The Province of British Columbia has now moved into the next stage of its careful Restart Plan during the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that we are now able to travel around the province, with safety measures in place, and support local communities and businesses that depends on tourism to thrive. Here’s how you can explore your own big, beautiful backyard and travel safely in BC during Phase 3 this summer, with tips from Destination BC:
Travel Safely in BC During Phase 3
View of Lake Okanagan from the Bucherie Rush Trail (Mount Boucherie, West Kelowna)
Take extra time to research and plan your trip in advance. Many businesses and services in BC have adopted new protocols, and changes to their schedules or policies to ensure your safety. You’ll want to become familiar with them ahead of time. For example, you may have to book in advance for attractions or experiences where you didn’t before, and transportation schedules, like BC Ferries, may be operating at a reduced capacity. Some businesses or outdoor spaces may remain closed. See the HelloBC.com accommodations listings, transportation listings, and experience provider listings to start your research, and contact the local visitor centre for more information.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by the City of White Rock Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
Tune into the City of White Rock Canada Day by the Bay, live on Facebook and YouTube July 1st. Enjoy live musical entertainment, an O Canada sing-a-long, an online marketplace, a trivia contest and more.
White Rock Canada Day by the Bay
When: Wednesday, July 1, 2020 7:00pm to 9:00pm Where: Facebook and YouTube
Hosted by Michele Partridge of the Drama Class, the event includes an online marketplace and two hours of comedy, music, trivia and prizes.
The City will livestream a concert, mixed with local and national talent, from Blue Frog Studios in White Rock. Enjoy a headline performance from The Washboard Union and other musical guests including Ludic, a local band popular for their innovative and playful sound, and comedian John Cullen, who will showcase his unique brand of comedy seen on CBC’s The Debaters.
The Washboard Union
With its signature three-part harmony, The Washboard Union has become one of Canada’s pre-eminent country bands, having won 28 awards, including a JUNO and Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards.
The Washboard Union is also a two-time, consecutive, CCMA Group of the Year. The band’s latest album, Everbound, features the fan favourite and radio smash “Country Thunder” and the summer anthem “Dock Rock.”
The Washboard Union has defied classification and continues to be one of the most talked about bands in country music. Certified Gold in Canada, the band has several Top 10 hits and numerous top 20 hits in Canada and was the first country band to win the JUNO Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year, a multi-genre category.
John Cullen
John Cullen is the rare comedian that you watch and he’s having so much fun on stage that you can’t decide whether he’s having more fun or you are. Comedy should be about having fun, after all, and John’s had a lot of it, accomplishing many things in just 8 years as a stand-up comedian. His album, Most Likely to be a Comedian, went to #1 on iTunes and can be frequently heard on SiriusXM radio. His former podcast, Real Good Show, was nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award and his current podcast, Blocked Party, regularly hits the top 50 on the iTunes podcast charts and has been featured on the A.V. Club. He’s appeared on television as part of the Just for Laughs, Winnipeg and Halifax Comedy Festivals, and is a regular at the Just for Laughs Northwest festival. Oh, and he’s made multiple appearances on CBC’s The Debaters.
Ludic
Beginning with the pursuit to create groovy sounds that are both playful and exploritive, Vancouver, Canada’s Ludic, have quickly made name as pioneers to a new formula of modern soul. Drawing from great music icons such as Stevie Wonder and Steely Dan, and modern soul pioneers such as Hiatus Kiayote, Ludic seamlessly blend vintage and present soul, funk, jazz, and pop, creating music for a wide-array of listeners. Though visual inspirations remain different depending on what member you ask, there is a strong ode to the past present in the bands lyrical expression. Since their first single in April 2019, Ludic has released four songs (with an album released scheduled for 2020). These songs now have over 1,000,000 streams between Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube– a number that is growing by the 1000’s per day.
You can also support local this Canada Day. Buy a buffee from Ethical Addiction with proceeds going to the White Rock Museum and Archives.
Enter to Win
Here’s your chance to ask a question to The Washboard Union! The City of White Rock invites you to submit your question for a chance to have it answered during the live Question and Answer period during Virtual Canada Day by the Bay on July 1st for the chance to win a Washboard Union gift pack and $100 SkipTheDishes gift card!
Following on the heels of two highly successful Taste of the PNE drive through experiences aimed at staying connected with guests and supporting PNE Fair concessionaire families who are potentially losing their entire 2020 season, the PNE today announced a series of additional experiences for the remainder of summer 2020.
PNE Fair Events and Playland Reopening Summer 2020
President and CEO Shelley Frost says the entire organization is humbled by the outpouring of support, which has come from across Canada. Frost says the response to the two initial drive through experiences, a Mini Donut sale supporting four concessionaires and a Father’s Day Weekend Car-B-Q that included another four Fair families as well as Canada’s first ever drive through vintage and custom car show, inspired the organization to push forward with plans across a number of other of the organization’s business streams.
Today the PNE announced:
Drive Through Canada Day
On Canada Day the PNE will host the first ever drive thru Canada Day celebration. Designed with full COVID protocols in place as a ‘reverse’ Parade which will see our guests drive their cars along the Parade Route.
The experience will celebrate everything Canada with live performers, logger sports, and a celebration of Canada’s national sport of hockey along the route. Guests will be encouraged to decorate their vehicles in a Canadian theme and dress in their favourite red and white and wave the flag with pride.
The experience is $10 per car, regardless of number of passengers plus the cost of any food purchased with that going to our concessionaires. Three of the PNE longest standing and multigenerational families will be supported through this event. Tickets are available now online here.
Playland Reopening
On July 10th the PNE will reopen the first phase Playland Amusement Park for the summer. This initial opening will include between 10-12 of the park’s most popular family-friendly rides and attractions. Additional rides will be added later this summer. Tickets will be under $30 per person for Playland phase one and will be available June 30th through TicketLeader.
UPDATE July 27, 2020: Additional thrill rides will come back online August 1st including: AtmosFear, The Beast, Breakdance, Dizzy Drop, Gladiator, Music Express, Pirate Ship, Revelation (extra charge), Rock’n’Cars, Westcoast Wheel, Wooden Roller Coaster.
BC Day Long Weekend
BC Day long weekend will be the third in the Taste of the PNE Experience series. Details to come, but this will continue the organization’s dedication to supporting as many of our PNE Fair concessionaire partners as possible throughout 2020.
PNE Fair Experience
For the 110th year the last weeks of August will include a PNE Fair experience. Albeit an unconventional experience, the 2020 PNE Fair will return in a drive through format to ensure proper social distancing. Being developed in consultation with Vancouver Coastal Health, this year’s Fair will include all your Fair favourites, from the Superdogs to family shows and entertainment to agriculture and exhibits as well as the Fair food you love. Tickets will go on sale at Ticketleader.ca in the coming weeks.
As part of its COVID-19 protocols, all of these programs are entirely cashless, and tickets must be purchased in advance through Ticketleader.
New West Craft will be the first craft market in BC to relaunch in-person events following 4 months of COVID-19 cancellations, moving from the waterfront to Tipperary Park on July 4th.
New West Craft Returns
Where: Tipperary Park (315 Queens Ave, New Westminster) When: Saturday, July 4, 2020 from 11:00am to 4:00pm
New West Craft has been a familiar summer site on the boardwalk at River Market for the past 5 years, but due to physical distancing requirements the market is unable to set up on the esplanade at this time. New West Craft will be making a temporary move to Tipperary Park.
New West Craft is a familiar and loved event in New West and despite the changes Grady is confident the market can maintain its intimate and welcoming environment. There will be 30 artisan stalls set up in Tipperary Park plus 2 food trucks. As per provincial guidelines, 50 people will be let into the market space at a time and 2-meter physical distancing will be enforced.
A Proven Location
The New West Farmers Market has been operating at Tipperary Park successfully under COVID19 guidelines since April. Both the farmers market and the City of New Westminster have created a model that has proven to adhere to provincial health and safety regulations. New West Craft has been working with the City to adopt this model to fit their artisan markets.
New West Craft is presented by the Arts Council of New Westminster and as an organization they remain committed to supporting artists and artisans during this difficult time. While Executive Director Stephen O’Shea and the ACNW Board of Directors have been running a successful fundraising campaign, Program Coordinator Laura Grady has been busy developing safe and in-person programming that will benefit both the community and local artists and artisans.
“I am really happy to be re-starting our artisan markets,” explains Laura Grady. “New West Craft and the artists and artisans we work with have become a part of our community. During this pandemic and time of isolation we understand the value of art and creativity more than ever. It is essential that we continue to support local makers, artists and small business owners. Relaunching New West Craft offers the community and easy and accessible way to support local.”
Sloth Boss Clothing, Tea Lani, Kinder Books, Wildflower Design
There will be hand wash stations, ta carefully managed entrance and exit to our fenced-off market and clearly marked standing points to maintain proper distancing. Each vendor has also been provided with a detailed list of protocols to follow.
Central City Brewers + Distillers is teaming up with the BC Lions and BC Seniors Living Association (“BCSLA”) on a new COVID-19 campaign where they will donate 200 mL of hand sanitizer to independent and assisted living communities in BC for every sale of the new Red Racer Cruiser 8-pack Mixer.
(From left) BC Lions’ players Claudell Louis, team mascot Leo the Lion, Sukh Chungh and Peter Godber.
Central City Brewers & Distillers Team Up with BC Lions to Support BC Seniors
Central City, which is known for its award-winning beer and spirits including the 2019 Canadian Beer of the Year with its Red Racer After Hours Pale Ale, began producing hand sanitizer back in April 2020, in support of Canadians especially COVID-19 front-line workers.
“We wanted to continue supporting our communities and front-line workers during these COVID-19 times and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with the BC Lions Football Club and BC Seniors Living Association on our new Red Racer Cruiser 8-pack Mixer campaign,” says Brendan Yep, Vice President of Sales at Central City Brewers + Distillers. “As community leaders, it is important for us to contribute and do our part, and this is one way we are giving back to the community.”
In April, Central City donated hand sanitizer to front-line workers, healthcare workers and first responders through the City of Surrey. Now in June and July, Central City will donate additional hand sanitizer to independent and assisted living communities in BC through this new Red Racer Cruiser 8-pack Mixer campaign.
BC Seniors Living Association is a voluntary, membership-driven organization dedicated to being a valuable source for member development, education and growth. The organization works to promote and protect the best interests of its members, which include the Independent and Assisted Living communities in BC. The cornerstones of BCSLA is based on actively advocating, educating, mediating and celebrating retirement communities and their residents.
The Red Racer Cruiser 8-pack Mixer includes 500 mL cans of Pils, Hazy Dreamer Pale Ale, Dirty Blonde Ale and Lager, and will be available in private liquor stores throughout the province.
“We are very grateful for the initiative and support of Central City Brewers and Distillers and the BC Lions,” said BCSLA CEO Lee Coonfer. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors’ communities have been put under a tremendous amount of strain to acquire the appropriate PPE and sanitizing products in the appropriate quantities to keep their residents safe. Seniors’ safety is our priority and through the selfless gestures from the community, the tireless work of our employees and acts of corporate social responsibility, we will be able to meet this challenge and get through this together.”
The Central City Hand Sanitizer is also available for purchase (3L and 1L bottles, and in bulk) at all Central City Liquor Store locations and at the brewery store (11411 Bridgeview Drive, Surrey).
