One of Vancouver’s most beloved Canucks, Trevor Linden, will be inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame this weekend. Born and raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Linden spent 10 years with the Vancouver Canucks before moving on to the New York Islanders, Montreal Canadians, and the Washington Capitals.
In 2001 Linden returned to Vancouver where he played out the rest of his career. His number 16 was raised to the rafters of GM Place (now Rogers Arena) in 2008 — his was only the second number to be retired, the first being Stan Smyl’s number 12.
Linden was a driving force behind the team’s 1994 cup and truly put heart into Vancouver hockey, being active with local community groups, non-profits, and Canuck Place Childrens Hospice. Linden took on responsibilities and leadership including being the President of the NHLPA during the infamous lockout of 2004. He’s so well-known and respected in town that there are over 300 groups on Facebook dedicated to everything from naming a street after him to making him the Mayor of Vancouver.
The BC Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Penticton. Previous Canucks family members that have been inducted include Orland Kurtenbach, Pat Quinn, Steve Tambellini, Tom Renney, Cliff Ronning, Brian Burke, Dave Babych, Greg Adams, Harold Snepsts, Fred “Cyclone” Taylor, Geoff & Russ Courtnall, Doug Lidster, and the Patrick Family who shaped the way we play hockey today.
Last night the 2010 Celebration of Light began its run with a performance from Team USA. The colourful explosions above the city could be seen and heard from English Bay to Boundary. After every fireworks night I will be looking through the Miss604 group pool on Flickr for any photos submitted from the previous night’s events. The following are some Team USA photos that have already been added.
Photo credit:
Bryanh on Flickr
Please feel free to add your images to the Miss604 group on Flickr anytime. For some tips on where you can view the fireworks (and get some unique angles such as these) check out my Celebration of Light 2010 Guide including viewing spots, road closures, bike and transit info.
Vancouver Pride Week is one of the summer’s most well-attended events with over 500,000 participants and spectators who check out various events including the highlighted Pride Parade each year.
List of Events
What: Picnic in the Park
Where: Brockton Oval, Stanley Park
When: Saturday July 24, 2010 at 11:00am
Who: Youth-friendly, family-friendly
What: Pride in Art – Coming Unbuttoned
Where: Roundhouse Performance Centre
When: Tuesday July 27, 2010 at 7:00pm
What: Pride in Art – The Gayest Show on Earth
Where: Roundhouse Performance Centre
When: Tuesday July 27, 2010 at 9:00pm
What: Pride Movie Night
Where: Vancity Theatre (Davie at Seymour)
When: Thursday July 29, 2010 at 7:00pm
What: Pride Weekend Launch
When: Friday July 30, 2010 at 12:00pm
Where: J Lounge, 1216 Bute Street (off Davie)
What: TELUS Davie Street Pride Party
When: Friday July 30, 2010 at 7:00pm
Where: Davie Street from Burrard to Jervis
Info: Road closures start at 3:00pm until 12:00am
What: Terry Wallace Breakfast
When: Saturday July 31, 2010 at 9:00am
Where: Davie and Bute
What: Sunset Beach Pride Festival
When: Sunday August 1, 2010 at 11:00am
Where: Sunset Beach Festival Site
Who: Youth-friendly, family-friendly
(19+ beer garden)
What: Pride Parade
When: Sunday August 1, 2010 at 12:00pm
Where: Robson Street to Denman Street to Beach Ave.
Who: Youth-friendly, family-friendly
Info: Road closures start at 8:00am with streets cleaned and re-opened by 3:00pm
The pride parade is one of the largest of its kind in Canada and is always fun, colourful, and so energetic. Follow @VancouverPride on Twitter for updates and share your photos with them on Flickr.
The Vancouver Pride society brings together members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender community, their friends, allies and supporters in celebration of the unique spirit and culture of the LGBT community by producing free quality, inclusive events such as the Pride Parade & Pride Week Festival Events.
Update Photos from the Pride Parade are here.
This Friday campfires will be banned in all BC Parks due to the dry conditions of forest timber. The ban includes most of Vancouver Island, except a two-kilometre stretch along the island’s outer coast, and spans the mainland from the Lower Mainland to the Coast Mountains [CBC News].
It should also be noted that the risk of forest fires exists not only in campgrounds and Provincial recreation areas, but in our local parks and backyards as well. It seems as though each summer there is a small fire in a hollowed out stump in Stanley Park due to a discarded cigarette butt or attempted camp fire.
Here’s how you can be fire safe locally and around the Province:
Mow your lawn and prune hanging trees regularly
Avoid accumulations of yard debris, junk, building materials and other combustible items around your property
Avoid having backyard bonfires during the hot summer months
Do not smoke and do not discard cigarette butts in parks (this ban is already in place at Lighthouse Park)
Only have BBQs in designated park areas or cleared areas of your patio or yard
Friday’s ban on the South Coast and Vancouver Island includes campfires, fireworks, tiki torches and burning barrels
If you see something smoking or smoldering in the forest, you can report it right away by calling *5555 (mobile) or 1-800-663-5555.
Useful links:
Current forest fire danger rating
Current forest fires
Recreation Sites and Trails BC
BC Forest Fire Information – FireSafe BC
As Vancouver’s most famous beach, English Bay has been a source for views, sunsets, fireworks, and strolls since the dawn of our fair city.
In 2010 I was running a contest to win two tickets to view the Honda Celebration of Light Fireworks from the top of the Bathhouse at English Bay. I had a few people contact me to see if I made a typo asking if I meant “Boathouse” as in the restaurant across the street. It seemed odd to me that people did not know it was the Bathhouse at English Bay however it must be a common misconception based on the responses I received. As such, here’s a bit of information about English Bay and the Bathhouse’s history.
1898, English Bay. Archives Item# Be P90
Also known as First Beach, English Bay was named “Ayyulshun” by the Coast Salish First Nations, meaning “soft under feet”. The name “English Bay” commemorates the meeting of Captain George Vancouver, along with Spanish captains Valdes and Galiano, in 1792. [Tourism Vancouver]
1919, English Bay beach & bathhouse. Photographer: Walter Edwin Frost, Archives Item#CVA 447-18
History Timeline:
1893, The beach was established for recreation
1898, Sand was added to the beach and people began building summer cottages on the shore
1900s, The wooden bathhouse was built along with a long pier (toward the Sylvia) and a dance hall called “The Prom” (which only lasted about 7 years) [English Bay History]
1900s – 1920s, Joe Fortes was teaching the children of Vancouver to swim, English Bay was nicknamed “Joe’s Beach”
1930, English Bay beach & bathhouses. Photographer Stuart Thomson, Archives Item# CVA 99-2118
1931, The English Bay Bathhouse was built out of concrete, prior to this it was a large wood structure
1939, The Bathhouse was converted into Vancouver’s first public aquarium featuring Oscar, the Octopus [Vancouver History]
1946, English Bay beach & bathhouse. Archives Item# CVA 586-4568
1956, The aquarium facility was closed and manager Ivar Haglund moved to Seattle and started up a seafood business (Ivar’s Acres of Clams)
1986, A round of renovations and restorations took place
1990, The first Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire fireworks events took place in English Bay, the bathhouse being the VIP/prime viewing area
2002, Major restorations (to renovate yet preserve) the Bathhouse took place once again
2004, The City of Vancouver bestowed an Award of Recognition to the Vancouver Park Board for the refurbishment at the English Bay Bathhouse
2010, It was announced that the Cactus Club would be building a new beach-side restaurant at the Bathhouse
1913, English Bay beach. Photographer: WJ Moore, Archives Item# LGN 1030
2014, English Bay is still home to the world’s largest offshore fireworks competition, the Honda Celebration of Light.
