The Vancouver 2010 Olympic cauldron will be re-lit for Canada Day 2010 once a few renovations are complete.
The site is surrounded by a fence and the distinctive 2010 blue-and-green hoarding that once surrounded all Olympic venues. The redesign will include a reflecting pool with a map of Canada showing the torch relay route under the cauldron. Benches for people to sit will surround the perimeter. [Vancouver Sun]
Located in the Jack Poole Plaza outside the Vancouver Convention Centre, the flame will also burn for other special occasions yet to be determined. Some say Remembrance Day in November is already on the list.
Update According to a comment from Bart on this post, for $10,000 you can request the cauldron be lit for a 24 hour period should you have a special occasion. I’m wondering… when would you like to see the cauldron lit and/or do you know someone or a company that would go for the purchase deal?
Jillian Harris (The Bachelorette, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition) will be hosting a fundraising event on June 17th benefiting Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver.
Despite her move to Chicago and her new role as a designer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Jillian will be attending this event in Surrey, BC and showing her support for Big Brothers, a program with which she has been involved in the past. She was a Big Buddy to two students from Bayview Elementary School in Vancouver from 2005 – 2008.
The event will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and The Beat 94.5‘s Nira Arora. Jillian will also be doing a Q&A session with guests.
Big Brothers hopes the event will increase awareness about their volunteer opportunities for women, as well as recruit women to volunteer as In-School mentors in Surrey where some children wait two years for Big Buddies.
Cocktails for a Cause takes place June 17th at Earls Strawberry Hill (7236 120th/Scott Road) from 7:00pm until 10:00pm. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased in advance online.
Canada Day is coming up in just a few weeks and for many, it’s the official start of summer (since the May long weekend was rained-out around here). I’ll be profiling about half a dozen community events and festivals over the next few days using the tag: Canada Day so that when the series is complete you will be able to find all listings in one location. First up, Canada Day on Granville Island.
Where
Granville Island, Vancouver [Google Map]
When
July 1, 2010 10:00am – 7:00pm
Activities
Free tours of Malaspina Studio
The International Pavilion will host MELA! to celebrate cultures from around the world through music, dance, crafts and more.
The Kids Market will be providing blank postcards, stamps, and ink allowing patrons to ‘make ‘n take’ postcards.
Free street performances throughout the Island
Truly Canadian Pancake Breakfast at the Dockside Restaurant in the Granville Island Hotel (7:30am – 11:00am) $1 from each meal benefits Canuck Place.
Parade
Bring your bike and decorate it to be a part of the parade (10:00am – 1:00pm)
The 11th annual Canada Day parade will start at 1:30pm
Free bike valet service will then be offered at Ocean Construction and the False Creek Community Centre
Music
Starting at 12:00pm visit Performance Works, Railspur Alley, Ron Basford Park, Market Stage or the Taproom at Granville Island Brewing for a selection of jazz concerts from the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
You can find out more on the Granville Island website or by following them on Twitter @Granville_Isle.
Related posts for Canada Day 2010: Granville Island, Richmond/Steveston, North Vancouver, Canada Place, Whistler, and Surrey. The series will continue this week with more listings.
Five Hole for Food will see Vancouver hockey bloggers taking to the streets across Canada this summer to play hockey and raise funds for local Food Banks. The tour will stop in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria and wrap things up in Vancouver this July.
“I love hockey and I wanted to find a way to turn my passion into something that could give back to the community,” said participating blogger, player and campaign founder Richard Loat (@Mozy19 on Twitter). “Being a proud Canadian, it occurred to me that in the name of community and charity we could play hockey for a good cause and thus Five Hole for Food was born.” Richard will be joined by over a dozen other bloggers including my old Crazy Canucks podcast co-host, JJ Guerrero.
Richard told me a bit about how it all came together, thanks to social networking and sponsorship from both Boston Pizza and Molson. “Through hockey blogging I’ve made hockey friends across the country. When I reached out to them they were excited to help support and organize a game in their respective towns. The beauty of this event is that it’s driven by social media and a host of twittering bloggers that have come together for the love of their sport and in the name of a great cause.”
Across Canada each of the street hockey games have been organized by individual bloggers who will bring together two teams for the official match. “We’re also inviting anyone that wants to play to bring a can of food and their hockey stick and they’re welcome to join in the fun,” added Richard. Aside from the main sponsors, they have also partnered with local CHL, AHL, and NHL teams.
The Five Hole for Food tour kicks off June 29th and will return to Vancouver July 9th. You can follow along on Twitter @FiveHoldForFood or on Facebook.
33 years ago today Harbour Centre was officially opened and at 481 feet, it was the tallest building in Vancouver at the time.1 Harbour Centre is the home of The Vancouver Lookout, a revolving restaurant, a mall, various businesses and tech firms, as well as one of SFU‘s downtown campuses.
In 1977 it was called the Sears Tower and within it, the revolving Harbour House Restaurant (now the Top of Vancouver) had a special guest for the occasion. Neil Armstrong (the man who walked on the moon) left a set of footprints in fresh concrete that are still on display today.2
The building sits at the location of the old Spencer’s Department Store which was demolished when Sears moved in. Still standing on the other corner, at West Hastings and Richards, the David Spencer building currently houses offices and the SFU campus.
1930s – Archives item #CVA 1495-32
2009 – Google Street View
I have yet to make it up to the Vancouver Lookout but those I’ve spoken to said it provides an unparalleled view of the city.
Tickets to take the glass elevator up to the observation deck at The Lookout are $15 for adults, with free admission for children 5 and under. Reservations for the Top of Vancouver revolving restaurant, where you can dine at 553 feet, can be made anytime and they serve brunch, lunch, and dinner.
While it’s no longer the tallest building in the city, it is a unique part of our skyline — and it’s been a part of my banner image since 2006. Adorned with glowing red lights during the Olympics or green during the winter holidays, it’s a modern Vancouver icon. Happy Birthday, Harbour Centre!
1 VancouverHistory.ca
2 VancouverHistory.ca
