The brand new Squamish Constellation Festival is excited to announce the first wave of artists to perform this year on July 26 – 28, 2019. There are a lot of things going for this festival already, including an amazing location, Tamara Stanners (local radio legend) is a co-founder, and the heavy Canadian lineup will fuel your soul!

Constellation Festival Lineup

BAHAMAS • SERENA RYDER • JESSIE REYEZ • SHAD
HALF MOON RUN • A TRIBE CALLED RED • DEAR ROUGE • PEACH PIT
JOCELYN ALICE • FOXWARREN • COSMO SHELDRAKE • FAST ROMANTICS
SCENIC ROUTE TO ALASKA •
FRED PENNER • THE JERRY CANS • ART D’ECCO
THE BOOM BOOMS • SARAH MACDOUGALL • LUCA FOGALE
• daysormay • PARKER BOSSLEY
JESSICKA • THE SUNSET KIDS • HUNTING • BEGONIA
• THE MODELOS • SAM LYNCH
TAYLOR JAMES • THE OOT N’ OOTS • THE KWERKS • CAT MADDEN

Taking place on Hendrickson Field, Squamish, the three-day festival will be a “celebration of music, art, food and so much fun,” said Tamara Stanners, one of four Squamish-based festival directors. “The vision of bringing a music festival back to the Sea to Sky is a real labour of love for us, and is now becoming a dream come true.”

In addition to fantastic music, the Squamish Constellation Festival will feature visual, live performance and interactive art all weekend long.

Plus, the best local beverages and brews being crafted in Squamish and a huge assortment of fantastic food trucks.

Partners are offering early bird general admission weekend passes at $165 plus service charges and fees, on Wednesday March 6 and Thursday March 7 with pre-sale codes found on the festival’s social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).

General admission full weekend passes will be on sale Friday, March 8 at 10:00am at constellationfest.ca for $199 and $425 for VIP, plus service charges and fees. (Limit of eight general admission weekend passes for early bird and general admission sales.)

The Squamish Constellation Festival is produced by Aquila Constellation Festival Productions Inc; a Squamish-based event production company dedicated to creating mind-blowing, heart-opening festival experiences of music, art, and community.

The SnowSeekers team took on the #SkiNorthBC expedition again this year and savoured the conditions near Quesnel, Fort St James, Prince George, and Smithers. During Spring Break, the snow sparkles in the sunshine and it’s easier than ever to get to these pristine locations. Here are 4 spots you’ll want to explore:

Hudson Bay – Smithers

“Old school cool is in. Shredding at Hudson Bay Mountain, towering over the community of Smithers, is a real treat. Sure, it has great groomers, a variety of terrain and incredible snow, but it is the front-side fall-line that goes on forever. There’s also the most amazing array of uber-cool abodes in the cabin colony and the mountain people who will have you wanting to return even before you leave. Don’t forget to ski into town. Yep, there is a groomed run that is so much fun; point ‘em downhill – the valley floor is calling.” – Nancy Shields for SnowSeekers

Powder King – Prince George

“Powder King really is a Shangri-La. Many have heard of it, but only the lucky ones have skied it,” says Powder King (PK) owner, Jim Salisbury. With over 5,000 acres to PK’s tenure, 10 kilometres of that highway frontage, and with a sewer and water system that can accommodate service for 1,500 people – Powder King is not only open for business, but Salisbury and crew are building a true powder-filled destination.

Murray Ridge Ski Area – Fort St James

For SnowSeekers founder Doc Pow, Murray Ridge is “a place that takes you back to the essence of what skiing and snowboarding destinations are supposed to be, community first and a place to connect.” Fort St. James or the area of Fort St. James has been home to people for many millennia. First by the Dakelh First Nations people and when explorer, Simon Fraser showed up around 1803 and built the first fort as settlers and explorers moved into the area. The fort was re-built in the 1890s and is available for tours through the Fort St James National Historic Site.

Troll Ski Resort – Quesnel

Ever since I have been exploring the Cariboo I’ve been asked: “Have you been to Wells yet?” I did get there this summer but not the follow up question I hear routinely is “but have you been to Wells in the winter?” SnowSeekers has! “End of the road communities are home to people who make magic happen on a regular basis. Wells, a character community nestled within the Cariboo Region of BC, is a place where you’ll experience that magic every day,” writes Doc Pow.

“A diehard sledder with Nordic ski interests, Eric Andersen and his pal, Caleb McMillian took us into history, along the Wagon Road trail up to Groundhog Lake. It’s a pretty straight forward hour sled ride from the colourful community and up into an epic alpine heaven.”

Make Quesnel your home base for your Troll adventure, with fly in/out options direct from YVR too!

Spring Break in the Snow in Northern BC

Explore communities rich in Indigenous history and with a connection to the land that goes back millennia. SnowSeekers’ stellar roster of digital storytelling rock stars have produced stories for:

• Smithers home to Hudson Bay Mountain Resort and Skeena Heli/Cat Skiing
• Powder King Mountain Resort
• Murray Ridge Ski Area
• Quesnel & Wells, home to Troll Ski Resort
• and more »

Fly with your choice of airlines from Vancouver, landing direct into Smithers.  Or, make a road trip landing into #SkiNorthBC country with about a 4 1/2-hour drive north of Kamloops.

Make sure to use #SkiNorthBC on social media and share your stoke with the world.

From art and cooking, to CSI crime solving and bike riding, there are some really fun Spring Break Day Camps around Metro Vancouver. If you have some time off with the kids this month, here are some fun activities the whole family can enjoy together:

Spring Break Activities for Families

Family Fuse at Vancouver Art Gallery
When: March 25-29, 2019 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby St, Vancouver)
Admission: Free for kids 12 and under, and for members.
Otherwise regular admission rates apply.
Details: This Spring Break, families will have the opportunity to connect with interdisciplinary artistic practices through a variety of art-making activities, inspired by the materials, processes and ideas at work in the Gallery’s current exhibitions. The Gallery becomes a space of exploration and active collaboration, where visitors can explore their questions, ideas and responses to the artworks on display through Artist Workshops, led by local artists and art educators; engaging in-gallery activities with the Gallery team of experienced Art Agents; and art-making activities in The Making Place.
More info »

The cherry blossoms are holding off just a little bit longer in some parts of BC as winter activities are still in the spotlight of sun-shiny days. That world famous Thompson Okanagan champagne powder provides a playground for visitors and locals in these three destinations recently visited by the SnowSeekers team:

Spring Snow Fun in the Thompson Okanagan

In Kamloops, pop by for a visit with the Overlanders Club. Dillon Stuart told SnowSeekers that they have approximately 800 members. “It’s a very active club. We host races, events, clinics and have a full rental program with both classic and performance skate ski packages available. And, of course, it’s a very family-friendly environment. Families with kids of any age and ability love this place.” Read more about the ski club and the Stake Lake Nordic Ski Area, which is located approximately 25 kilometers south of Kamloops on Lac le Jeune Road.

In Vernon, I knew about Silverstar Mountain (and it’s super fun, and very colourful village) but did you know there are two more awesome ski destinations nearby? SnowSeekers uncovers these gems, including Kingfisher Heli Skiing at Predator Ridge Resort and the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club, which traverses over 105 kilometers of expertly-groomed trails.

In Kelowna, you’ve got the proximity to Big White, which in itself is Canada’s favourite family ski resort, plus Downtown Kelowna’s bourgeoning craft beer scene. Spend your morning among the snow ghosts, doing laps of the Cliff Chair like SnowSeekers did, and unwind at BNA Brewing Company in town. Read more about the epic lines on the slopes and the world-class food menu filled with Okanagan-sourced ingredients here.

There’s so much to discover in BC and just because it’s now March doesn’t mean your snow season is over – it just means more sunglasses are required! Follow SnowSeekers to find the latest and greatest getaways for snow in BC.

When You Go

• For more information about Kamloops and to start planning your trip, head to the official website. Read the SnowSeekers story for inspiration »
• Vernon gets very attractive when you bundle these amenities into your weekend itinerary. Choose somewhere new, get out and uncover what makes this city worth the visit. Read the Read the SnowSeekers story for inspiration »
• Get out and Explore Kelowna this winter. Plan your trip by visiting the official Tourism Kelowna website. Read the SnowSeekers story for inspiration »

Follow SnowSeekers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more info.

Since the 1930s, CiTR has been kicking around Vancouver, UBC, and the Lower Mainland in some form. I’ve visited it in the station on a few occasions for interviews and I tune in to hear everyone’s favourite music historian (and best interviewer in the industry) Nardwuar. CiTR is a non-profit and non-commercial station, and what I didn’t know is that all DJs are volunteers.

CiTR Fundrive 2019

For their annual Fundrive this year, running February 28 to March 8, 2019, they have some great perks for donors who help their reach their $40,000 fundraising goal. All donors will be thanked on the CiTR website and in the March issue of Discorder Magazine, or you can choose to be anonymous. You can also call in to pledge and receive special prizes on your favourite show.

“In our capacity as a media organization that works in radio, and later in print publication through Discorder Magazine, we’ve been able to support, highlight, and empower members as artists and media producers to become autonomous and considerate community members. We’re also able to use our platforms not just as a springboard for local creatives, but also as a space for under and misrepresented communities to create content that is reflective of their experiences and can be shared on their terms.”

CiTR is more than “college radio” but that term means a lot in our household. It’s where John got his start (at KRUI at the University of Iowa) and it’s how he found his true calling — and so, so much cool music that he so graciously shares with me.

Finale Party

Where: Red Gate Arts Society (1965 Main St, Vancouver)
When: Friday, March 8, 2019 at 8:30pm
Tickets: $10 in advance or $12 at the door. RSVP on Facebook for the latest event info.

Consider a donation to this important media voice, for many reasons that might hit close to home for you, up to and including the awesome patches, tote bags, socks and unique mixtapes donors can receive. If you’d like to call in, do it today (Friday, March 1, 2019) during our pal Nardwuar‘s show, as he’s also set a personal fundraising goal. Dial (604) 822-8648 or indicate “Nardwuar the Human Serviette” online when you make your donation.