Local

If you’re in the Metro Vancouver area, you can find anything from dining, to shopping and other events. There’s lots to see and do in Vancouver, and you’ll find some of it here. Be sure to view the Events Calendar for local celebrations.

Anime, Local

VIFF to host first ever Anime Day

June 27, 2019 • • Post a commment

The Vancouver International Film Festival is hosting their first ever Anime Day this Sunday, June 30th, 2019 with four films at the Vancity Theatre in downtown Vancouver.

These four films are Penguin Highway, Made in Abyss: Journey’s Dawn, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Millennium Actress.

In Penguin Highway, penguins start to materialize in Aoyama’s home town, causing confusion among the locals. While Aoyama works to find out from where and why the penguins have come, he finds that involves a local dental assistant… Penguin Highway is based on a novel by Tomihiko Morimi.

From a manga series by Akihito Tsukushi, Made In Abyss: Journey’s Dawn follows young orphan Riko as she journeys down through a massive volcano. Joining Riko is a small robotic boy that she has named after her lost dog, Reg.

Mamoru Hosoda’s popular film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time returns to the big screen. Finding that she can go back in time to events in her past, Makoto Konno takes advantage of this ability, but it’s not without consequences. Her friends and family become affected by these leaps into her past, Makoto must undo the damage shes done before she loses everyone she loves.

Millennium Actress is the second film by Satoshi Kon where a reporter infatuated with actress Chiyoko Fujiwara, who lives out of the public eye. Granting this reporter a single chance to interview her, Fujiwara’s storytelling begins to blend fact and fiction into an incredible tale, one that combines her on screen presence and personal life together.

Tickets are available online, including a day pass for viewing all four films at $30 CAD.

Source: VIFF

Local

Canada Day events for 2019

June 23, 2019 • • Post a commment

Canada Day 2018 at Canada Place

Communities around Metro Vancouver are hosting celebrations for Canada’s 152nd birthday this Monday, July 1st, 2019. There’s plenty of fun with food, parades, music, festivals and yes, fireworks! Bonne fête Canada!

These are just some of the events happening around Metro Vancouver. Check your local community’s event calendar for hours and locations.

Local

Carnaval del Sol brings Latin culture back for 2019

June 9, 2019 • • Post a commment

Latin American food brings everyone together at Carnaval del Sol.

Add some Latin American flair to your summer at Carnaval del Sol, returning for its eleventh year at Concord Pacific Place on Saturday, July 6th and Sunday, July 7th, 2019.

This two-day event is the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest and incorporates food, fun, music and more from countries in Central and South America. Multiple plazas focus on many aspects of these cultures: food, arts, family, kids, health and wellness, kids, beer, and travel. Soccer is a huge part of Latin culture, so there’s also a soccer tournament during both days at Andy Livingstone Park.

Carnaval del Sol closes off the Latin American Week, which includes cruises, the Canada Day parade, a Latin film night, a look into Afro-Latin history, and wining and dancing.

Carnaval del Sol is hosted at Concord Pacific Place, 88 Pacific Blvd in Vancouver. There is a $2.00 admission this year for single day access (or a $15.00 VIP pass for use on both days, including access to the beer garden and VIP areas), and is easily reachable by transit with a quick walk from either the Stadium-Chinatown or Main Street-Science World SkyTrain stations.

Local

TransLink fares set to increase on July 1, 2019

May 22, 2019 • • Post a commment
Compass Cards

TransLink fares are increasing on Monday, July 1st, 2019.

On Monday, July 1st, 2019 transit fares around Metro Vancouver will rise as part of TransLink’s on-going improvements to SkyTrain, SeaBus, bus and other services.

Single trip fares will see a five cent increase, while concession fares go up five cents; monthly passes will cost three dollars more (concession by two dollars). Stored Value Compass cards will go up by ten cents. Purchasing a DayPass will cost 25 cents more. The table below breaks down the cost per zone and fare type.

 

 

 

Single Use/Cash Tickets
Zone Current Fare New Fare
   Adult
1 $2.95 $3.00
2 $4.20 $4.25
3 $5.70 $5.75
   Concession
1 $1.90 $1.95
2 $2.90 $2.95
3 $3.90 $3.95
Stored Value Compass Card
   Adult
1 $2.30 $2.40
2 $3.35 $3.45
3 $4.40 $4.50
   Concession
1 $1.85 $1.95
2 $2.85 $2.95
3 $3.85 $3.95
Monthly Pass
   Adult
1 $95.00 $98.00
2 $128.00 $131.00
3 $174.00 $177.00
   Concession
All Zones $54.00 $56.00
Day Pass
   Adult
All Zones $10.25 $10.50
   Concession
All Zones $8.00 $8.25

Source: TransLink

Local

BC Ferries fares to go up June 1st, 2019

May 17, 2019 • • Post a commment

BC Ferries vessel MV Queen of Oak Bay arrives at Horseshoe Bay.

The cost of taking BC Ferries is about to go up thanks to a new 1.5% fuel surcharge starting June 1st, 2019.

On routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, this is an additional 25 cents for an adult passenger and 85 cents for a vehicle. For the smaller inter-island routes, this is 15 cents for adult passengers and 45 cents for a vehicle.

BC Ferries uses fuel surcharges/rebates to offset the fluctuations in the price of fuel. Rebates are given at time of ticket purchase when the cost of fuel is low, while surcharges are added when the prices are high.

Sources: BC Ferries

Local

Honda Celebration of Light 2019 dates and countries revealed

April 9, 2019 • • Post a commment

Japan’s performance in 2017

The Honda Celebration of Light returns to Vancouver’s English Bay this summer with three fun filled nights of fireworks synchronized to music. For 2019, the line-up includes two new participant countries are joining host country Canada – India and Croatia.

This is the 29th year the event has lit up the city, with India starting first on Saturday, July 27th, 2019, followed by Canada on Wednesday, July 31st, 2019 and then Croatia on Saturday, August 3rd, 2019.

Leading up to the pyrotechnic display, which begins at 10:00 pm, there will be live music and a selection of food trucks. For those wanting a more comfortable seat, there are three viewing lounges offering premium views (at a price); tickets are available online through the Honda Celebration of Light web site.

Source: Honda Celebration of Light

Local

BC Ferries wants your feedback for new ships for Metro Vancouver-Vancouver Island routes

March 19, 2019 • • Post a commment
<em>MV Queen of New Westminster</em> manoeuvres into Duke Point in Nanaimo.

MV Queen of New Westminster manoeuvres into Duke Point in Nanaimo.

With some of BC Ferries’ older vessels reaching the end of their life, the company is looking for input on the amenities and features for the next generation of vessels. BC Ferries is hosting both an online survey and in-person pop-ups on select sailing routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

These new vessels would replace four serving the routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island: MV Queen of Alberni, MV Queen of New Westminster, MV Queen of Coquitlam, and MV Queen of Cowichan. These vessels serve on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen-Duke Point and Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay routes.

BC Ferries is looking to maintain fare affordability, minimize environmental impact, adjust capacity based on demand and services provided on board. Feedback regarding accessibility, people travelling with children, pets or using bicycles, as well as outdoor spaces, food/drink options and other conveniences is requested.

The new ferries are expected to enter service in the mid-2020’s.

Local

Welcome spring with Sakura Days Japan Fair 2019

March 19, 2019 • • Post a commment

Hojo Hand-Crafted Samurai Armor Corps from Japan appeared at the festival in 2018.

It just isn’t spring without a stop at the Sakura Days Japan Festival. Located in the beautiful VanDusen Botanical Gardens, this two-day event celebrates everything Japanese in a fun festival atmosphere. The gardens host this fair between 10:00 am PDT to 6:00 pm PDT on Saturday, April 13th and 10:00 am PDT to 5:00 pm PDT on Sunday, April 14th, 2019.

Spend the weekend with Japanese culture through live performances, music, food, arts, demonstrations and crafts and more under the budding pastel sakura — the Japanese cherry blossom. Two performers from Japan are scheduled to attend: taiko drummer Keita Kanazashi and shamisen players KiKi.

As the festival takes place in the outdoors, bring appropriate attire as it may rain or the fields might have mud. Parking is limited, so save the hassle and take transit (either the #17 bus, or walk from the Oakridge-41st Avenue Canada Line Station west along 41st Avenue, and then north along Oak Street) to reach VanDusen Botanical Gardens (about a 15-20 minute stroll).

Paid admission is required for entry; tickets are available for purchase online (includes discount) or in person at the door.

Conventions, Local

British Columbia conventions for 2019

January 13, 2019 • • Post a commment

You can be a hero or a villain at one of the many conventions in BC!

Kick off 2019 with anime, pop culture, comics, gaming, movies and horror by attending a convention this year in British Columbia. While there’s plenty of events in and around Metro Vancouver, the rest of the province still has a few places for fans to band together for fun on the island and in the interior.

For more information, lists of guests and to register, visit the links below to use each event’s web site.

  • AniRevo Winter – February 2nd – 3rd, 2019 at Lipont Place in Richmond, BC
    AniRevo Winter is a two-day event to bridge the year-long wait until their summer convention, filled with guests, artists, vendors and more.
  • Tsukino-Con – February 22nd – 24th, 2019 at the University of Victoria in Victoria, BC
    Tsukino-Con celebrates everything anime and manga related for fans on Vancouver Island in a fun and friendly environment.
  • Fan Expo Vancouver – March 1st – 3rd, 2019 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, BC
    The west coast’s largest comics, pop culture and anime expo returns to the Vancouver Convention Centre with guests, panels, exhibitors and more!
  • Kelowna Fan Experience – March 22nd – 24th, 2019 at the Kelowna Community Theatre in Kelowna, BC
    There’s something for everyone at the Kelowna Fan Experience who are into all things pop culture, anime, manga, comics, sci-fi, movies, gaming and horror.
  • Vancouver Island Comic Con – June 9th, 2019 at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney, BC.
    Vancouver Island Comic Con is a smaller event in an inviting atmosphere for comic fans of all ages to share their love of this artistic medium.
  • Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo – June 22nd, 2019 at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, BC.
    Relive the glory days of video games at the Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo. Try out consoles from generations past, enjoy live entertainment and maybe pick up that extra game cart for old times’ sake.
  • Geektopia – July 6th, 2019 at the Harbour Convention Centre in Vancouver, BC
    Unleash your inner geek at Vancouver’s newest comic convention! Partial proceeds from this event benefits the Amanda Todd Legacy towards awareness and prevention of bullying.
  • AniRevo Summer – August 9th – 11th, 2019 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, BC
    AniRevo his quickly expanded to become Metro Vancouver’s largest Japanese pop culture festival with guests from North America and Asia, vendors, panels and more.
  • Vancouver Halloween Parade and Expo – October 11th – 13th, 2019 at Robson Square in Vancouver, BC
    Don your favourite outfit and join the “world’s largest cosplay stage” as you parade through Vancouver’s downtown core! There’s more than just a parade with guests, panels, and musical performances.

Additional events will be added to this list as dates and locations become available.

In Pictures, Local

VanDusen Gardens glows for Festival of Lights 2018

December 13, 2018 • • Post a commment

With the holiday season in high gear, the VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver are decked out in millions of Christmas lights for another year of the Festival of Lights.

The Festival of Lights is on now until January 6th, 2019. Tickets are required for entry and available online or in person. Dress appropriately as it may be cold or wet. Parking is limited, but transit is always an option (either with the 17 bus or a short walk north from the 41 bus).

Can’t make it? Check out the photos from the this year’s event on Gallery.

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On Gallery

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More photos...

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