This month’s guest post is written by Michael Murray, SPES Communications Assistant with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”).

Fall is a great time of year to shine a light on some of the spookier species that call Stanley Park home. While owls and bats certainly get most of the attention at Halloween, there is another creature of the night prowling the forest and howling at the moon: the urban coyote.  

Coyotes in Vancouver

Coyotes are native to western North America but can now be found throughout the continent and have even migrated as far south as Central America.  They are a relatively new species to Stanley Park having first come to the City of Vancouver in the 1980s.

From Carousel Players in St Catherine’s, Ontario comes The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito, which is making its BC premiere with Carousel Theatre for Young People on Granville Island (October 30 to November 10, 2019).

The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito

• When: October 30 to November 10, 2019 (with relaxed performance at 2:00pm on November 2, 2019)
• Where: Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island (1412 Cartwright St, Vancouver)
• Tickets: Available online now or call (604) 685-6217. The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito is recommended for ages 4 and up.

Sponsored by TD Tree Days

Located on a hill looking east across the Fraser River, Glenbrook Ravine is tucked back between houses and apartment buildings, where down a garden path the noise of the city is replaced by the rustling of leaves in the wind. On Saturday, October 5th, children’s’ laughter was added to the landscape as 75 volunteers, and 30 local Cub Scouts and Girl Guides, planted 450 trees in the New Westminster park ecosystem for TD Tree Days.

TD Tree Days at Glenbrook Ravine

“This is my fourth event,” said Tracy Keckalo, who is the Branch Manager of the TD Canada Trust Sapperton branch. She was at the registration tent where volunteers who signed up online checked-in, received t-shirts and were given instructions for tree planting. Tracy has been a volunteer previously, with TD and with the Girl Guides, and this year she took over as the organizer of the Glenbrook Ravine event.

“It’s about engaging with the community but like, who knew this park was here? I work down the street and I didn’t know. What a beautiful ravine!” Tracy said that it’s important to have places like this in the city, and for volunteering, this event is great for families because you can bring your kids and do this activity together in nature.

Vancouver artist David Wilson is hosting a pop-up art exhibition on Granville Island featuring his latest collection of paintings.

Those familiar with David Wilson as a chronicler of Vancouver’s cityscapes may be surprised by the painter’s latest exhibit. Long known for his gorgeous, sometimes noir-ish urban scenes, Wilson has turned his eye to one of the Lower Mainland’s most recognizable natural landmarks—The Lions.

David Wilson Presents Everywhere From Here

When: October 24 to November 5, 2019; Pop-up Gallery 11:00am to 6:00pm or by appointment
Where: 1387 Railspur Alley, Granville Island, Vancouver

The first annual Girls in Gaming event is happening October 26-27, 2019 in Burnaby. The two-day event will cover several significant aspects of the Esports ecosystem including: professional and collegiate competition, game design, content creation, marketing and player development.

Girls in Gaming Esports Camps

• When:
  • Saturday October 26, 2019 9:00am to 4:00pm
  • Sunday, October 27, 2019 9:00am to 2:00pm
• Where:
  • Saturday Location – Fortius Sport & Health, 3713 Kensington Avenue
  • Sunday Location – Electronic Arts Sports Campus, 4330 Sanderson Way
• Tickets: Register online