Western Canadian Music Awards 2010

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Last night the Western Canadian Music Awards were handed out at the Kelowna Community Theatre, wrapping up this year’s BreakOut West music festival and conference.

All set for the Western Canadian Music Awards - starting soonThe awards celebrate and recognize achievements in Canadian music for artists based between Manitoba and BC, including the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

The event went quickly with over twenty awards handed out between stellar mashup performances that saw We Are the City team up on stage with Grapes of Wrath, Bif Naked perform with Fringe Percussion, You Say Party get funked up with Grand Analog, and Said the Whale jam with Jean Paul Maurice and Aidan Knight — just to name a few.

Backstage John and I hung out in the media room (which was also the green room) in order to catch the winners as they made their way in with their new hardware. At least about 40 percent of them were unable to attend last night including International Achievement Award Winners Sarah McLachlan, as well as Tegan and Sara.

Aboriginal Recording of the Year
Leela Gilday – Calling All Warriors – NWT

Breakout West WCMA Awards 2010

Blues Recording of the Year
Jim Byrnes – My Walking Stick – B.C.

Children’s Recording of the Year
Norman Foote – Love My New Shirt – B.C.

Breakout West WCMA Awards 2010

Classical Composition of the Year
Stephen Chatman – Earth Songs – B.C.

Classical Recording of the Year
musica intima – into light – B.C.

Contemporary Christian/Gospel Recording of the Year
Amanda Falk – In Between the Now & Then – MB

Breakout West WCMA Awards 2010

Country Recording of the Year
Doc Walker – Go – MB

Roots Duo/Group Recording of the Year
Carolyn Mark & NQ Arbuckle – Let’s Just Stay Here – B.C.

Album francophone de l’année/ Francophone Recording of the Year
Geneviève Toupin – Geneviève Toupin – MB

Breakout West WCMA Awards 2010

Independent Album of the Year
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – B.C.

Jazz Recording of the Year
Sandro Dominelli – The Alvo Sessions – AB

Roots Solo Recording of the Year
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – B.C.

Breakout West WCMA Awards 2010

Pop Recording of the Year
laurell – Can’t Stop Falling – B.C.

Breakout West WCMA Awards 2010

Rap/Hip Hop Recording of the Year
Grand Analog – Metropolis Is Burning – MB

Breakout West WCMA Awards 2010

Rock Recording of the Year
You Say Party – XXXX – B.C.

Songwriter of the Year
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – B.C.

Breakout West WCMA Awards 2010

Urban Recording of the Year
Maiko Watson – Sweet Vibration – MB

World Recording of the Year
Alpha YaYa Diallo – Immé – B.C.

The biggest success story of the night was Dan Mangan, who had a clean sweep in all three categories in which he was nominated, Songwriter of the Year, Roots Solo Album of the Year, and Independent Album of the Year for Nice, Nice, Very Nice. Mangan was in New York last night so WCMA host, Grant Lawrence, read Dan’s acceptance speeches on stage via email on his Blackberry.

Just before the awards Dan Mangan followed me on Twitter so I was able to send him a direct message, asking for thoughts on his hat-trick.

Dan Mangan's quote for my post via Twitter DM

The night ended on a high note as Hall of Fame inductees, Chilliwack, played back to back hits. From classical to instrumental and children’s recording artists, everyone was in good spirits and supporting of fellow artists last night. BC and Manitoba were well represented in the awards room and from the sounds of the crowd and thunderous applause out in the theatre, it seems like everyone had a fantastic time.

All photos by John Bollwitt for Miss604.com

Vancouver Haunted Houses: Barclay Manor

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Barclay Heritage Square is probably my favourite urban oasis in Vancouver’s West End and this year its centrepiece, Barclay Manor, is also a haunted house.

Barclay Heritage Square

The haunted house tour runs Friday October 29th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm and Saturday October 30th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Admission is $3 per person or $10 for a family of four. The sign out front says the tour is suitable for those 6 years old and up. Call (604) 257-8333 for more information or to purchase tickets.

Barclay Manor

Throughout the year Barclay Manor is a social and recreation centre for those 50 years or older, and is a division of the West End Community Centre. The Barclay Heritage Square features flower gardens, a dog park, as well as two other heritage houses including Roedde House Museum.

Read about more Haunted Houses in Metro Vancouver: Barclay Manor, Scare Affair, To Hell and Back, Dungeon of Doom.

Surrey Archives Fall Program

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Although the City of Surrey’s slogan is “The Future Lives Here” it’s also home to plenty of history. Incorporated seven years before Vancouver, and sitting at about three times the size in terms of area, there’s much that can be learned from looking at Whalley, Cloverdale, Guildford, Fleetwood, Newton and South Surrey. As such, the city’s Archives are hosting a series of programs this fall to explore several aspects of the city’s days gone by.

What Indo-Canadian Pioneers
When Saturday, October 23, 2010 from 11:00am to 12:00pm
Description Today, Surrey has a large and vibrant Indo-Canadian community. Join SFU historian, Dr. Hugh Johnston as he discusses the early Indo-Canadian residents of BC.


Surrey Archives #180.7.20

What Whalley: A Photographic History
When Saturday, November 6, 2010 from 11:00am to 12:00pm
Description Surrey’s bold City Centre plans will transform Whalley in the next few years. This visual history, featuring hundreds of archival photographs, will give you a sense of what our City Centre used to be, going back to the early 20th century.

What The War Years in Surrey
When Saturday, November 13, 2010 from 11:00am to 12:00pm
Description How did Surrey contribute to Canada’s war efforts? Learn more about Surrey’s participation during these turbulent years and review events in Surrey during the 1910s and 1940s.

All of these programs are for those 16 years or older and cost $10 to attend at the Surrey Archives (located at 17671 – 56 Avenue). You can call (604) 592-6956 to register.

The Surrey Museum is also open year-round at 17710-56A Avenue, hosting a variety of exhibits and the Historic Stewart Farm is another great place for a family outing, especially toward Christmas time.

Sturgeon Fishing on the Fraser River in Harrison

Comments 5 by Rebecca Bollwitt

My only other official fishing trip was about a year ago at Sonora Resort and while I didn’t catch a thing, it was a fun morning out on the water. Looking forward to exploring Harrison Lake, its river, and venturing down to the Fraser River, I began yesterday’s fishing excursion with my group at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort.

Sturgeon Fishing on the Fraser River in Harrison


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There we picked up our fishing licenses, followed by a couple coffees to help kick-start our early morning, and we headed down to the water with BC Sportfishing Group.

Harrison Hot Springs Resort, From the Water

BC Sportfishing Group offers fishing trips (sturgeon, salmon, fly fishing, walk and wade) as well as eco-tours of the region including explorations of the Harrison River, the Fraser Canyon, Yale, and Hell’s Gate.

Harrison River - Nina

We headed west from the lake to the river and tucked behind evergreen-covered hills as the morning fog rolled across the rippling water. We crept past other fishing boats as one crew celebrated a salmon catch then cruised past the flat lands where hundreds of eagles and sea gulls were also celebrating the salmon in their own way.

Harrison River

They caught some salmon Harrison River - Eagles

Harrison River

One eagle began to follow our boat and ended up over-taking us. Everywhere you turned there was an eagle in the air, in a massive nest, perched on still driftwood, or crouched on land enjoying its latest catch. Geese also decided to do a few flybys that day.

Harrison River Harrison River

Harrison River

We rolled around to Harrison Mills, just around the corner from the Kilby Historic Site that I visited last year. The hooks were baited by our helpful guide Lucas, and within just a few minutes the fish were biting.

Harrison River Harrison River

Harrison River

The first sturgeon was reeled in by Rodney of FishingWithRod who was on the trip with his partner Nina. They run the fishing website and provide videos, tips, forums, and information about fishing around the Vancouver area.

Fish info Rod and Nina

Our BC Sturgeon are the largest freshwater fish species in North America and are protected. As such, when the fish came aboard Lucas measured it and scanned for an identification tag. All information was recorded, photos were snapped, and the sturgeon was released. We heard stories of a 9-foot sturgeon that was recently caught — that would make the fish about 100 years old.

Harrison River Harrison River

Fraser meets Harrison

After a few more hours around the same location we headed out toward the Fraser River, and that’s where I got lucky. Just a few minutes after casting into the churning water, the rod began to tinge every-so-slightly and the veteran fishermen on the boat announced that we had a sturgeon on the line. The rod was handed over to me and after several minutes of working every arm muscle possible, I reeled in a 137cm sturgeon.

047
Photo credit: GoodLifeVan on Flickr

I’m certain my technique wasn’t the best, but I reeled with all my might.

My catch Our guide holding my catch

Fraser River

We returned up the Harrison River to attempt one more catch before returning to the resort. The fog had lifted and the sun exposed the plethora of fall colours around us. Oranges, yellows and greens lunged from the shore toward the turquoise river water as the bright green fairway of a golf course across the way glistened with dew.

Harrison River - Eagles

Sitting at the back of the boat I stared at the foamy white wake as we made our way home. My jacket slimy with white sturgeon goo and my hair wind-blown to pieces, it was definitely a successful trip.

Good Morning From Harrison

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Last night I enjoyed great company, fabulous music, and hazelnut-crusted halibut in the Harrison Hot Springs Resort’s legendary Copper Room. The preserved dining experience from the heyday of the supper club is complimented by an illuminated dance floor brought to life by the sounds of the Jones Boys.

Copper Room at Harrison Hot Springs Resort Copper Room at Harrison Hot Springs Resort

Copper Room at Harrison Hot Springs Resort

From Sinatra to Buble, women in their best dancing shoes and flowing gowns accompany men who either keep up in exact time, or plant their feet and watch their partner slip around them on the dance floor. Fox trots, are followed by waltzes and jives as the friendly wait staff cater to your every need.

Copper Room at Harrison Hot Springs Resort

About two hours from downtown Vancouver, you not only leave city life behind at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort – you are also transported back to a day where little girls where party dresses danced atop their fathers’ shoes after dinner. Where couples who have been married for decades can ignite a spark and sway cheek to cheek like courting teenagers first in love. Whether it’s the nostalgia factor or a pining for a classic dining experience, I found the Cooper Room absolutely lovely.

When our group was finished our meal, and stuffed with white chocolate mousse, we retired to the outside patio area adjacent to the resort’s legendary spring-fed pools. There, under the brightest stars usually invisible to the urban eye, conversations continued as the fire-pit warmed our toes.

Harrison Lake, Morning

Waking up in the darkness this morning I patiently waited for sunlight to define the view from my balcony, and it didn’t disappoint. We’re off to fish in the river today for the next few hours. You may follow all of my current and past Harrison region posts under this tag.

Disclosure: cmp.ly/2