For our first Christmas together, we went to the dollar store on Denman Street and bought a 2ft Christmas tree for our one collective ornament. My mom gave us two bells tied with ribbon for the tree that you could hide a little scroll inside and write what we gifted to each other that year.
Here’s how we have gone about making memories in Vancouver at Christmas over the years:
Bright Nights and Making Memories in Vancouver at Christmas
John’s first Christmas in Vancouver was technically mine too, I had just moved Downtown and didn’t really know what there was to do during the holidays. We were on a very tight budget since he had recently immigrated and was unable to work, so we did what made us happy each weekend: We took a walk in Stanley Park. Bright Nights Christmas Train was running and so we entered the sparkling forest wonderland with a donation and it became our first Vancouver holiday tradition together.
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2020 schedule has been released, featuring matchups with almost all 26 MLS teams, a visit from Nashville SC (May 16th) and more including the home opener on February 29th against Sporting KC.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2020 Schedule
This is the earliest regular season kickoff for the ‘Caps in their MLS history, highlighted by a matchup between the league’s two newest Designated Players and former Liga MX star forwards in Vancouver’s Lucas Cavallini and Kansas City’s Alan Pulido.
Cascadia Derby Matches
On June 13th we’ll host Seattle Sounders FC in the middle of a three-match, 11-day homestand including June 6th versus Canadian rivals Montreal Impact, and June 17th against New York Red Bulls. We’ll end the regular season on October 4th at home against the Portland Timbers.
The ’Caps longest stretch of consecutive away matches includes back-to-back Cascadia tilts at Sounders FC on April 18th and at Timbers on April 25th, then visits to San Jose Earthquakes on April 29th, and to Toronto FC on May 2nd.
Each club will play 34 games (17 home and 17 away), facing conference opponents twice, and playing 10 games against non-conference opponents. The ’Caps will not play Eastern Conference sides Atlanta United FC, expansion club Inter Miami CF, and New England Revolution, three of the furthest geographical opponents from Vancouver, in the 2020 MLS regular season.
Canadian Championship
The 2020 Canadian Championship schedule was also announced this week, with Whitecaps FC entering competition in the Quarterfinal Round on July 7th to 16th, facing the winner of the matchup between Canadian Premier League sides FC Edmonton and Pacific FC.
Home Kick-Off Times
Five of the ‘Caps 17 home matches have an afternoon kickoff time of 4:30pm or earlier, including the 1:3pm Decision Day tilt against the Timbers when all matches across MLS commence simultaneously. Of the 12 evening home matches that begin 6:00pm or later, 10 contests kick off at 7:00pm, while the February 29th season opener begins at 7:30pm. The ’Caps play 14 of their 17 home matches on a Saturday, two on Sundays and one on a Wednesday.
Holiday Matches
The ’Caps play on the road at Minnesota United FC on Canada Day. They also have three holiday long weekend matches.
Easter Weekend: Saturday, April 11th vs. LAFC
Victoria Day Weekend: Saturday, May 16th vs. Nashville SC
Canada Day: Wednesday, July 1st at Minnesota United FC
BC Day Weekend: Saturday, August 1st at Colorado Rapids
All 34 of Vancouver’s MLS matches will be broadcast on the TSN network and the TSN GO app, including two matches on CTV.
Follow Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Twitter and Facebook for more information about the schedule and single game ticket purchases which will be available in the new year.
There’s history and heritage combined with whimsical garden displays, the rush of the brook, the glow of the gazebo, and of course the carousel. There are plenty of photo ops at Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum, so it was tough to just pick my top 5!
Photo Ops at Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum
As soon as you enter the museum, stop at the orchard with a view of the Jesse Love Farmhouse. There are deer lit up in lights and an up-cycled version of Santa’s sleigh with reindeer.
2. Cross Deer Lake Brook, the bridge itself is a great spot for a photo among the trees.
3. Hill Street is where you’ll find refreshments, crafts, carolers and more. You’ll also recognize this iconic thoroughfare from some of your favourite locally-filmed Christmas movies.
4. The Vorce Tram Station and Interurban Tram Barn are really cool pieces of local history, and they look lovely all decorated for the holidays.
5. Outside the Log Cabin are some Christmas bears, decked out in sweaters and growing a lush green coat – part sculpture, part garden!
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum
Admission: FREE! Carousel rides are $2.65
Address: 6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby
When: November 23, 2019 to January 3, 2020
November 23 to December 13, 2019 Monday to Friday, 1:00pm to 5:30pm; Saturday & Sunday, 1:00pm to 9:00pm.
December 2, 1:00pm to 4:30pm. December 14, 2019 to January 3, 2020 Daily 1:00pm to 9:00pm, closed December 24 & 25.
Share Your Pics!
Until December 23rd, with every picture taken at Heritage Christmas posted with the Hashtag #ConcordSleigh, our friends at Concord Pacific will donate $5 to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau and participants will have a chance to enter the draw to win a $500 Metrotown gift card.
Wander the Village and take in all the seasonal entertainment, demonstrations and activities. Plan your visit to Burnaby Village Museum and follow on Facebook and Twitter for information about this event and more.
Miss604 is a proud media sponsor of Heritage Christmas 2019-2020
“It’s a major award!” is just one of the many, many quotes from A Christmas Story that John and I use year-round. We have a leg lamp ornament on our tree, we’ve seen the live musical, and we have the Monopoly Board Game version. When I got a press release about Scut Farkus himself coming to North Vancouver this Christmas, you didn’t have to twist my arm or make me say uncle to cover this news.
A Christmas Story Bully Doing Good in North Van
Where: Goodlad Clothing (221 West Esplanade, North Van) When: Saturday, December 21, 2019 from 10:00am to 4:00pm
North Vancouver’s Goodlad Clothing is pleased to announce that Zack Ward who plays Scut Farkus ‘the bully’ in A Christmas Story will be in store supporting his good friend Shane Meier on Saturday, December 21st as ‘barista for a day’. Shane, whose role as Clint Eastwood’s son in Unforgiven has known Zack since he played his younger brother 25 years ago in Harvest of the Heart. Zack has over 125 acting credits and counting.
“In the process, Shane became like a younger brother to me. We have been lifelong friends ever since,” says Zack. “I’ve used my infamy as Scut as a lighting rod to raise money and awareness for bully prevention programs around the country.Scut Farkus has become the Darth Vader of Christmas, a character the fans love to hate. This year I’m coming to Goodlad to support my ‘little brother’ by raising money and toys with a Toy Drive to support the North Shore Neighbourhood House.”
Goodlad is an independently owned barbershop, coffee bar, and men’s clothing store. Zack and Shane invite everyone to meet Zack and bring a toy or cash donation for the North Shore Neighbourhood House, get an autograph and shop for dad’s Christmas gift.
The North Shore Neighbourhood House is a not-for-profit registered charity serving the North Shore since 1939. They believe working together to meet the grassroots needs of all their neighbours, is essential to building a safe, healthy & strong community.
