This post has been contributed by Ben Hill, Communications Volunteer with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”).
If you’ve walked from Lost Lagoon to Second Beach recently you might have wondered why the landscape at Ceperley Meadow has changed from mown grass to scrub and shrubs.
Ceperley Meadow in Stanley Park. Kathleen Stormont/SPES
This isn’t because the Park Board has forgotten to mow; it’s part of a plan to encourage the development of wetland habitat in the area. Before the development of the city, Lost Lagoon and the area nearby was a saltwater tidal lagoon.
In fact, the lake’s name comes from its habit of disappearing with the tide. But when Stanley Park causeway was built in 1916, tidal access to Coal Harbour was cut and Lost Lagoon and the artificial waterway of Ceperley Creek became entirely fresh water.
While the habitat may not be strictly natural, it is immensely valuable. Although it’s surrounded by well used pathways, this is actually one of Vancouver’s most desirable areas of real estate for wildlife: the corridor of wetland is a great site for nesting and migrating birds, mammals and native plants.
SPES and the Park Board were already working to restore the habitat along the creek, but the arrival of a family of beavers in the area has given the wetland an extra boost. Their dams keep a larger area permanently soggy and, as a result, wetland plants are beginning to come back across the meadow.
American bittern. Photo: Michael Schmidt
Plants like the salmonberry, paper birch and Pacific willow provide cover and food for small migratory birds like kinglets and thrushes, and the shallow secluded wetland is an ideal area for rarer water birds like the green heron and the American bittern.
This type of wetland is increasingly rare in the city, so we’re very happy to accept the beavers’ help in restoring this habitat. One other advantage of not mowing the area is that it supports pollinators like bees and butterflies. They, in turn, help native plants establish and spread.
The bicycle routes and footpaths only a few meters away from the meadow are used by thousands of people every day and it’s heartening to think that such a diverse natural community can flourish so close to humans. It’s part of what makes Stanley Park unique, and balancing Park recreation with conservation is a SPES priority.
As a member of the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”), I wanted to offer the organization an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I created the “SPES Series” years ago. This is where SPES can contribute and share stories with my audience once a month. Follow SPES on Facebook for more information.
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Hockey and wild salmon are about as Canadian as toques and maple syrup. You’ll find the first two in Coquitlam these next few weeks, not to mention some pretty tasty craft beer and wine to wash it all down.
Stanley Cup in Coquitlam
Photo courtesy of the NHL
Canucks fans will be streaming in by SkyTrain in the hopes of viewing the Stanley Cup and their hockey heroes at the NHL Centennial celebration from October 21-22. Coquitlam will be its only BC stop, with buzzing crowds filling the parking lot at Coquitlam Centre (at Lincoln SkyTrain station).
Not only can you view the holy grail of hockey, but you can walk through an extensive collection of hockey memorabilia and play interactive games. Plus, Canucks alumni will be in attendance (names yet to be announced). There will even be a temporary rink on site for street hockey.
After getting your Canucks fix, you might be wondering where you can go close by to grab a bite to eat or a cold drink. Read on for more entertainment ideas, including an upcoming craft beer festival, and a food and wine festival.
See Salmon in the Wild
Within walking distance from the mall, one of nature’s greatest spectacles will be on display in the coming months. The salmon run is on, and if you want a close-up view of jumping fish, one great spot to try is Coquitlam’s Hoy Creek.
After spending much of their adult lives at sea, salmon begin their epic journey to return to the creek where they were born. Some will swim thousands of kilometres, battling many obstacles and even leaping upstream through rushing water, in order to return home for the last time.
Whether you’re a young child, an international visitor seeing spawning salmon for the first time or a seasoned wildlife spotter, this scene never fails to impress. Watch for chum from early to mid-October to early November and coho from late October to late December. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
One of the best ways to get to know Vancouver, as a visitor or a local, is to take an informative walking tour. At this time of year however, one of the best ways to get to know the darker side of the city’s history, is by signing up for one of these spooky Halloween walking tours:
Details: Join weekly haunted history walking tours through Greater Vancouver’s most infamous neighbourhoods. Learn about the history of many of Greater Vancouver’s landmarks and notable people and hear about the many hauntings along the way. The tour’s ghost stories come from local lore, first hand accounts and local paranormal investigations. These tours will appeal to history buffs, paranormal buffs, and anyone who is looking for something a little bit different.
Forbidden Vancouver Tours
What:Lost Souls of Gastown When: Tours every night during Halloween season October 12-31, at 8:00pm Where: Cathedral Square, Dunsmuir & Richards streets. Tickets:Available online
Details: Venture into Vancouver’s earliest and most gruesome history this Halloween season on the Lost Souls a Gastown. A time when Vancouver was the Granville Townsite – wild frontier town that suffered a devastating fire, smallpox outbreaks, and unsolved murders. Designed for adult audiences, the Lost Souls of Gastown is both a walking tour and a theatre piece. Created by Forbidden Vancouver’s Chief Storyteller Will Woods – and based on documented Vancouver history – the plot weaves through back streets and alleyways to a dramatic finale in the heart of Gastown’s Maple Tree Square.
Running in October in conjunction with the Stanley Park Ghost Train, Creatures of the Night is a free, family-friendly, theatrical experience staffed by friendly volunteers ready to teach you about Stanley Park’s nocturnal creatures. Explore the “Alien Invasion” themed exhibit and learn about the real aliens of Stanley Park.
Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe is coming to exclusive locations in Canada this week. Today, it’s at the Templeton in Vancouver, right on Granville Street!
Netflix Brings Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe to Vancouver
Where: The Templeton (1087 Granville St) When: Friday, October 13, 2017 7:00pm to 11:00pm
Decked out with all the Pop’s essentials, fans will be presented with Archie’s classic dilemma: Betty (Old Fashioned Vanilla) or Veronica (Double Chocolate) and enjoy their milkshakes in Pop’s cups.
The pop-up diners will in seven different locations in six cities, including Toronto, Mission, Calgary, Ottawa and Vancouver.
After enjoying a milkshake at Pop’s, fans can check out what Archie and the gang are up to when Riverdale Season 2 on Netflix.
The series is filmed in the Greater Vancouver Area, with Mission’s own Rocko’s Diner being the set for Pop’s in the series. To find more filming locations, follow YVR Shoots.
The ultimate girls weekend is almost here! The 17th annual West Coast Women’s Show is largest women’s event in Western Canada, where you can shop ‘til you drop and save at over 400 booths.
Enjoy incredible entertainment on 4 stages, including celebrity speakers, fashion shows, cooking demonstrations, wellness & beauty secrets, a community entertainment showcase, calendar firefighters and so much more. Celebrity guests include Colin & Justin, Melissa Claire Egan from The Young and the Restless, Top Chef Canada’s Trevor Bird, kid celebrity chef Skylar Sinow, and more!
West Coast Women’s Show
When: Friday October 20, 2017 from 1:00pm to 9:30pm; Saturday October 21, 2017 from 10:00am to 9:00pm; Sunday October 22, 2017 from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
Where: TRADEX in Abbotsford (1190 Cornell Street)
Tickets: At the door: Adults $12; Seniors (65+) $9; Seniors (65+) Friday from 1:00 to 5:00pm $7 (no coupon required); Youth (13 – 17) $9; Children (6 – 12) $4; Children (5 & under) are free. Save $2 online or when you buy at any Lower Mainland London Drugs.
Theme Days
Friday is Seniors Discount Day $7 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm (65 + years)
Friday is also Girls Night Out with the Calendar Firefighters Fashion Show (Main Stage) 7:30pm
Saturday is Girls Night Out with the Calendar Firefighters Fashion Show (Main Stage) 7:30pm
Click below to get another entry by posting on Twitter:
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to the West Coast Women’s Show @WCWomensShow http://ow.ly/fha030fQfLX” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw three winners at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, October 17, 2017.
As a member of the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”), I wanted to offer the organization an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I created the “SPES Series” years ago. This is where SPES can contribute and share stories with my audience once a month. Follow SPES on Facebook for more information.
