Bringing back the “Then and Now” series this week, I have once again researched the depths of the City of Vancouver Archives online comparing images of yesteryear with Google Street Views of Vancouver today. This week’s theme is Hastings Street.
Hastings and Howe
West Hastings at a time was known as Seaton Street, named by Lauchlan Hamilton, after a lake he chose at random from a B.C. map. Since many wealthy people lived along Seaton at the time it was nicknamed “Blueblood Alley” [VancouverHistory]. Seaton was simply called Hastings after 1915.
Winch Building and Post Office between 1910 and 1925
The Yaletown Business Improvement Association has come up with the Made in Vancouver Street Festival which will take place February 13th until the 27th.
The event will span about four days over two separate weekends and will not interfere with opening and closing ceremony festivities. The “pedestrian corridor” along Hamilton that will connect LiveCity Yaletown (at David Lam Park) and LiveCity Downtown (over on Cambie & Georgia) will host the Made in Vancouver Street Festival 12 hours each day.
The event will include three live entertainment stages, a fashion stage, hundreds of performers and the After Dark Parade which is presented by Coca-Cola (the 1000-1100 block of Hamilton will be closed 6:30pm – 8:30pm during the parade). Needless to say, you should leave the car at home and enjoy this festival on foot.
They will also have a bunch of promotional street teams handing out goodies such as Wrigleys Gum, Coke, Swiss Army Victorinox as well as Captain Condom who will be handing out Safe Sex packs.
Yaletown has also been installing flags on their sidewalks as a part of the international Flag Walk campaign (@FlagWalk on Twitter). As a side note, there is also a Flag Walk on South Granville you could actually connect the two walks.
The celebration of community spirit and of course the Olympics are not the only driving factor of the Made in Vancouver Festival as there is also a charitable component. The Canadian Cancer Society will be on site during the festival in support of the Pink Million Campaign.
Check out Yaletown’s website, blog, or Twitter for more information and updates closer to the event.
Writing my Vancouver 2010 Pavilion & Hospitality Houses post the name Granville Island came up quite a bit. Vancouver’s favourite market, theatre, artisan and creekside destination is playing host to many events this month. Here’s a rundown of what you can find, where to find it, and how to get there.
What’s Going On
House of Switzerland Canada
Where: Bridges Restaurant
When: February 5, 2010 – 8:00am – March 1, 2010 – 12:00am
Info: Official website, Twitter, my post.
Place de la Francophonie
Where: False Creek Community Centre
When: February 11, 2010 (All day) – February 28, 2010 (All day)
Info: Official website, Facebook
Atlantic Canada House
Where: The Arts Club Theatre and Backstage Lounge
When: February 13, 2010 (All day) – February 27, 2010 (All day)
Info: Official website, Twitter
Portraits in the Street: Vancouver 2010
Where: Railspur Alley
When: Saturday, January 30, 2010 (All day) – Monday, March 22, 2010 (All day)
Info: Official website
Winterruption Kids Zone
When: February 20, 2010 – 10:30am – February 27, 2010 – 4:30pm
Where: Cartwright Street
Cultural Olympiad Digital Edition (CODE)
When: February 4 – February 21, 2010
Where: Emily Carr
Info: Emily Carr Website
Under the Bridge
When: February 19 – 27, 2010
Where: Anderson Street
Concert Series
When: February 19 – 27, 2010
Where: Performance Works
CAR: Parking is limited so public are being asked to consider alternative transportation this month. Before 10am, parking will be free. This is to encourage locals to still come down and do their shopping at the market. Then, between 10am and 10pm, paid parking will be available for a maximum of two hours, for $3.00 per hour. Yesterday at the media briefing they put the word out that they want people to “Shop early, play late, and leave the car at home.”
BIKE: A bike valet service will be located behind the Information Centre.
TRANSIT: There are quite a few transit options including the Olympic Line Streetcar (6:30am – 12:30am) which provides free service from Granville Island to the Olympic Village Canada Line Station (4:50am – 1:15am). For buses, you can take the #50 from downtown or hop off a #4, #17 or any other bus passing the 5th avenue interchange, then walk down.
BOAT: You can take the following water taxis from various locations around False Creek (Aquatic Centre, the south end of Hornby Street, Stamps Landing, Vanier Park, Plaza of Nations, Yaletown, and Science World) – Aquabus, False Creek Ferry
FOOT: Just walk on over! Either from the streetcar or bus stop, over or under the bridge, or across the street.
You can view full Granville Island event listings on the Granville Island website and follow them on Twitter for instant updates and information.
On February 12, 2010 the Olympic Torch Relay will make its way down Denman Street with the torch carried by Judy Caldwell.
Judy is the founder of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BC/Yukon Region and spectators are encouraged to come out and support her leg of the relay by wearing pink.
Let’s show the world that a diagnosis of breast cancer hasn’t stopped Judy and thousands of other women from leading healthy, vital and active lives – and that with our continued support and effort, we CAN have a future without breast cancer.
Everyone is being asked to paint the town pink by wearing pink hats, scarves, feather boas, mittens, shirts and jackets. Organizers are asking that if you wear a pink shirt or hat please be sure there are no logos on it. I assume they will be filming this and they’d like to get as many people as possible in the shot (without corporate or non-Olympic branding I assume).
Judy will have a 300 meter segment February 12th at 7:50am from Denman and Davie over to the Inukshuk in English Bay.
Representing the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, here are some of the events you can enjoy for free at Canada’s Northern House.
Diamond Week
February 1-4, 2010 from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Diamond week will be a four day showcase of the diamond mining industry from early exploration through to the production, marketing of the final end product. At this three-day public event you can learn about Canada’s diamond producing regions.
February 1, 2010
The NWT Diamond Story
February 2, 2010
Mining for Canadian Diamonds
February 3, 2010
From Mine to Consumer – Processing NWT Diamonds
On February 4th there is also a Diamong and Fashion reception but it is by invitation only.
NWT Tourism Days
February 8-9, 2010 from 8:30am to 4:00pm
Learn about the Northwest Territories’ UNESCO World Heritage National Parks and outdoor activities and take part in workshops such as watching and chatting about the History Television show, Ice Pilots NWT.
Diamond Polishing
February 12-27 from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Arctic Sports Demonstration
February 13, 2010 from 11:00am to 9:00pm
Demonstrations and workshops will take place throughout the day covering everything from Kicking Sport and Pushing Sports, to Dene Hand Games.
Located at 602 West Hastings, Canada’s Northern House has been open since January 14th, 2010. You can stop by just to see the displays and exhibits daily from 10:00am until 9:00pm.
Follow @CanadasNorth on Twitter for event updates and information.
Update February 10, 2010 I had the chance to check this out today and it was absolutely lovely. Art, industry, history and culture all profiled in one space.
In Canada’s north there’s “a story to be told” said the crew at the pavilion. “When you can tee off at 11:00pm life isn’t so bad,” they added in reference to the 24 hours of sunlight they get at a certain point in the year.
The Northwest Territories are the 3rd largest diamond manufacturer in the world and they do so ethically. They also have as much gold resources as there was during the gold rush days of yore. If you have the chance to check out this pavilion with the kids you’ll learn a lot and get to touch some of the softest muskox wool on the planet.
Of special interest, Canada’s Northern House will be open until March 21st and they have FREE wifi available. Stop by and fill out their contest form to win a unique tapestry, a hunk of gold, or an NWT diamond.
Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
