Simply put, the Vancouver 2010 Olympics would not be possible without the support of the Four Host First Nations (FHFN) who will share their land and culture with the world during the Games.

The Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, Lil’wat and Squamish Nations will be hosting over fifty free events for the public from February 12th until the 28th at the Aboriginal Pavilion. This will be located at West Georgia and Hamilton Street, in the plaza of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

Photo Credit: B Johnny – Artist’s rendering of pavilion & dome

“This Pavilion is our Longhouse. This is where we will welcome friends, family and visitors,” said Tsleil-Waututh Chief George-Wilson. “The Olympic focus on youth and on sport, combined with the experiences this Pavilion will offer, will become a very positive story to be told and celebrated by many generations to come.” – FHFN

Here are just a few of the activities that will feature the FHFN culture along with Inuit, First Nations and Metis:

February 12, 2010
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Performances at 9:30pm and 11:00pm

February 14, 2010 – February 28, 2010
We Are Here
A daily multi-media experience presented by the Four Host First Nations.
Six shows at 5:30pm, 6:00pm, 6:30pm, 7:00pm, 7:30pm and 8:00pm

February 16, 2010
Our Land, Our Nation, Our History
Presented by The Grand Council of the Crees and led by Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come and Deputy Grand Chief Ashley Iserhoff. Performers will present Cree songs, legends and storytelling according to the four seasons: Spring, Fruit of our Culture; Summer, Fruit of our People; Fall, Fruit of our Nation; Winter, Fruit of our Survival.
Four shows at 11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm and 2:00pm

February 20, 2010
The People Behind the Inukshuk
Presented by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. The Canadian Arctic will warm up the audience to a national Inuit performance that celebrates traditional Inuit throat singing, Western Arctic and Eastern Arctic styles of drum dancing and traditional Inuit games of agility and strength.
Four shows at 11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm and 2:00pm

February 22, 2010
Royal House of Hip Hop
DJs, rappers and hip hop royalty including Feenix, Team Rez Official, Ostwelve, Kaiva and Def 3.
Performance at 9:30pm until 12:00am

40 Years and Still Strong
Presented by the Dene Nation (Northwest Territories). Dene artists and athletes performing their unique, lively and fast paced handgames competition, exhibition and drum dancing. Come enjoy Dene culture, heritage and language at its finest with entertainment from across the Land of Denendeh.
Exhibit at 11:00am until 3:00pm

February 28, 2010
The Road Forward
Commissioned by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad
Six shows at 6:00pm, 6:30pm, 7:00pm, 7:30pm, 8:00pm and 8:30pm

You can follow the Four Host First Nations account on Twitter for more information and daily updates. I would also like to encourage readers to check out the FHFN website as they have lots of images, history, and even ringtone downloads available.

As a bit of the side note, Molson is supporting the Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Youth Legacy Program (created by VANOC and the FHFN). With a $10 donation they will send you a commemorative pin designed by FHFN artist Glenn George.

Update: Susan Gittins got some photos of them inflating the dome at the pavilion.

Photo credit: © Susan Gittins on Flickr

Related posts: All tagged Pavilions

Earlier this week I profiled all of the national pavilions and hospitality houses (that I knew of) that will be setup during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. Some were easy to look up while more research was required for others. One pavilion that has supplied me with more than enough material is the House of Switzerland Canada who will be setting up shop at Bridges on Granville Island and the Mountain Club in Whistler.

From the HOS 2010 Facebook Page

Here is a rundown of what they have planned over the next few weeks:

February 5th and 6th, 2010
From 4:30pm until 6:30pm there is public open house in both Vancouver & Whistler locations to learn about the House of Switzerland will be doing during the Games.

Daily Events from February 5th until February 28th, 2010

When you visit you can also enter for a chance to win a trip for two to St. Moritz Switzerland valued at $10,000 including 5-star accommodation at luxurious Hotel Kempinski or Hotel Badrutt’s Palace.

You can get to Bridges by taking the new (free) Olympic Line Streetcar to Granville Island which will be home to many pavilions as the all-encompassing French Quarter. You can catch the streetcar from the Canada Line’s Olympic Village station.

Located at 918 Granville Street, the Vogue Theatre is an icon of Vancouver’s entertainment district.

For decades its neon sign topped by the Roman Goddess Diana has stood the test of time and acted as a beacon for everything from theatrical performances and punk rock shows.

The 1,178-seat theatre opened its doors for the first time in 1941 and was a movie house operated by Odeon. According to VancouverHistory.ca it was a response to the Capitol and the Orpheum movie houses operated by Famous Players at the time.

The Georgia Straight reports that the first film screened there was the 1938 hockey-themed romantic comedy I See Ice. Dal Richards and his band were the first live act to play the Vogue in April of 1941.

1951 – City of Vancouver Archives location: 200-D-9

Originally owned by the Reifel brothers, the Vogue was sold to a development company in 1987 and would lay vacant and silent until 1992 when it became a live performance venue.

1967 – City of Vancouver Archives location: F14-E-1 file 1

It has also hosted big-time events such as the Vancouver’s ComedyFest, the Vancouver International Film Festival and Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

1968 – City of Vancouver Archives location: F14-E-1 file 1

In 2002 the building (exterior) was officially recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada. It’s also the home-base for Vancouver’s “Star Walk” which is currently being re-installed since the Granville Street reconstruction project.

Photo credit: svacher on Flickr

I was at a friend’s house a few weeks ago and she lives on Seymour, just behind the Vogue. Big red “V”, “O”, “G”, “U”, “E”, letters sat on the roof as they began to prepare for a restoration in time for the Olympics. I haven’t been by to see the rejuvenated sign but if you have, please feel free to link your Flickr image in the comments.

You can find current information about performances by following @VogueTheatre on Twitter.

The Olympic Zipline is coming to downtown Vancouver. Something usually associated with soaring high above mountain treetops on Grouse or in Whistler will be flying high above Robson Square courtesy of Ziptrek Ecotours.

Early reports said the line would run across Robson Square and over to Chapters at Robson and Howe, however the Ziptrek Ecotours website illustrates things differently. Starting off atop the steps of the Law Courts (between Robson and Smithe) it will cross over Robson and end up on Howe across from Sears (via on Google Maps).

You can view the landing tower (on the right) in this photo that I took on Saturday:

The line is 170 meters (550′) and will be open from February 12th until February 28th. Daily hours of operation are 10:00am – 9:00pm and the cost to ride is FREE. During the games Ziptrek will also have a live webcam running so you can get a view of the line.

Update January 27th, 2010 Here are a few photos of the lines going up via Susan Gittins on Flickr.

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Update February 4th, 2010 I took some photos today (above). They were testing the lines again today and I’ll be heading to the media event tomorrow. Looks like things are good to go for this free attraction!

Update February 5th, 2010 This morning the Premier of BC, Gordon Campbell, along with Canadian Olympian Charmaine Crooks were some of the first to ride the free Olympic zipline across Robson Square in downtown Vancouver.

Update February 11, 2010 I rode the zipline first thing this morning with John Biehler – it was pretty awesome. He took some video of our ride as well:

Here’s my video, which is quite a bit shakier:

The zipline opens to the public tomorrow, February 12, 2010.

Update February 25, 2010 The zipline will be open during the Paralympics as well – March 12 – 21st, 2010 from 10am until 9pm daily.

Update April 1, 2010 Unfortunately I had to republish this post and comment were removed.

As the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch makes it way around BC on the last leg of its journey the excitement is bubbling over from community to community.

Photo credit: AlbertaVan2010 on Flickr

Over the Rockies, through the Kootenays, down and around the Thompson Okanagan.

Photo credit: UrbanWorkbench on Flickr

Here’s a rundown of where the torch will be as it comes to the South Coast of British Columbia.

*Community Celebrations:
Day 99 – February 5th, 2010
Whistler: 3:30pm – 5:45pm Village Square, 6:00pm – 8:00pm Skiers Plaza.
Day 100 – February 6th, 2010
Lilooet: Celebration at the Old Mill Plaza at 11:20am with torch arrival at the mall by 12:30pm.
Day 101 – February 7th, 2010
Chilliwack: 1:00pm – 3:00pm at The Landing site (Ashwell St. & Hodgins Ave).
Abbotsford: Celebration Event at Abbotsford Exhibition Park.
Day 102 February 8th, 2010
Langley (Township): 10:30am – 1:00pm at the Langley Events Centre (7888 – 200 Street) moving inside at 1:00pm.
Surrey: 5:30pm at Holland Park (between Central City & King George SkyTrain stations). Click here for route maps.
Day 103 – February 9th, 2010
New Westminster: Queen’s Park at 10:15am.
Richmond: 7:00pm at the Richmond O Zone in Minoru Park .
Day 104 – February 10th, 2010
North Vancouver (District): 8:42am flame arrives Lonsdale Quay, 9:30am celebration at Cates Park, 12:30pm celebration at Lynn Valley Center Mall.
West Vancouver: 7:00pm at the West Vancouver Community Centre Spirit Square
Day 105 – February 11th, 2010
Coquitlam: 8:00am – 10:00am at Mackin Park (1046 Brunette Ave).
Vancouver: Celebration at LiveCity Yaletown from 5:00pm.

These community celebrations are free and open to the public although in some cases space may be limited. You can follow the Torch Run via CokeNews.ca as well.