The kids are out of school, the city’s outdoor pools are open, sprinkling regulations are set, and the mercury is bouncing past 30C (well, most days at least). It’s officially summer and that means free outdoor movies, fireworks, and much more happening in Metro Vancouver.
Over the last few weeks Five Hole For Food, a street hockey tournament that raises money for local food banks, has been touring across Canada. Spearheaded by Richard Loat, and in its second year, they’ve stuck to a rigorous game schedule and have already visited St John’s, Halifax, Charlottetown, Saint John, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton. The team is now in the home stretch as they make their way to Victoria for tomorrow, and will be welcomed back home to Vancouver on Saturday with a game on Granville street.
I caught up with Richard as the team was driving through the Rockies this morning heading into their home stretch. He and his team of Jonathan Buyco, Victor Lo, and Lesley Chang have already traveled over 8,000kms and they’re not done just yet.
“It’s been tremendous,” said Richard from the car. “We set out to raise 20,000lbs of food and to surpass that goal by the time we hit Regina was just an indicator about how much this country loves hockey and loves giving back. The fact that we’re able to combine the two so successfully speaks for itself.” The campaign has in fact raised over 30,000lbs of food… and there are still two cities left.
After being on the road since June 23rd, they have plenty of stories to tell and I have a feeling they all go something like this. “On the morning of our Ottawa game we got into town a little early so we decided to throw up the nets and put out some sticks,” Richard told me. “I was canvassing one of the guys walking by and I said ‘Hey do you want to come play hockey?’. He just said, “Do you even have to ask? It’s Canada! Can I borrow a stick?”
You can support Five Hole For Food in Victoria tomorrow at the Saanich Plaza starting at 12:00pm. You just need to bring your hockey stick and a donation for Mustard Seed, either non-perishable food items or cash. Online donations are also available anytime through the Five Hole For Food website.
Richard said the team was able to show the rest of the country a positive side of Vancouver hockey enthusiasm and wants to tell locals: “Hey Vancouver, we did you proud, now let’s finish this off.”
Returning to friends and loved ones, they are hoping to get the same kind of support from the hometown crowd. Head to the 800 block of Granville for 12:00pm on Saturday, July 9th for the last street hockey tournament, supporting the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. You can also purchase tickets for an exclusive Tweetup.
Follow Five Hole For Food on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube to view their coverage, pour through their photos, and see what this amazing team did just by playing hockey across Canada and giving back.
Surrey’s Redwood Park came up in conversation when I recently spoke with Jack Christie, author of 52 Best Day Trips From Vancouver. My father took us there when we were young and now my sister takes her kids out there to enjoy the playground, trails, and most of all the wide selection of trees. I thought it would make a great candidate for the latest post in my Metro Vancouver Park Series.
How to get there
The park is located between 20th and 16th avenue and 180th street in Surrey. You can come in on Highway 15 (176th street), turn onto 20th, then turn and head South on 180th, follow signs for the parking lot. [Google Map].
History
The name “Redwood Park” comes from the giant Sequoias (Coast Redwoods) that you can find within its boundaries. “It was once part of the homestead of early pioneer, David Brown. When his twin sons, David and Peter, were 21 he gave them each 40 acres on the hilltop which had been logged. They immediately began to replant it with exotic species of trees from around the world.” [source] The boys planted 32 species of trees native to North America, Europe, and Asia.
The twins lived on their land until 1958 and the treehouse is a replica of their home. I found out from Jack that it can be even rented out from the City of Surrey for functions.
Features
Grassy meadow, treehouse, arboretum, over 5kms on nature trails, accessible playground, covered picnic areas, washrooms. The round-trip on the trail will take about an hour. Dogs are allowed but I don’t know the official word on leashes (I think many just go off-leash anyway).
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is not only one of this summer’s most anticipated blockbusters it’s also the long-awaited cinematic finale to the entire Harry Potter saga.
The film will be premiering in Vancouver next week and I have 5 double passes to give away to the biggest Potter fans I can find around town. There are 3 ways to enter to win so you can do just one or complete all of them. Here are the options:
A. Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I entered to win #HarryPotter and the #DeathlyHallows Part 2 #Vancouver premiere passes from @WBPicturesCan @Miss604 http://ow.ly/5y3kD
B. Post a photo of your Harry Potter collection (figures, movies, posters, toys, etc.) to Twitter and include @WBPicturesCan & @Miss604 in your tweet. (2 entries)
C. Fill out the quiz form below (1 entry)
[contact-form 2 “Harry Potter”]
I will draw 5 winners from all of the compiled entries on Monday, July 11th at 9:00am. The winners and a guest will be able to attend the Vancouver premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at the Scotiabank Theatre on Burrard.
Update Special event for fans! Harry Potter Picnic & Muggle Quidditch Match: On Monday, July 11th at 5:30pm Harry Potter fans are invited to David Lam Park to celebrate the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2! Fans are encouraged to come down in costume and – in true Harry Potter Picnic form – bring a picnic blanket and Harry Potter-themed snack or baked goods to share. Prizes will be awarded to the first 15 people to come to David Lam Park in costume. Another 10 will given for bringing the most creative snack or baked good. Prizes include advance screening passes, t-shirts, and promotional prize packs. While enjoying the sun and snacks, participants are also welcome to watch a game of Muggle Quidditch and learn how to play if they think they have what it takes to be the next star Seeker.
Update I had 415 entries (by form) for this contest and over 200 tweets. The winners are: Veronica, Marcy, @ciloha, @Karly_GreenP, @YuriArtibise – congratulations!
Vancouver’s first Indian Summer Festival is an international festival of arts and ideas. Presented by Teamwork Productions and SFU Woodward’s, it will showcase “top talent from India – across music, dance, literature, film, cuisine, yoga and wellness – in conversation with Canadian counterparts.”
The idea is to celebrate “India in Canada” and fold these events and activities into Vancouver’s year-long 125th anniversary celebrations.
Tickets range from free, to $30 – $100 and there are still some available for the opening gala.
The Indian Summer Arts Society is a Vancouver-based not-for-profit organization whose mandate is to foster cultural collaborations and dialogue between Canada and India, and within communities in Canada. The festival will run July 7, 2011 until July 17, 2011. Follow Indian Summer on Twitter or Facebook for more updates.
