The forecast for the rest of August is looking a lot brighter than our soggy summer so far and with that, more people are taking to the beach to enjoy picnics, sunbathing, swimming, and strolls. One thing I noticed this weekend was a lot of traffic congestion downtown and in West Vancouver near the beaches. The same thing happened when the Summer Live festival was taking place in Stanley Park. Although sometimes there’s no choice but to bring the car out, if you’re capable and willing, here are some transit options for some of the region’s most popular beaches:
English Bay & Sunset Beach
Facing West, these are two of Vancouver’s most popular beaches and are usually sun-soaked (when we don’t have a wet June and July like this year). You can take a #6 Davie bus to the corner or Davie and Denman to get the closest to English Bay and a C21 community shuttle (originating at Main Street) to get between the two along Beach avenue. Trip Planning Link
Second Beach & Third Beach
Stanley Park’s beaches are right along the sea wall so they have great pedestrian, cycle, and rollerblading access. If you’d like to transit in, you can walk over from English Bay or take the #19 Metrotown/Stanley Park bus into the park. It will let you off near the miniature railway and you can enjoy a stroll under the cool tree-lined canopy before reaching your seaside destination at the end of one of the park’s many trails. Trip Planning Link
Kitsilano Beach
Lined with bodies, bikinis, and beach-goers year-round, Kits is a local favourite. Take the #22 MacDonald bus from downtown or Burrard SkyTrain or the #32 Dunbar and hop off along Cornwall. Trip Planning Link
Cates Park
Nestled along Burrard Inlet in North Vancouver, Cates is great for family picnics, renting a kayak, or laying out along the rocky shore. Take a #212 Deep Cove bus along Dollarton Highway, via Phibbs Exchange (just across the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge) and originating at Burrard SkyTrain. Trip Planning Link
Spanish Banks, Locarno, Jericho Beaches
Kayak and boat rentals, ponds, grass and sand (that goes on as far as the eye can see during low tide) are features of these West side beaches. To get to one or all, grab a C19 community shuttle that will loop along Marine Drive (update: this runs on weekends only). You can also get close to Jericho with a #4 along 4th Avenue. Trip Planning Link
Ambleside
With grassy areas, sandy beaches, athletic fields, a playground, pitch & putt and more, there are dozens of activities to enjoy at Ambleside and almost as many route options. #250, #251, #253, #255, #256, and #257 buses, will all get you between Park Royal and 13th Street where you can access the beach. Trip Planning Link
Crescent Beach, White Rock
Surrey’s own beaches have concessions, sand flats, views of Washington State, and more. Access them with a C51 White Rock Centre community shuttle or C52 Seaside, Ocean Park shuttle. Both go through White Rock Centre bus exchange which has connections to Surrey SkyTrain stations and the Bridgeport Canada Line station. Trip Planning Link, Trip Planning Link
If driving is a must, remember to carpool if you can and avoid idling when waiting in lines.
Each year more than 40,000 kids and youth across Canada participate in Little League within 5 key regions: Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes, the Prairies, and BC. You have to hand it to our local programs and clubs as every single BC team (20 in total) has won a Canadian Championship and competed in the Little League World Series at least once. They hold the record for most titles won thanks to notable teams like Trail Little League (5 titles) and Whalley Little League (5 titles).
2006 Canadian Little League Champions. Photo credit: Uncleweed on Flickr
This past weekend Langley Little League won the provincial championships in Victoria earning them a spot at the Canadians Championships. The national tournament will feature the top teams from each province as well as the host team (Mount Seymour Little League) in a round-robin tournament August 6 to August 13, 2011 at Chris Zuehlke Memorial Park in North Vancouver.
The “Battle of BC” will have our province’s top team (Langley) squaring off against the host team (Mount Seymour) on August 13th at 1:00pm.
Our national champions, as-decided at this tournament, will then fly over to Toronto and drive down to Williamsport, Pennsylvania when there Little League World Series will be held August 18 to August 28. Last year Little Mountain Little League won the Provincial Championship in New Westminster and represented BC (and Canada, after winning nationals) at the Little League World Series.
Head out and support our local teams next week in North Vancouver or catch the games on Sportsnet and follow our Canadian Champions to Willamsport later this month.
Update August 9, 2011 You can catch the action on Sportsnet starting at 1:00pm Pacific on Saturday. From the press release: “The final game of the 2011 Canadian Little League Championship will be broadcast on Sportsnet, immediately following Roger’s Cup Tennis, Saturday, August 13 at 4:00 pm EDT.”
Latest Standings
Update August 13, 2011 Team BC, Langley Little League, advances to Williamsport, PA to play as Team Canada in the Little League World Series!
Thanks to the BC Sports Hall of Fame, I’ve been able to send 20 people to Vancouver Canadians games this summer and profile some inspirational hall of fame inductees (Week 1), (Week 2).
With BC Place Stadium re-opening this gall, the BC Sports Hall of Fame will have a newly remodeled home and they will continue to celebrate the achievements of British Columbians in sport throughout history. Today’s featured Hall of Famer is Arnold Hallgren who was the first BC baseball player to make the 40-man roster of a major league ball club.
Before Ted Bowsfield, Larry Walker, and, more recently, Jason Bay, it was Arnie Hallgren’s trail around the bases that BC’s Little Leaguers wished to follow…
…In February 1953, Hallgren, age 19, was invited to attend the Boston (later Milwaukee and now Atlanta) Braves spring training in Florida. He was extended $6 per day meal money and $25 per week for expenses. Yep, times were a little different then. Ted Williams was in the twilight of his career; Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays were on the rise. And the American and National Leagues comprised 16 teams, not the 32 of today’s watered down, 8-figure annual salary that bears little resemblance to the baseball of yesteryear.
…Hallgren returned to his hometown in 1954, when the Braves loaned him to Vancouver of the Western International League, where he played outfield for the pennant-winning Capilanos. In 1955, with Boise of the Pioneer League he won the league’s batting championship, hitting .348 with 171 hits and 139 runs batted in. He followed that up with another batting title in 1958 in the Northwest League. Read more about Arnold Hallgren…
I have one more giveaway in this series so here’s how you can enter to win 10 tickets as well as the chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Monday, August 15th when the Canadians take on the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.
Leave a comment on this blog (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I want to throw out the first pitch & win 10 tickets to see @VanCanadians thanks to @BCSportsHall & @Miss604 http://ow.ly/5Te4l
I will draw one winner on Monday, August 8, 2011 at 10:00am. The winner will need to confirm their attendance within 24 hours to ensure all arrangements can be made.
You can read and learn about amazing sports pioneers and stars on the BC Sports Hall of Fame website and be sure to follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
Individual Canadians game tickets in the reserved grandstand start at just $12.50.
The Pride Parade yesterday was filled with sunshine, smiles, dancing, laughter, and joy as hundreds of floats coasted through downtown to a welcoming crowd.
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.
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.
All of the following photos are by John Bollwitt
Hon. Hedy Fry, PC, MP & MP Elizabeth May (Saanich-Gulf Islands) the first Green Party MP in history.
You can view the rest of John’s photos in his set on Flickr.
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.
