An exhibit of superhero proportions is coming to Burnaby in the new year! NEON and Paquin Entertainment Group are launching Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. (Scientific Training And Tactical Intelligence Operative Network) which is set to open March 3, 2023 at The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby for a limited time engagement.

Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. is Coming to Burnaby

• When: March 3 – May 28, 2023 
  • Mon to Wed & Sunday 10:00am to 7:00pm 
  • Thurs to Sat 10:00am to 9:00pm final entry 1 hour before close 
• Where: The Amazing Brentwood (4567 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby)
• Tickets: On sale November 24, 2022. Prices start at $29 for adults and $23 for children (plus ticketing fees), with discounts for students, seniors, and groups. VIP packages are also available.
  • Special Early Bird discount pricing is available until November 28 only. This is bound to be on someone’s holiday wish-list so make sure you buy early and save!

After sold out runs and millions of fans in London, New York, Seoul, Paris, Singapore, China, Las Vegas, Toronto and India, Avengers: S.T.A.T.I.O.N., an interactive experience, is on its way to thrill audiences across BC. Guests will step into the world of the Avengers, discovering intelligence and cutting-edge science inspired by the Marvel Studios’ films. After completing their training, participants only have one thing left to do: Assemble!

The Instagrammable, must-see exhibition features multiple rooms dedicated to your favourite Avengers characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Captain America, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Black Widow, the Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye and more. Along with getting up-close-and-personal with costumes and props from some of the latest releases from Marvel Studios, guests are invited to: 

• Revel in awe at Iron Man’s “Hall of Armour” 
• Explore Bruce Banner’s lab, providing insights into the mind of the mean, green, rage-machine called the Hulk 
• Gain access to Captain America’s “Top Secret” personnel file 
• Inspect Black Widow’s arsenal of high-tech weapons
• Learn about the “Super Soldier Serum” that transformed Steve Rogers in Marvel Studios’ Captain America: The First Avenger 
• Witness Captain America’s legendary shield up-close 
• Experience the spirit of Wakanda in the Black Panther exhibit 
• …and much more.

Complete your training to become an agent of Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. The world needs your help. The world needs the Avengers! 

Enter to Win

To celebrate this announcement, I have a family pack of tickets to give away (2 adult/2 child admissions). Here’s how you can enter to win:

Follow on Facebook and Instagram for more details about the immersive experience and visit the website to book your tickets.

There’s a throwback gift guide from one of Vancouver’s beloved attractions that will have you craving treat from the McBarge with Expo Ernie. Expo 86 merchandise is now available at Science World just in time for the holiday season.

Expo 86 Merchandise at Science World

Science World was built for the world’s fair, originally meant to just be a temporary structure and named the Expo Centre. 36 years later, Science World is celebrating its past while ushering in its future with an exclusively-designed line of iconic merchandise, recognizing the role this event played in Science World as we know it today.

Related: 15 Nostalgic Photos of Expo 86

This series of Expo 86 themed and branded items, feature the nostalgic Expo 86 logo, branding and, of course Expo Ernie. The family of marks are owned by the Government of the Province of British Columbia and are used by Science World under license. Funds raised by the sale of this exclusively-designed, limited Expo 86 merchandise will support essential programming for the non-profit and its mission to expand STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and design, and math) learning.

The full lineup of gifting ready swag includes:

• Expo 86 Tee and Expo Ernie Tee for $34.99
• Expo Ernie Sweatshirt for $69.99
• Expo 86 Bomber Jacket for $89.99
• Expo 86 Baseball Cap for $34.99
• Expo 86 Tote Bag for $24.99
• Expo 86 Poster for $24.99
• Expo 86 Mug for $16.99
• Pins (Expo 86 and Expo Ernie) for $7.99
• Stickers (Expo 86 Logo Sticker, Expo 86 Classic Sticker Expo Ernie) for $3.99

Science World was recently bolstered by a much-needed $10-million infrastructure investment in federal funding through the Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) Tourism Relief Fund but much more is needed. Funds from the campaign will help further essential education, like Science World’s globally-lauded STEAM initiative and community programming, across BC.

“Expo 86 was Vancouver’s first world-class event, inviting 22 million visitors from all over the world to Vancouver in a 5 month span, and the Expo Centre was at the centre of it,” says Nancy Roper, Vice President, Development at Science World. “By connecting Vancouver’s history with its future, we hope that the Expo 86 series both fundraises and educates about the crucial role that this event played in defining Vancouver as a world-class city, and in establishing Science World as a leading incubator of science innovation and education serving millions across BC every year.”

The collection is available online to shop now. Tag your photos with #Expo86 and Science World when you post on social media to share in the nostalgia.

You can make a difference in a young person’s life this season at one of these conveniently located toy drives around Vancouver. Monetary donations and gifts of new, unwrapped toys are accepted, and I have included some wish list items below:

Holiday Toy Drives Around Vancouver

Metropolis at Metrotown Toy Drive
Date: December 2 to December 4 11:00am to 7:00pm daily
Location: Grand Court Lower Level next to Uniqlo, Metropolis at Metrotown
Details: Accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys and gifts for children and youth. In collaboration with Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society, with toys donated to Burnaby Christmas Bureau. 

Toy Mountain at Guildford
Date: November 30 to December 2 6:00am to 9:00pm (7:00pm Friday)
Location: Centre Court at Guildford Town Centre (10355 152 St, Surrey)
Details: Accepting new unwrapped toys at and accepting cash donations online, in support of the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau. For all the early risers who make a donation on site between 6:00am and 9:00am on December 1 and December 2 , Triple O’s will treat you to a complimentary breakfast to go. 

Family Services North Shore Toy Drive
Date: Saturday, December 4, 2022 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Location: Park Shore BMW (835 Automall Dr, North Vancouver)
Details: Drop off new unwrapped gifts for children and teenagers in need. The Northshore Auto Mall has generously pledged to match all Toy Drive Donations made, up to $10,000.  Toy Drive donations will go directly toward purchasing toys and gifts for children and teens, to ensure vulnerable North Shore families are able share in the joy of the holidays with presents under the tree.

Surrey Christmas Bureau Toy Depot
Date: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm
Location: 10355 King George Blvd., the former Safeway. 
Details: If you can’t make it to the Toy Depot, you can drop off new unwrapped toys to any Surrey Fire Hall from November 15 through to December 20, 2022. Financial donations are also needed year round to support the Hamper program. Volunteer positions are available as well.

Richmond Christmas Fund
Date: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm
Location: Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives (190 – 7000 Minoru Blvd, Richmond)
Details: Please be advised that, due to allergies, they are no longer accepting donations of stuffed animals. We encourage you to give books instead of bears and toys instead of teddies. While we’re extremely grateful for all toy donations, there are several items we anticipate being particularly popular this holiday season. As such, these are the items we need the most. You can find them below, on our 2022 Toy Wish List.

Wish List Items

The Richmond Christmas Fund and Surrey Christmas Bureau put together their toy wish lists and it’s a great roadmap for your holiday giving. They figure that these items will be very popular so they’d love to receive many so they can have enough supply:

• For babies, toddlers, and preschoolers:
  • Diapers, blankets, educational toys, musical toys, activity books, learning books, Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol, Disney toys
• For elementary school, tweens:
  • Action figures, LEGO, Playmobil, sports equipment, craft kits, STEM toys, pretend play items (workshop, kitchen, tools, etc), tickets to kid-friendly attractions, DIY kits, board games, outdoor toys
  • Teens: Selfie sticks, hair appliances, chargers, ear buds, board games, teen-appropriate gift cards ($25 increments)

If you know of any more toy drives please feel free to leave a comment or contact Miss604 to be included.

Follow Miss604Holidays this season for the latest arts and culture activities, attraction and event news »

Stages across the region will once again come alive this season, welcoming audiences for festive performances of all varieties. We have a large list of holiday theatre in Metro Vancouver and if you have anything to add, feel free to leave a comment about your favourite show:

Holiday Theatre in Metro Vancouver 2022

Pacific Theatre

Christmas Presence
Date: December 11-13 and December 20-22, 2022 at 8:00pm
Location: Pacific Theatre (1440 W 12th Ave, Vancouver)
Details: Two time slots to choose from of magical Christmas songs and stories and a rotating cast of talent you may know. Pacific Theatre is ready to welcome the holiday spirit this December. Check back later in the season for full lineups and a digital recording available for remote viewers.

Massey Theatre

Tom Jackson-Stories Songs & Santa Causes
Date: November 25, 2022
Location: Massey Theatre (735 8th Ave, New Westminster)
Details: Tom Jackson kickstarts the holiday season with grace, style and a quirky style that many theatre-goers have enjoyed for decades. Expect an evening of original music, sing-along tunes and signature Christmas music from this master storyteller.

Richmond Academy of Dance: Dance Into Christmas
Date: December 2, 2022
Location: Massey Theatre (735 8th Ave, New Westminster)
Details: Join the Richmond Academy of Dance for their 23rd annual Dance Into Christmas performance. This concert will put you into a holiday spirit like no other and will feature excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker.

The Firehall Arts Centre, in association with Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (vAct) present the world premiere of Manami Hara’s Courage Now on stage until Sunday, December 4, 2022.

Courage Now at the Firehall Arts Centre

• When: Tuesday-Saturday 7:30pm; Saturday & Sunday 3:00pm; Pay What You Can Tuesdays at 7:30pm & Wednesdays at 1:00pm
  Wednesday at 1:00pm
• Where: Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova St, Vancouver)
• Tickets: Available online now

Courage Now tells the story of Japanese Consul Chiune Sugihara, who helped over 6000 Polish and Lithuanian Jews escape the Nazis in 1940. Going against his government orders, he issued more than 2000 handwritten visas, risking both his life and his career. Some of those whose lives were saved have families living in British Columbia today.

“Bringing a new play to life takes time and dedication, and Manami has definitely demonstrated that,” says Artistic Producer Donna Spencer. “She has been so determined to share this amazing story of heroism with theatre audiences that throughout the past twelve years, she has been exploring ways to tell Sugihara’s story on stage. After hearing its first reading at The Firehall some time ago, I knew we needed to help make it happen, and I am so glad it will have its world premiere here in our theatre space.”

Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Manami Hara is a playwright, producer, interpreter, and a translator. She became fascinated with Western theatre and the English language, and at the age of 18, left Japan to become a stage actor in North America. She moved to Vancouver, took ESL classes and graduated from Studio 58. Manami is a Jessie Richardson Theatre Award winner and nominee for her acting and collaborative creations.

Courage Now is written by Manami Hara, directed by Amiel Gladstone, and performed by Manami Hara, Ryota Kaneko, Amitai Marmorstein, Katherine Matlashewski, and Advah Soudack. For more information, follow the Firehall Arts Centre on Facebook.