Darkness covers miry early mornings in Vancouver as Fall has finally arrived with force. Firecrackers snap in the distance as jack-o-lanterns begin to take up real estate in windows and on the front porches of the West End. Halloween is just around the corner and aside from trolley tours and Fright Nights now is the time to check out a few of the Haunted Houses setup around town.
What To Hell and Back: The Phantasmagoric Adventures of Hellen Beck
When October 30th and 31st with the hour-long tours leaving every 30 minutes between 6:30pm and 10:00pm.
Where I read that the address of the haunted hour will remain a mystery until your register however I just spotted 2495 Wall Street on the event’s website. Organizers ask that you arrive about 15 minutes ahead of your tour to make sure you don’t miss out on any part of the display. Light snacks will be provided.
Info No age limit was given on the website however with student pricing my guess would be at least 14 years and older for this haunted house tour.
Presented by the In The House Festival, tickets are available for $35 or $30 for students online.
Read about more Haunted Houses in Metro Vancouver: Barclay Manor, Scare Affair, To Hell and Back, Dungeon of Doom.
Variety – The Children’s Charity is hosting the Scare Affair Haunted House in Vancouver until October 31st. The $10 donation for admission will go directly to Variety.
Suitable for ages 10 and up, Scare Affair will run this week from Monday to Thursday, 3:30pm until 10:00pm, and on Friday from 3:30pm to 11:00pm. On Halloween this Sunday, it will be open from 1:00pm until Midnight.
You can find the Scare Affair at 281 Industrial Avenue in Vancouver [Google Map].
Read about more Haunted Houses in Metro Vancouver: Barclay Manor, Scare Affair, To Hell and Back, Dungeon of Doom.
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.
The 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
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.
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
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
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.
Pop Recording of the Year
laurell – Can’t Stop Falling – B.C.
Rap/Hip Hop Recording of the Year
Grand Analog – Metropolis Is Burning – MB
Rock Recording of the Year
You Say Party – XXXX – B.C.
Songwriter of the Year
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – B.C.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
