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Snow in Vancouver, Sunday February 27, 2011 at Robson Square, English Bay and Granville Island.

It is a little ironic that Sunday also happened to be the last day of the season for ice skating fans at Robson Square. To celebrate the occasion, TD Bank held a Winter Carnival that featured live DJ music, ice sculpting and street clowns. There were free coffee and chocolate drinks to go with the free skating for those who brought their own skates. Over at English Bay, the sandy beach was all covered in white, but that didn’t stop some ardent visitors who came to build a snowman or two. As one residents said, “Got to do somthing.” At Granville Island, cars parks were filled to 90% capacity. Many were enticed by the all-year round fresh seafood and vegetables, much of it from local suppliers.

Snow in other parts of Canada often turns into a headache for those who live in the city, but not in Vancouver. Much of the snow has already to began to melt in 24 hours as temperatures stayed a few degrees above freezing.
VIDEO – 2011 snow in Vancouver Robson Square, English Bay & Granville ISland

1689 Johnston Street, Granville Island, Vancouver BC

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Famous Australian and British TV entertainer Rolf Harris came to Vancouver in 1961 and he had since then returned to this westcoast Canadian city again and again. In fact, Harris wrote a song called Vancouver Town as an ode to the city. At the PNE 2010 fairgrounds on Aug 26, 2010, with Dal Richards conducting his orchestra, Harris sang an updated Vancouver Town version to include current events and politicians such as the unpopular HST, Mayor Gregor Robertson while some older favorites such as Jimmy Pattison, Grace McCarthy stayed on. The BC Lions was down under and that ain’t Australia either. Oh yeah, The Canucks and Stanley Cup too. English Bay was praised, the venerable Lions Gate Bridge was not. First Nations and native affairs provided satire while heritage buildings, Skytrain, SeaBus and Canada Line all helped paint a colorful setting for the city that Harris liked so much. Harris’s Aussie humor was so hilarious that he grinded down the microphone almost to the ground. I am not kiddiing.

VIDEO—Rolf Harris Updated Vancouver Town Song

PNE, 3000 East Hastings Street Vancouver BC

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On July 31, 2010, A Quebec team paid tribute to China and lit up the night sky with an explosive firework display for all Vancouver to see. That also concluded Celebration of Light 2010. Now that all four contenders have performed, is it Team USA, Team Spain, Team Mexico or Team (Quebec-China) to win it? All the pyrotechnics experts did their job really well this year. Whoever holds the title is for the judges to decide. One thing’s for sure, the real winners is the Vancouver audience and the many visitors who came for this event. Thanks of course to this year’s four major sponsors: The Keg, London Drugs, HSBC and Concord Pacific. Let’s just hope that this immensely popular Celebration of Light fireworks competition continues to attract corporate sponsors and return stronger as ever next year.

Team Quebec-China Part 1, Celebration of Light 2010 (July 31, 2010)

Team Quebec-China Part 2, Celebration of Light 2010 (July 31, 2010)


b>English Bay 2500 Beach Ave. Vancouver BC

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This is Part 2 of the Mexico Night fireworks, amigo. Part 1 is here. Can the Mexican fireworks best the efforts by Team USA and Team Spain? Of course there is still China, the crowd’s favorite, sitting on the sideline eager to steal the prize at the Celebration of Light fireworks competition this Saturday (July31).

VIDEO – Mexican firework highlights (Part 2) Spectacular finish!



Part 1 Mexico fireworks VIDEO

[Note: Music added during post-production by La Cumbia George and Mariachi El Mojado.]

English Bay 2500 Beach Ave. Vancouver BC

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This is Part 1 of the Mexico Night fireworks. Part 2 Mexico Night fireworks is here. Can the Mexican fireworks best the efforts by Team USA and Team Spain? Of course there is still China, the crowd’s favorite, sitting on the sideline eager to steal the prize at the Celebration of Light fireworks competition this Saturday (July31).

I felt that the Mexican fireworks had subtleties and character, yet there are some quiet moments that maybe a bit too long that created a lure. The finale and highlights of the night are crowd-pleasing and second to none for sure. You be the judge to see if the Mexican pyrotechnic lightshow display at Vancouver’s English Bay can beat the Americans, and Spaniard and topple the Chinese later.

VIDEO – Mexican firework highlights (Part 1)


[Note: Music added in post-production by La Cumbia George and Mariachi El Mojado.]

English Bay 2500 Beach Ave. Vancouver BC

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Like Part 1, Part 2 has only the good stuff, no dead spaces. Wide shots to take in the whole view and closer shots for a more intimate look. July 21, 2010 (Wed) Team America.



English Bay 2500 Beach Ave. Vancouver BC
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It is the Americans to go first on July 21, 2010 (Wed) in a series of competitions that also includes Spain (July 24), Mexico (July28) and China (July 31). The 2010 event is the 20th anniversary. Hundreds of thousands of Vancouverites showed up each year to catch the fireworks. Successful as it maybe, this FREE public event experienced financial difficulties in recent years. So much so that organizers weren’t sure whether this year could actually go on. It pulled through in the last minute. The fireworks were lit from a barge moored at about 1000 ft or 300 m off the shoreline of English Bay.



English Bay 2500 Beach Ave. Vancouver BC

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Location: English Bay. The fireworks barge will be 100 ft (300m) off the shore of English Bay.

Best Viewing Location: Around English Bay e.g. English Bay, Kitsilano, Vanier Park, Jericho Beach or anywhere that has a direct sightline of the English Bay shoreline.

Notes: Traffic will be bad. Vehicle access to the West End and Kitsilano areas will be closed off and limited to local residents from 7:30 to 11:30 pm in the West End and from 6 to 11:30 pm in Kits Point. Use public transit or bike. Get there early and prepare to walk. Music simulcast on Shore 104FM.


Schedule:

July 21 (Wed) U.S.A. Fireworks sponsored by The Keg Steakhouse and Bar
July 24 (Sat) Spain Fireworks sponsored by London Drugs
July 28 (Wed) Mexico Fireworks sponsored by HSBC
July 31 (Sat) China Fireworks sponsored by Concord Pacific

Watch 1 minute highlight of 2009 Celebration of Light

English Bay 2500 Beach Ave. Vancouver BC
[googlemaps http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2500+Beach+Ave.+Vancouver+BC&sll=49.284212,-123.142576&sspn=0.021499,0.038409&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=2500+Beach+Ave,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia+V6E+1V3&ll=49.284212,-123.142576&spn=0.015397,0.034246&z=14&iwloc=A&output=embed&w=400&h=275]

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English Bay, 500 Chestnut Street, Vancouver BC

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Vanier Park 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver BC

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