Free outdoor movies are a summertime tradition in Vancouver, set in beautiful locations like Second Beach in Stanley Park. Every Tuesday, from July 5th to August 23rd, you can plan your date night, friends night, and night out watching some of your favourite movies as the sun sets by the ocean.

Free Outdoor Movies in Vancouver

Stanley Park 2016

These are family friendly events (no smoking, no alcohol), and you can bring your own blanket or lawn chair. Follow Fresh Air Cinema on Facebook for all of these listings and more throughout BC.

Make Calgary your home base this summer as you explore some of Southern Alberta’s captivating attractions and destinations. Enjoy the city’s vibrant event and festival scene, emerging culinary offerings (read about the amazing lunch Keira and I had a Ten Foot Henry), and soak up some culture at the brand new Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre. Venture out on foot, by bike (keep Mike Morrison’s awesome cycle guide handy) and prep the car for a road trip as you branch out to some amazing day trip destinations all within just 90 minutes of town.

Day Trips from Calgary

The Cowboy Trail

Alberta’s rich western heritage can be found all along the Cowboy Trail, a 700km route along Highway 22 that spans from Mayerthorpe at the north end (just west of Edmonton) and winds south on Cardston (west of Lethbridge). The trail is situated where the Rockies meet the prairie, following a historic route where cattle were once driven from Alberta all the way to Montana by ranchers of the past. Antiques, unique shops, tasty treats, and very friendly faces will greet you along the way.

Destination: Water Valley
Distance: 58 min (77.0 km) from Calgary

The 4 way stop in Water Valley, the tiny town with a big heart, leads to family-run businesses, a historic saloon, a community events centre in an old restored church, and year-round events like the Celtic-Folk Festival, Water Valley Days, Art Shows and our picturesque Water Valley Rodeo. There’s a golf course, antique boutique, and library too.

If you decide to stay the night, I recommend Back to Nature Retreat, where I had a wonderful B&B experience this spring.

Destination: Cochrane
Distance: 32 min (36.2 km) from Calgary

Steeped in western history and complimented with a quaint downtown core (with unique shops, boutiques, and awesome ice cream), Cochrane is home to provincial parks, a street market, festivals, and the Historic Cochrane Ranche Site. This is the location of Alberta’s first large scale livestock operation in 1881, with a 136 acre public park with picnic tables, two fire pits, and an outdoor stage.

Discover something new in a place filled with history. I spent some quality time in the Shoe Closet on 1st Street West where I fell in love with the soft and plush Naketano hoodies on display.

Destination: Black Diamond
Distance: 49 min (66.3 km) from Calgary

“I’m not a chef, I just really like food!” laughed Erin Neale, founder of The Westwood when I stopped in for lunch a few weeks ago. She and partner Chad Kendrick are known for founding the popular Treeline Outdoors adventure supply company and they recently opened up a road-side food counter in Black Diamond that serves up bison burgers, deep fried avocado, fish tacos, fried mac & cheese balls, and some of the most mouth watering creations you’d find at a busy downtown city food truck — but in the heart of cowboy country. Erin brings big city taste to the valley and uses the most of her location to constantly dream up dishes. Neighbours are always dropping off crops (from strawberries or asparagus, to organic farm fresh eggs) and the Westwood uses it all.

Keep heading south to Longview to pick up some of the world’s best jerky!

Rocky Mountain Route

Destination: Canmore
Distance: 1 h 13 min (104.3 km) from Calgary

Explore Canmore, a bustling town nestled between rocky peaks and glacier-fed rivers. Streets filled with art galleries, restaurants, and cafes, and outdoor adventure awaiting around every corner. From canoeing, caving, and climbing, to unreal helicopter tours above the valley (and the Rocky Mountains), world class spa facilities, and a local brewery that offers tours (and tastings).

Behold the Badlands

Destination: Drumheller
Distance: 1 h 27 min (135.1 km) from Calgary

Heading east, you’ll leave the towering mountains behind and slip into an ancient world, filled with dust, dirt, fossils, and fascinating history. Drumheller is the Dinosaur Capital of the World, home to the world’s largest dinosaur, is home to the world’s largest displays of dinosaurs — basically this valley in the Badlands is your dinosaur destination!

Young or old, you’ll have your mind blown by the vast, unique beauty of this region that is filled with captivating attractions like Dinosaur Provincial Park, Atlas Coal Mine, and Royal Tyrrell Museum, hikes in the Badlands.

To plan your day trip from Calgary, check out visiting Travel Alberta’s website and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This weekend Miss604 is proud to support Vancouver Mini Maker Faire happening Saturday and Sunday at the PNE Forum. It’s the only event where you’ll see this city’s tech enthusiasts, crafters, librarians, science clubs, hobbyists, artists, and imaginative kids congregated under one roof in a two-day celebration of learning, inventing and making.

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green.

Friday, June 10, 2016
Coastal Ballet: Swan Lake
Shed a Little Light – Celebrating 30 Years of Song
Graham Clark Presents The Cake Show
Wild Fruit – LGBTQ Dance Party
Shipyards Night Market, North Vancouver
International Summer Night Market
Richmond Night Market
Velopalooza Vancouver
Taiwanese Film Festival
Surrey Greek Food Festival
Arts Umbrella Dance Year End Performance

Saturday, June 11, 2016
Sponsored by Miss604: Vancouver Mini Maker Faire
Red Truck Concert Series
Environment Week Celebration, Abbotsford
Photo Workshop: Moving to Manual
Sprouting Chefs First Annual Fundraiser
Philippine Days Festival, North Vancouver
Horseshoe Bay Craft Beer Festival
Indiekör, Coastal Sound Youth Choir with The Salteens
Grandparents Day
Fine Dining Etiquette Lunch & Fundraiser
Canada Men’s Rugby vs Japan
Shed a Little Light – Celebrating 30 Years of Song
Rush: Race & Urban Scavenger Hunt
Railtown Tailgate
Open Source Circular Economy Days
Vancouver Heritage Garden Tour
Inverglen Scottish Dancers: Home on the Highlands
Summer SLAM III Revenge of the Hits
Make South Vancouver Spectacular
River District Farmers Market
Trout Lake Farmers Market
International Summer Night Market
Richmond Night Market
Festival Coquitlam
VSO Season Finale
City of Bhangra Festival
Surrey Greek Food Festival
Taiwanese Film Festival
Velopalooza Vancouver
Arts Umbrella Dance Year End Performance

Sunday, June 12, 2016
Sponsored by Miss604: Vancouver Mini Maker Faire
Italian Day on the Drive
Whitecaps FC2: Bark at the Bird
Vancouver Heritage Garden Tour
East Meets East – Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble
Second Sunday Concert Series at Roedde House
Heritage Hall 100th Birthday Event
Kitsilano Farmers Market
International Summer Night Market
Richmond Night Market
White Rock Farmers Market
Festival Coquitlam
Surrey Greek Food Festival
Taiwanese Film Festival
Velopalooza Vancouver
City of Bhangra Festival
VSO Season Finale
Arts Umbrella Dance Year End Performance

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“Were you here when they made the movie,” one traveler asked. “I’m sorry to burst your bubble but they didn’t do most of the filming here,” the woman at the gift shop replied. If you’ve seen Close Encounters of the Third Kind you know exactly what the Devils Tower National Monument is, and its significance in pop culture. I had not seen the 1977 Steven Spielberg film but John made sure to rectify that situation when we returned home after our long Midwest road trip this spring.

The iconic and evocative natural structure, also known as Bear’s Tipi or Bear’s Lodge to local tribes, was a new-to-me attraction and I’m glad we stopped by when we made our way through Wyoming from South Dakota.

Devils Tower was the first declared United States National Monument, established on September 24, 1906, by President Theodore Roosevelt.

“It protrudes out of the rolling prairie surrounding the Black Hills and is considered sacred to the Lakota and many other tribes that have a connection to the area. Hundreds of parallel cracks make it one of the finest traditional crack climbing areas in North America. Devils Tower entices us to explore and define our place in the natural and cultural world.”

Tips for Visiting Devils Tower

• Stop into the visitor centre: Check out the displays and get some back story & history before venturing out around the monument.
• If you are rock climbing: Always report to the ranger station to register. The national park asked climbers to voluntarily not climb throughout the month of June as it’s a culturally significant time for local American Indian tribes. The tower plays an important role around the time of the solstice.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes: I read that the path was paved so I wore flip flops but there are still small rocks and pine needles everywhere so clothes-toed shoes would be ideal.
• Take photos: We arrived in the morning so the view from the parking lot on the west side was washed out by sunlight, casting shadows on the tower. Wait until you’re around the east side to get some good shots, with the sun bathing the rock face.

Along the south side of the tower, there is a side trail that takes you up to a lookout to view the original stake ladder that was first constructed and used in 1893 by William Rogers and Willard Ripley to publicly ascend Devils Tower. There are viewing tubes to spot the ladder but many visitors (myself included) couldn’t make it out through the tube. Instead I zoomed my camera lens at the same approximate pitch as the tube and blindly took photos. I later examined my zoomed shots and I did manage to capture the ladder:

There is a lot of history at this spectacular monument, and a lot of information to take in. Make sure you allow for at least two hours to explore, although I think you’ll need about four. Our quick stop was about 90 minutes and we could have spent much more time there. Arrive early, we were there at 10:00am, since by the time we left there was a line of cars at the ranger checkpoint at the entrance.

Connect on social media, I did and the national park shared my photo of John on their Instagram account. Follow along on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you’re visiting a national park in the USA this summer, use tag #FindYourPark and #NPS100. View the rest of my road trip photos on Flickr and Instagram.

The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards were held in Vancouver last night, hosted by the YWCA of Metro Vancouver at the Vancouver Convention Centre West. Over 1,300 guests, dignitaries, and nominees were in attendance to celebrate over 80 women who were nominated for awards this year.

“To strong women:
May we know them, may we raise them, may we be them”
~ Chrysabelle @YWCAVAN

Along with a live and silent auction, three-course dinner, raffle, and of course the awards ceremony, there were also speakers on behalf of the YWCA featured in a touching video. One of the video segments featured Chrysabelle, who has been a member of the Support Group for Single Mothers. Her story showed perseverance and resilience, and she encouraged everyone in the room to donate to the YWCA.

As a result of her efforts, the volunteers, the other women in the video, the live auction (where a stay at the Loden Penthouse and club tickets to Adele went for a whopping $8,000) and the amazing atmosphere at the event, over $83,000 was raised for the YWCA last night.

YWCA Women of Distinction Award Winners

13 awards were handed out last night, here is each of the winners and their category:

• Connecting the Community Award: Traci Costa (Peekaboo Beans)
• Outstanding Workplace: Peekaboo Beans
• Young Woman of Distinction: Zoya Jiwa
• Research, Sciences: Patricia Janssen of UBC
• Public Service: Kathy Kinloch of BCIT
• Non-Profit: Ann Alexander of PLEA (Pacific Legal Education Association)
• Health, Wellness: Dr Shimi Kang
• Environmental, Sustainability: Amanda Pitre-Hayes of City of Vancouver (Greenest City)
• Entrepreneurship, Innovation: Lotte Davis of AG Hair
• Education, Training, Development: Penny Gurstein of UBC SCARP (School of Community and Regional Planning)
• Community Champion: Marcia Nozick of EMBERS Vancouver (Eastside Movement for Business and Econoic Renewal Society)
• Business & the Professions: Sue Paish of Life Labs
• Arts, Culture, Design: Artemis Gordon of Arts Umbrella

“You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face, and show the world all the love in your heart.” ~ Sue Paish quoted Carol King.

YWCA Metro Vancouver is dedicated to achieving women’s equality. Their mission is to touch lives and build better futures for women and their families through advocacy and integrated services that foster economic independence, wellness and equal opportunities. Follow the YWCA of Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter for more information.