Torchbearer

Well Lee Turner has confirmed that she is going to Victoria in her Olympic Torchbearer outfit as planned & all is a go.
Wishing Lee the best in her short run!!!
You go girl!! Go to the web site below for the map & info on this torch relay.

http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/olympic-torch-relay/olympic-torch-relay-interactive-map/

Walking Group 24 Oct

Today, Marilyn, Ken, Susan, Lorna, Linda and Virginia (me) took the #20 bus downtown, got off at Hastings and Richards Streets, and walked to the Vancouver Convention Centre with the idea of checking out the Body Mind & Spirit convention - until we found out it cost $12 each.

Fortunately, I had brought along the Public Art Walk pamphlet published by the City of Vancouver Office of Cultural Affairs and we started treasure hunting for the artwork set up along the north waterfront between Hornby and Denman Streets. First we stopped at Urban Faire on Bute and Hastings for a quick lunch. Urban Faire is an upscale, down-scaled version of deli, lunch bar, and grocery store in the centre of Yuppie ville (the West End).

We never found the "pair of aluminum lions frozen mid-jump" at the foot of Hornby Street across from Canada Place. Perhaps we didn't crane our necks far enough; according to the photograph in the pamphlet, the lions are on a tall two-legged steel structure way above ground. But we did locate the "macro time piece" - three rotating platforms in the plaza west of the Vancouver Club building. Either the platforms were not rotating today or we did not have enough patience to stand and watch. A complete revolution takes one hour.

Our walk continued along Hastings to the Marine Building at the corner of Burrard. Details of this building were provided in a blog earlier this year. At 401 Burrard, situated "outside the main entrance, five cubes glide up and down a simple steel structure in direct correlation to the movement of the elevators on the inside of the building." As passengers enter and leave the elevators, the ebb and flow of their footprints is transferred onto an LED matrix screen on the bottom of each of the five cubes 10 feet above the sidewalk.

We headed along Cordova to the Bayshore waterfront walkway and gardens. At 323 Jervis Street we met an older resident, Glen Patterson, who helped us locate the installation called "Weave", which includes brass weaving mounted on the building's five pillars, aluminum grids at the base of four trees, steel benches with historical names punched through the seats, and brass rings representing ocean waves embedded in the walkway's slate tiles. Glen told us about two other sites to see in the park facing the harbour: first was a cedar log carved by passers-by at the request of the sculptor; the final work looks like ocean waves and is titled "Ship Wreck". In the distance, beneath the golden leaves of young birch trees, we could see the newest addition to the park, called "pillows", cement pillow-shapes painted white.

On the Bayshore Waterfront, we found two of the three open steel and glass shelters with roofs pitched at a slight grade to allow rain run-off to spill into a grid in the sidewalk, from where it was sluiced through underground pipes into the harbour.

By this time, it was one o'clock and we decided to call it a day. Lorna said her good-byes and headed home (she lives in the West End but she is not a yuppie). Marilyn and Ken decided to walk down Denman to Davie Street where a ring of statues with laughing faces stands in a circle in the park at English Bay.

The rest of us caught the bus back to Britannia Centre.

Next week we will start out at English Bay and work our way around the south shore of downtown Vancouver to pick out more public art works.
Contributor Virginia

Harvest social evening 22 Oct

This evening we had our social evening & there was 27adults, 2 boys who played for us. Supper was coleslaw salad, stuffed chicken breast with cheese & broccoli with rice, pumpkin pie dessert. They also had a choice of pop.
The meal was served by Michelle, co-ordinator & Laurette (volunteer) who also made the meal for all.
After the music they played bingo.

The 2 boys are 9 & 13, play piano as well.

Saturday 17 Oct. Walking Grp

Because of the heavy rain this morning, I was not expecting much of a turnout for today's walk, and I decided to go it alone if no-one showed up. Much to my pleasure, Linda and Susan both arrived ready to attend the Aboriginal Art Show at the Vancouver Convention Centre in the Pan Pacific Hotel located on Burrard Harbour.

What: Aboriginal Art Exhibition
When: Saturday, October 17 from 9 am to 8 pm,
and Sunday, October 18 from 9 am to 6 pm
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre, Hall A, located at 999 Canada Place,
Vancouver Admission is free

http://www.fourhostfirstnations.com/

At 10:45 we caught the #20 Downtown bus in light rain and walked the six blocks to the hotel, by which time the rain had almost stopped. In the convention centre hallway was a table advertising the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors as part of the Vancouver Health Show which was set up in the largest of the convention rooms. We by-passed this event in search of the art show.

The art venue was set up in rows with individual booths showcasing basket weaving, paintings, carvings, bead and silver jewellery, leather work and dream catchers. Unusually captivating needlework hangings were on display, showing Shirley Morrhouse's interpretation of the Northern Lights in ever-magnified images, delicately hand stitched in finest detail with tiny beads, fabric and silver forms appliqued into the images. These fine tapestries measured two feet square and sold for $4,000. Her major benefactor is the Federal Government's Ottawa museum, adding to its collection of Aboriginal artifacts.

We took a break at the canteen which sold hot beverages, soup, biscuits and pastries. On stage, a singer accompanied by his own and his partner's 12-string Gibson guitars.

My favourite pastime was talking with the artists about their work and their inspiration. One artist came from Winnipeg, one from the Yukon, others from Ontario for this event. Vancouver's own Roy Henry Vickers had a booth with his latest works framed in various sizes, mostly digitally mastered works. Other artists' works were done in acrylic, ink, pencil crayon, and digital imagery; originals as well as prints of their pieces were for sale. A few artists sold framed photographic art and greeting cards of their images.

Aboriginal art represents the history, legends and mythology of the people, handed down in "songs and oral narratives of epic journeys and adventures." To the Haida people, music and mythology are intrinsically connected." Many other tribal nations were represented at this show - Meti, Cree, Tlingit, Nuu-chah-nuth, Inuit, Lil-Wat and Squamish Nations.

We walked back to the Waterfront Station to catch the Skytrain to Broadway & Commercial. Susan continued on the Millennium Line to meet a friend while Linda and I boarded the #20 bus up to Britannia Centre.

Contributor Virginia

Thanksgiving & Cycling Today!!!

Today Jack & I went cycling towards Stanley Park & just went a certain distance & cut thru the park. It was a bit chilly this morning. Going thru the park we came up the area where the artist are daily. Below is Art's Artwork. His work is in bas relief folk art. His name is Art Abt living in Delta BC 604-585-1066 if anyone is interested. The work is all hand done, carved & painted & glued together. Very colorful & maybe not every one's taste but the quality of work has to be admired. Takes time to do each one & not mass produces either.

Jack getting the blow to the mouth LOL
These pieces of sculptures are down in the Westend of Vancouver at Denham & Davie St.

Walking Club 10 Oct

Today under cloudy skies, I met Linda, Susan and Judi at Britannia Centre from where we hopped the #20 Victoria bus to Broadway and transferred to the 99 B-Line heading west ... we met Marilyn and Ken at the City Hall Canada Line Station and looked for Lorna but, having missed her, we took the next train to Brighouse (Richmond Centre) ... after a scramble trying to locate our #410 Railway bus stop where the bus passed us by, we had to relocate to a stop in front of Sears on No. 3 Road where we were able to get the #410 to Steveston - by this time (12:15 pm) under sunny skies .

In the Historic Fishing Village of Steveston http://www.tourismrichmond.com/, we walked to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery http://www.gulfofgeorgiacannery.com/ and had lunch at a picnic table in the park ... we then headed to the boardwalk where many people were enjoying the sunshine and the waterfront cafes, including Pajos Fish & Chips on a low barge in the harbour http://www.pajosstevestonvillage.com/ ... past the shops and restaurants, we continued east to the old BC Packers site which is now condos ... placards on viewing piers provide photos and data about the early days of the major fishing industry that was at its prime in the early 1900's http://www.bckpackersheritagesite.com/.


Beyond BC Packers is the site of Britannia Heritage Shipyard www.richmond.ca/britannia owned and operated by the City of Richmond ... there we spoke with Al Smith, a volunteer at the Richmond Boat Works building, and later with Peter Mitchell, on-site caretaker at the shipyard community comprised of canneries, the bunkhouses of the Japanese fishermen, and the Murakami heritage cottage which celebrated its 100Th anniversary in 2002 ... in 2000, the cottage was restored to its original condition complete with furnishings and gardens ... in that year the descendants of the original occupant brought her from Japan in her 102ND year to visit her cottage .


Susan left around 2:00 pm and the rest of us returned to Vancouver on the 2:30 #402 bus going to Brighouse station, the terminus of the Canada Line in downtown Richmond ... the ride takes 14 minutes to Broadway along the Cambie corridor - a third of the time it would have taken on the old 98 B-Line Richmond express ...

We all want to return to Steveston - leaving at 9:30 am on a warm Saturday - to spend more quality time in the village ... we barely touched the surface of its history and didn't have time to spend in the town centre ...

Lorna later called to say she had preceded us to Richmond and, after waiting some time, she took the Canada Line to the Vancouver Airport for sightseeing ...

Contributor Virginia

Social Evening 22 Oct!!!

Thursday Oct 22

Fall Social

6:30-9:00pm

Dinner, Entertainment & Bingo

$10.00pp

book no later 16 Oct.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Tuesday Walking Group 06Oct

Today my little group (Virginia, Lynn & I) went downtown as it was very sunny but cool. Well by the time we got downtown it was cloudy over & cooler!! We did a walk we had done before cause thinking it was to be a sunny day it would have been nice to walk along the waterfront. Wrong!! But we persevered.
We took the #20 Bus & then walked down to the convention centre. As we got there we spotted this first new piece of art called The Drop.
At 20 metres, it's one of the tallest public artworks in Metro Vancouver -- comparable to Janet Echelman's diaphanous Water Sky Garden at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/drops+into+convention+centre/1958106/story.html

The next pic is just around the corner from The Drop behind the convention centre. They are building a new water terminal for the float planes with an elevator eventually. The barge for the float planes was originally the but had been moved a bit further away & will be back in their spot in the coming year.

The last pic is of another new piece of art that originally first appeared in Germany in 2007 G-8 Summit.

Afterwards we left the area & made our way to Robson street to A Mcdonalds for a snack & Coffee to warm up. We all headed home afterwards.

Volunteers Required

Poster King/Queen Kitchen Aid Festival Operatives Theatrical Coordinator - Haunted house To volunteer, contact Charlene… at 604-718-5860 or charlene.wee@vancouver.ca
POSTER KING/QUEEN
Community events and programs are only as successful as the word that gets out that they're there! We want volunteers to help us spread the word about these amazing programs! You know, the ones you've attended and wondered why numbers seem small? Well, it's because no one knows! So… help us out and enjoy the good weather at the same time (while it lasts!).
Poster Kings and Queens wanted any day this week and next to put up posters along Commercial Drive… Tape and posters provided, enthusiasm and creativity encouraged! :)

KITCHEN AID
Inspired by world wonders like Jamie Oliver, Bobby Flay, Cat Cora, Rachel Ray, Martin Yan, etc.? Well, here's your chance to help whip up a meal for happy faces - children at our on-site childcare centres! Volunteer kitchen aids are wanted to help our Chef Shirldene concoct some yummy meals and snacks for children at the centres because children appreciate good food ON-TIME too!
Times to help? Tues-Thurs 9:30am-12:30pm. You can pick a day or two to volunteer each week. Volunteers are interested in making things happen, are punctual and able to work well with little supervision. Volunteers should be able to take directions well and will need to consent to a criminal record check and will engage in food prep, kitchen prep activities and learn hands-on from our professionally-trained Chef!

STONE SOUP FILM FESTIVAL OPERATIVES (SSFFO) Vancouver is well known for its list of world famous film festivals… So, if you've been feasting off the VIFF, don't hold back now!
Come make history by participating in our FIRST annual Stone Soup Film Festival: Exploring the Politics of Food. The festival will screen a wide range of films that emphasize the positive efforts being made to change our current food system and empower this generation to take action. Selections include: The Garden, the Academy-nominated feature about the fight to save a beloved urban farm in South Central L.A; Mad City Chickens, a doc about chickens and the urbanites who love them; All Jacked Up, a poignant portrait of four teens struggling with sugar addiction; Food Inc, an expose on the shocking truth about our food system, and many more!
SSFFOs are wanted to assist with ushering, ticket-selling, collecting donations and more! Volunteers are outgoing, friendly folks, who like meeting new people and welcoming them to this soon-to-be-popular film festival! Shifts take place on Sat and Sun, Oct 17 (10am-2pm; 1:30-4:30pm; 4-8pm; 7:30-10:45pm) and Oct 18 ( 10am-1:30pm; 1-4pm; 3-7pm; 6:00-10:30pm)
SSFFOs will get refreshments during your shifts and for those that volunteer one shift - free access to that same day's films!Volunteering 2 shifts or more gets you a FREE access pass to ALL films, the entire weekend!

HAUNTED HOUSE THEATRICAL COORDINATOR and ACTORS They say Hitchcock is a legend because of his incredible ability to keep mystery and suspense alive… even now! Would you like to take on this challenge too?
Help transform the Teen Centre into our neighbourhood HAUNTED HOUSE this Halloween! A Theatrical Coordinator is wanted to work with staff and actors (teens) to create an experience that is "scary" enough to be memorable! Knowledge of acting, costumes and working with youth is helpful. Coordinator wanted to assist with planning and developing script/characters throughout October. Meetings are flexible and will coincide with actors. Must be available Oct 31 from 9am-5pm. Refreshments and meals available on Oct 31. Gain acting, directing, coordinating skills with eager actors!
Actors are wanted to play some scary roles in this house! If you like to work with others, to create this scary, festive, atmosphere, do let us know! Must be available for some meetings in October and all day on Oct 31 from 9am-5pm. Refreshments and meals provided on Oct 31. Gain acting skills and have FUN at the same time!

Charlene Wee Coordinator,
Volunteer Program Britannia Community Services Centre
1661 Napier St. Vancouver BC V5L 4X4 Tel: 604-718-5860 . Fax: 604-718-5858 . Email: charlene.wee@vancouver.ca Web: http://www.britanniacentre.org/ (see our website for information and to download an application form) Please do not print this unless absolutely necessary.

Walking Group 03Oct

We went to Horseshoe Bay http://www.horseshoebaybc.ca/ on the 250 bus, we caught it onHomer street at 11:22 am.
There was 5 people Marilyn, Ken , Linda, Judy, Flora. We travelled through West Van along Marine Drive. A scenic drive and saw the Inlet and we past the Gleneagle golf course. We also saw a new firehall with a old fire engine in front . We arrived at Horseshoe Bbay at 12:15. We went to Starbucks and had coffee and snack. We all took the taste test for the Instant Via coffee. We all did not guess right but we received a free sample and coupon for the coffee.

Sewells marina http://www.sewellsmarina.com/ has been there since 1930. and the Black Ball Ferry was the previous ferry in 1951 before the BC Ferries.

In the park there was totem pole ( frog, salmon,bear) carved by Northwest Coast Tsimshian first nations band chief Jeffrey and his son Rupert in 1975. There was plaque on the pier about rock fish in the waters one lived to be 80 years old and one lives to l00.

On the pier we saw the yacht Spirit Chaser, which we wish to take next time. There was a free telescope and we looked at the mountains and saw a ferry going out and secret cave on the mountain side.

There are some nice restaurants, Trolls, Oyster Bar Ya Ya, Boathouse and some little shops to visit.

We caught the 257 express Horseshoe Bay bus at 2:00 and arrived at Richards and Georgia at 2.40 and caught the 20 back to Britannia

Complied by Marilyn leader of walking trip.

Senior Torchbearer Lee Turner

Congratulations! You have been selected as a potential winner in Round 2 of the Story Writing Competition in the Coca-Cola Torch Relay Nominations promotion.You have won a chance to become a torchbearer during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay and carry the Olympic Flame in a selected Canadian community as assigned by VANOC and Coca-Cola.

Below is the letter that won her the right to carry the torch!!

ACTIVELY LIVING THE OLYMPIC DREAM
THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW MY JOURNEY WITH BREAST CANCER
PARALLELS THE MESSAGE OF ACTIVE LIVING AND THE CARRYING
OF THE OLYMPIC TORCH. THE SIGNIFICANCE IS THE DETERMINATION
AND COURAGE NEEDED TO SUCCEED.
AS A 62 YEAR OLD WOMAN AND TWO TIME BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR
I HAVE FACED MANY CHALLENGES. FINDING THE STRENGTH TO FIGHT
THIS DEADLY DISEASE WAS A STRUGGLE. COURAGE WAS PARAMOUNT
IN NOT GIVING UP. DETERMINATION HAD ME LOSING 40 POUNDS AND
ADOPTING A DAILY EXERCISE PROGRAM FOCUSING ON STRENGTH
(WEIGHT-TRAINING), FLEXIBILITY (STRETCHING) AND ENDURANCE
(POWER-WALKING AND DEEP WATER RUNNING). EXERCISE AND WEIGHT
CONTROL HAS LOWERED MY RISK OF MANY DISEASES.
I AM NOW CANCER FREE. MY THREE CLOSEST FRIENDS HAVE BEEN
INSPIRED BY ME TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES. OUR FRIENDSHIP WAS
THE CATALYST FOR THEM TO ADOPT A MORE ACTIVE LIFESTYLE, BY
LOSING WEIGHT AND BECOMING MORE MOTIVATED.
I’VE PLEDGED TO PARTICIPATE IN MORE FUNDRAISING EVENTS. I AM
ENDEAVORING TO OFFER SUPPORT, COMPASSION & UNDERSTANDING
AS SEVERAL FRIENDS JOURNEY DOWN THE TROUBLED PATH OF
BREAST CANCER.
WITH HONOUR & PRIDE I WILL TRIUMPHANTLY CARRY THE OLYMPIC
TORCH, A TRUE SYMBOL OF HOPE AND PEACE.
AS I PASS THE TORCH, THE BEACON OF LIGHT WILL SYMBOLIZE RISING
ABOVE ADVERSITY AND NEVER GIVING UP. LIVING ACTIVELY IS MY
SWORD TO DO BATTLE.