotel Vancouver
The current Hotel Vancouver that we know on West Georgia between Burrard and Hornby is the third iteration of the building. The first was located at Georgia and Granville and I found sources that say Rattenbury added a wing onto it. However, I have also found that he helped with the second Hotel Vancouver. Given the timeline, I believe it was the first since the second was built between 1913 and 1916.
1904-1908: Empress Hotel Victoria
The Fairmont Empress is another icon of Victoria’s Inner Harbour famous for its Royal visits, celebrity guests, high tea, craft cocktails, and some say — ghostly presences. The hotel underwent $45 million in renovations in 1989 to update the guest rooms, adda health club, indoor swimming, and more. In Victoria Rattenbury was also responsible for the CPR steamship terminus and Crystal Garden.
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1906-1911: Vancouver Courthouse
The courthouse was understandably a huge part of the local political and justice system. Rattenbury also won this contract in a contest. The building’s design features columns, a central dome, porticos, and ornate stonework. The marble was imported from Alaska, Tennessee and Vermont. The Vancouver Art Gallery didn’t move into this space until 1983.
View Rattenbury’s full resume online including several banks, and train stations throughout BC. Born in Leeds, England in 1867, Rattenbury came to British Columbia in 1892. He met an untimely death back in England in 1935 when he was murdered by the family’s 17 year old chauffeur [source].
