Olympic Torch at Party 17 Dec

Lee Turner who was a Torch Bearer on the first day from Victoria, BC brought her torch to the PotLuck Xmas Party 17 Dec. She is very proud of this & let everyone enjoy the moment with her.
The following people are Vera, Michelle, Norman, Patricia & Lynn.

Potluck Xmas Dinner 17 Dec

Great time we all had. Great food, music & bingo to end the evening with some draws for gifties

the last pic is the dessert Buffet & half gone but what a spread we had tonight.

Burnaby Village Museum

Please be sure to play the video of the carousel!!!

Volunteer positions

Volunteer Opportunities
December 14, Monday 3-5pm

Youth Mentorship Carving Project

Blessing Event Videographer

Aaron Nelson Moody was engaged by Britannia to work in collaboration with local youth to design and execute First Nations themed house posts and ridge beam entrance way for the Britannia Ice Arena. This entranceway is now completed and installed on its permanent home attached to the Britannia Arena. Witnesses are invited to this blessing event to participate in a ceremony which will include singing, drumming, blessing of the posts and beam either through smudging or perhaps water and cedar boughs. Witnesses at this event are there to remember the event and to pass it on as validators of the event.



A volunteer videographer is wanted to record the entire ceremony on a digital video camera so that we can archive this event and present it to members of the community on Dec 16! Volunteer should have an eye for composition or set-up so you know what to record and how and must be comfortable using digital video equipment. Access to your own equipment is an asset, but not necessary. Refreshments available. Entire ceremony is expected to take about 1 hour.



December 18, Friday 8:30am-10:30am and/or 1-2pm

Pre-School Winter Party Assistants

It’s the end of year party for the Pre-School at Britannia and pre-school families are invited to come celebrate! Volunteers are wanted to help make this event happen – main activities are setting up, making coffee etc, and taking down of the event



December 20, Sunday (10am- 4pm) and 21, Monday (4-8 or 5-8:30 or 7:30-11pm)

Winter Solstice Lantern Festival Operatives

It’s that wonderful time of year when we celebrate the longest night of the year and a return to light! Come join other community residents to celebrate this One Festival in Five Neighbourhoods!

Volunteers wanted in various areas

– Dec 20 is set-up day when we build the labyrinth of light (600 over candles used!) and prepare the performance rooms

- Dec 21 is the day of the event: Performance Hosts, hot chocolate sellers and labyrinth guides needed



December 15-March 1, 2010

Britannia Aquaponic Project Assistant Coordinator (BAPAC)

A volunteer is wanted to help with the sourcing of material and building of a self-contained food producing system utilizing fish to produce fertilizer for plant food! (how cool is that? :P) Volunteer will report to the Project Coordinator with the Grandview Woodland Food Connection & work closely with Britannia students to help monitor and maintain the system during this time period. Experience and interest with public education and outreach (creation of press releases, posters etc.) are assets but not necessary. The ideal candidate would be resourceful in finding materials, have a keen interest in sustainability and sciences (biology, agriculture, etc.), have some knowledge of fish and gardening and access to a vehicle for transporting materials. The volunteer will gain some training on this amazing system and build your knowledge of aquaponics! There are also opportunities for potential spin-off projects after the successful completion of this in March. Bus tickets and/or gas will be reimbursed for transportation incurred.



If you’re interested in any of these positions, call or email me directly! Thanks and have a wonderful winter season!

Charlene

Coordinator, Volunteer Program

Britannia Community Services Centre

604-718-5860 or charlene.wee@vancouver.ca

Winter Solstice 21 Dec Bitannia

Available volunteer opportunities:
December 20, Sunday
Labyrinth Build-- Find out how we construct the 700-candle labyrinth and the history behind it! Transform Gym D into a whole new space! 10am-4pm
* Light refreshments provided at lunch-time
December 21, Monday
"Solstice Operatives" Wanted!
In The House Workshops/Performance Hosts - 3pm-6:45pm (positions take place in houses off-site, must be able to help set-up tables and chairs)
Labyrinth Guide - 5pm-8:30pm or 8pm-11:00pm (striking required)
Performance Host - 5:30pm-9:30pm (setting up and striking performance spaces and welcoming guests into spaces)
Hot Chocolate Guru - 4:00pm - 8:00pm or 7:30pm-10:30pm (must be comfortable handling hot liquids, selling cookies, handling cash etc.)
Hospitality Specialist - 4pm-8pm or 7:30pm-11pm (welcome volunteers and performers to green rooms and maintain a hospitable environment for guests during the evening!)

The times are all very specific, so please make your selection carefully! Email me with your choice of position and shift. Please note that the positions are all very popular, so don't wait until the last minute to sign-up, do it now! Make it a fun-filled family event or volunteer with friends!

Orientation for this event takes place on December 17, Thursday - 4:30pm-5:30pm. All volunteers are expected to attend.
For more information, contact me directly by phone or email. Thanks!

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

Reminders

Potluck Lunch

Thurs. 23 November

noon

last one of the year

*********

Tree Trimming Tea

Mon. 30 November

1pm
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Bus Trip

Tues. 15 Dec

Burnaby Museum for Xmas

********************************

Xmas Dinner Potluck

Thurs 17 Dec

5-830p

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION EVENING

It was held at the Cultch on Thursday 12 Nov. We had entertainment on stage & food for all. Gifts were given out that were donated by the merchants on the drive.

As well there was a 12 minute video of different volunteers, their views & took a few pics as you will see below.

Lisa below now only on one crutch,

Vera & Carol

Laurette in the kitchen at the AML

Virginia

Trudy & Coco

Entertainment below

Britannia Pool staff with Lee

Lee brought in her torch & let them hold it as well other patrons at the pool at the time. Very Nice Lee

Italian Card Players

Well winter is arriving when we start seeing this men daily in the centre, well nearly daily. During the warmer months they are in the local park enjoying the Sun & also playing boccie ball as well as cards. At least they are keeping their minds occupied & getting out of the house. We figure the wives are pleased to see them out & not under their feet. LOL
Scopa is an Italian trick-taking card game, and one of the two major national card games in Italy.[1] It is played with a standard Italian 40-card deck, mostly between two players or four in two partnerships, but it can also be played by 3, 5, or 6 players. The name is an Italian verb meaning "to sweep", since taking a scopa means "to sweep" all the cards from the pool. Watching a game of scopa can be highly entertaining an activity, since maintaining that lively and colorful, and somewhat strong-worded, banter in between hands is a vital part of the game.However, skill and chance are more than the outcome of the game. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scopa

Tale of an Olympic Torchbearer

Pic 1 is the route, 2nd is her supporters, 3rd is Lee way in the back & her finishing!!!!

TOUCHED BY THE FLAME & CARRIED BY 147 PAIRS OF HANDS ON DAY 1 IN VICTORIA

The Torch is on its’ way & I was fortunate to be a part of this incredible event. I was the 61st runner to carry the flame, the sacred symbol of the Olympics. The spirit of the Torchbearer Relay & all it represents was overwhelming & a day to always remember filled with joy & love, reflecting the hope of the future.

From the moment we drove off the ferry in Victoria, the skies cleared & the rain stopped. I had planned on changing into my Torchbearer uniform & bionic knee brace at the hotel. Well, we had a lot of problems getting there as there were so many roads barricaded due to the Torchbearer route. As we were running out of time, I jumped out of our mini-van & asked the assistance of police. They kindly unbarricaded the roads for us & directed us to the hotel, which was downtown & overlooking the Inner Harbour. Then a mad dash for the hotel & getting ready. Then we had to find our way out of Victoria again.

Now to the Relay. All Torchbearers on my route (12) met at Butchart Gardens for final briefing. We learned how to do the kiss (light the next Torch) & how to hug without setting the Torchbearer on fire. Also, exactly what would happen when the escort convoy arrived at our starting point. This included 2 big Coke Trucks & Royal Bank Trunk (major sponsors), complete with dancers/singers, motorcycle cops/RCMP cars/ police on bicycles + so many other security & Olympic officials. I also had an escort runner + an assistant Torchbearer ready to assist me if need be. I really felt well protected. By the way the sun had come out & the sky was a beautiful blue & no rain clouds in sight.

The Relay was behind approximately 1 hour as the plane bringing the Torch ran into weather related problems. Apparently, the headwinds over Iceland were horrific. So, we had to wait on the Torchbearer shuttle bus. I was having problems sitting so long with my bionic brace on so asked to get off the bus & walk a bit. Well, as soon as I got off here come the kids & parents wanting pictures & to talk to me. Talk about feeling like a celebrity! This went on forever & I was having a ball. We were told not to take our hands off the Torch & I honoured their request at this time. I always had my hands on the Torch when allowing others to touch it. The host then got off the bus & said I had better get back on & laughingly said “hey, the party has not started yet”. Gosh, I thought it had!!!

Soon, we were told we must rev this bus load. up As each one of us in turn were soon to start our segment of the Relay. On goes the upbeat, loud, rock music & we are singing & swaying & me dancing at the back of the bus. I looked back through the window & an RCMP car was right on our tail. 2 RCMP females were laughing their heads off at my antics. Heck, I was warming up!

Well, soon my turn came & as everyone had done before as each left the bus, loud, loud, cheering, high 5’s, you go girl! I got off at my start position & here comes the fans! Man, oh man how exciting! This time, I did let go of my Torch & let all that wanted to hold it, with me posing with them for pictures. An Olympic official came & activated my Torch. He said get ready, your Torchbearer will be here in just a minute or so. Move into the middle of the road & prepare to do the kiss (accept the flame).

Goodness, I was so overjoyed & oh so ready to do this! Here came Victoria & we did it perfectly. I started out at a fast power-walk. I guess a little too fast as my escort runner said “SLOW DOWN, YOU ARE ABOUT TO OVERTAKE THE CONVOY” Gosh, I was not even running yet. I finished 1 block like this & looked at him & asked if I could go for it? He said “lets go” & I did only to see a hill in front of me. Not to worry I thought “bionic brace” will get me up it & it did!! Crowds of smiling, cheering, happy people everywhere just had me so ecstatic. Part of our final briefing was to make sure we acknowledged the crowd & boy did I ever. I was almost hoarse hollering out,” welcome, thanks for coming, nice to see you, go Olympics go”! Just on & on & me running all the time yelling this out!

Then my escort runner said” you are getting close”. Well, me so overjoyed & probably a runners high by now, ran right past my fellow Torchbearer who was waiting for me! He yelled out, come back here & light my Torch! I had not gone very far so turned around & ran back & preceded to give Ron the biggest hug (without setting him on fire) & then we did the kiss!

I wished him good luck & away he went.

I never saw any of my friends or my partner standing by the road snapping pictures when I came running in. All I recall seeing as I came up the hill was my golden-haired beautiful sister with her camera. I wanted to cross the street & greet her & my other friends but here comes the shuttle bus & they got me on it in one heck of a hurry. No time for anything really as we had to pick up the next Torchbearer.

What an awesome experience & such an honour & privilege to be part of this amazing event. It is hard to beat the power of the flame given to us by the sun in the temple of Hera in Greece. I will fondly remember this all the days of my life.

Lee Turner
2010 Olympic Torchbearer # 061

Saturday 31 Oct Walking Club

The weather forecast was for clouds and rain, so Linda was the only hardy soul to show up for Saturday's walk in the West End. It turned out to be one of the most pleasant, sunny days we have enjoyed lately. We met Lorna at Robson & Denman, following the City of Vancouver pamphlet entitled "Public Art Walk." Today's outing picks up from last Saturday's art walk between Canada Place and the Westin Bayshore hotel complex.

We followed the dotted line to 845 Chilco to stare up the "undulating concrete relief panels" attached to the front of this (my guess) 15 storey apartment building overlooking Lost Lagoon. This was shaping up to be an architectural experience.

Along the eastern border of Stanley Park we admired The Presidio, another tall eloquent condominium at 2080 Barclay Street. The architect, Richard Henriquez, designed this structure from "stretches, cuts, flips" and layered building parts "according to the fictional narratives he writes as his conceptual guide." In other words: he made it up as he went along! One rounded corner is topped by a turret-like cap; the front looks like it was intended for another project that didn't take flight, so he stuck the rectangular glass and steel panel onto that part of the more sedate white concrete building.

We passed David Oppenheimer's bust at the foot of Beach Avenue, on the lawn overlooking English Bay. He was Vancouver's Mayor 1888-1891; prior to that, he lobbied behind the scenes for Coal Harbour Peninsula to be designated as a park. His efforts - and Lord Stanley's generosity - gave Vancouver the stunningly situated and heavily forested Stanley Park, a lasting legacy to city citizens and visitors.

At 1919 Beach Avenue is The Eugenia high-rise, with an oak tree growing on the roof at the front of the building above the entrance. The shape of the front of the building between the rooftop tree and the ground floor doorway is shaped like a hypodermic needle; there is a reason for that, I'm told. The owner/developer had a son/brother (not sure of details) who was a drug addict and died of an overdose. This feature of the high-rise was a memorial to that the unfortunate young man.

Everyone knows the Sylvia Hotel at 1154 Gilford Street; "sheets of ivy cover brick and terracotta detailing on this former apartment building converted after the Depression to a hotel. In the 1980's it was expanded to include a restaurant and condominium tower." What more can anyone say other than it is a charming reminder of the "good old days."

We also passed by the George Cunningham Memorial Sundial erected in 1967 to commemorate three men who bought land on English Bay "so far from the city centre." The write-up doesn't say how long ago they purchased the land, but in the 1800's the city centre was Gas Town. The sundial honours their shrewdness and foresight - which I suspect was more likely due to the availability of cheap land away from the pollution and overcrowding of the downtown area of the time!

A more endearing and deserved memorial is the fountain in Alexander Park, just east of Davie Street along Pacific Boulevard. The "granite water fountain...is dedicated to the memory of Joe Fortes, long time lifeguard at English Bay Beach." It was dedicated in 1927 and includes an etching of Joe, who was a favourite of the children while enjoying their time swimming and sunning under his watchful eye.

Our walk continued along Beach Avenue above the seawall walkway and past the Inukshuk constructed by Alvin Kanak in 1986 for the Northwest Territories Pavilion at Expo '86. In April this year, an article in the daily papers said this grand structure had to be taken down due to some problem with the supporting landfill - an April Fool's joke that went unappreciated. Inukshuk figures are an Inuit tradition set on shore as a "symbol of safe harbour and landmark to help people find their way."

Just west of the Burrard Bridge, across the inlet from Granville Market, is the Aquatic Centre on Beach Avenue where Lorna found The Swimmer, "an abstract steel sculpture" which "mimics the action of a swimmer cutting through water." Designed by George Norris and erected in 1977 at the entrance to the pool on Pacific Boulevard.

I have quoted short passages from the city's walk pamphlet because they are appropriately descriptive and brief and I am lazy today.

From here, we parted ways, with Linda and I taking the harbour ferry to Granville Island. The day was mild and sunny, perfect for outings. After a brief walk-about, we caught the #50 bus to Broadway and Cambie and transferred to the 99 B-Line west to Commercial Drive, where we said our good-byes.

Next weekend, we start at Burrard Bridge and walk east along the north shore of False Creek to continue our treasure hunt for public art.

Contributor Virginia

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.