Translink has announced that once again there will be free transit New Year’s Eve in Metro Vancouver. From 5:00pm on December 31, 2016 until 5:00am on January 1, 2017 there will be no charge to ride the entire system and all fare gates will be open.
Free Transit New Year’s Eve in Metro Vancouver
Bus services will run on their usual Saturday schedules with some routes running additional evening/late-night trips after their normal schedules.
SkyTrain hours will be extended by approximately one hour and include more frequent trains throughout the evening.
SeaBus runs will be extended by one hour. The last sailing from Lonsdale Quay will be at 2:02 a.m. and the last sailing from Waterfront will be at 2:22am.
On January 1, 2017 Buses, SkyTrain and SeaBus will operate on their regular Sunday schedule. West Coast Express and extended 701 buses to Mission will not operate.
Note: If you tap in before 5:00pm, you must tap out on SkyTrain and SeaBus to ensure you’re charged the correct fare. Also, compass tickets expire at the end of the service day on which they are purchased.
Note: Bicycles coming into downtown Vancouver may be subject to restrictions on SkyTrain due to crowd conditions at the discretion of the SkyTrain staff on hand. Bikes will not be allowed to board trains at downtown Stations from 11:45pm until the bulk of the crowds have cleared.
Map out your NYE route with Translink’s Holiday Planner for more information and last run times for buses and SkyTrain.
Tree chipping events, enabling you to recycling your Christmas tree, begin the first weekend of January. Check your city’s official website for disposal, chipping, and recycling information or check out these events that support local organizations:
Tree Chipping and Where to Recycle Your Christmas Tree
Vancouver
January 7 and 8, 2017 10:00am to 4:00pm
Every year City of Vancouver staff and Lions Club volunteers provide Christmas tree chipping events. After the trees are chipped, they are taken to the Vancouver Landfill to be composted. Your cash and non-perishable food donations collected at the events will be distributed to local charities. Please remove all decorations and tinsel.
Locations:
Sunset Beach upper parking lot
Kitsilano Beach parking lot (Cornwall and Arbutus)
Trout Lake Community Centre parking lot (3360 Victoria Dr, south of E 12th)
Kerrisdale Ice Rink parking lot (5670 E Boulevard, north of 41st)
You can also set out your tree out for collection. Live, cut Christmas trees from residents with City Green Bin service can participate. If you have Green Bin service, put your tree in your collection area by 7:00am on January 14 for pick up.
To get your tree ready for pick-up:
- Remove all decorations and tinsel
- Lay the tree on its side, 1 m away from garbage and green bins
- Leave the tree loose (no bags, string, or rope)
If your tree isn’t picked up on collection day, leave it out. The city uses different trucks to collect trees so their crews may come later.
Drop off your tree at the transfer station or landfill:
Bring your tree to the Vancouver South Transfer Station or Vancouver Landfill for free until January 31. Remove all decorations and tinsel beforehand.
January 8, 2017 10:00am to 4:00pm
Support local schools and recycle your Christmas tree at the Mount Pleasant BIA’s 8th Annual Tree Chipping for the Kids event at Kingsgate Mall (370 Broadway E). All trees chipped/recycled by donation and all proceeds support the Mount Pleasant Elementary School’s (MPES) fundraiser to send students on an educational outdoor field trip to a local mountain.
UBC Botanical Garden
Until January 8, 2017 9:30am to 4:30pm
Recycle your Christmas tree at UBC Botanical Garden. Follow the signs and place your tree behind the orange posts. They will be chipped into mulch and used on garden trails.
Proceeds support John Norquay Elementary School‘s expanding school garden program, in the form of supplies and infrastructure. This food garden program is in partnership with The Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC).
North Vancouver
January 7 & 8, 2017 9:00am to 5:00pm
Chip Up for Charity in North Vancouver at the Westview Shopping Centre Parking Lot. Proceeds support Covenant House and North Shore Rescue.
Surrey
January 7, 2017 9:00am to 4:00pm
Surrey Firefighters will be chipping trees at 2 locations:
Newton Athletic Park (7395 128 Street)
Guildford Town Centre (10355 152 Street)
All donations will go to the Surrey Firefighters Charitable Society.
Until January 7, 2016 11:00am to 5:00pm
Tree Chipping and Bottle Drive Fund Raiser at Urban Safari Rescue Society (1395 176th St). Opening on December 30th from 2:00pm to 7:00pm.
Saturday, January 7 & Sunday, January 8 10:00am to 4:00pm
The Rotary Club of Surrey Guildford annual Tree Chipping raises funds to be used in Surrey for charitable purposes. The bottle drive funds will be used by the Dry Grad committee to assist in providing a safe environment for the Grads of North Surrey Senior Secondary School. Location: North Surrey Senior Secondary Parking Lot (15945 96 Ave, Surrey)
Langley
Until January 8, 2016 7:00am to 5:00pm (Mon-Fri) 8:00am to 12:00pm (Sat)
Bring your tree to Cloverdale Fuels (20280 102B Ave) to get it chipped, by donation. Proceeds benefit the Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation. Cloverdale Fuels will match all donations.
January 7 & 8, 2017 9:00am to 4:00pm
The Willowbrook Shopping Centre parking lot will host a tree chipping for Ride 2Survive, a cycling event that raises funds for cancer research.
Scout Groups will also have various events at Brookswood Secondary, Buckley Park, Safeway parking lot, Walnut Grove Secondary and more. Read the full list of tree chip events for charity here, thanks to the Langley Advance.
Burnaby
Residential Christmas tree collection will take place from January 16 to 27, 2017. Please place your tree out for collection on January 16 and it will be collected during these two weeks.
For Christmas Tree Charity Chipping Events, contact the Recycling Council of BC Recycling Hotline at 604-RECYCLE (732-9253).
It was in 1920 that Peter Pantages created the Polar Bear Swim Club in Vancouver and the brisk ocean dip has been a New Year’s Day tradition for the last 97 years.
Peter Pantages on a snowy Vancouver beach in 1927. Archives# CVA 99-1786.
Polar Bear Swim Vancouver
The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim takes place at 2:30pm on the first day of each new year. Costumes and the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race are the highlights of this event. To be a club member you must register before the swim, it’s free. Prizes are drawn from all registrations. Register in front of the English Bay Bathhouse between 12:30pm and 2:30pm on January 1. The Greater Vancouver Food Bank will be accepting donations of non-perishable food or cash.
Around the 1950s, the participation was approximately 250 to 300 swimmers. Today, anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 swimmers participate (record to-date 2,550 in 2014) and 5,000 to 10,000 spectators come out to cheer them on.
Polar Bear Swim White Rock
The 47th annual Polar Bear Swim in White Rock will take place January 1, 2017 and will feature music, coffee, hot chocolate and hot dog vendors. Onsite registration opens at 11:00am, and swim begins at 12:00pm. Participants are encouraged to dress in costumes, and gather for the noon plunge at the legendary “white rock” just east of the White Rock Pier.
Polar Bear Swim North Vancouver
Deep Cove Panorama Park hosts the annual Penguin Plunge on January 1st from 12:30pm to 3:00pm, with the plunge promptly taking place at 2:00pm. Enjoy live music, food and refreshments. Registration is free but donations are accepted, supporting North Shore Rescue.
Delta
Join the 7th Annual Polar Bear Swim at Centennial Beach (Boundary Bay Regional Park) on Sunday, January 1, 2017. Registration starts at 12:00pm and the Polar Bear Swim is at 1:00pm.
Fort Langley
Be at Brae Island Beach for the annual Fort Langley Polar Bear Swim at 12:00pm on January 1st. Participants can warm up with a free hot drink from Trading Post Eatery.
