Vancouver and Beyond

New items for April 14, 2010:

• Canada travel and tourism: Looking for Canada’s prettiest little town? Try Ontario

New items for April 9, 2010:

• Canada travel and tourism: Transport Canada eases carry-on luggage restrictions, Will you fit? Find out seat size before you fly

New items for April 6, 2010:

• Canada travel and tourism: 48 hours in post-Olympics Vancouver

Vancouver has been recognized as the 2008 Best Walking City in Canada by the Canadian Federation of Podiatric Medicine. Factors contributing to Vancouver’s win include the city’s natural beauty, extensive parks, and the city’s transportation plan which makes walking one of the top transportation priorities. The city invests in transportation options such as widening sidewalks, neighbourhood traffic calming, and increasing greenways. In addition, land-use planning has resulted in higher densities, and a very walkable downtown core, making it a pleasant host city for meetings and conventions. Vancouver was also recognized for the number of kilometres of trails in the city, its ideal year-round temperatures, good air quality and many points of interest. The award was established to raise awareness of the need for safe, accessible and practical urban walking routes which encourage and enable residents to walk as part of their daily life, and lead to healthier citizens and more vibrant communities.

The City of Vancouver has been chosen as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2009 by Mediacorp Canada Ltd., the nation’s largest publisher of employment guides and job-hunting periodicals.

The Top 100 Employers list is the result of a national competition recognizing employers who offer outstanding work environments.

Entries are evaluated on eight different criteria: physical workplace; work and social atmosphere; health, financial and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement.

The City of Vancouver employs more than 9,000 staff through the City, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, the Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services and Vancouver Public Library. The City was cited for many of its employee programs including:

providing mentoring and in-house training, educational and professional development courses, and tuition subsidies for courses related both to an employee’s current position and to their long-term career goals
giving employees discount passes which allows them unlimited access to all pools, rinks and fitness centres managed by the City’s Park Board
providing a number of flexible work arrangements, including a 35-hour work week and telecommuting options
offering comprehensive benefits and an employee savings plan that includes employer-matched funds
providing six-month work experience terms to individuals recovering from drug addiction in partnership with community organizations across the city.
Canada’s Top 100 Employers list will be featured in October 6 issue of Maclean’s magazine, and on the job search website Eluta.ca. Further details are available at www.canadastop100.com.
For more information:
Corporate Communications, 604.871.6336

Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet brings its exquisite brand of hypnotic choreography to Vancouver for the first time.

Where: Centennial Theatre Centre
2300 Lonsdale Avenue
North Vancouver, BC V7M 3L1
When: Oct 09-10, 2008 8:00 pm
Details: Regular $45, Student $35, Senior $40, Eye Go $5

For 25 years, this world-renowned San Francisco-based company has been sharing its vision of transformative, revelatory dance — of vulnerability and tenderness, but also of furious abandon and exhilarating freedom. These two works exemplify Alonzo King’s vision as a choreographer and bring to life a vibrant new language for Western classical ballet.

In Irregular Pearl, choreographer Alonzo King uncovers the freedom that lies inside of form and movement itself. His choreography transcends virtuosity to achieve a unique beauty, a sense of unforced artistry; a luminescence that comes from within.

Rasa features the rhythmic virtuosity of Grammy-award-winning composer and tabla master Zakir Hussain. This collaboration between choreographer King and composer Hussain is both a continuation of a deep tradition and an expression of the contemporary global vision of both artists.

Here is the place you are sure to find some great home remodelling ideas.

Where: B C Place Stadium
Vancouver, BC
When: Oct 16-19, 2008
Details: Adults $14.00 at the door; $12.00 online, Seniors (55+) $10.00, Kids 7–16, $5.00, Children 6 & under Free

The Vancouver Home & Interior Design Show is the one place where you’ll find hundreds of quality products and services for home remodelling, redecorating, landscaping, recreation at home and fine home living. Plus, you’ll enjoy entertaining features and special guest speakers.

http://www.bchomeandgardenshow.com/ME2/Sites/default.asp?

Discover some of the stories behind the cranberries garnishing our Thanksgiving dinners.

Where: Fort Langley National Historic Site
23433 Mavis
BC V1M2R5
When: Oct 11, 2008, Sat 10:00 am-5:00 pm

Fort Langley was exporting cranberries internationally long before Vancouver was even built. Cranberries don’t come from a can! At Fort Langley, First Nations people brought canoe loads of cranberries to trade. These were then shipped to San Francisco to be sold to gold prospectors – a vital source of vitamin C long before oranges were widely cultivated in California.

Bring the family and celebrate our proud berry history by enjoying the cranberry harvest at the 13th annual Cranberry Festival.

For all Brave Families! Come rain, gloom, or waxing moon! Wear your costumes and bring your flashlights and cameras.
Where: Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel
6501 Deer Lake Avenue
Burnaby, BC V5G 3T6
When: Oct 18-28, 2008 6:00 pm-9:00 pm
Details: Call the information line at 604.293.6501 for more details.
The Burnaby Village Museum, Metropolis at Metrotown, & Tourism Burnaby present a combination of history, mystery, walking and riding. Visit ominous buildings, hear the ghostly stories, and learn about expressions like “dead ringer.”

Dress warmly — though all the chills may not be from the weather!

Tony Robbins invites you to experience this powerful weekend event!
Where: Thunderbird Stadium
Stadium Road University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
When: Oct 17-20, 2008
Details: UBC Thunderbird Arena
Unleash The power within is for people of action and influence. “Unleash the power within” is for people of action and influence. Be a part of an incredibly entertaining environment that empowers you to take action immediately to transform your life forever.

http://www.powerwithin.com/