There’s a lot of rain in the forecast but that won’t dampen our spirits because there are so many things to do around Metro Vancouver over the next few days! There’s the culmination of BC Youth Week, Asian Heritage Month events, Mother’s Day festivities, film, music, markets and many more events in Vancouver this weekend:
Celebrate the return of summer fun and excitement over 17 Fridays from May to September at Shipyards Live in North Vancouver. The waterfront will be hopping with live music, culture, food, and activities for the whole family. This will be the first year since The Shipyardsdevelopment was completed that the site will be utilized to its full potential, without any health and safety restrictions.
Shipyards Live in North Vancouver 2022
When: Weekly on Fridays, May 13 to September 2 from 3:00pm to 10:00pm
Where: The Shipyards (near Lonsdale Quay Terminal by transit) in North Vancouver
Admission: Free! Just show up
Festivities will be free for the public and will include a splash park, giant licensed patio, artisan vendors, food trucks, and live music programming.
Shipbuilders Square will buzz with live music from the best local talent across a wide range of styles and genres including R&B, Soul, Funk, Country, Pop, Jazz, and Samba. Confirmed performers so far include: Dave Hartney (August 19), Krystle Dos Santos (June 24), Amanda Wood (July 15), Nicole Sumerlyn (July 8) with more to be announced in the coming weeks.
Find a spot on The Patio presented by Stanley Park Brewing, and enjoy good eats from a wide selection of food trucks. You can look forward to a diverse and delicious rotating lineup of trucks each week at Shipyards Live throughout the summer. Located along Wallace Mews you will also find an eclectic group of chefs, artists and entrepreneurs who serve some of the finest food in the city, showcasing flavours from around the globe.
Plan your Friday nights accordingly and follow Shipyards Live on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
The third book in the Little Wolf series, Abalone Woman by Teoni Spathelfer, is officially launching this weekend with an event at Massy Arts Society and you can enter to win the entire collection!
Book Launch Event – Postponed
When: Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 6:00pm
Where: Massy Arts Society (23 East Pender St, Vancouver)
Join Heritage House, Massy Books, and author Teoni Spathelfer for the Vancouver launch of Abalone Woman. At the event, Spathelfer will celebrate the power of First Nations storytelling, presenting a story told with powerful imagery and symbolism, addressing themes such as racism, trauma, and family unity through relatable, age-appropriate narratives.
About Abalone Woman by Teoni Spathelfer
A vivid dream teaches Little Wolf about courage and acceptance of those who are different, and inspires her to show her daughters and their classmates how to be proud of their diverse cultural backgrounds.
Throughout her life, Little Wolf has been troubled by the injustice she sees all around her. When she was young, she was bullied for her Indigenous heritage. Her mother, White Raven, spent ten years in a residential school, separated from her family and isolated from her culture.
Little Wolf’s own children are growing up in a different, more open society, but hatred and racism still exist. Little Wolf worries about the world her daughters will inherit. One night, a vivid dream helps her realize her own strength as a leader and peacemaker in her community.
About the Author
Author Teoni Spathelfer is a member of the Heiltsuk Nation from coastal BC. Since childhood she has loved immersing herself in her own culture and learning about other cultures around the world. She has worked as a publicist; a radio journalist, host, and producer; and an arts and music writer. Her documentary Teoni’s Dream, informed by her mother’s residential school experience, has aired nationwide on CBC Radio. Her photography has been featured across various media and sold privately.
Enter to Win
I have a prize pack to give away that includes all three books in the Little Wolf series: Little Wolf, White Raven, and Abalone Woman. Here’s how you can enter to win:
With the summer fast approaching, it is a great time to check off your bucket list items and add a few new to-do’s. Here is a list of 10 tours in Downtown Vancouver, both indoor and outdoor, and for locals and visitors alike!
When: Wednesdays, Thursdays and most Saturdays at 12:00pm Book: Online here Details: Each plant, each tree has its own special story. Explore Vancouver’s iconic Stanley Park, Beaver Lake, with a local Indigenous guide/cultural ambassador who will highlight how the local trees and plants of the Pacific Northwest are harvested by Indigenous people for food, medicine and technology. Talaysay guides, who are members of the local Indigenous communities and the surrounding region, will share with you our ecological practices, ancient and contemporary history, stories, legends and Indigenous ways of living.
Candace Campo of Talaysay Tours – Rebecca Bollwitt/Miss604 photo
When: Monday – Saturday at 7:00pm, including the occasional Sunday Book:Online here Details: Follow the lamplight of your guide into Vancouver’s earliest and most gruesome history. You’ll step inside a world of murder, revenge and true grit in a dramatic retelling of Victorian Gastown’s earliest stories. Tales of deadly fire and smallpox emerge from the shadows as you venture through cobblestone streets to the shocking finale in this unique performance-theatre experience.
When: Anytime at your own leisure. Details: I love walking tours, and I find they’re most often the best way to get to know a city — even if it’s your own. There is a virtual, self-guided tour featuring places in E. Pauline Johnson (Takehionwake)‘s “Legends of Vancouver” published over 100 years ago.
When: Thursdays to Sundays at 10:30am Book: Online here Details: Vancouver’s top-rated food tour company, is relaunching after a two-year pandemic hiatus with two food tours – the iconic Granville Island Market, and the new Authentic Asian Eats, which offer guests immersive experiences of Vancouver’s rich culture and diverse cuisines. The Granville Island tour is close enough to Downtown so it’s made our list, and they play to bring back their Gastown tour in 2023.
When: Anytime at your own leisure Book: On the app (Android & Apple) Details: VanWalks contains 5 in-depth walking tours of the most popular areas of Vancouver, British Columbia. The host, Chris King, has been living in Vancouver for 20 years and is excited to give you a unique look into the most interesting aspects of the city. The walks range anywhere from 1 hour to 5 hours and are a wonderful, accessible option for all.
When: Sundays at 10:00am Book: Online here Details: From drag kings and two spirit warriors, to queer church ministers and transgender crime fighters, this walking tour is a celebration of the unsung heroes who forever changed the social fabric of our city. Hear about the bravest pioneers of the LGBTQ2+ community, the famous “kiss-in” of Granville Street, drag queens who made a difference and more.
When: 7 days a week 2:00pm to 4:30pm Book: Online here Details: Enjoy local craft beer, Japanese Kar-age style chicken, freshly made Sicilian Tortellini with local wine, crispy sweet & chili cauliflower, Canadian poutine; handmade fries topped with cheese curds & gravy and choice of beer/wine, smooth soft ice cream, Vancouver’s award winning cheesecake and delicious lemon bars! This 2.5 hour walking tour includes local history and insights from entertaining guides.
When: You may request a tour time and date of your choosing on their website. Gallery hours are: Wednesday to Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm, closed Monday and Tuesday. Book: Online here Details: The Bill Reid Gallery is Canada’s only public gallery dedicated to contemporary Indigenous Art of the Northwest Coast. Nestled in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the Gallery is home to the Simon Fraser University Bill Reid Collection and special exhibitions of contemporary Indigenous Art of the Northwest Coast of North America.
Bill Reid Gallery – Miss604/Rebecca Bollwitt Photo
When: Every day of the week Book: Online here Details: If you prefer to see Vancouver in a bit of a faster fashion than a walking tour, explore Stanley Park by bike with a small group. Stanley Park is 1,000+ acres of lush rainforest, with easy off-road biking trails and coastal vistas. Ride at a relaxed pace to take in the sights, smells and sounds of the park. You will be awed by wildlife, old-growth trees and explore the city and seaside views over the duration of 3 hours.
When: Every day of the week Book: Online here Details: The Vancouver Highlights and Hidden Gems Private Tour is an option for those looking for a more intimate tour. The ticket includes a local host and one on one time, rather than being completely tourist focused. This experience can be completely personalized to your interests – murals, hiking, restaurants, beaches, shopping, various markets. You name it. If you wish to add transportation that can be arranged at an additional cost.
Bonus
Historic Powell Street walking tours When: Every Thursday & Saturday starting June 10, 2022 Book:Online here Details: A walk through a historic neighbourhood which was once home to a vibrant Japanese Canadian community. The tour takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. Tours are in groups of 4 to 8 people. Individual and group bookings are welcome. Tours depart from Vancouver Japanese Language School at 487 Alexander St, Vancouver and go along Alexander Street, Gore Avenue, Powell Street, and Princess Avenue.
Looking for more things to do? Check out Miss604’s event lists, posted weekly and monthly!
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by Guest AuthorDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by Start Here Penticton Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
Imagine taking all the wonder and fun of a BC family vacation in a beautiful, entertaining place and turning it into your everyday life:
A place where the kids could walk to school, then you could go for a family kayak on the lake before dinner. Where there’s a festival or event every weekend in the summer and when it’s rainy, there’s always a museum, indoor pool or ice rink to enjoy. Where you can all ride bikes to the farmers market, get an ice cream, or catch the action of a hockey game. I bet Penticton came to mind when I mentioned a BC family vacation, now how about BC family living? Here are 10 reasons why Penticton is an awesome place to raise kids, plus a fun giveaway for the whole family to enjoy!
Penticton – Chris Stenberg Photo
10 Reasons Why Penticton is an Awesome Place to Raise Kids
1. You’re surrounded by beaches and lakes
Penticton is home to 7 public beaches
Choose from two lakes: Skaha and Okanagan Lakes
The summers are warm and sunny
Great playgrounds and splash park options
Lots of opportunities to play outside, get off screens (water sports, sandcastles, etc)
