Playland Amusement Park will soon have Canada’s fastest electric launch coaster – the ThunderVolt, which is anticipated to open the first weekend in July.
PNE/Playland photo (from April construction update)
ThunderVolt New Playland Coaster
The ThunderVolt’s three-car train carries 12 passengers at a time with 1.3 G’s of acceleration through an illuminated tunnel, up a steep incline before an 18-metre drop. The ride, built by Zamperla of Italy will occupy the previous location of the retired Corkscrew coaster (1994-2018)
Total Track Length: 380 metres (1247 feet)
Maximum height: 18 metres (59 feet)
Train Length: 8.2 metres (27 feet)
Number of Trains: 1
Vehicles per Train: 3
Passengers per Train: 12
Launch Acceleration: 1.3 G
Playland Coasters Over the Years
I grew up in the age of the Super Big Gulp (1972 to 1994) and the Wild Mouse (1979 to 2008… I think I still have a bruise from that one). Over the last 100+ years, several coasters have thrilled fair-goers at the PNE and Playland, from the Corkscrew to Kettle Creek Mine, which has been your favourite?
Giant Dipper Coaster at the PNE Playland 1940 Vancouver Archives Photo
The ride portion at the fair has held many names including “Happyland” before becoming “Playland” a few decades ago. There have been at least three iterations of a wooden coaster at the PNE including the Giant Dipper. According to Chuck Davis’ records, in 1927: “The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) and his brother Prince George (later the Duke of Kent, and still later King George VI) visited Vancouver.” While here, “Edward tried out the Dipper one afternoon and liked it so well he returned in the evening.”
Located on the West side of the grounds, the Giant Dipper was demolished in 1948 to make room for an expanding Hastings Racecourse track. There was also a smaller coaster called the Baby Dipper, which was torn down in 1944.
Baby Dipper Coaster at the PNE Playland Vancouver Archives Photo
When a new wooden coaster went up in 1958 (at the location you find it today) it was the largest in Canada. The coaster was built board by board back then, and it still reaches speeds of 45mph/72kmh and a height of 23m/75ft. It was designed by Carl E. Phare and was built by Walker LeRoy as a part of the vision for Playland and was named top woodencoaster in Canada (2019) and is ranked 7th in the world.
Find more memories in the Roller Coaster Database here.
PNE/Playland Wooden Coaster – Submitted
About the PNE
Owned by the City of Vancouver, the PNE is a healthy and vibrant non-profit organization dedicated to delivering over 3 million visitors a year with memorable experiences through access to first-class cultural, music, sporting and family entertainment events, as well as access to public space for passive recreation. Founded in 1910, the PNE’s home is Hastings Park, a multi-facility venue in Vancouver where the organization manages four activity streams: the annual PNE Fair, Playland Amusement Park, Park Care and Facility Maintenance and an expansive portfolio of year-round events. All revenues generated are invested back into park space, community programs and non- revenue generating educational and entertainment experiences.
BC Youth Week is back May 1-7 as communities province-wide offer diverse events and activities to showcase the creativity, talent, and contributions of young people. Select a region below to view events.
BC Youth Week is an annual, provincial celebration of the youth in British Columbia’s communities from May 1 to 7. It’s a week of fun intended to build a strong connection between youth and their communities while highlighting their interests, accomplishments, and the diversity of youth province-wide.
We arrive at 221b Baker Street, the well-known address of the world’s first, and most famous, consulting detective, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Here we learn of a centuries-old curse which has lately come to life plaguing the Baskerville family. Can Sherlock prevent the demise of the latest, and only living descendant of the ancient family?
The play, written by the award winning playwright Ken Ludwig, is based on the well-known Sherlock Holmes adventure, “The Hound of the Baskervilles” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Mystery, sprinkled with tragedy, comedy, romance and a few red herrings lends to an entertaining experience. The impressive set lends itself to the many scenes, enabling the characters to travel from London to the misty, desolate and mysterious moors of the English countryside, where the haunting howl of an unseen hound can be heard, reminding all that the curse lives on.
What is most impressive is that the five actors, Genevieve Fleming, Gerry Mackay, Andrew Cownden, Mack Gordon, and Melissa Oei take on nearly 40 different characters! The sudden costume changes, sometimes occurring in view of the audience, adds to the hilarity of the scene. Directed by Barbara Tomasic, this production made good on its promise of a rollercoaster of laughter, suspense.
Genevieve Fleming and Gerry Mackay. Photo by David Cooper.
The Surrey Vaisakhi Parade returns this Saturday, April 20, 2024 to host spectators and participants for a colourful and entertaining procession through the streets.
Photo courtesy of the Surrey Vaisakhi Parade
Surrey Vaisakhi Parade
Event organizers Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar expect the Surrey Khalsa Day (Vaisahki) Parade will draw half a million guests from around the world to gather along the route. Hosted by the community for the past 20 years, the parade will feature a variety of floats, community groups, live music and dancers.
The procession with have over 2,500 participants representing 20 community organizations. Celebrants can visit hundreds of booths along the route, sponsored by local businesses and families who will give away free food and treats.
The parade will begin at 9:30am on April 20th, setting out from the Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Temple (12885 85th Ave, Surrey). It will then travel along 124th Street, turn left onto 75th Avenue, continue on 76th Avenue, followed onto 128th Street, and back to the Temple to conclude the parade at 4:00pm.
Traffic controls will be in place beginning at 7:30am until 5:00pm, or until the RCMP deem the route is safe to be opened to vehicular traffic. Access to 128th Street and road sections along the parade route will be impacted most significantly. Increased delays may be expected for travel through and within the area between 72nd Avenue to 88th Avenue, and Scott Road to King George Highway.
There will be extra Expo Line and Millennium Line service from 8:30am to 3:00pm on April 20th, and a shuttle in place from David Brankin Elementary and the Invergarry Adult Education Centre. Find more road closure and access information here.
More about Vaisahki: “For many thousands of years, Vaisakhi has been the time when farmers have put their sickles to harvest and celebrated the coming of a new year. Since 1699, the Sikhs have had a further reason to celebrate at this time of the year. Now Vaisakhi is celebrated with even more energy, pomp and fanfare. It has become a holy day to mark the birth of the Khalsa fraternity. And so 300+ years on, this tradition continues with much gaiety, vigour and enthusiasm.”
The tulip festivals are open in the valley, baseball is back at Nat Bailey Stadium, and spring festivals and markets have popped up around the city. Find these events and many more things to do in Vancouver this weekend listed below:
