The Vancouver Canucks have had rivals before but there was something more heart-piercing about this series with Chicago. Being the Presidents’ Trophy winners, defeating the returning Stanley Cup champions (who previously booted us out of the playoffs, twice) was the moment of glory we were looking for.
Before the game started people were posting images of a double rainbow on Twitter. Many took it as a sign that something good was going to happen. In Vancouver, when the rain breaks long enough to allow the sun to crack through the clouds, anything that happens then – above our beautiful city – is magical.
After going up three games in the series, then falling back, the Canucks certainly made sure that we were on the edge of our seats coming into a forced game seven in this first round of the playoffs. Not only was it a game seven last night in Vancouver, with just seconds left on the clock Chicago tied it up and pushed us into overtime. Many were wringing their hands thinking the Canucks should have won in four… they should have won in regulation in game seven… they should have done a thousand things that kept everyone up last night, unable to sleep or concentrate on work all throughout the day.
Clutching our chests and screaming at the television, radio, or in the arena, Canucks fans everywhere let out one giant sigh (that may have lasted a few hours) after Alex Burrows scored the game-winning goal. They played with purpose and they peppered the Blackhawks’ goalie Crawford (who did an amazing job) and the Canucks made it count when it mattered. It was a team effort, shutting down their stars, defence, clearing the puck, and goaltending. We win. Chicago is out.
Don’t take down the car flags if we lose a game in the next series. Don’t use that playoff towel as a shammy for your car if we lose two in a row. Do get those images of Vince Vaughn cheering on his team in Chicago out of your head. We have to believe in this team. Bring on Nashville. Go Canucks.
The screen capture of the Green Man with a cutout of Vince Vaughn last night can be found here. View my Canucks Playoff Guide for songs, contests, and hockey blogs to follow.
We are now onto the third installment of the 10-week BC Travel Tuesday contest I am running with backyardbc.com where we’re celebrating the best in local travel while offering up weekly giveaways for BC residents.
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!
The winner of “Week 2: Howe Sound Inn & Brewing” is Cliff (and he has been contacted by email). This week’s featured property is tucked away on 22 acres of seaside property among arbutus trees and sandy beaches on the Eastern side of Vancouver Island. I had the opportunity to visit Tigh-Na-Mara while on a girls getaway to the Island in 2009. The spa, the bistro, and the sunsets are pretty tough to beat.
Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort Website, Twitter, Facebook, backyardbc listing Location: 1155 Resort Drive, Parksville, BC About: Gaelic for “House by the Sea” Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre is an all-season destination featuring 192 unique log constructed accommodation units, three restaurants and the award-winning Grotto Spa. Prize: 2 nights in an ocean-view studio and 2 mineral pool passes at the spa. Value: $650
To enter to win, leave a comment on this post and/or post the following on Twitter:
I entered this week’s @backyardbc @miss604 #bctraveltuesday contest #tt http://bit.ly/bctraveltuesday3
Winners will be announced every Tuesday on the latest BC Travel Tuesday contest post until the 10 weeks are up. 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, based on availability.
Update The winner this week is Holly Johnston (@LaundryDivas), congratulations! Thank you to everyone for participating, please check out Week 4 to try again.
View all posts in the series by following or subscribing to my BCTravelTuesday tag. Open to residents of BC.
It’s been 25 years since Vancouver hosted the world for Expo86, complete with gondolas, a monorail, our new SkyTrain, boom boats, and pavilions. To celebrate, Vancouver is Awesome has teamed up with Yelp to throw a fitting bash at Science World on May 6th.
What: Expo 86 Quarter Century Look-back Party
Including films, 80’s cover band, photos, and more.
When: May 6, 2011 from 7:00pm until 10:30 pm
Where: Science World at TELUS World of Science
Tickets: Before May 5th, $10 or $15 including an Omnimax screening. Available online or by phone.
My family had passes for Expo86 so we were there every weekend at the Plaza of Nations gate. We walked for hours, got our passports stamped at every pavilion, enjoyed some snacks on the McBarge, and I even got lost on the monorail when I hopped on and the doors shut with my family on the other side. Not my wisest move as a 6 year old.
If you have Expo86 memories, or even if you never got to go, this party will be your chance to relive – or sneak a peek into – what happened that year in Vancouver. Dig out your hats, Expo Ernie keychains, and crank the “This is My Home” theme song in preparation for this unique adult-oriented event. You can even bring a blank t-shirt and get it screen-printed with an Expo86 logo.
I have a pair of tickets available, courtesy of Science World. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post with an Expo86 memory or why you would like to attend the party (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I entered to win tickets to the #Expo86 anniversary party @scienceworldca from @miss604 http://ow.ly/4Hsj1
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 10:00am on May 3, 2011.
Update The winner is Sophia! Congratulations and have a great time at the party.
My Vancouver Icons series focuses on places and landmarks around Vancouver that we see every day, perhaps even take for granted, without always knowing the deeper history that is involved. In some cases, there is not much greater history (sometimes a steamclock is just a steamclock from the 1970’s) but for others, they are a glimpse into Vancouver’s past or a way that it began to grow its future.
The Hotel Vancouver located on West Georgia street between Burrard and Hornby is almost identical to other Canadian Pacific Railway hotels that were constructed across the country. The urban hotels, such as Toronto’s Royal York, Calgary’s Palliser and the Hotel Vancouver, with nearby train stations or ports served businesspeople and elite rail travelers. Rural hotels, like the Banff Springs, served as exclusive and scenic getaway destinations. The Chateau Frontenac and Empress in Victoria are two of the oldest in the collection, which was purchased by Fairmont Hotels – along with a handful of similar hotels from Canadian National – in 2001.
1890s – First Hotel Vancouver. Archives Item# Hot N53.
1905: Georgia and Granville. First Hotel Vancouver. Archives# AM54-S4-1—: S-3-1.
The building we know today is the third Hotel Vancouver. The first was located at Georgia and Granville and opened in May of 1888, according to Chuck Davis of The History of Metropolitan Vancouver. Construction began on a replacement, the second Hotel Vancouver, in early 1913 and it would open in 1916.
1917 – Robson at Howe. Second Hotel Vancouver.
Archives Item# CVA 677-969. Photographer: Frank Gowen.
1923 – Georgia at Howe. Second Hotel Vancouver. Archives Item# CVA 677-951.
The second Hotel Vancouver would serve Vancouver, on Georgia and Howe (where the TD Tower is today), until 1939 when its predecessor was opened. On May 24th, 1939 the second Hotel Vancouver closed while the third was opened. A quote from architectural historian Harold Kalman on The History of Metropolitan Vancouver: “Delayed by the Depression, it was rushed to completion in 1939 for the Royal Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The rival CPR co-operatively closed its own, earlier, Hotel Vancouver (two blocks east), lent the name, and entered into a joint management contract.
1931 – Third Hotel Vancouver. Photographer: Stuart Thomson.
Archives Item# CVA 99-3696, CVA 99-3686, CVA 99-3689.
Aside from hosting royalty and dignitaries from around the globe, the Hotel Vancouver (as we know it today) was also the home of CBC Vancouver until the 1970’s, and the place where Dal Richards, the King of Swing, got his start in the Panorama Roof Ballroom.
1966 – Hotel Vancouver. Archives Item# CVA 780-4.
While the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver isn’t the tallest or oldest building in the city, it’s still the grand centrepiece of the Vancouver skyline.
BC Youth Week 2011 is coming up May 1st through May 7th as our province joins an international movement to promote and involve youth participation in sporting events, music, art, movie nights, community projects, and even random acts of kindness.
