As Vancouverites awake after a night of confetti-filled celebration, 2011 is perhaps welcomed with a dip in English Bay, a pound of the snooze button, or that first venti-sized coffer of the year. Although most are looking ahead, I decided to look back and see how our city rang in the New Year throughout the last century.
January 1, 1911
Hastings Townsite, the residents of which had voted to be annexed by Vancouver, became part of the city. Today’s Glen Drive was the Western edge of the townsite.
January 1, 1920
Peter Pantages started the Polar Bear Swim Club.
January 1, 1922
Motorists in BC began to drive on the right-hand side of the road. The rule took effect at 2:00am and no accidents were reported.
January 1, 1929
Point Grey and South Vancouver amalgamated with the City of Vancouver.
January 1, 1934
There was a riot in Chinatown caused by racial tensions.
January 1, 1943
As a result of World War II rationing, the sale of whipping cream was forbidden in BC.
January 1, 1977
The British Columbia Ferry Corporation was established as a provincial Crown Corporation, successor to the British Columbia Ferry Authority.
January 1, 1978
The Polar Bear Swim celebrates its largest attendance to date as 1,000 people take to the brisk waters of English Bay. 20,000 spectators watched from the shore.
A new Polar Bear Swim record was reached January 1, 2011 as 2,246 participants took the plunge.
All references have been researched through VancouverHistory.ca.
While I only managed to do 25 weekly photo posts over the last year, profiling pictures added to the Miss604 Flickr Group, there was no shortage of snapshots of Vancouver throughout 2010. I personally took over 3,000 photos (608 of which were during the Olympic and Paralympics) and enjoyed watching unique, candid, and breathtaking images pour in on Flickr, Twitter, and blog posts. I thought it only appropriate to feature some of my favourite photographers in my last recap post of 2010.
PiscesDreamer
Although I’ve never met PiscesDreamer (Philip) and don’t even know his last name, I realized that I probably featured more images of his in my weekly photo posts than any other. They range from serene sunsets to bleak streetcapes and always tell a story.
Susan Gittins
I don’t know how she does it but Susan Gittins manages to be everywhere and anywhere. She manages to snag timely images of ccurrences around Metro Vancouver and her raw ‘woman on the street’ photos during the Olympic games offered alternate perspectives of our city’s global event.
Clayton Perry
Clayton Perry has HDR (high dynamic range) photography down to a science. Colours pop with vivid detail as he captures everything from street scenes to natural landscapes across the region.
John Bollwitt
I may be totally bias on this one but since he’s the lead photographer for Miss604.com, my husband John Bollwitt definitely deserves a mention. When he accompanies me to concerts or on travel media trips, my coverage immediately jumps to a whole new level. His camera skills have been honed and sharpened, and I’m lucky to have him as a partner both personally and professionally.
John Biehler
John Biehler is one of my dearest friends and I have to agree with others when they say, 2010 was the “Year of Biehler”. He took time off from work during the Olympics (yes, photography isn’t his full-time gig) and uploaded over 30,000 photos to Flickr. He was on the mountain, rink-side, and above the city by zipline taking videos, producing time-lapses and panoramas.
Kris Krüg
While I’ve known Kris Krüg since 2006, he went above and beyond in 2010 covering everything from the Olympics to the Gulf Oil Spill. His rock and roll style is often imitated and rarely duplicated as his piercing images are always one-of-a-kind.
Honorable mentions go to Nordica Photography for their amazing wedding and engagement shots and Bob Lai Photography for his stunning portraits. I was fortunate enough to work with both this past year and their professionalism and dedication to their craft shines through each .jpg they upload.
You may also browse photos I have marked as favourites on Flickr and please feel free to add your own images to the Miss604 Flickr Group in 2011.
While we stayed very close to home for a few weeks in February 2010, I spent even more time on the road. From snowshoeing to swimming in the Caribbean, the following are some of my Top Travel Experiences of 2010.
January 2010
Destination: Iowa
Highlights: Ringing in 2010 with John’s family
Destination: Sun Peaks Resort
Highlights: The Okanagan Winter Wine Festival
February 2010
Destination: Prince George
Highlights: The outdoor ice oval, dog sledding, the 2010 Olympic torch relay, and snowshoeing in the Ancient Forest
Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
It was a big year in the Vancouver foodie scene with the introduction of street food vendors, Fair Trade Town status, and even the city’s first cupcake competition. In 2010 I was fortunate to dine at many of the region’s finest establishments, judge a cocktail competition or three, and recap experiences from across the province.
The Teahouse in Stanley Park
Visited: January 2010
Highlights: The cozy atmosphere and decor
Glowbal Grill
Visited: April 2010
Highlights: Large portions, delicious halibut, and unbelievable stuffed baked potato
Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
2011-2012 events can be found in an updated post.
After ringing in the new year many Vancouverites will be looking to dispose of their live, cut Christmas trees. Thanks to several services around the region, you can get your tree tossed and chipped for little or no cost.
UBC Botanical Garden
Thanks to a heads up from Vancouver is Awesome I learned that you can take your tree to the UBC Botanical Garden for recycling.
Dates: Sunday December 26, 2010 to Sunday January 9, 2011
Times: 9:30am to 4:30pm daily
Location: 6804 South West Marine (first left after 16th Ave. when driving north on SW Marine Drive)
Cost: By donation (suggested donation $5)
Kerrisdale
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, January 8th and 9th, 2011
Times: 10:00amto 4:00pm daily
Locations: Kerrisdale Community Ice Rink parking lot (East Boulevard north of 41st Avenue)
Cost: By donation of cash or non-perishable food items
Kitsilano
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, January 8th and 9th, 2011
Times: 10:00amto 4:00pm daily
Locations: Kits Beach parking lot (Cornwall Avenue and Arbutus Street)
Cost: By donation of cash or non-perishable food items
West End
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, January 8th and 9th, 2011
Times: 10:00amto 4:00pm daily
Locations: Sunset Beach upper parking lot (Beach Avenue and Broughton Street)
Cost: By donation of cash or non-perishable food items
Grandview
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, January 8th and 9th, 2011
Times: 10:00amto 4:00pm daily
Locations: RONA Grandview at 2727 East 12th Ave (in the overflow parking lot south of 12th Ave)
Cost: By donation of cash or non-perishable food items
Vancouver Curbside & Landfill
Per the City of Vancouver’s website: “If you receive City yard trimmings/food scraps collection, you have the option to set out your tree for recycling before 7 am on your regular collection day until January 31. You can also drop off your tree at no charge until January 31 at the Vancouver South Transfer Station or Vancouver Landfill.”
Park & Tilford
Dates: Saturday, January 8th, 2011
Times: 8:30am to 4:30pm
Location: Rona Parking Lot at Park & Tilford, 1160 East 3rd Street
Cost: By donation. Operated by North Vancouver City Firefighters
Ambleside
Dates: Sunday, January 9th, 2011
Times 10:00am to 3:00pm
Location: Ambleside Park
Cost: By donation. Operated by the Ambleside Lions Club & Timberline Tree Services
Lynn Valley
Dates: Sunday, January 9th, 2011
Times 9:30am to 3:30pm
Location: Lynn Valley, Karen Magnussen Arena, Upper Parking Lot
Cost: By donation. Operated by the North Vancouver Lions Club & Morris the Tree Man
Edgemont Village
Dates: Sunday, January 9th, 2011
Times 9:30am to 3:30pm
Location: Edgemont Village, Highland Chevron, 3150 Edgemont Blvd
Cost: By donation. Operated by the North Vancouver Lions Club & Morris the Tree Man
Surrey
Dates: Sunday, January 2nd, 2011
Times: 12:00pm to 5:00pm, 2011
Location: Newton Athletic Park (74th Ave at 128th Street)
Cost: By donation. All proceeds go to support Surrey Fire Fighter Charities.
Be sure to remove all ornaments and tinsel before sending your tree to the chipper. Should you know of any other community tree chipping events, please feel free to leave a note in the comments and I’ll update the list.
