The Grouse Grind officially opened for the season on Saturday as Vancouverites and visitors alike took to the 2.9 kilometer trail that goes right up Grouse Mountain. Known locally as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster”, this 30 degree ascent is either on the bucket list of many or a part of their weekly routine.

Photo credit: planetc1 on Flickr

For those who plan on doing the Grind more than once this summer, you can make each count by signing up for Grind for Kids. You can sign up through the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and have friends, family, and co-workers pledge/sponsor you for each Grind you complete this summer. Registration is $20 and with that you’ll receive your own timer and the chance to win some great prizes. Not only will you be partaking in a classic West Coast feat (and getting some amazing exercise) you can help out the BC Children’s Hospital in the process.

Once you reach the top of the Grind, you can stay for a bite to eat at the lodge, and hop the Skyride back down after you’ve caught your breath (and done some stretching after the haul up the hill). Be sure to wear appropriate footwear and clothing and do not walk back down the trail. Stay safe this summer and read all trail advisories, updates, and alerts.

Find out more about the Grind for Kids on their website or Twitter

The Leo Awards wrapped up last night at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver as the best in BC film and television arrived on the red carpet for an evening of dinning and celebration. Here are a few of the red carpet arrivals and some of the winners announced during Saturday’s gala.

Best Supporting Performance by a Female – in a Feature Length Drama
Alexia Fast – Repeaters

Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series
Carmen Moore – Blackstone – White Bread, Red Class

Best toes of the night with Canucks nail polish

Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama
Tyler Labine – Tucker & Dale vs Evil

The ladies of Amazon Falls: Anna Mae Routledge, Katrin Bowen, April Telek

Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama
April Telek – Amazon Falls

Best Guest Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series
Michael Eklund – FRINGE – The Plateau

Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series
Ryan Robbins – Sanctuary – Animus

Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series
Lucia Walters – Life Unexpected – Family Inspected

Rob Easton & Sean Horlor

Best Performance by a Male in a Short Drama
Paul McGillion – A Fine Young Man

As always, the cast of Sanctuary made a splash as autograph hounds, fans, and admirers online wanted every chance to see the group – especially the amazing Amanda Tapping. Tapping stopped to sign autographs, chat with passersby, and made a quick comment to Susan Gittins and I about how wonderful her online following is.

Both Wednesday and Saturday were great nights for British Columbia’s entertainment industry. You can view the full list of winners online and the rest of my photos on Flickr. Feel free to add the names of some of the beautiful people I captured in these photos and if you would like to use any of these images please ask first. Susan Gittins also has photos up on her Flickr.

You can still enter to win a Leo Awards presenter gift bag until Monday morning.

The 13th annual Leo Awards for outstanding achievements in British Columbia film and television will be handed out Saturday, June 11th at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

Agam Darshi at the 2010 Leos

Steph Song, Jodelle Ferland, Lou Diamond Phillips at the 2010 Leos

Warren Christie at the 2010 Leos

The Celebration Awards Ceremony was last Wednesday where Leos were awarded for screenwriting, costume design, sound, editing, and more. There was even an award for Best Music Video (that I believe was added last year) that went to The Rose by Sarah Slean, Producer CJ Wallis.

Saturday’s gala will see nominees in categories including (but not limited to): Feature Length Drama (Direction, Program, Screenwriting, Cinematography, Musical Score, Stunt Coordination, Supporting Performance (Male, Female), Lead Performance (Male, Female)), Dramatic Series, Short Drama, Documentary, Animation Program or Series, Stunt Production, Youth or Children’s Program/Series, and Web Series.

Productions with the most nominations are Sanctuary (17 nominations), Repeaters (10 nominations), Smallville (8 nominations), Voodoo (11 nominations), Hiccups (10 nominations).

Thanks to Presenters’ Gift Lounge sponsor, Eco Fashion Week, I have a Leo Awards gift bag to give away to a reader. In the gift bags presenters will find SIGG water bottles, Aveda product & bag, Happy Planet health shots, Lav & Kush gift certificates, She to Shic gift certificates & express mani, Shoofoo Fashions washcloths, Spark Jewelry gift certificates, Dahlia Drive cuffs, Portobello West gift certificates, Twigg & Hottie gift certificates, Ziptrec Ecotours gift certificates.

Here’s how you can enter to win your own presenter gift bag:

I will draw one winner at random from all entries Monday morning, June 13th, at 10:00am.

Update The winner is Joey Cheng (@_JoeyCheng)!

On this day in Vancouver history, June 10, 1972, the Girl in a Wetsuit statue was revealed just off the north shore of Stanley Park. She was commissioned by Douglas Brown, a local lawyer, who approached sculptor Elek Imredy in 1968. He wanted the statute to be based on Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid that sits in the water in Copenhagen. I wrote more about our Girl in a Wetsuit’s history in 2008.

Copenhagen:

Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid. Photo credit: hoangnt on Flickr

Girl in a Wetsuit

Vancouver:

Photo credit: blueviking63 on Flickr

Photo credit: Taylor McConnell on Flickr

Photo credit: Wendy North on Flickr

Photo credit: (Left) tgreyfox (Right) cwagdom on Flickr

Photo credit: Matthew Kendall on Flickr

Photo credit: Larissa Sayer on Flickr

Photo credit: Ben Shepherd on Flickr

Over the years our Girl out there in the water has been the subject of many photos, a resting place for animals and birds, and sometimes she’s been dressed up to support the local sports team.

Photo credit: PiscesDreamer on Flickr

Photo credit: Clayton Perry on Flickr

Photo credit: flinner! on Flickr

Photo credit: Philip Tong on Flickr

Photo credit: Philip Tong on Flickr

Photo credit: Philip Tong on Flickr

Other Vancouver Icons posts: Playground of the Gods, Photo Session Statues, City Hall History, BC Sugar, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Museum of Anthropology, Fort Langley Community Hall, Christ Church Cathedral, Waterfront Station, Pacific Central Station, Randall Building Mural, East Van Cross, Robert Burns Statue in Stanley Park, Vancouver Maritime Museum, Flack Block, The Drop, Prospect Point Lighthouse, Engagement, Ovaltine Cafe, The English Bay Slide, Freezing Water #7, Cleveland Dam, Heritage Hall, School of Theology Building at UBC, Gate to the Northwest Passage, St Paul’s Hospital, Capilano Lake, Stawamus Chief, Nine O’Clock Gun, Malkin Bowl, Search, Vancouver Rowing Club, Echoes, Point Atkinson Lighthouse, English Bay Inukshuk, Hollow Tree, Hotel Europe, Lions Gate Bridge Lions, LightShed, Granville Bridge, 217.5 Arc x 13′, Canoe Bridge, Vancouver Block, Bloedel Conservatory, Centennial Rocket, Canada Place, Old Courthouse/Vancouver Art Gallery, Dominion Building, Science World, Gastown Steam Clock, SFU Burnaby, Commodore Lanes, Siwash Rock, Kitsilano Pool, White Rock Pier, Main Post Office, Planetarium Building, Lord Stanley Statue, Vancouver Library Central Branch, Victory Square, Digital Orca, The Crab Sculpture, Girl in Wetsuit, The Sun Tower, The Hotel Vancouver, The Marine Building, and The Angel of Victory. Should you have a suggestion for the Vancouver Icons series please feel free to leave a note in the comments. It should be a thing, statue, or place that is very visible and recognizable to the public.

One of this summer’s superhero blockbusters, Green Lantern, starring Vancouverite Ryan Reynolds, is hitting theatres next week and our city is joining in on a series of worldwide premiere events.

On Monday, June 13th, there will be a night projection of the Green Lantern logo somewhere in the downtown core at 9:00pm (safely after the Canucks game). The first 17 people to find it will win double passes to the Vancouver premiere (two days before the global release) and everyone else who finds it will have a chance to win other prizes from Warner Brothers Canada.

They haven’t said where the projection will be but they have been releasing clues every day, which I am able to post.

June 6: During the Olympics streets near this building were closed for the celebrations of superheroes clad in red & white.
June 7: Everyday it overlooks the most artistic building in Vancouver.
June 8: One of its neighbors is a vault for priceless works of art.
June 9: If shopping is your superpower, you can utilize it at this building.
June 10: Masked with secrecy this building has no windows.
June 11: One of its neighbors has never lost to its archenemy: high clothing prices.
June 12: If villains needed money to fund their evil plans they would target its neighbour recognized by its green logo.
June 13: The Sears Building Vancouver 701 Granville Street

I will be sharing the daily clues as I receive them up until Monday. You can also enter to win a double pass for the Vancouver premiere from me. Here’s how:

I will draw one winner on Monday, June 13th after the night projection event. Green Lantern opens in theatres nationwide in 3D and 2D on Friday, June 17, 2011.

Update The winner is Deidre!