Waving flags, leading chants, and encouraging one and all to stand up and cheer, the Southsiders have been the Vancouver Whitecaps‘ supporter club since 1999. Following the team from Swangard, to Empire, and into BC Place, their presence is always known. However, they have also been working behind the scenes with the Vancouver Southsiders Charitable Causes Committee (“VSCCC”).
This year the supporter club will in-turn be supporting the Vancouver Street Soccer League (“VSSL”).
The Vancouver Street Soccer League uses soccer to inspire and empower. Our league is made up of teams that provide friendship for the homeless, physical fitness for the ill and addicted, direction for at-risk youth, and cultural focus for other unique communities such as inner-city First Nations people. The Vancouver Street Soccer League is also associated with Street Soccer Canada and the Homeless World Cup.
They already auctioned off a signed jersey and hosted a raffle to support the VSSL but their biggest fundraising campaign is just coming up. For $20 you can purchase a retro-style scarf that features “Vancouver” on one side and “I Believe” on the other. One end has the Southsiders logo and the other sports to VSSL logo.
You can reserve your scarf now (and pay upon pickup) or pay online right away.
“The VSSL isn’t just a recreational league for people to kick a ball around – it’s a means of bringing people together to begin building self-esteem, confidence, health and hope. It’s all about empowering people to find their way to a better life,” said VSCCC chair John Knox, a founding member of the Southsiders.
While you’re at it, you can join the Southsiders this season as well. The $30 membership package comes with a membership card, a pin, priority access to away games, a scarf, and more.
Painted on the sides of brick buildings that lined Hastings and other downtown thoroughfares that have existed for the better part of the last century, there was obviously a time when Vancouver’s ghost signs were just signs. Thanks to the Vancouver Archives, here’s a quick look at these painted adverts in their heyday.
1917 – Powell Street. Archives item# CVA 99-185.
1929 – Granville, looking north from Helmcken. Archives item# CVA 99-1964. Photographer: Stuart Thomson.
1932 – East Hastings. Archives item# CVA 20-51.
1945 – Archives item# CVA 586-4089. Photographer: Steffens Colmer.
1946 – Carrall Street. Archives item# CVA 586-4594. Photographer: Steffens Colmer.
1951 – Granville at Georgia. Archives item# CVA 772-7.
1932 – Granville. Archives item# CVA 20-109.
1974 – Homer Street. Archives item# CVA 778-194.
We have to wait a little longer for March this year, with a bonus leap day in February, but it will be well worth it. From events surrounding International Women’s Day to CelticFest Vancouver, there will be plenty to do around town . I will also have a round-up next week listing some of my favourite places to visit with family so that you can plan your local spring break activities.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Social Feed at the Irish Heather
SFU Surrey 10th Anniversary Open House
Secrets of a Soccer Mom at Presentation House Theatre (until March 10)
The Mystery of Edwin Drood (until March 3)
Friday, March 2, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Reason to Care Art Sale
Vancouver Diversity Health Fair
Laugh a Litte, Give a Lot Fundraising Dinner
A Year With Frog and Toad Opens at Carousel Theatre (until April)
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Mountain Equipment Co-op North Vancouver Road Race
Monday, March 5, 2012
A Little Night Music Orchestra Concert
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Vancouver Beer Tweetup
How to Disappear Completely at Shadbolt Centre (until March 10)
Healthy Chef 13th Annual Competition
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Coastal First Nations Dance Festival at Museum of Anthropology
Ballet BC: Walking Mad and Other Works
Pauline Johnson Exhibit at Stanley Park Nature House
Women and Beer Pairing Event at Rogue
Opening Night of Art Deco Chic at the Museum of Vancouver
Friday, March 9, 2012
Spring Break at Make on Granville Island (until March 23)
Tiempo Libre (Cuban septet of singers) at the Chan Centre
Coastal First Nations Dance Festival at Museum of Anthropology
Ballet BC: Walking Mad and Other Works
Spring Break Skate at Park Royal
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Coastal First Nations Dance Festival at Museum of Anthropology
Whitecaps 2012 Season Opening Day
International Women’s Day Conference presented by YWiB SFU
Crimson Cabaret: Celebrating Creative Women
Ballet BC: Walking Mad and Other Works
CelticFest Vancouver
Spring Break Skate at Park Royal
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SFU Surrey is hosting an open house on Thursday March 1, 2012, in honor of its 10th anniversary. Visitors can enjoy interactive exhibits and activities, live music, learn about SFU’s programs, and enjoy a cupcake with staff, faculty, and students.
Schedule of Events
4:05pm Official welcome presentation on stage and the exhibits will be open until 7:20pm.
4:30pm Participate in the scavenger hunt for your chance to win a prize.
6:20pm A birthday ceremony for SFU Surrey will take place (cupcake time).
7:30pm to 8:30pm The prize draw for the scavenger hunt and door prizes.
The Central City area has come a long way since its former incarnation as Surrey Place Mall (where, a long time ago, I had my first job working in retail). They’re celebrating a decade of learning by sharing demonstrations, experiments, and exhibits from SFU Surrey’s Arts & Social Sciences, School of Criminology, Beedie School of Business, Health Sciences, Interactive Arts & Technology, and more.
Engineering will also showcase their Lego Mindstorm Robots, Quarter Car Model, Ocean Turbine Emulator, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, and you can play some trivia or stop by the Co-Op photo booth.
It’s free to attend the open house so just stop by between 4:00pm and 8:00pm. You can also register to win an Apple iPad2 ahead of time by filling out an online form.
My Metro Vancouver Park Series has laid dormant for several months but with spring around the corner, what better time to profile some of our region’s best green spaces. Today’s feature is on Garry Point Park in Richmond.
Basics
A 39-acre waterfront park at the mouth of the Fraser River in south Richmond, at Steveston.
How to get there
Head West on Steveston Highway then turn south on No 1 Road until you reach Chatham Street. Turn right on Chatham and head all the way to the end of the road.
View Larger Map
History
Walk over to the Scotch Pond Historic Moorage Site in Garry Point Park. It was originally a slough then was dredged in the early 1950s and connected by a channel to the Strait of Georgia.
Along with the pond are the remains of wooden boardwalk pilings which run directly along the south edge of the pond and were constructed in 1899 as part of the Scottish Canadian Cannery operation. The Pond is located on Garry Point Park in the tidal flats of Sturgeon Bank, on a line that is a western extension of Chatham Street.
Scotch Pond’s heritage values include its historical associations, first with the use of the original slough at Garry Point as the location of a year round Musqueam Indian settlement until the late 1890’s, with the Scottish Canadian Cannery built by Malcolm and Windsor in 1899, with the Atagi Boatworks located at the head of the slough and operated until Japanese internment during World War II, and finally with the dredging operation undertaken in the 1950’s by the Canadian Fishing Company. [source]
Photo credit:
Ruth and Dave &
Popejon2 on Flickr – Submitted to the Miss604 Flickr Pool.
Photo credit: Americanuck – Submitted to the Miss604 Flickr Pool.
Photo credit: rbrtwhite on Flickr – Submitted to the Miss604 Flickr Pool.
Features
From sunsets and watching boats on the Fraser River to views of the Gulf Islands, fishing, and sandy beaches, there’s plenty for all ages to enjoy at Garry Point.
![Catch The Sun [Explored - Front Page]](https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6157/6202561887_df449d0816_z.jpg)
Take a quick walk over from Steveston and return for lunch in the village or check out the Japanese Garden, Fisherman’s Memorial sculpture and the Scotch Pond Historic Moorage site. Kite flying is also a popular activity. Parking, picnic tables, washrooms and a food concession stand are available.
West Dyke Trail: The popular West Dyke Trail provides excellent view of the Sturgeon Banks marshes, distant Howe Sound mountains, and the Gulf Islands along a 5.5 km path between Terra Nova and Garry Point Park.
Find more parks by browsing all 37 entries in my Metro Vancouver Park Series.
