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.

Senior's thoughts

Senior citizens are constantly being criticized
for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world,
real or imaginary.
We know we take responsibility
for all we have done and do not blame others.

HOWEVER,
upon reflection,
we would like to point out
that it was NOT the senior citizens who took:

The melody out of music,

The pride out of appearance,

The courtesy out of driving,

The romance out of love,

The commitment out of marriage,

The responsibility out of parenthood,

The togetherness out of the family,

The learning out of education,

The service out of patriotism,

The Golden Rule from rulers,

The nativity scene out of cities,

The civility out of behavior,

The refinement out of language,

The dedication out of employment,

The prudence out of spending,

The ambition out of achievement,

or,God out of government and school.

And we certainly are NOT the ones
who eliminated
patience and tolerance
from personal relationships and interactions with others!!
And, we do understand the meaning
of patriotism,
and remember those who have fought and died
for our country.

Walking Grp Sat 26th Sep

Sep.26-2009-walking club.
We started with 5 persons Deborah, Flora, Susan, Marie & me. (Linda) We went to New Brighton park and walk to Powell St.to take no 4 bus. At the bus stop Deborah went back home. After the walk we went to Tina's for coffee as it was Isabella`s birthday. We celebrates with a birthday cake and glass wine. It was a nice walk and social day,
Ciao Linda


About the ParkAn unusual combination of outdoor recreation space, industrial facilities, and memorable views, New Brighton is a popular and exciting park. Captivating views of the North Shore, Burrard Inlet, and the grain elevators of Cascadia Terminals are available from the walking trails, outdoor pool, and beach areas.

Below sitted is Tina & hubby George.

The Drift

This is from Therese Milis (55+ artist). She has displayed her work at Artful Sundays at Britannia.
Hi there,
The 5th Annual Drift - Art on Main Street Art Walk & Open Studio Tour is on October 3 & 4, 2009.
Over 100 artists, 35 Artists’ Working Studios & 80 Main Street Shops, Cafes & Galleries team up to host this free 2-day art party! Art will be showing in Main Street Shops and studios October 1-15.
Please note that is opening gala on Friday evening, Oct 2 is cancelled.

I will be showcasing my artwork at MAINSPACE 350 E 2nd Avenue #7 on the attached map.
This year I have been mainly working on Irish monuments, highlighting ancient Irish castles crosses and abbeys.
The Drift is a self-guided art tour. Pick up a Drift 2009 Tour Guide & Map and drift along Main Street in and out of the many small shops and cafes hosting an artist. Meet the artists who will be doing live demonstrations at many of the Drift retail partner locations.
Information:
Art Walk:
Saturday and Sunday, October 3 - 4th, 2009
Main Street, from Industrial to 33rd Avenue
Maps and program can be found at: www.thedrift.ca

Walking club 16Sept

6 people went on the walk , Marilyn, Linda, Ken, Judy, susan, Mariewe walked down the Drive to sky train and got the Millineum train toto New West station (quay).
Walk on Sept 19 2009, to New West Quay, we saw the Royal City stern wheel which was part of Casino now closed and the quay market is closed now.at the quay there are paddle wheel tours on the river and 32 foot soldier created by the royal western Regiment in new west at 6Th and queens Avenue. There is a children activity centre M.V. Expo tugger where they can interact sailing a tug this was created in l986.First market was in New West 1892-1898 bustling market on front street, then moved to Columbia l947-l986, when the quay was built.We saw lots of lovely flowers on the quay walk and 3 Lagoons in the residences on the quay with water fountains. Lulu Island on the river was named after Lulu sweet a debutante who was touring New West and Victoria.there is a park and washroom facilities with a cement submarine and Light House for the children to play as well as playground. In 1860 the first sawmill was built at Fraser mills.Across the river from quay there was a BC ferries dock possible being serviced.

At l:OO PM we sat looking out at the river and ate snack, then walked back to Skytrain , we toured the Samson V Museum which is free and open l2-5 Thurs to Sun and holidays, this stern wheeler sailed up and down the Fraser river and it is 1937 steam powered boat. add information at the end quay walk there is going to construction of underground reservoir with a 7.5 acre waterfront park on top.we walked back to Skytrain and homeward bound. written by Marilyn and Linda supplied Photographs

Britanna Registration

Every season you are required to register for walks, cycling, knitting etc.. They are a free programs but they need to know who is going or interested in the activities. This is to help them continue the programs & get a idea of whether they are worth running and getting volunteers to help.

Bridge Players Wanted!!!

Bridge Players Wanted

Join us at the AML

Mondays 1-4pm

Al Mattison Lounge

contact

604-718-5837

Lisa Co-ordinator

Mon, Wed & Thursday

10-4

as well whist & cribbage available

12 Sep Walking Club

The Walking group Sept 12,2009 walked to Commercial/Broadway station to catch the Millennium Line to Brentwood station and then we caught the No. 123 Canada way bus to Deer Lake.

http://www.greatervancouverparks.com/DeerLake01.html
Deer Lake is where the Burnaby Heritage Village is. http://www.findfamilyfun.com/burnabyvillage.htm There is admission fee and on Canada Day is free. There is the old Interurban that use to run from Vancouver to Chilliwack fully restored and lot of early history of greater Burnaby and Vancouver area.
There were 7 people on the walk today, Virginia, Marilyn, Ken , Linda, Emily, and 2 new people Marie and Robert who we welcomed to our walking group on Saturday. We walked through the Century Gardens which was completed in 1967 and Burnaby official flower is the Rhododendron. There is also a community Clay Sculpture Project between Century Gardens and Shad bolt Theatre where there are lots of theatre plays. In the Shadbolt theatre there is a small coffee shop and from there we enjoyed the flowers and a apple tree which Virginia and Robert sampled and said they were delicious.
We walked to the lake and saw lot of Birds and the beach at Deer lake, across the lake we could see priviate residences on the lake, and on the southwest corner there are lots residences on hill, where the Okalla prison and Burnaby made it into deer lake park extension. Robert and Emily decided to walk up to Kingsway up hill, and the rest of walk back to get the l23 and Sky train back to the centre.
Marilyn (walk leader for this walk)

Reason to get fit???

Volunteers Required 19 Sep!!!

Special Event Assistant - Eastside Family Place 30th Birthday Celebration (Sept. 19)

If you like interacting with children and families, meeting new people, having fun and throwing parties, this is the position for you!
Volunteers are wanted to assist with event set-up, decorations, coordination, hosting activities/games, arts & crafts, information and and general event management. The Eastside Family Place is a support and resource centre for famlies with small children and is located by Britannia's Community Centre.
Volunteers must:
Be mature and reliable
Enjoy interacting with children and families
Be outgoing, and able to take directions
Be able to commit to at least one 4-hour shift on Sept 19 (shifts range throughout the day from 9am-5pm)
An orientation/training will be provided on the day of the event. Opportunities include pre-event decorations or on-site. Lunch, drinks, and snacks will be provided on the day of the event.

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

Walking Group 08 Sep

Today Virginia, Therese & me (Laurette) went on out walk. Therese decided to drive us to Science world instead of taking a bus/skytrain. This would suit her well when we finished our walk as she lives not far from the area & instead of coming back to the centre.
We decided to do the walk on the Vancouver community web site which has a list of walks. This one was one of the 2010 Olympic walks. Well I had the brochure & we followed it as best we could but came to a barricaded area due to a crane & work being done. So we detoured & came upon the dedication to Terry Fox near Gate A at BC Place.
After our walk we went for lunch on Main st at subway & then Therese went home. It was early so Virginia & I went to Metrotown & as well went to see the Dinosaurs. After walking all over, took a coffee break & we set off for home tired.
Scroll down for info & pictures.
False Creek
Take a walk around Vancouver’s Olympic venues. Become familiar with forthcoming Olympic sites and their surroundings. Share the beauty of our City with friends and relatives.Start at the southeast corner of False Creek. Walk west beside the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Village toward the Cambie Street Bridge. Take the stairs up to the bridge and go north to BC Place. Follow the walkway that leads to the northwest corner of BC Place. Walk around BC Place and take the south overpass to return to the False Creek Seawall. Continue east along the seawall until you return to the Village site

Above is Virginia & Therese at the Seawall bridge by the Olympic & Paralympic Village. As well below is a new piece of art they have put up. Nearly missed.

Below is the the Terry Fox Monument Below are the Dinosaurs at the mall. Wow, they had a small baby one that you could push buttons & get it to interact a bit, cute.

05 Sept Walking Club

When I arrived at Britannia Seniors Centre, Linda was waiting outside. Soon Paul came out to explain that the centre had been booked to an outside group for a sleepover so we wouldn't have the use of it for the weekend; he apologized for the inconvenience and offered the library for TV and computers.

Brian and Emily showed up soon after and, given the state of the weather - cloudy with occasional light showers - we decided to wait to see if anyone else might show. While we waited, we spoke with one of the Britannia High School students who was chaperoning the sleepover. He told us that a group of Grade 5-11 students from a small isolated community in the Stikine Valley [north of Pemberton] were here for the final weekend of the PNE.

Yesterday they were treated to rides at Playland on the PNE grounds and today the group would see the Super Dogs and other special events. Tonight, they will attend the hockey game between Canada and Sweden and have seats in the Luongo box for this event. What a wonderful experience these young people are having, something they will always remember with pleasure. Brit Seniors were happy to give up our space so these students could enjoy their first trip to the big city.

From the #20 Downtown bus, we transferred to the #19 Stanley Park. On the bus, we met a group of out-of-town students who just arrived to attend Simon Fraser University. One girl was from Ontario, one from Penticton and the other from Iran. This week is their orientation and they are being shown the city by a Vancouver student; today they were on their way to the aquarium.

At Stanley Park our walk took us into the woods; we followed the miniature railway thinking we were headed straight for the north seawall of Stanley Park, but we ended up back where we started. After a brief stop at a 25-foot Grecian Pillar commemorating WWII battlegrounds in which over 100,000 Canadians lost their lives, we followed a trail to Lumberman's Arch where Brian took a photo. Past the arch, we caught the Trolley Bus which took us around the park to the Teahouse at Third Beach where we stopped for fish and chips, cheesecake and coffee.

Our walk continued along the seawall to Second Beach and English Bay. At Denman and Davie Streets, we were met by a small group of people carrying signs that read, "Free Hugs", so we all hugged each other then boarded the #5 Robson bus to Pender Street. Brian left to catch the Sky Train, Emily went on to Chinatown and Linda and I returned to Commercial Drive.

All in all, it was a day full of surprises. Emily commented that one of the reasons she enjoys being with our group (this is her third outing) is that we find interesting people and events and make them part of our walking experience.
Contributor Virginia

White Rock/Buddhist Temple Bus Trip

Today we went on a local bus trip for an outing. We started out with 16 persons as we had 3 no shows. We went first to the largest Buddhist Monastery in Richmond as you will see on the video I have made. While there, one of the seniors tripped & was not well so she left the group with her hubby.
Afterwards we went to White rock. Once we got there we all broke up into different groups & went for lunch. Most of us walked the 2 1/2klm long promenade following the railway & out onto the 1,500 foot long pier. It was a mild day, overcast but no rain.
Originally we were suppose to go in July but the bus broke down & we rescheduled for this date. In a way it was a good thing as we were having a heat wave that week & the weather was unbearable. Blessing in disguise for us. But today was perfect. The large, white rock figures prominently in narratives of the local Coast Salish native peoples. One legend holds that the Transformers, emissaries of the Sagalie Tyee, the Creator, once passed. Another legend holds that the white rock marks the landing spot of a stone that was hurled across the Strait of Georgia by a young Indian chief.[4] It was said that he and his bride would move from Vancouver Island to wherever the rock landed to make a home together. It was their descendants who became the Semiahmoo first nation. ('Semiahmoo' is the Coast Salish word for 'half-moon', describing the shape of the bay

http://www.greatervancouverhotels.com/richmond/buddhist_temple.htm

Contributor Laurette