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Look at Vancouver on a map, and you’ll see a city almost completely surrounded by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. An intricate network of inlets, bays and straits encircles the vibrant downtown core. It should come as no surprise then that one of the best ways to experience Vancouver is gliding along the shoreline in a sleek kayak.
A great starting point is Granville Island, the bustling neighborhood of gourmet food and crafts shops situated on downtown’s False Creek inlet.
What do you think when you hear “botanical garden”? Rosebushes? Flowerbeds? Silver-haired seniors in loafers and khakis strolling by?
One thing you probably don’t think of is adrenalin-pumping attractions. But, as strange as that may sound, that’s more or less what you’ll find at UBC Botanical Garden’s Greenheart Canopy Walkway.
Nestled deep within the beautiful but otherwise sedate garden on the western edge of UBC is an extensive network of wobbly suspension bridges, platforms and viewing towers suspended high above the forest floor. The idea is that you ascend high into the trees and get a bird’s-eye view of a West Coast temperate rain forest.
Photo credit: Remy Scalza
Among Vancouver’s must-sees, one place that almost never gets mentioned is the old Hastings Racecourse, squirreled away next to the Playland amusement park. Maybe it’s because horse racing has a bit of a seedy rep. Or maybe it’s the location, out on the edge of town. Whatever the reason, it’s a shame because a day at the races is a lot of fun.
I checked out the Racecourse for the first time on a recent Sunday. I’d never been to a race before and wasn’t sure what to expect. My first big surprise: It’s free to watch. You can just wander right into the racetrack area: No tickets, not even any security.
People posting messages on The Bay's boarded up windows. Photo: Zerlene
With the sun shining in Vancouver today, we’d normally be talking about the weather. Instead, we’re talking about yet another riot after a game seven Vancouver Canucks loss in the Stanley Cup final.
Shock, dismay, anger, bewilderment and embarrassment are just some of the feelings Vancouverites have expressed so far after watching or witnessing the destruction of a large part of the downtown core.
After weeks of cheering our team, celebrating peacefully in the streets and getting swept up in Canuck fever, a few hours of mayhem forever changed the world’s impressions of our city. It won’t be easy to forgive or forget.
The average, law-abiding citizen is asking a multitude of questions today. How did this happen, and why? Who are these idiots that started the riot and where did they come from? Are they proud of themselves today? Did they make their parents proud? What point were the culprits trying to make? Do they have a conscience?
As Vancouver residents, all we can do is pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off. We can look back at a terrific hockey season and thank our team for entertaining us all year. We can also show our appreciation for the people who risk their lives to serve us. They are the men and women of the Vancouver Police Department (with support from surrounding municipalities), Fire Service, Ambulance Service, doctors, nurses and others. We can also thank City of Vancouver employees who worked throughout the night to return our streets to some sense of normalcy for the good citizens and visitors to enjoy.
As much as it hurts to see our team lose, it pains us even more to see how some responded. That said, we are a proud city and I see evidence of that on this beautiful, late spring day as regular folks have been on the streets helping with the clean-up. That’s the Vancouver that I know and love. #ThisIsMyVancouver
Messages posted on the "Citizen's Wall" at the Bay
True Vancouverites pulling together to clean up. Photo: JuilieRobe
Our hearts are with the people in Japan as they deal with this ongoing crisis.
Statement from the BC Ministry of Health advising radiation from Japan poses no health risk in BC.
Links to useful resources:
BC Centre for Disease Control website: http://www.bccdc.ca/resourcematerials/newsandalerts/news/japanQuake.htm
According to the Consolute-General of Japan, Shaw is offering free calls to Japan:
http://www.vancouver.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/en/special_en/2011/earthquake_phone.htm
Shaw is also providing free temporary access to the Japan channel 514:
http://www.shaw.ca/
Continue reading:
The Japanese Crisis – a Few Links to Useful Resources
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RT @cityandsand: Hiking under tall cedars in Stanley Park @MyVancouver. 10% larger than #NYC's Central Park. #breathe http://t.co/bo6F0ilnYesterday
RT @j_flew: Watasun (from Tourism Vancouver music video) perform at @FairmontPacific Lobby tonight! http://t.co/3Hl8O7n2Yesterday
Swim! Outdoor Pools Open Today in Vancouver http://t.co/WftYltqPYesterday
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Inside Vancouver is a multi-author blog, written by Vancouverites about Vancouver. Our goal is to give an insider’s view of Vancouver, to provide information, stories and opinions from the locals’ perspective about this great city.
