Canada is on the road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ facing Honduras in a crucial match on Friday, November 13th, 2015 at BC Place. The team is calling on all Canadians to be the 12th man and rally together as we collectively build a sea of #CanadaRED support.
To help get ready for the match, and to get to know our national players, check out the recently released interview with Fraser Aird:
The Road to Russia
Canada are amongst the 12 CONCACAF nations in the hunt for a spot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. The remaining nations have been split into three groups for the continent’s 2015-2016 semi-final stage. The top-two nations in each group will advance to the final round in 2017, from which three nations qualify for Russia 2018 and the fourth team advances to an intercontinental playoff.
In this round, Canada will play six matches, with both a home and away encounter against Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico. Matches will be played over three international windows, with the first two matches 13 November at home against Honduras and 17 November on the road against El Salvador. Canada then faces Mexico twice in March 2016 and El Salvador/Honduras again in September 2016.
Canada Men’s National Soccer Team vs Honduras
Support our national team on November 13th at BC Place. Tickets start at just $25 and groups of 10+ are eligible for discounts of up to 30% off regular priced tickets. Find purchase info and more details online.
Win a Prize Pack
Get on the Road to Russia with Canada! I have an awesome prize pack to give away thanks to Canada Soccer that includes: 4 tickets to the Canada vs Honduras match, 4 Canada Soccer scarves, and 4 mini soccer balls. Here’s how you can enter to win:
RT to enter to win #CanMNT tickets to support @CanadaSoccerEN #CanadaRED from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/U91t3
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Saturday, November 7, 2015. Follow Canada Soccer on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
The Halloween candy has been divided and the Christmas decorations are ready to be dusted off, but before we leap into a new holiday season, Canadians have a very important day to honour first. Remembrance Day, November 11th, is a day to remember the courage, service and sacrifice of thousands of men and women, and to honour them by never forgetting them.
Your city will most likely have a service or ceremony on November 11th, around its local cenotaph, and to make things easier I have rounded up a list of events that you can attend:
Remembrance Day Ceremonies Around Vancouver
BC Lions / Royal Canadian Legion Tribute to Veterans Where: BC Place (777 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver) When: November 7th, 2015 at 4:00pm Details: Join a very special “Salute to Veterans & Military Valour” annual half-time show at BC Place on November 7, 2015. Event will include bands, military vehicles and hundreds of Veterans marching in Legion and military uniform.
Lest We Forget: New Westminster Cenotaph Where: Anvil Centre Program Room 417 (777 Columbia St, New Westminster) When: November 8th from 2:00pm to 3:00pm Details: Many Canadians sacrificed their lives for their country in World War I & II. The names of those killed, associated with New Westminster, appear on the engraved plates affixed to the City Hall Cenotaph. Explore the history of New Westminster’s Cenotaph. Who initiated it? Who designed it? Who built it? How were the names compiled? These are some of the questions that will be answered. Registration required (free, 18+ years).
National Aboriginal Veterans Day Where: Victory Square, West Hastings St between Cambie and Hamilton When: November 8th, 2015 at 10:15am Details: Aboriginal veterans will hold a ceremony at the Victory Square Cenotaph on November 8th, National Aboriginal Veterans Day. A march will start at Carnegie Centre at 10:15am and proceed to Victory Square. The official ceremony begins at 10:45am.
Surrey Remembers Where: Surrey Museum (17710 – 56A Ave, Surrey) When: November 11th, 2015 from 9:30am to 1:30pm Details: Bring your family to take part in the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cloverdale Cenotaph next door to the Surrey Museum and the Surrey Archives. After the ceremony, warm up in the museum and enjoy activities, crafts, videos, demos, hot chocolate and more.
Generation to Generation Ceremony and Lighting of the Cauldron Where: Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver Convention Centre When: November 11th, 2015 at 8:30am Details: As the cauldron comes to life, a senior veteran will hand over Canada’s flag to a member of the next generation of veterans, acknowledging the continuing service and loyalty of Canadians from generation to generation. The cauldron will stay lit until 11:00am.
Ceremony and Parade at Victory Square Where: Victory Square, West Hastings St between Cambie and Hamilton When: November 11th, 2015 starting at 9:45am Details: The program begins with a 15 minute performance by the Vancouver Bach Youth Choir and Sarabande starting at 9:45am. At 10:00am veterans, military marching units and bands will be led to Victory Square by the Vancouver Flag Party. The cenotaph ceremony starts at 10:30am. A combined performance of “Sands of Kuwait” by the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Service Band and the Pipes and Drums of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada will be featured.
At 11:00am the Last Post will be sounded. There will be two minutes of silence, during which a 21-gun salute by the 15th Field Artillery Regiment will be heard from Portside Park. Rouse and Lament will follow. The Royal Canadian Air Force will conduct a fly-past moments later, weather permitting. The enduring “In Flanders Fields” will then be sung by the Bach Youth Choir and Sarabande followed by the traditional placing of wreaths at the cenotaph.
At 11:30am the Remembrance Day parade of veterans, brass bands, pipes and drums, Canadian Forces units and Cadets, will begin marching west on Hastings and take the salute while passing the reviewing stand. Veterans will continue on Hastings and disperse. The remainder of the parade turns north on Richards, east on Cordova, and south on Cambie and salute the Cenotaph while passing Victory Square.
“11”: A Community Music and History Project Where: Celebration Hall, Mountain View Cemetery (5455 Fraser St, Vancouver) When: November 11th, 2015 at 11:00am Details: A solo trumpet will call out 11 questions, and 11 stringed instruments will answer. Each instrument represents a specific fallen soldier or Veteran of the World Wars, and tells that individual’s story through sound and music. The performance will be 11 minutes long. There will be a display of historic photos and documents from the lives of each of the soldiers represented in the piece. All are welcome to this free public event.
Wreath Laying Ceremony in Delta Where: North Delta Social Heart Plaza (11415 84 Ave, Delta) When: November 11th from 10:45am to 11:45am Details: The Kennedy House Seniors’ Society and the Corporation of Delta, will host a Remembrance Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the North Delta Social Heart Plaza at 10:40 am. Following the ceremony, a public reception will be held at the North Delta Recreation Centre.
Remembrance Day Service at Richmond City Hall Where: Richmond City Hall (6911 No. 3 Rd, Richmond) When: November 11th, 2015 at 10:25am Details: The service will be streamed online. To access the live webcast, click on the Remembrance Day Ceremonies link under the news tab on the home page of richmond.ca. A military parade will start marching at 10:20am, the official ceremonies at the City Hall cenotaph will begin at 10:40am and there will be two minutes of silence at 11:00 am, which will be followed by wreath-laying. Following the service, a free public reception will be held inside the City Hall Galleria. This event is for all ages.
Remembrance Day Services on the North Shore Where/when: Victoria Park Cenotaph in North Vancouver at 10:30am. Where/when: Cates Park Service 11:00am Where/when: Parade and service on Marine Drive at 20th in West Vancouver from 10:30am to 12:00pm.
Royal Westminster Regiment Remembrance Day Indoor Memorial Service Where: The Armoury of The Royal Westminster Regiment (530 Queens Ave) When: November 11th, 2015 from 10:00am (doors at 9:00am) Details: A traditional memorial service to remember our fallen has been held in The Armoury since the end of World War I and has continued annually for almost a century. All veterans, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Allied Forces, Cadets, military family and association members, Legion members, Scouts, Guides, Thunderbirds, Adventure Club, Community Service Groups, friends, family and the general public are invited inside the Armoury. Seating is limited and provided on a first come basis.
New this year, The Royal Westminster Regiment is pleased to announce an Open House at The Armoury on Monday, November 9th from 10:00am to 3:00pm featuring military displays and demonstrations. The Museum will also be open. Donations accepted at the door. This event is free and everyone is welcome.
Follow Canada Remembers on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
The first free family friendly New Year’s Eve celebration to take place in Downtown Vancouver in more than a decade will happen along Canada Place Way, between Howe and Burrard, on December 31, 2015.
Free Family Friendly New Year’s Eve
The Vancouver New Year’s Eve Celebration Society is organizing live music, entertainment, a countdown for families at 9:00pm with fireworks and a midnight countdown with fireworks. Musical guests confirmed so far include Current Swell, former PEAK Performance Project winner We Are the City, The Matinee and more.
The celebration is free to attend but you can purchase premium seating for the fireworks. Follow Vancouver New Year’s Eve Celebration Society on Twitter and Facebook for more information leading up to 2016.
It’s that time of year when the temperature drops, the night sky clouds over, frost forms, and I sleep outside on the asphalt in one of Downtown Vancouver’s back alleys. It’s a miserable night, but I only do it once. There are others who have to do it every single night, and that’s the life they have come to know. I’m preparing to participate once again in the Covenant House Sleep Out, an event that takes place at Covenant House locations across the world, supporting local homeless youth so that they don’t have to spend another night outside.
“Many of the kids have lived with violence or the threat of violence for much of their young lives. Feeling safe is a right we all have but one these kids have not enjoyed.”
Before we head outside on the night of the Sleep Out (which will be November 19th, 2015) we usually split off into groups and speak with youth clients and volunteers. It is always encouraging to meet kids who went from being homeless, to the crisis shelter all the way through to Rights of Passage, Covenant House’s program that prepares them for the bigger world.
Those in Rights of Passage actually pay (an affordable) rent and get full access to programs provided that they have a job or they are in school. They end up learning basics like grocery shopping and budgeting, and once they are through the program (6 months to 2 years) they are supported when they eventually move out, even welcomed to return for the weekly communal dinners. The care just keeps going to ensure the youth become self-sufficient, gainfully employed, successful individuals.
Photo by Covenant House
In 2013, my first Sleep Out year, over 600 participants around North America slept out for their local Covenant House. They raised over $3 million. Vancouver had 5% of the participants but raised 10% of the funds.
My Covenant House Sleep Out Campaign
No child should be homeless.
This will be my third Covenant House Sleep Out and I only have a few weeks left to fundraise. I am asking you, as a loyal blog reader or as a first-time browser, to please consider supporting my campaign. Whatever amount you can spare can truly make a difference.
You can make your donation online today, tomorrow, and leading up to November 19th. Thank you very much for your consideration!
Follow Covenant House on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
Bright oranges and yellows dropping from the trees, pooling with the falling rain then flowing down the streets. It’s Halloween weekend in Vancouver and this season we’ve feasted on quintessential autumn sights: Corn mazes, pumpkin patches, cranberry bogs, and Jack O’Lanterns. Through it all, especially the wind and the rain, Vancouverites stay active, enjoy the city, and — most importantly in this case — they take some pretty amazing photos.
