Vancouver Pride Parade 2011 Photos

Comments 3 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Pride Parade yesterday was filled with sunshine, smiles, dancing, laughter, and joy as hundreds of floats coasted through downtown to a welcoming crowd.

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

I spent the duration of the parade in the basket of the London Drugs float with my friend Wendy Hartley. At the end of the day my hand was died red from the rainbow boa and I realized I had been smiling for about 3 hours straight.

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011
Photo credit: John Biehler

John was on the sidelines on Denman as the parade turned off Robson. Members of local and national parliament were on hand along with various organizations, non-profits, businesses, schools, and more. Here is some of what he was able to capture as hundreds of thousands celebrated Pride in Vancouver.

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011
All of the following photos are by John Bollwitt

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011 Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011 Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011 Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011 Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011 Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011 Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011 Vancouver Pride Parade 2011
Hon. Hedy Fry, PC, MP & MP Elizabeth May (Saanich-Gulf Islands) the first Green Party MP in history.

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011 Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011 Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

You can view the rest of John’s photos in his set on Flickr.

Colbie Caillat at the Commodore

Comments 98 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Colbie Caillat will play the Commodore in Vancouver this October with guest Andy Grammer. The singer/songwriter’s tunes are smooth and sweet, Caillat has enjoyed chart-topping success with singles like “Bubbly” spending 14 weeks on top of the Billboard Adult Top 40. Her latest album, All of You is currently available in stores and on iTunes.

Tickets went on sale yesterday for $34.50 (plus fees) and you can get them by calling 1-855-985-5000, going online through Live Nation, or through the Rogers Wireless Box Office (scan your phone at the venue, no need to print tickets).

I also have a pair of tickets to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win your way in:

  • Leave a comment on this post naming a Colbie Caillat song (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
  • I entered to win tickets to see @ColbieCaillat at the Commodore from @LiveNationWest & @Miss604 http://ow.ly/5QMQv

    I will draw one winner at 10:00am on Tuesday, August 9, 2011. Must be 19 years of age or older to enter this contest as this is not an all-ages venue.

    Update The winner is Vicky (@vthechan)!

    Celebration of Light 2011 Fireworks Barge Tour

    Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

    In anticipation of the first Celebration of Light night of 2011, happening tomorrow at 10:00pm in English Bay, I was a part of a media tour of the fireworks barge this morning with Producer Patrick Brault.

    Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge

    Patrick has been involved with the Celebration of Light since it began 21 years ago and he says to this day, not much has changed except they’ve been able to make some improvements in the technology. In the first year he said they had kilometers worth of wiring on the barge and manually controlled the firing of each shell. The soundtrack was on large reels and they had audio cues, “line 1, line 1, GO!”.

    Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge

    Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge

    “Now it’s all computer-controlled,” said Patrick. “We program the time that we want the fireworks to shoot and the computer system shoots them. There is a lot less cabling because we have computer modules everywhere on the barge.” While a computer controls the firing and timing, there are still manual settings and safety systems in place that can fine-tune timing and shut any section off manually in case of an emergency on the barge.

    Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge

    Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge

    Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge

    Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge

    Aside from the behind-the-scenes technology there’s a big difference this year that some have already noticed from afar. “We brought the barges closer to shore so that it’s more in your face for the people on the beach,” Patrick told us. “Usually the distance between the fireworks and the public is all in relation to the largest size of shell that we shoot.”

    Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge

    Patrick said an example would be those large willow-like shells that shoot high into the air and cascade downward. So in order to keep the large shells, not compromising the show at all, they moved those to a third barge that will be located further away, in the regular barge location (from previous years).

    Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge

    With far too many grey days than we’d like this season, Patrick said cloud cover doesn’t bother him and the fireworks crew and that rain and humidity are more of a factor (in terms of the setup and firing of the shells). “Some effects do look better in the rain,” he added. “Personally, I like to have a little bit of a cloud cover or no moonlight because if it’s too bright then people might get distracted from the show itself.” He went on to explain that his whole family comes from the show business and theatre worlds so you want “lights out” and no distractions when the show is underway.

    Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge

    Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge

    For Saturday’s fireworks display, China will present “China Storm”, a representation of the 24 seasons in Chinese culture, and will feature world music. Next Wednesday’s show presented by Spain is called “Odyssey” and Canada’s finale will be “Then and Now” on August 6th.

    Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge

    The City of Vancouver is strongly encouraging the hundreds of thousands of fireworks goers to “cart out what they cart in” and put garbage in bins. There will be “Zero Waste Stations” around popular viewing areas like English Bay and Kitsilano as well.

    Celebration of Light Fireworks Barge

    You still have until Monday to enter to win reserved bleacher seating for Canada’s fireworks display in my final Celebration of Light contest. Head down to your viewing spot early to catch free concerts at ShoreFest happening around English Bay and Kitsilano beaches.

    August Long Weekend Events 2011

    Comments 3 by Rebecca Bollwitt

    The August long weekend has crept up slowly and I’m almost in disbelief that July is coming to an end. While it was a bit of a grey month (with many soggy patches) hopefully things will pick up for August before scarves, sweaters, and back to school clothes in shop windows bring on the grim reality that summer is almost over.

    Tsawwassen Beach
    Photo credit: rbrtwhite on Flickr

    With the sun finally shining, there’s so much going on this weekend that, aside from doing my main monthly event listings for August, I’ve decided to serve up a special long weekend event roundup:

    Metro Vancouver
    Saturday, July 30
    Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs LA Galaxy
    Mount Pleasant Smoking Sausage BBQ Cook-Off
    Celebration of Light fireworks
    Balkan Beats Extravaganza
    Illuminaires
    Powell Street Festival
    Burnaby Village Museum Farmers Market
    Patio Summerfest at the River Market in New Westminster
    Last day of the Neanderthal Arts Festival
    Opening weekend of West Vancouver’s Harmony Arts Festival
    BC Renaissance Festival begins

    Sunday, July 31
    Vancouver Pride Parade
    BC Place Free Public Open House
    Powell Street Festival
    12th Street Music Festival in New Westminster

    Whistler
    Saturday, July 30
    Araxi Longtable Series in Pemberton
    Saturday, July 30 & Sunday, July 31
    Canadian National BBQ Championships

    To list your community, non-profit, family-oriented, public or ticketed event for free, you can email me to be included in my monthly event listings. Please include the exact date and a link (website or Facebook event).

    Amazon Falls at Denman Cinemas

    Add a Comment by Michelle Kim

    About a month ago, I wrote a profile on Vancouver-based actor April Telek, fresh off the heels of winning the Leo Award for Best Actress for her performance in the feature film Amazon Falls, directed by Vancouver-based Katrin Bowen.

    I just found out that the critically-acclaimed film will be playing at the Denman Cinemas this Friday, July 29, 2011. Starting at 7:00pm, it’s part of a double-header and will be followed by A Wake, directed by Penelope Buitenhuis, which will start at 9:30pm.

    Katrin Bowen’s Amazon Falls is a gritty story about a faded B-movie actress who refuses to give up her dream of being a star in a business that seems to punish virtue more than vice.

    Penelope Buitenhuis’ A Wake is a mystery about a troupe of actors who reunite for the wake of their eccentric theatre director (Nicholas Campbell). But when all hell breaks loose over the weekend, all secrets and lies are exposed.

    The Denman Cinemas are located at 1030 Denman at Comox in downtown Vancouver’s West End. Follow them on Twitter @DenmanCinemas or on Facebook for show information. Admission is just $7.95 for adults every day except Tuesday when it’s just $5.95.

    This feature was written exclusively for Miss604 by actor, writer, and producer, Michelle Kim. Read all posts contributed by Michelle for Miss604.com and follow her on Twitter @miju.