Stanley Park will host its first-ever BioBlitz this weekend. According to the organizers at the Stanley Park Ecology Society, a Bioblitz is “an extravaganza of many hands-on exploratory inventories of nature.”

Participants will be in specific groups alongside science experts and given a designated amount of time to identify as many plants, insects, birds, amphibians, fish, and intertidal creatures as they can. They’re calling all “citizen scientists” to help out with this massive undertaking for 24 hours this weekend (12 hours on both Saturday and Sunday).

All public events are free. Find Sunday’s schedule online as well.

Patricia Thomson, Executive Director of the Stanley Park Ecology Society, told me by email that it’s great for all ages. “People can join a single event or many to watch hummingbirds being banded, audio-track owls, mist-net bats or beach seine for gunnels.”

Thomson added, “Considering it hosts 7 million visitors each year, Stanley Park still holds many secrets in its wildlife and habitats: in recent years, two species described nowhere else in the world were identified in Stanley Park.”

The Stanley Park Ecology Society, which works closely with the Vancouver Park Board, released a “State of the Park” report last year. They’re hoping that this year’s Bioblitz will be able to enhance and add to the information in that report.

There are organized Bioblitz events across the USA and Canada each year. Whistler recently hosted a Bioblitz earlier this month.

If you tuned into 104.9 Fun FM this morning around 8:45am you would have heard Jack FM’s Larry & Willy make the announcement. CFUN, the call letters that hit the air in the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver in 1955, are gone. Now when you tune to 104.9 on your radio you’ll hear “Top 40” and new hits on Sonic FM.

Photo: Vii French on Flickr

In November of 2009 Talk 1410 (CFUN’s last iteration on the AM dial) flipped over to TEAM 1410 and the CFUN letters moved into the hands of Rogers (where they have been in the form of Fun FM). Vancouver’s radio landscape changes all the time.

From new voices and the latest singles to less sports, more news, more hits, and fewer oldies. Now, there’s another new kid on the block.

Rock stations are playing Jack Johnson, alternative stations are playing classic rock, and they’re all (along with pop and top 40) playing Foster the People’s Pumped Up Kicks. You’ll be able to hear Lady Gaga on at least three Vancouver radio stations now, but you might also find Mumford & Sons on just as many.

I love radio. I used to play radio at home with my brother and sister, I grew up with the Morning Zoo, I married a radio engineer, and sometimes radio stations (from Queer FM Vancouver to the CBC) have me on to talk about events or the latest in social media. I also used to co-host two podcasts.

Radio is just that tune or voice that’s always there, whenever you feel like listening. Here’s what we have for selection in Vancouver:

FM stations
CBC Radio 88.1, CBC Radio Two 105.7, Vancouver Tourist Radio 89.3,CJSF SFU 90.1, CBUX French 90.9, CKYE multicultural music & talk 93.1, JR Country 93.7, The Beat 94.5 Top 40, Virgin 95.3 Adult Top 40, CHKG multicultural 96.1, 96.9 Jack pop variety, CBUF French 97.7, CFOX rock 99.3, The Peak alternative 100.5, Classic Rock 101.1, 101.9 CiTR UBC, Co-Op Radio 102.7, 103.5 QMFM soft rock and pop, Shore 104.3 roots rock, 104.9 Sonic Top 40.
AM stations
650 CISL all time favourites with talk, 730 all traffic, 980 CKNW news talk, TEAM 1040 sports, News 1130, RJ1200 Bollywood Top 40 from India, 1320 CHMB Chinese community, TEAM 1410 sports, 1550am Sher-E-Punjab, 1600 Radio India broadcasts.

When you compare us to most other major cities, our dials are pretty empty when you do a quick scan of the airwaves (despite the list above). Aside from their on-air music and personalities, local radio also supports the community. There isn’t one festival that I attend that doesn’t have a radio station as a sponsor. Many radio stations and on-air talent are also getting into social media, extending their audiences and engaging with them even further.

While my favourites are already set in stone on my tuner, having another option for radio in Vancouver isn’t a bad thing. Competition is good and so is selection.

This is the final installment of the BC Travel Tuesday series. Over the last few months I’ve worked with Brian from backyardbc to bring my readers options for local getaways and have been able to award prizes to a dozen winners from Vancouver Island and Squamish to the Okanagan.

backyardbc is a new travel website designed specifically for residents of British Columbia. Essentially a “be a tourist in your own backyard” program, participating hotels & resorts offer residents of BC exclusive rates and specials, designed to motivate BCers to travel more within the Province. Each offer has its own unique reservation code, and all bookings are done directly with our hotel and resort partners. Visit backyardbc online, on Twitter, or Facebook and see more of BC!

Last week’s winner of the April Point Resort trip to Quadra Island is Ryan (and he has been notified by email). This week, we take you back to Victoria for a unique experience — particularly if you love local brews.

Photos courtesy of Swans Hotel on Flickr

Swans Hotel & Brewpub
Website, Twitter, Facebook, backyardbc listing
Location: 506 Pandora Ave, Victoria, BC
About: “Our 29 suite boutique hotel is a short walking distance to the Inner Harbour, museums, shopping, and entertainment. Spacious and comfortable suites feature fully equipped kitchens, complimentary wi-fi, and a collection of original art. Our Brewpub downstairs serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or you can enjoy a seasonal west coast meal at the Wild Saffron Bistro. We are 100% non smoking, and can accommodate pets.”
Prize: Two nights in a one bedroom suite, a $50 gift certificate to the Wild Saffron Bistro, and two beer tasting flights at Swans Brew Pub.
Value: $600

To enter to win, leave a comment on this post and/or post the following on Twitter:

Gift certificates for hotel and resort stays will be sent directly to each weekly winner so they can arrange their visit personally with the property. Some restrictions apply (prize redeemable September 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 excluding holidays), based on availability. Must be 19 years of age or older to enter and win. This week’s winner will be announced next Tuesday.

Update The winner is Leah P!

View all posts in the series by following or subscribing to my BCTravelTuesday tag. Open to residents of BC.

The FortisBC street team will be on location at this year’s Pacific National Exhibition (the PNE) from August 20 to September 5. Set up directly across from the prize home, which is always a main attraction, the FortisBC team will be giving away prizes to those who stop by and check in on Foursquare, Facebook, or post an update on Twitter (@FortisBC).

With a focus on energy savings, the FortisBC team will be promoting ways that you can cut costs and save energy throughout the year. They’ve also partnered with BC Hydro (and the Power Smart initiative) to provide Energy Saving Kits for households across the province.

To promote this every-day energy saving campaign, FortisBC would like to send my readers to the PNE this year to enjoy the fair. I have two family prize packs to giveaway that each include 4 admission tickets to the PNE, 4 all-day ride passes for Playland, and 1 parking pass. Here’s how you can enter to win one of these family prize packs, valued at $200 each.

Have some mini-donuts, ride the wooden coaster, visit the pig races and 4H animals, and get that Slapshop you’ve always wanted from the marketplace pavilion. Don’t forget to check out one of the free concerts at the PNE this year that are included with admission.

Follow FortisBC on Twitter for news, events, rebate offer, Energy Saving Kit information, job opportunities, and practical tips weekly on #WasteNotWednesdays. I will draw two contest winners at random from all entries on Friday, August 19, 2011 at 10:00am.

The video above was produced by our friend John Biehler that will quite possibly get you pumped up for Playland (and their new Atmosfear ride) this year.

Update The winners are @julia_cross & Steve!

The Victoria Fringe Festival kicks off next week as 72 international and local theatre companies take to various venues and stages across the capital city. Victoria Fringe is one of the oldest in Canada and this year they celebrate 25 years of providing affordable, alternative entertainment from around the world.

BFA The Musical. Photo: The Kicks. Intrepid Theatre on Flickr

If you’re new to Fringe, they’ve provided a handy “How to Fringe” section on their website:

1. Choose your shows. Search by special event or venue.
2. Get a visa button. $5, or 2 for $5 on opening night. These support the festival directly (while ticket sales support the artists).
3. Get your show tickets. Passes are also available if you plan on seeing multiple shows ($55 Munchcard for 5 shows or a $88 Frequent Fringer pass for 10 shows).
4. Love your lineup. Lines are a part of Fringe as many performances are general admission. Get to know your fellow line-mates and enjoy the pre-show banter.
5. Know the rules of Fringe. There are four, apparently: Get your visa button, no latecomers, all sales final, cash only.

Grim & Fischer: A Deathly Comedy.
Photo: Sean Dennie. Intrepid Theatre on Flickr

Now that you know How to Fringe, what can you expect? Everything from the Fringe 80s Prom Dance Party and the FringeKids Fest, to live music, comedy, burlesque, and shadow play.

Productions that will be going from Victoria Fringe (August 25 to September 4) to Vancouver Fringe Festival (September 8 to 18) include: Houdini’s Last Escape, Grim and Fischer (what is being called “live action Pixar”), Little Orange Man (a dark fairy tale), Peter n’ Chris and the Mystery of the Hungry Heart Motel, Phone Whore (an autobiographical show by Cameryn Moore about being a phone sex worker).

For all of this information and more, download the free Victoria Fringe Festival iPhone app. You can also join the Facebook group, read the blog, and follow @intrepidtheatre on Twitter.