What do the Walkie-Talkie, IMAX, the egg carton, instant mashed potatoes and the sport of hockey all have in common? They were all Canadian inventions! You can celebrate Canada’s innovative past, present and future for our country’s 150th anniversary when the Innovation150 National Tour launches at Science World next week.

Innovation150 Kick Off at Science World

The cross-country Innovation150 tour will celebrate Canadian ingenuity and inspire the innovators of tomorrow. Locally, from January 19 to February 3, 2017, Science World and Innovation150 are organizing a city-wide celebration of Canada’s innovative past, present and future for our country’s 150th anniversary. Innovation Festival: Vancouver will offer exciting exhibitions, events and activities for youth and families.

Innovation Festival: Vancouver

Quantum: The Exhibition – Meet an Expert
January 21, 1:00pm and 3:00pm
January 22, 11:00am

Grownup Science Workshop
January 24, 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Power Of Ideas Interactive Presentation
January 20, 23 and 24 10:00am, 12:00pm
January 21 and 22 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm

Actua Maker Mobile Innovation Stations
January 21, 10:00am to 12:00pm
January 22, 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Actua Maker Mobile Workshops
January 21, 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm
January 22, 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm

Throughout the festival check out the Power of Ideas Exhibition, and QUANTUM: The Exhibition until February 26, 2017 at Science World.

This showcase and national tour launch is the collaborative effort of five of Canada’s leading science outreach organizations—Perimeter Institute, Actua, the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, the Canadian Association of Science Centres and the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation.

For more information follow Science World on Facebook and Twitter with tags #Innovation150 & #quantumvan.

Be a part of the crowd for the UBC Thunderbirds’ largest ever hockey game at the 3rd annual UBC Thunderbirds Winter Classic! The men’s team will take on the Manitoba Bisons in front of 5,000 local fans on Friday. Arrive early for a special Canucks Alumni and Hollywood North charity game for the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre.

UBC Thunderbirds Winter Classic

When: January 13, 2017 @ 5:25pm for charity game, Winter Classic puck drop 7:00pm
Where: UBC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
Tickets: Available online now starting at $5

Start your weekend off right at the UBC Thunderbirds Winter Classic with where there will be music, community booths, prizes, food, drinks and an epic hockey game. Spectators will have the opportunity to donate to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre in exchange for autographs and photos with their favourite players, actors and musicians.

The puck drops at 5:25pm and the celebrities will have a meet and greet with fans during the first intermission of the UBC and Manitoba match-up.

Celebrity and Canucks Alumni Game

The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre will also have a kiosk at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbirds Sports Centre on the night of the Winter Classic for those who want more information on how to help. One of the game’s Hollywood North celebrities, Tyler Johnston (Letterkenny, Supernatural) posted a list of donation items that fans can bring to the game on Friday:

Blankets, towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, underwear, bras, toiletries, jackets, feminine hygiene products, footwear, umbrellas, reading glasses, books, DVDs, art supplies.

Since 1978, the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre has provided a safe space for women and children in the Downtown Eastside. They provide practical support, basic necessities and hot nutritious meals to over 500 women and children every day. They support women to make positive changes in their lives by connecting them to a continuum of services including outreach, advocacy, wellness, recreation, housing and skills development.

Enjoy a night of skiing or snowboarding while you support an awesome local organization during Shred for the Cause at Mt. Seymour. Head up Monday nights (between January 23 and March 27, 2017) and ladies can ski or snowboard at Mt. Seymour for just $10, with $5 from every lift ticket going to The Bloom Group.

Shred for the Cause

Dates: Every Monday from January 23rd to March 27, 2017
Times: From 6:00p to 10:00pm
Cost: Ladies pay a minimum $10 cash donation at Guest Services

Men are still welcome to come out and enjoy some evening shredding and donating to the cause. Lift tickets for men from 6:00pm to 10:00pm are $33 during Shred for the Cause. There’s NO need to pick up any vouchers at retail outlets this season. Tickets will be sold out of the ticket booths at Guest Services. Please bring CASH for quick processing.

The Bloom Group Community Services Society has provided some of the most progressive social services in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside for over 50 years, including low-barrier shelters for women and children. Last season $17,700 was raised during Shred for the Cause.

I took a non-skiing friend on a girls weekend to Canada’s favourite family ski resort one weekend and we had an amazing time! Between the ice skating on the country’s highest outdoor rink and tubing at sunset, to tapas and wine at one of the 16+ dining establishments, Big White‘s wide array of offerings provide something for everyone.

I wrote about my experience for SnowSeekers:

Jingle bells on two eager Clydesdales chimed as we slid through the snow on our way to a warming hut for brunch. “It’s a winter wonderland!” says a young guest staying at Big White with her family.

This was the last activity for my friend and I before we headed home after a full weekend at the resort. On the sleigh, we compared notes with the youngster, whose itinerary was similar to ours.

“Tubing, then skating, then games?” She looked up to her mother to confirm her agenda. We had already done all of the above (although, we subbed the games for apres cocktails)… Continue Reading »

I would highly recommend taking advantage of the Snow Host program, which is a complimentary service for you to get to know the mountain quickly. Meet at the big chair in the village daily at 10:30am and get matched up with a host that will show you around anywhere you want to explore on the mountain. Look for the yellow jackets!

Our host Karl was amazing, with decades of experience at Big White he could tell you about every single one of the 118 runs (from 15 lifts), or where to find the best coffee in the village.

With 2,765 acres to explore on your skis or snowboard it’s a downhill dream, and with a lift capacity of 28,000 skiers per hour, you’ll rarely have to wait longer than a few minutes in line. This allows for more village explorations at this truly ski-in/ski-out resort.

With so many activities and so much terrain, you’ll never be bored, but if you’re seeking downtime, there’s bound to be a patio or hot tub open somewhere.

Make sure you also check out some of the unique eats! We found a Kelow-nut (a version of the cro-nut which is a croissant/donut), a s’mores waffle, and there’s also the legendary flaming gun barrel coffee.

Big White is located about 50km from Kelowna. Thanks to Honda Canada for the Pilot that got me to Big White and back in the middle of winter. I can barely recall another time when I had to drive in the snow before that weekend but with winter tires, AWD snow traction control, I felt really safe the entire ride.

Fort Langley National Historic Site proudly presents the 8th annual Vive les voyageurs Winter Festival, a celebration of the vibrant French-Canadian culture that thrives today in British Columbia, and first emerged in the region when the Hudson’s Bay Company arrived in 1827 at Fort Langley.

Vive les Voyageurs Winter Festival at Fort Langley

Where: Fort Langley National Historic Site (23433 Mavis Ave, Fort Langley)
When: January 21 & 22 from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Admission: Thanks to the 150th anniversary of the Confederation, the Government of Canada is very pleased to offer free admission for all visitors to the event.

French-Canadians have made a name for themselves in BC since the Hudson`s Bay Company first set foot on the shores of the Fraser River in 1827. As voyageurs, interpreters, trappers and more, their names are still heard throughout our community. Join us to celebrate this important heritage and learn something new about our ancestors of old and our community members of today.

Savour French-Canadian dishes including poutine and tourtière at lelem’ at the Fort Café. Visit the Maple Taffy booth and watch as hot maple syrup turns to taffy on snow.

Visitors of all ages will enjoy hands-on spoon-and-jig workshops, Métis beadwork demonstrations, musical performances and the entertaining Fur Trade Wedding program.

The official Canada 150 kick-off kick-off will take at 1:00pm on January 21st. Watch as local ice sculptor, Harold Sawatzky, expertly creates an ice sculpture, and take your photo with Parka, the Parks Canada Mascot.

Free for #Canada150

The Government is very pleased to offer free admission for all visitors to national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada in 2017 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, including the Vive les Voyageurs Festival at Fort Langley National Historic Site.

Follow Fort Langley National Historic Site on Twitter and Facebook for more information.