Does anyone remember last summer when the sun decided not to show up and city workers were on strike for months so park facilities, rec centres and pools were all closed? Well banish those sore memories from your minds and get ready for this weekend which is official kick off to outdoor recreation in the City of Vancouver.

Pool Locations Map

Focusing on Outdoor Pools in Vancouver, here’s the rundown:

Photo credit: DaveO on Flickr

New Brighton Pool (#13 on the map - Opening May 17th, 2008
I forgot about this park entirely until we started taking the McGill exit off the #1 to get downtown recently. Tucked away behind the PNE, New Brighton park has lovely mountain views and is the only park in East Vancouver that has ocean beach access.

Second Beach Pool (#14 on the map) - Opening May 17th, 2008
Just like how the “First Narrows” is another name for the Lions Gate Bridge and “Second Narrows” is the Ironworkers Memorial, what we know as English Bay beach is actually “First Beach”. As you head toward Stanley Park the numbers go up, hence Second and Third Beaches. The pool is near a concession stand, has fun slides for the kiddies and since it’s pretty much located smack-dab in the middle of the sea wall, it is conducive to pre or post swimming strolls through the park.

Kitsilano Pool (#10 on the map) - Opening May 17th, 2008
Located at 2305 Cornwall Avenue Kits pool offers the best view of the city and also has beach access. It’s the “only salt water pool in Vancouver and one of the few in the world.” I also like to call it the “meat market” cause if you’re a single summer college student think Granville Street clubbing… but on a beach.

Kits Pool - Photo credit: Darren Barefoot on Flickr

Mount Pleasant Pool (#11 on the map) - Opening June 21st, 2008
I admit, I’ve never been to the Mount Pleasant pool, but from the looks of it there’s plenty to do. Diving towers, slides, and it’s adjacent to the Mount Pleasant Community Centre.

Maple Grove Pool (#12 on the map) - Opening June 21st, 2008
I had to look up information on this park until I realized I’ve been to this pool many times in my childhood years. This is a large heated wading pool (max 3.5 feet in depth) in a park complete with a playground for the kiddies. When I was little “wading pool” usually meant mom would tell me I could go in up to my ankles - next thing you know on the drive home I’m wrapped in a towel and my shorts are spread out on the dashboard catching sun in hope of drying out before we get back.

Swimming lessons are also offered at all of the outdoor pools (listed above) and the first sessions start July 17th, 2008 (click for PDF schedule). Drop-in rates for the pools range from $2.50 to about $5.00 although you can get in with you Vancouver recreation pass or Flexi pass, which is good for most rec centre/community centre activities. You can also purchase books of tickets for 10 visits to save a bit on the cost - more info is available on the Parks n’ Rec website.

I must admit this is a pretty proud moment for me. Not only do I get to use my social media skills to promote and live blog a community event, but this is for a festival in my old neighbourhood, in my hometown - and it’s going to be pretty darn great. Miss604.com is pleased to be an official media partner for Surrey Fusion Festival 2008:

Surrey Fusion Festival will be Surrey’s largest 3-day multicultural celebration with 40 international pavilions celebrating music, food and culture. 5 stages of entertainment with headline performers on the World Music Stage and the Celebrations dance stage, all this in a brand new beautiful urban park.

What:
Surrey Fusion Festival 2008

Where:
Holland Park (SW Corner of King George Highway & Old Yale Road)
Between Surrey Central Skytrain station and King George Skytrain Station

When:
Friday, July 18, 4pm – 11pm
Saturday, July 19, 11am – 11pm
Sunday, July 20th, 11am – 9pm

Photo credit: Paul Hillsdon on Flickr

There will be a world music stage, a headliner stage (including a performance by Juno Award winning Jully Black), a celebration dance stage (featuring Irish dancers, entourages from Korea and China, Elite Bhangra and Hip-Hop crews, traditional oriental artistry, historical Persian performances, salsa, sambas, caporeia, calypso and modern tap).

Food, activities for kids, three days in the sunshine (crossing our fingers on that one) and the cost? In the grand tradition of other community event like Winterfest, Surrey’s Fusion Festival is absolutely FREE to everyone. Simply enjoy Canada’s 2008 Cultural Capital and if you’re still not convinced, I’ll have blog posts and Flickr photos being published throughout the entire weekend to entice you out.

We’re still a few months away and there’s a lot to prepare for, check the website for updates and if you would like to help out they’re also in need of 200 volunteers. Find out more on the Surrey Fusion Festival site.

Last year I didn’t get out to every festival, parade, or community event however the ones I did attend like the West End’s Block Party were pretty darn fun. Over on Commercial Drive they’ve been closing off the road and celebrating the community on foot (for a single day without vehicles) for several years.

In 2005, the Commercial Drive Festival launched the first community- driven Car-Free Festival in Vancouver. The Festival was wholly volunteer-organized and presented, involving over 30 core organizers and 300 volunteers. It was an enormous success, bringing over 25,000 people out to celebrate the community and party in the street. Since then, the Festival happened in 2006 and twice in the summer of 2007, snowballing in popularity and attracting up to 40,000 people per day. [Car Free Day - About]

For a personal account, check out DaveO’s podcast from Commercial Drive last year.

Photo credit: Stephanie Vacher on Flickr

The Commercial Drive event has been such a success that they’ve expanded to several other neighbourhoods across the city for 2008:

Cambie Street, Kitsilano, Main Street, Marpole, and the West End.

Although the city-wide festival is months away, organizing committees for each neighbourhood are currently meeting. You can get involved by attending a meetup for your block, hosting your own party in one of the neighbourhoods, or if your part of town isn’t covered check out the block party toolkit.

I think the last time I only posted a single post within a 48 hour period was either when we were in Iowa last fall or some time in 2006. This cough, cold, insomnia and crippling fever have really thrown me for a loop, however I’m on the road to recovery just in time for the long weekend. I’ll be working tomorrow (and will have Monday off in lieu) as John and I are getting the heck out of the city for some much needed down time.

The following are some quick items of note today and if you’re staying in town this weekend, there are some events for you and the kiddies listed as well (some of which I’ve already featured but a refresher never hurts).

If you have any events happening this weekend that you’d like to promote, drop me a line.

I just realized that since Easter is in March this year, we have a holiday-less April, boo. Hopefully we’ll have some Canucks playoff action to watch, which will equal overtime for John, which will directly lead to more self-created long weekend getaways for us. I can’t wait.

Update: Thanks to the reminder from Dave and Erin from the Contemporist Blog, the Interior Design Show is currently taking place at the Vancouver Convention Centre and will wrap up tomorrow.

In my formative teenage years, I was involved in almost anything under the sun. I was one of the school’s yearbook editors, on the student council, sports council, played 5 sports and was a part of Encounters Canada Youth Ambassadors. Later on I had the chance to work with children and younger teens, which lead to some of the best summers of my life. Although I could have slowed down a little (geesh), I highly value every organization, team and event I was ever a part of.

In a few months, BC Youth Week will kick off with events and programs all over the province, and including awards of recognition for youth involved in their communities.

Celebrate youth in our community during BC Youth Week, May 1 – 7. Youth Week is an international celebration recognizing the value, diversity and positive contributions youth make in their communities. Be sure to catch one of the hundreds of events including everything from sporting events and art shows to award ceremonies and random acts of kindness. To find out what’s happening in your community today, check out www.bcyouthweek.com for more information.

There’s a Facebook page dedicated to BCYW, and you can find out more information on the official website.

Side note: I haven’t yet seen any events listed for Surrey, but this is around the time of the Surrey Youth Band Jam on May 3rd, which will showcase musicians and revive the good ‘ol days of Stardust with some indoor roller skating.

BC Youth Week events will include things like dances, concerts, a pool tournament, cooking competition, film festival, scavenger hunts and more in Langley, Maple Ridge, Mission, Vancouver, the North Shore and many other communities.

My Surrey touchstone in the blog world, Paul, sent along a Facebook invite to the following event that made me (almost) get up and do the chicken dance.

“Bring your friends and kick it old style as we bring back Stardust Roller Skating! Battle of the Bands, vote for your favorite! Dance demonstrations, roller skating, contests and more! For youth grades 8-12, $7 admission, $2 skate rental. No Drinking. No Drugs. No Jerks.”

When: Saturday May 3rd, 7:00pm - midnight
Where: North Surrey Rec Centre
More info: The Surrey Youth Council or the Facebook Event.

After carefully looking over the “who should come” section of the flyer I realized I’m about 10 years too old to participate. Honestly though I think it’s a case of ageism. Do these kids even remember Stardust in all its glory? I think they’re just co-opting the memory of our psychedelic hang out cause retro is *in* right now.

I kid. In all honesty it sounds like a pretty good time… I can pass for an 11th grader… right?

For the first time in a while we spent the day focused on ourselves and since John was down and out with strep throat on our actual anniversary we just did what we wanted and had no further commitments all day.

Photo Credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

After brunch in English Bay we strolled over to the False Creek Ferry and were shuttled over the water to Granville Island where we spent several hours just walking around, shopping and enjoying the amazingly sunny day.

Photo Credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

John and I rarely get over to the Granville Island Market. Usually when guests are in town, then we take them down there on the tourist route however it is a valuable asset to us locals.

When we first got off the ferry a street performer in front of the french bakery caught our attention. He ended up keeping it for the next 40 minutes while he juggled with fire and escaped from being chained up in a straight jacket. It’s not the sort of thing that would usually suck us in, but this guy was hilarious and even made a “special connection” with John. “You there with the camera, where are you from?”, asked the performer known as Byron from England. “Vancouver,” John replied. “Oh so you’re one of those local people that just walk around all day taking pictures (looking up) going ‘I can’t believe I live HERE.” I think he hit the nail on the head with that one.

Posing for John, “Is that digital? Good, put this on the internet.”
Photo Credit: John Bollwitt in Flickr

“Byron from England” talking to passers-by, “Hello kiddies, you see these children sitting here enjoying the show? That’s because their parents love them.”

Photo Credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

In the market we picked up some feta stuffed peppers, bocconcini and cherry tomato salad and some chicken breasts for tonight, and even some mini cheesecakes and tarts from Stuart’s for dessert. We also found a few things in the Kids Market for my niece’s upcoming birthday.

Photo Credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

John is getting really handy with his camera (yay me for getting him the perfect Christmas gift) so you can find the rest of today’s photos in his Flickr set.

Photo Credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

We still have an evening of delicious food and decadent desserts ahead of us so I didn’t want spend too much time on the computer today, when I could be in John’s arms enjoying a glass of wine and a stunning sunset.

With ticket prices up in the clouds at least the Canucks organization comes up with a handful of fun, family-oriented events each year that are low-dough or entirely free.

This Sunday, February 24th, the Canucks will host the annual Open Practice.

Fans will have the opportunity to watch their favourite Canucks players take to the ice in preparation of their February 27th match-up against the Colorado Avalanche. The festivities will also include a Canucks shootout challenge as well as appearances by FIN, the Canucks Mascot, and the Smirnoff Ice Team. Canucks

Pick up your tickets in advance but they don’t cost a thing. The best part is that the folks at the Ultimate Canucks Search will have some stuff going on in the concourse and we’ve been asked to participate!

Not only will we be speaking on a panel at Northern Voice on Saturday, but watch for The Crazy Canucks podcast members as we record an episode live from GM Place this Sunday. Come up to our booth in the councourse, say hi, get on the podcast with us and partake in many more activities that the UCS guys have in store.