The City of Vancouver launched a pedestrian awareness campaign last month using outdoor advertising to bring attention to key behaviours around intersections. According to the City, these include: pedestrians jaywalking, cyclists running stop signs, and, motorists failing to yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks.
People are fragile, they are not invincible. Don’t let inconsiderate, risky, and illegal behaviour in the roadway put yourself and others at risk. Always yield to pedestrians at intersections, stop at stop signs, and cross at intersections.
Photo credit: La Ola – From the Miss604 Flickr Pool.
From the Vancouver Police Department’s 2006-2011 collision data 61 pedestrians were killed in collisions: 13 were jaywalking, 21 were struck by drivers not yielding at intersections, and the remaining 27 fatalities resulted from a combination of pedestrian and driver error, confusion and inattention, and poor weather.
I know that as a pedestrian I get frustrated with drivers and cyclists who fail to stop at stop signs. As a driver, I’m ever-vigilant when pedestrians are near the roadway as you never know when someone will hop off the curb.
Everyone on the road should be aware of their surroundings, obey traffic laws, and be sure to make yourself visible on those dark and rainy Vancouver nights. With children out of school, with spring break coming up, be extra cautious on roads near playgrounds and parks.
If every party involved pays close attention to their driving, cycling, and walking habits, the City of Vancouver hopes to see a decrease in injuries and fatalities on our roads. You can read more about the initiative on the City of Vancouver’s website and at PracticeRoadSafety.ca.
Kids and families are preparing for spring break this year by planning trips, activities at home, and adventures around the city. Two local shopping destinations will be hosting all-weather spring skate events that will cost nothing more than a donation to a local cause.
Spring Skate at Park Royal
Where: Park Royal South, behind Osaka and Staples, West Vancouver
When: March 9 to 18, 2012 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm daily (or later for special events)
Details: It’s free to hop on the 4,000 square foot synthetic ice rink and skate rentals are by donation to local charities and non-profit groups. There will be a special event Sunday, March 11th as Scotiabank presents the first annual Hollyburn Hockey Heroes Shootout. Local businesses and individuals are being drafted to participate and support the North Shore Youth Safe House and other Hollyburn youth programs. Tuesday March 13th will be Toddler Tuesday and the rink will be open until 8:00pm on opening day, March 9th.
We’re heady into fun run reason in Vancouver and one of the first to lace up for is Harry’s Spring Run Off. Happening Sunday, March 25th, this fundraiser takes participants around Stanley Park to benefit prostate cancer research.
Photo credit: gherringer on Flickr – Submitted to the Miss604 Flickr Pool.
Date Sunday March 25, 2012 Times 8km starts at 10:00am, Children’s Run at 11:00am Course 8km on the Seawall, meet at the miniature railway, Stanley Park
Runners raise funds that will support the Vancouver Prostate Centre at VGH. “Founded in 1998, the Vancouver Prostate Centre at VGH has become Canada’s leading — and one of the world’s foremost — prostate cancer research and treatment centres. Over 2,500 patients are seen annually by the Vancouver Prostate Centre. The Vancouver Prostate Centre’s surgeons and researchers have developed and delivered optimized care results to men with prostate cancer. While BC has the highest incidence of prostate cancer in Canada, it also has the lowest mortality rate thanks to the pioneering treatments and innovative research that take place here.”
Registration for Harry’s Spring Run Off, presented by Harry Rosen, is still open until March 20, 2012. Follow the run on Facebook for more information. Thanks to Stephane for letting me know about this run.
Emmy Award-winning CNN anchor Anderson Cooper will be appearing in Vancouver for “A 360 Degree View of the World”, a live and unscripted engagement at the Vancouver Convention Centre on April 5th, 2012.
Anderson Cooper has become “the go to source” for reliable and up to the minute, unbiased views of current events and ground-breaking news. The veteran journalist famously keeps politicians and policy makers honest with in-depth reporting, illustrating broad ways of thinking. His modern approach whether it be through the use of social media or zoning in on relevant pop culture has helped engage a new generation to gain an interest in world affairs keeping viewers of all ages and backgrounds informed and aware of current news and social issues.
Tickets for the event are available online for $175 each and they include a pre-event reception with live music at 10:30am, a luncheon, and opening remarks from CTV’s Tamara Taggart. Anderson will be discussing his life, experiences while reporting for CNN, and HootSuite will host a Q&A session. During the Q&A Anderson will take audience questions and respond to some Twitter activity live. Working with Pacific Carbon Trust, this event will also be carbon neutral.
I have two tickets to give away to this one-of-a-kind opportunity. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win tix to Anderson Cooper in Vancouver @CooperYVR from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/9qlgx #CooperYVR
I will draw one winner at random from all entries next Friday, March 9, 2012 at 12:00pm. You can follow @CooperYVR (powered by HootSuite) for updates and information about Anderson Cooper’s time in Vancouver.
UPDATE: I would like to thank everyone for entering the contest however I will be unable to draw a winner as I received the following from the organizers today:
“On behalf of Leverage Worldwide, we regret to inform you that Anderson Cooper- A 360 Degree View of the World has had to be cancelled. We are disappointed and regret having to cancel this event which was scheduled for April 5th, 2012 at The Vancouver Convention Centre. Anyone who has already purchased tickets will receive a 100% refund and can do so by calling Northern Tickets at (604) 569-1144.”
Rock of Ages, the hit Broadway musical featuring the music of Pat Benetar, Styx, Journey, Foreigner, and more is coming to Vancouver. Get your jean jackets ready because this 5-time Tony nominee arena rock show musical will hit the stage at The Centre May 8th to 13th, 2012.
The worldwide party musical Rock of Ages features a mix of 28 rockin’ 80’s tunes including Don’t Stop Believin’, We Built This City, The Final Countdown, Wanted Dead or Alive, Here I Go Again, Can’t Fight This Feeling, and I Want to Know What Love Is. In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker and in LA’s most famous rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the 80s.
2009 Tony Awards
The pre-sale will run from Friday, March 9 at 10:00am to Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 10:00pm.
Although it states that the pre-sale date is March 5th, that is just for American Express cardholders. Regular ticket sales will begin after March 11th.
