I’m a sucker for a scavenger hunt and this one around Vancouver (downtown & Kitsilano) is right up my alley. On Saturday April 11th you can search for 40 decorated eggs (all with crazy hair styles) as a part of the Toni & Guy Crazy Hair Egg Hunt.
Inside the eggs you’ll find chocolates and a gift card for Toni & Guy – some valued up to $100 – that can be used for hair cuts, styles, or product.
Follow Toni & Guy on Twitter for updates (and hopefully some clues) and if you find an egg, take a photo and upload it to Flickr so we can all check it out.
I’ve seen such dazzling photos of our city pop up all over Flickr lately so I’d like to continue my Vancouver HDR Photography tribute series (including a few photos from Surrey and Whistler as well).
Photo credit:
roham on Flickr
Please be sure to click on the photos to learn more about each photographer and browse additional photos and works on each of their Flickr streams.
The 2009 PopVox Awards are upon us and the people’s choice nominations are now open.
If you have created a project, submit a video by April 30th, 2009 for consideration and the winners of the following categories will be based on popular vote:
Best Student Project
Best Start Up
Best Do-Gooder (Social Change Initiative)
Best Design (Website)
Best User Experience (Website)
Best Viral and/or Digital Advertising Campaign
Best Company Use of Social Media
Best User Generated/Crowd-sourced Content Site
Best Mobile Application
Best Game (Handheld)
Best Social Media Application
Best Game (PC/Mac/Linux)
Best Game (Console)
Best Digital Learning Initiative (Instructional Design)
Best Digital VFX (Film)
Best Digital VFX (Television)
Best Digital Animation (Film)
Best Digital Animation (Television)
I can instantly think of some shining stars in the Vancouver tech realm who should throw their hats in the ring. Such as, the folks who brought us all HootSuite, Handi Mobility with their mobile Translink application, or how about that Strutta who appears to be hosting the video voting system for this year’s awards. Even my good pals at BraveNewCode could be contenders given that I’ve used their WordTwit plugin for years (and I know Duane likes making videos…)
There are also the ISO (Individual Standout Awards) which are nominated by the public but unlike the awards listed above, winners will be chosen by a panel of judges:
Individual Stand Out: Industry Advocacy: This individual has helped put BC’s digital media industry on the map. Passionate and community minded, this person is helping to raise profile and promote partnerships.
Individual Stand Out: Digital Education: This individual has played a huge role in growing the local new media community by spearheading innovative digital learning initiatives and/or developing an industry supported curriculum.
Individual Stand Out: Social Media: This popular individual has gained a following through creative and wide-ranging social media usage.
Individual Stand Out: Visionary Leadership: This individual continually inspires others with his/her vision, creativity and ability to bring people together.
Held during Vancouver Digital Week, PopVox is brought to us by New Media BC and awards will be handed out during their gala on May 13, 2009. You can follow @popvoxawards on Twitter for updates.
When tickets for the Vancouver 2010 games went on sale I didn’t even ante up as I was looking forward to covering the games from a community perspective – not necessarily from inside the rink (although okay, that would be amazing). Sharing stories and capturing the excitement from local pubs, restaurants, parks, friend’s homes, and group gatherings while celebrating the mix of culture all descending upon the city would be the ultimate coverage for someone like me.
There was talk of having “live sites” around the City where the general public can gather to watch events on big screens and celebrate the triumph of their nation’s athletes but recently there have been murmurs that funding has been cut and the “live sites” will not be as grand as expected.
In early March, they were still cautiously optimistic…
“We still hope to obtain that [$4.5-million] number but it’s becoming increasingly more difficult,†city Olympic operations general manager Dave Rudberg said in an interview. “We haven’t revised the number down yet but we are faced with the realities of the market.†The province of Manitoba is a confirmed participant in the live site near Georgia and Beatty, while Coca-Cola is committed to the David Lam Park site. Rudberg said the city is negotiating with several others now but no new deals have been completed. [Vancouver Sun]
Although last week, the cuts were approved…
Vancouver is scaling back plans for public parties during the 2010 Games while leaving their budget to wine and dine politicians and corporate executives untouched. City council voted Tuesday to cut $5 million from their $23-million budget for public entertainment sites, citing trouble raising sponsorship money. Economic challenges and competition from other so-called live sites also means the city won’t rule out shutting down the smaller of the two planned sites to stay within the new $18-million budget. [Canadian Press]
The two planned sites were at David Lam Park in Yaletown and the former Bus Depot site on Beatty Street.
Cutting back on the budget for the public, who are in fact paying quite a handsome sum out of their pockets for the games, may not sit well. There are those that couldn’t care less about any kind of hoopla or fanfare during those two weeks next February but if even this past weekend’s Juno Fest is an example, the public love their outdoor events in Vancouver (especially when we can get that sun to shine).
Vancouver City Councillor Geoff Meggs wrote on his site with regards to the cut backs:
“… council approved cuts to the two-site budget March 24 and left the door open for further reductions, including possible elimination of one site, if reduced budget projections fail to pan out. The next day this warning from the IOC: Vancouver is planning more downtown “activation†for the 17 days of the Games than any previous Olympic city, summer or winter. “They’ve made the observation that we may not need as much as is being planned,†VANOC executive vice-president Dave Cobb told reporters. Huge sections of the downtown peninsula are scheduled to be converted to free or limited access party areas, including the two city parks, a large Concord Pacific area between Science World and the Plaza of Nations, long stretches of Robson and Granville, and Robson Square. That’s not to mention the countless national “houses†for visiting teams and other Olympic-related installations. It may not be sustainable.” [Hat tip: Chris from 6S]
Quick show of hands – or mouse clicks, as it were – how important do you believe the “live sites” are to the Games or will be to your personal experience overall?
[poll id=”30″]
Our pal John Biehler has great ideas for photowalks, which are meetups where everyone bring a camera and takes photos of what they see along the way. He’s had the brilliant idea of getting away from the downtown core for these events and recently ventured out to Minnekhada Park a few times. After seeing his amazing shots I figured it would be the perfect fit for the next entry in my Park Series.
Metrics: 175 hectares in North East Port Coquitlam
How to Get There: From Vancouver, head out to Port Coquitlam (Lougheed Hwy – East) then turn left on to Coast Meridian Road and follow it north, until Appel Drive. Take Appel Drive, until it turns to Victoria Drive. Follow Victoria Drive to Minnekhada Regional Park.
Features: Picnic facilities, birds and other wildlife, Pitt-Addington Marsh, Widgeon Creek Estuary, Minnekhada Farm, and Minnekhada Lodge. There are a variety of trails that range from 20 – 30 minutes (Lodge Trail) to the High Knoll which is an hour to 90 minutes each way. [Read more on ClubTread]. The peaks of Golden Ears Provincial Park also lend a fantastic view.
History: “The estate [Minnekhada Lodge] has hosted royalty and boasts a royal suite, and Governor-General Lord Tweedsmuir and his sons played polo here. The area around the house commands fine views of the Pitt River and retains a Japanese garden. Minnekhada is now the people’s palace, situated within a regional park that boasts good trails and birdwatching opportunities.†[From VancouverHistory] In 1981, Minnekhada Farms was made a regional park.
Notes: The word is a Sioux Indian name meaning “water rattling byâ€. You can check out more of John’s photos on his Flickr account or on his website. We’re really hoping to get out there and join him for his next photowalk, whether it be at Minnekhada or another equally-stunning location.
