We live right next to one of the most commercialized nations on the Earth. The result? Everybody knows the story behind the Statue of Liberty, WTC and Capitol Hill, but not many people have even remotely considered the possibility that there might be something grand in Canada - except for its nature, of course. Maybe it’s time to take on a bit of an American attitude and properly promote some of Canada's breathtaking structures. This article will prove that Canadians not only think big, but that they can build epic! The following few paragraphs will walk you through the vastest, longest, tallest, and most expensive structures in the country.

Confederation Bridge (Prince Edward Island – New Brunswick)

The Confederation bridge, formerly known as the “Fixed link”, is the longest bridge in Canada and one of the longest continuous multi-span marine bridges in the world. It links Prince Edward Island with mainland New Brunswick, Canada.

The completion of the 12.9 kilometre (8 mile), 11 metre wide, and 40 metre high bridge spanning the Abegweit passage of the Northumberland Strait took four years to construct (1993-1997) and cost 1.3 billion Canadian dollars. The Confederation Bridge is a two-lane highway toll bridge that carries the Trans-Canada Highway between Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island (at Route 1) and Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick (at Route 16). The bridge rests on 62 piers, with the main piers at 250 metres (820 feet). The speed limit on the bridge is 80 kilometres per hour (50 miles per hour). It takes about 10 minutes to cross the entire length of the bridge, making it one of the longest above-water rides in the world.

Controversy Behind the Bridge

Toll revenues are currently at their lowest since the bridge opened. The tolls charged by Strait Crossing Bridge Limited (SCBL), a subsidiary of the Strait Crossing Development Inc. consortium which, built the structure for between C$25 to C$30 million a year. Since the original tendered price of C$1 billion was reached by C$330 million, the consortium’s expenses have increased considerably, since it’s their responsibility to cover it. Going over budget, along with the enormous operating costs for the bridge, makes it one of the most demanding structures ever built in Canada!

Hibernia Oil Rig (Jeanne d’Arc Basin, Newfoundland and Labrador)

Hibernia GBS by Wikimedia Commons

Hibernia is the largest Canadian offshore drilling project. Hibernia is located in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin, 315 kilometres east of St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, at a water depth of 80 metres. The Hibernia oil field consists primarily of two reservoirs named Hibernia and Avalon. These are located at average depths of 3,700 and 2,400 metres, respectively.

The sheer vastness of the field reflects its potential. The field allocates approximately three billion barrels of oil. In-place and recoverable reserves are estimated to climb up to 1,200 million barrels. In 2009, the total crude oil production hit 126,000 barrels per day. Hibernia production reached 667 million barrels of crude oil by the end of 2009.

Construction

The Hibernia field developed a-one-of-a-kind gravity base structure strong enough to withstand a collision with a one-million-ton iceberg (expected to occur once every 500 years) and a direct hit from a six-million-ton iceberg (expected once every 10,000 years). Hibernia’s enormous 450,000-ton gravity base structure consists of a 105.5-metre concrete caisson made of high-strength concrete reinforced with steel rods and pre-stressed tendons. The caisson is surrounded by an icewall that consists of 16 concrete teeth.

Inside this immense gravity structure are storage tanks for 1.3 million barrels of crude oil. The two drill shafts, each housing 32 drill slots to accommodate the wells, are both over 111 metres high. Drills will reach depths of more than 3,700 metres below sea level, the depth necessary for the oil extraction.

The topsides have a design capacity of 23,900 cubic metres per day , based on the 98 million cubic metre (615 million barrel) production estimate. The topside facilities consist of five super modules (processing, wellhead, mud, utilities, and accommodation for 185 people) as well as seven topside mounted structures (helideck, flareboom, piperack, main and auxiliary lifeboat stations, and two drilling modules).

Olympic Stadium and The Tower of Montreal (Montreal, Quebec)

Olympic Stadium and The Tower
of Montreal by Alain Carpentier

The stadium was originally built for the 1976 Summer Olympics. The stadium is the largest in Canada when it comes to the seating capacity and is used by baseball, soccer, and football teams for their major matches even now. The stadium can accommodate over 78,322 visitors at its fullest capacity. The Olympic Stadium is commonly referred to as the “The Big O,” a reference to both its name and to the doughnut-shape of the permanent component of the stadium’s roof. “The Big Owe” has been used to reference the astronomical cost of the stadium. The Tower of Montreal is an integral part of the stadium. At 175 metres, it is the tallest inclined tower in the world.

“The Big Owe”

1970 initial projections were C$134 million. In 2006, the year that stadium's cost were paid in full, the total was C$1.61 billion! How did the Olympic Stadium go from an expensive but worthwhile investment to an astronomically overpriced project that ranks second in the list of the world's most expensive stadiums ever built, list right after Wembley Stadium in London? The question brought political death to many of those behind the construction of the “Big O.”

In May 1976, the Quebec government even had to introduce a special tax to raise the money that would cover the vast expenses and help recoup the investment. The 1976 special tobacco tax act stipulated that once the stadium was paid off, ownership of the facility would be returned to the City of Montreal. This is, however, heavily questioned, given that the stadium will need reconstructions sooner or later and the annual profit of $20 million in revenue might not cover for the expenses, pushing Montreal into the debt trap once again.

West Edmonton Mall (Edmonton, Alberta)

West Edmonton Mall
by Šarunas Sarunas Burdulis

The West Edmonton Mall is the largest shopping mall in North America and the fifth largest in the world. It was the world’s largest mall until 2004!

The West Edmonton Mall covers an unbelievably vast area of about 570,000 metres squared (over 6 million square feet). The mall features attractions like Ed’s Recreation Centre, the Ice Palace Sea Lions, Rock World Waterpark, Galaxyland, and many more. West Edmonton Mall accommodates over 800 stores and services and over 20,000 parking spaces.

The mall is one of the largest employers in the region, currently employing well over 23,000 people. The mall attracts 60,000 to 150,000 shoppers daily, making its annual spin approximately 28.2 million visitors. In January 2007, the mall was valued at C$926 million.

The expansion of the mall will continue, as 30,000 square metres (320,000 square feet) of new shops, sport facilities, a 12-storey office building, and a 600-unit apartment building are to be built within the next few years.

Syncrude Tailings Dam (Fort McMurray, Alberta )

Syncrude Tailings Dam
by Wikimedia Commons

The name Syncrude Tailings Dam traditionally refers to the Mildred Lake Settling Basin, an embankment dam that is, by volume of construction material, the largest dam in the world. It lies 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Fort McMurray at the northern end of the Mildred Lake lease. The dam is owned by Syncrude Canada Ltd. and serves as a barrage used to store tailings (leftover slimes and residues) that appear as by-products of the oil extraction operation.

The Mildred Lake Settling Basin is filled with water for the long term rather than being quickly filled by solids as in many other tailings dams. The embankment has a circumference of 18.2 kilometres and it is 40 metres high on average, with its highest point at approximately 88 metres. It is over 540 million cubic metres in volume.

Toxic Danger

It might seem like the dam itself doesn’t pose any threat to the surrounding cities and wildlife. However, many non-governmental organizations argue that not only oil sands, but also the dam itself have a huge negative impact on the local environment. Only three years ago, Alberta experienced its first campaign defending hundreds of migratory ducks trapped on toxic oil sands pond. The discussion of whether the hype in the town of Fort McMurray connected to the dam development was adequate is also beginning to attract the attention. Someone has to pay the price of success. The disadvantages of oil sands and dams like Syncrude Tailings are slowly beginning to upset local authorities and citizens. The question is, will we be able to stop the negative effects or is it too late?

The Most Epic Structures in Canada

Post from: Vancouver REALTOR® Jay Banks

Not only are they dangerous for your personal health, but they also pose a serious threat to your property. They carry around various contagious diseases, and some of them seem as if they've come around just for one reason: slowly, but steadily destroy your house and push you out of your comfort zone. We’re talking about pests, practically at small creatures with the power to reduce the quality of our lives significantly. They’re something you can't overlook, but with the right procedures and a rapid response time, it’s not a problem that can't be dealt with. This article will help you recognize the most common and dangerous pests in Vancouver and find professional help, and give you tips what can you do to prevent them from returning and wave them goodbye forever.

Rats

These rodents can fit through openings that are as small as half an inch in diameter; therefore, it is almost impossible to rat-proof your home. Roof rats are very keen at climbing and can therefore find entry points up on the roof as well. Norway rats burrow to a depth of four feet, and can therefore find entry points into crawl spaces and basements. They have also unbelievably strong jaws, making them almost unstoppable. When hungry, they are capable of eating their way in through any material you put between them and the food. Both types of rats are very capable swimmers and can travel through sewer lines and into homes.

Rats are usually 6-10 inches long, ranging from black through brown to grey, colour, and they weigh from 6 to 17 ounces. A very distinct feature of rats are their long tails and pointy noses.

However, they’re very hard to prevent from entering your property, there are some things to make it harder for them to infest your environment.

• Keep firewood away from your home. Firewood might serve as a shelter to rats.
• If you have a bird feeder, allow birds to clean up birdseed that has fallen before adding more. Birdseed on the ground attracts rodents to your yard and ultimately can attract them into your home.
• Trim weeds, bushes, and densely growing plants like ivy and berry thickets. Keep branches from touching the roof or siding of house to make them impossible to climb onto.
• Keep dry goods (including pet food) in plastic containers that mask the smell of food.
• Keep garbage in properly sealed containers.
• Sanitize your house.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches by Anil Jadhav

Adult cockroaches are pale brown with two dark stripes on their head; babies (called nymphs) are nearly all black. They have an oval-shaped, flattened body, two long antennae that sweep around their bodies, and wings although they do not fly. Adults are between 1/2" to 5/8" long; babies are approximately half the size of adults.

These pests are among the most creepy and ugly ones you can encounter. They carry all types of diseases, and they’re nocturnal, highly reproductive insects. They travel along water pipes and hide in tight, warm, dark places like electrical outlets, refrigerator motors, and under kitchen appliances.

Cockroaches are always brought into a home from the outside. They do not infest because of sanitation problems, although poor sanitation doesn’t help. They can be brought into a home in groceries, bags, boxes, clothing, laundry — pretty much anything, so it’s a good idea to check whatever you’re carrying into your home thoroughly. It’s wise to seek professional help in order to get rid of them efficiently.

Wasps

Wasp by Thom Quine

Half an inch to 5/8 inches long, with black-and-yellow coloured coat, wasps are the original paper makers in the world. Their nests are usually cone-shaped and can be found in walls or hanging from trees or buildings. Some wasps even build their nests underground. In the summer there may be as many as 4,000 of them in a single colony. They generally become more aggressive late in the summer when the new queens for the next season are being produced.

Colonies survive for one year only, never reusing the same nest for the next season. Fertilized queens hibernate overwinter, and those that survive it, build a new nest with a colony in the spring. This doesn’t mean that you’ll always get rid of them after one season, however — they usually don’t go too far from the original nest.

It is better to seek professional pest control instead of trying to remove the nest yourself. Wasps are very aggressive if you try to manipulate their nests. You should look out for any signs of wasp nests — especially if you or any member of your family suffer from allergies. In such cases, a wasp attack could be extremely dangerous.

Pharaoh Ants

Pharaoh Ant by Wikimedia Commons

Since pharaoh ants are usually brought into your household, there is practically no way to prevent them from entering. It is easier to spot a cockroach on the bag you're carrying than a tiny ant.

Generally, their nests are very hard to find since they incorporate them into every parts of your house, like the floor, walls, above the ceiling, or behind the baseboards. Human households attract them with their heat and moisture — the ideal conditions to set up a colony. Once a nest is established, it can split at any time to form a new nest. Because of this, when a nest experiences distress, it might split and cause new nests to pop up nearby. This spreading of pharaoh colonies is another factor that makes the problem difficult to treat. Do not try to spray the ants with any pesticide, as killing a few ants will bring distress to the entire colony and cause it to spread.

Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs by Lauren

Bed bugs are one of the greatest nuisances to have at your house, mainly because of their direct interaction with humans. They’re 1/4"–3/8" long, skin-biting creatures. They feed off dead human skin, leaving red marks on your body. They do this at night, so most of the people don’t even notice them. They lay approximately 200 eggs in their life cycle at a rate of one to five a day. You can recognize their presence by these signs.

• Black spots where the bugs have been
• Blood stains on mattresses and sheets
• Presence of a musty, sweet odour in the room (like fresh raspberries)
• Presence of red, itchy spots on a person

The experts from BC Pest Control advise the following:

A thorough inspection may take several hours, but is indispensable. Treat any bed bugs found with an appropriately labeled pesticide; in general, aerosols and liquids are best, but dusts are better for under baseboards, the tac-strip area under carpets, and voids including outlet boxes and the inner framework of sofas and stuffed chairs. The proper use of steam has proven to be an effective means of control in certain situations such as mattresses, boxsprings, stuffed furniture, stuffed toys, etc., but depth of penetration can be a problem. Use the large nozzle 1.5 from the surface and move slowly.

To read more about how to take care of these unwanted guests, visit BC Pest Control's site.

In all cases of pest infestation, it is always wiser to seek professional help. Here are some tips for companies you can contact for help with your little invaders:

• Canadian Pest Control Ltd.
• CARE Pest & Wildlife Control
• BC Bug Pest & Wildlife Control
• Avon Pest Control
• Ideal Pest Control
• Pest No Problem

Vancouver Pest Control Tips & Tricks

Post from: Vancouver REALTOR® Jay Banks

Our market remained in a balanced state for most of the year, although higher levels of demand for detached properties in the region’s largest communities caused prices in certain areas to rise higher than others. For example, the benchmark price of a single-family detached home experienced double-digit increases in nine areas within the region over the last 12 months.

Rosario Setticasi, REBGV president, summed up the 2011 real estate market development.

New listings for detached, attached, and apartment properties reached 1,629, decreasing 4.1 per cent compared to December 2010, when new listings reached 1,699. This represents a rapid 49.4 per cent fall compared to the previous month’s 3,222 sales.

The MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in the Greater Vancouver Area has experienced an increase of 7.6 per cent over the last year, climbing up to $621,674 since December 2010. Since reaching the top of $630,921 in June 2011, prices are experiencing a mere 1.5 per cent increase.

Net residential property sales of detached, attached, and apartment properties reached 32,390, growing by 5.9 per cent compared to December 2010, when property sales run up to 30,595. This represents a 9.2 per cent downturn compared to the 2009 sales reaching 35,669.

• Detached property sales (774 units) experienced a 4.6 per cent decrease compared to December 2010 (811 units) and a 32.9 per cent decline compared to December 2009 (1,154 units). The benchmark price increased 3.7 per cent from December 2010 to $401,396.

• Apartment property sales (1,000) decreased 4.9 per cent compared to December 2010 (1,052) and decreased 28.4 per cent compared to December 2009 (1,396). The benchmark price increased by 2.7 per cent from December 2010 to $399,686.

• Attached property sales (254 units) experienced a 20.4 per cent decline compared to December 2010 (319 units), and a 44.7 per cent decrease compared to December 2009 (459 units). The benchmark price increased by 4.2 per cent since December 2010 to $511,499.

Greater Vancouver Real Estate Market Results: December

Post from: Vancouver REALTOR® Jay Banks

New Year’s Eve is just around the corner. Another year, another reason to celebrate. Seems like we’ve barely finished with Christmas gifts and we’re stuck trying to figure out what to do on the craziest night of the year. This NYE’s events offer a surprisingly diverse mixture of parties, fireworks, traditional sleepovers, great food, and fabulous drinks. Whether you want to dress to the nines and head out to the last glamourous party of this year or you want to spend the night with your family, you have plenty of options to choose from. This article brings you a list of the most interesting events and venues to go to on this NYE.

New Year’s Eve for Families

Robson Square Ice Rink

Robson Square Ice Rink by Casey Yee

Robson Square Ice Rink has always been one of the most popular places to visit in Vancouver. Last winter, over 8,300 people visited this wonderful venue, bringing fun to Vancouverites and their children. Like every year without exception, Robson Square is going to host the 2012 new Year’s Eve celebration. You can look forward to live music, stilt walkers, witches, sorcerers, and a magician’s stage show. The early countdown at 8:00 P.M. will hopefully be a satisfactory compensation for the youngest children who have to go to bed early, and free noisemakers and glow sticks won’t bother their parents too much in 2012!

14th Annual Bright Nights in Stanley Park

Bright Nights in Stanley Park
by Marcin Chady

The Vancouver Park Board and British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund prepared this night full of lights and magical atmosphere for you once again. The train ride through the forest decorated with two million lights, various animated displays, and Christmas songs will ride from 3:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M. on NYE. Creations brought to you by Mortal Coil’s will make this ride even more enjoyable for you and your children. This most spectacular display of lights in Canada has over 200,000 annual visitors, so make sure to purchase your place in the ride in advance. Tickets cost $9 for adults and $6 for children. You can buy tickets through 1-855-985-5000 or by visiting Ticketmaster’s website or any of its sales locations. If you happen to be at Stanley park, you can get tickets at the ticket booth in the train Plaza.

Vancouver Aquarium New Year’s Eve Sleepover 2011

New Year’s Eve Sleepover 2011

Vancouver aquarium celebrates the 25th anniversary of their sleepover program, and no fan of the ocean should miss this event. More than 70,000 residents of the aquarium are looking forward to host this unique “whale of a year” celebration. The cost of the event is quite reasonable, as opposed to some other similar events organized over the past years: $190 for adults and youth between 13-18 years ($152 for members) and $140 for children between 6-12 years ($112 for members). You can look forward to a 4-D Theatre presentation, a special beluga show, a unique behind-the-scenes tour, including the aquarium’s research area, retro sleepover activities, a gourmet dessert buffet and breakfast, and many other amazing activities. To register, call 604-659-3552 Monday to Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. or send an e-mail to

NYE Party Vancouver

Solid NYE with Tiesto

Place: Pacific Coliseum, 100 North Renfrew St.
Time: 8:00 P.M. to 3:00 A.M.

DJ Tiesto has decided to end the year 2011 in a big style. Prepare to be blown away by the vastest party of the ending year. Pacific Coliseum, the 5,000-capacity home of the Vancouver Giants, promises “the most trance-inducing light show this side of Ibiza.” Tickets are currently sold at $180 and up.

New Year’s Eve Club Crawl

Place: Roxy Nightclub, 932 Granville St.
Time: 7:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M.

This is not the party for everybody. It might get unexpectedly crazy! Tickets run for $30 and up. You start at the Roxy, then make your way to Shark Club and Blarney Stone. You’ve never experienced such a ride in your life — all without paying any covers or lining up!

Pan Pacific NYE 2012 Grand Gala

Place: Pan Pacific Hotel, 300-999 Canada Place
Time: 8:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M.

Are you a tuxedo/gown type? Do you like to dress extremely fancily and be with people with similar taste? Than you want to hit the Pan Pacific Hotel’s NYE party. Pan Pacific has prepared a red carpet-paparazzi-style photo shoot, live music in the Grand Ballroom, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, and many other high-class surprises only for $90.

New Year’s Eve Events in Vancouver

Post from: Vancouver REALTOR® Jay Banks

From this part of the world, it seems that everyone must celebrate Christmas the way we do and are so proud of. But don’t be too fast with your ethnocentric judgments; our choice of the strangest Christmas customs from around the globe will certainly change your notion of the typical festive time celebration rituals.

Caga Tia

Caga Tia, or the pooping log, is one of the most popular Christmas Traditions in Catalonia. The log is hollowed out so that it can be filled with small candies, nuts, or fruits and has legs and a smiley face painted on it. Beginning December 8th, kids must feed him every day and make sure Caga Tia is covered with a blanket, so that it doesn’t catch cold. On Christmas Eve, the log gets beaten with sticks until it poops all its content (the last piece must be onion, garlic, or herring). After the log gave out all it has to offer, it’s usually thrown into the fireplace…

Spider and Web

Silver Spider by Kate Renkes

In Ukraine, apart from ordinary ornaments, Christmas trees carry one special piece of decoration — a spider and his web, usually made of plastic. It’s hidden somewhere around the tree and brings luck to the first person from the family who finds it. The tradition stems from the old story about a poor mother who couldn’t afford nice decorations. However, when she woke up one morning, a spider had decorated her tree with its beautiful silver webs and saved her children’s merry Christmas Eve.

Christmas for the Dead

In Portugal, dead members of the family aren’t forgotten on Christmas Day. In the morning, a feast called “consoda” is held. The family gathers to eat and invites dead people over to join them by setting the table for extra places and serving extra food in case some of the deceased show up after all.

Rollerblades Rock!

The city of Caracas in Venezuela came up with a contemporary tradition suited for athletes. All the streets in this buzzing city are blocked off so that churchgoers are free to get to festive masses by roller-skates. Maybe we should think of something similar — getting a bit of exercise during the holiday over-eating can’t be wrong!

Caganer by Wikimedia Commons

Caganer

South-European states are crazy about their tradition of Caganer, or “Shitter” in English. Caganer is a character added to the usual model Betlehem as we know it — including Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. However, his special feature is that he is shown in the act of defecating, with pants down on his knees and a pile of feces under at his heels. For obvious reasons, he is put in the corner of the holy scene. These days, Caganer takes on various characters, including celebrities, politicians, or Santa himself.

Broom Hideout

In Norway, all the brooms in the household have to be hidden on Christmas Day, as the legend says that witches and evil spirits wander the country to find brooms to ride on in the sky. As the evil creatures are let loose, men sometimes go outside and fire from a shotgun to thwart them away.

World’s Strangest Christmas Traditions

Post from: Vancouver REALTOR® Jay Banks

Not many social networking sites, message boards, blogs, internet dating sites, and other online resources that are used to connect people on the daily basis advertise the online safety issue. Some of them are used for online meet-ups only; some of them even result in face to face get-togethers. What all of these online services have in common is the risk of personal data exposure and abuse. How can you prevent this? This article will give you crucial advice on how to avoid problems that might arise from your communication with others on the Internet.

The first thing you should keep in mind is that people you’ve met online might not fbe who they say they are. A man in Belgium clearly ignored the potential danger, and after a set of conversations with someone who introduced herself as a single woman on Facebook, agreed on a real-world date. The single woman turned out to be a bit more masculine than he expected. Two criminals attacked him and took his keys. Before he reached the police, they managed to rob his flat and office.

Another very unfortunate story is from the U.S. More than 55 million American adults use online dating services or classifieds. Although Internet services make our life much easier and it helps us solve our problems faster as well, sometimes we should slow down and double check just in case. Unfortunately, there are people who are very capable of exploiting the trust we place in the Internet. The tragic case of Katherine Olson, who was brutally murdered after she answered an ad for a babysitter job on Craigslist, an Internet bulletin board, speaks for itself. Another one of the terrifying series is the case of Jeffrey Marsalis, who has been convicted of multiple rape, performed mainly on women he lured online.

Here is some advice for safely meeting people online:

Don’t Give Away Your Personal Information

It is quite common that Internet criminals spend quite some time on one victim. Thus, it is very important not to trust anyone with information about you — no matter how harmless he seems to be. Never share your address, phone number, banking or credit card information, driver’s license number, social insurance number, or any other sensitive data. Once you share these, you’re exposing yourself to the threat of information abuse. The least they can do is wipe your accounts clean, and in the worst case scenario, they might even physically harm you.

Make Sure a Third Person Knows Where You Are at All Times

Text message by Troy Morris

If you decide to meet with your online acquaintance in person, make sure you tell a relative or friend whom you are meeting, where you are meeting, and when you expect to be back home, so they can check on you upon your arrival. You can even arrange to telephone or text message them at set times throughout the night so that they know you are all right. Start with a phone call before meeting someone in person. If you do exchange personal phone numbers, make sure to use caller ID.

The Importance of Meeting and Staying in a Public Place

The decision to meet with somebody you met online is not necessarily bad, just be careful not to invite them into your home. You never know who are you really inviting to visit your house. They could easily be robbers or other villains. Meeting in a public place gives you a secure background to get to know the person you’ve met.

Google Him/Her !

Google, Bing, Facebook, and any other social network or search engine can provide you with a great deal of information about a person. You can easily run the information they have given you through these channels.

How to Meet People Online Safely

Post from: Vancouver REALTOR® Jay Banks

Christmas time is here, and as with every year, Vancouver offers a myriad of events for you and your family. Take your children to visit Santa, see beautiful Christmas lights, and enjoy various cultural events — either in theatre or ballet. These are the most interesting events and venues to visit during this lovely period of the year in Vancouver.

Festival of Lights in VanDusen Botanical Garden

VanDunsen Botanical garden’s (Map) tradition of twinkling holiday lights is a must-see for every family and couples in love. One of the most romantic sights in Christmas Vancouver, it is definitely one to behold!

The event holds from 4:30 to 9 pm every night, from December 9th, 2011 through January 2th, 2012, except December 25th when the Garden is closed. In case of extraordinary weather conditions, check with the Garden shop (604.257.8665) to confirm that the Festival of Lights hasn’t been closed for that particular day.

This event is ideal for children as well. Santa’s Living Room will be there for them from December 9th to 24th, with Santa appearances at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 P.M. each day, and Christmas Elves Sven and Jens appear nightly in the Centre Court. Your smallest ones might enjoy the Candy Cane Express as well.

If you’re interested in dancing, you should definitely check out Dancing Lights on Livingstone Lake shows. Two shows repeat in sequence throughout the whole evening, starting at 4:30 P.M. But the cultural program doesn’t stop here. You’ll also be able to enjoy performances by Community Choirs.

The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker by Sergio Calleja

This classic Christmas tale will have sugarplum fairies dancing around an opulent set depicting 20th Century Imperial Russia. Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable musical score will be played live by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. This ballet is simply a necessary part of a proper Christmas. Vancouverites enjoy it very much. This is quite apparent from the sold out signs hanging in front of every theatre, ballet, and opera house playing the piece on Christmas. You’ll be able to see The Nutcracker from December 15th to December 18th 2011 at The Centre In Vancouver For Performing Arts, performed by Goh Ballet, and from December 28th to December 31st at Queen Elizabeth Theatre, performed by Ballet BC.

Winter Solstice Lantern Festival

Winter Solstice Lantern Festival
by ItzaFineDay

Celebrate one of the world’s oldest traditions by welcoming back the light after the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, on December 21th, for the 18th time in Vancouver. This free festival hosted by the Secret Lantern Society includes events in Chinatown, Yaletown, Granville Island, the Downtown East Side, and S.E. False Creek, full of lanterns, fire, singing, drumming, music, and dancing!

One part of this chain of events you mustn’t miss is called Labyrinth of Light. It has always been used to help people meditate all around the globe. The Labyrinth will consist of more than 700 pure beeswax candles. You’ll be able to visit it at the Britannia Community Centre (East Side) from 6:00 to 11:00 P.M. and at Creekside Community Centre (South East False Creek) from 6:00 to 11:00 P.M.

A Traditional Christmas by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

If you’re a fan of Christmas carols and music, tickets to this event are a must-have for you. This annual tradition is sold out every single year. This year’s evening will be hosted by Christopher Haze and conducted by the inimitable Pierre Simard. The UBC Opera Ensemble will perform along with the EnChor Choir. To place your order for a subscription package, visit Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s webpage or call VSO Customer Service at 604.876.3434.

Peak of Christmas — Grouse Mountain

Grouse Mountain by Andrea Schaffer

Grouse Mountain is an ideal destination to get your family into the Christmas mood. You’ll find it not far North of Vancouver. It’s an ideal one-day trip, especially during the weekend.

• Reindeer Interpretive Sessions at the Habitat (2:00 & 4:00 P.M.): Visit a real reindeer and learn reindeer facts from the Wildlife Rangers.

• Live Entertainment (Weekdays 6:00-8:00 P.M./Weekends 1:00-3:00 P.M.): Listen to carollers and choirs celebrating the season.

• SOS Children’s Village Parade of Trees (December 2-24, 9:00 A.M.-10:00 P.M.): Witness the breathtaking (especially in the evening) display of lights and decor. Vote for your favourite to win prizes.

• Mountaintop Sleigh Rides (9:00 A.M.-9:00 P.M., weather permitting): Huddle together under gently falling snow as you tour our mountain trails.

• Santa’s Workshop (12:00-8:00 P.M.): Meet Santa in person to share those holiday wishes.

• Christmas Favourites (9:30 A.M.-9:00 P.M., every half hour): Watch fun family Christmas movies on the big screen in our mountaintop theatre.

• Skate with Champions (December 3, 10, 17; 1:00-2:00 P.M. & 4:00-5:00 P.M.): Learn to skate with world champion Karen Magnussen and friends. Photos and autographs are available.

• Ice Show with Karen and Friends (December 17, 5:30-6:15 P.M.): Be wowed by Karen Magnussen and other top local and international skaters as they show off their skills.

• Outdoor Ice Skating (9:00 A.M.-10:00 P.M.): Enjoy the crisp mountain air as you glide atop the magical, 8,000-square-foot skating pond.

Best Vancouver Christmas Events

Post from: Vancouver REALTOR® Jay Banks

November is behind us, and as the year 2011 slowly comes to an end, we bring you a short review of this year’s 11th Real Estate Market Results report, issued by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. November 2011 didn’t experience any major diversions from this part of the year’s usual home sale and listing activity.

Rosario Setticasi, REBGV president, commented on the situation:

The pace of home listings entering the market eased slightly in November, compared to recent months, while sale levels remained fairly normal for this time of year. November activity helped put our market firmly in balanced territory.

Net residential property sales of detached, attached, and apartment properties reached 2,360, decreasing by 5.9 per cent compared to November 2010, when property sales totalled 2,509. This represents a 1.9 per cent raise compared to the previous month’s 2,317 sales.

• Detached property sales (916 units) experienced a 12.8 per cent decrease compared to November 2010 (1,050 units) and a 21.3 per cent decrease compared to November 2009 (1,164 units). The benchmark price increased 11.4 per cent from November 2010 to $890,204.
• Apartment property sales (1,000) decreased 4.9 per cent compared to November 2010 (1,052) and decreased 28.4 per cent compared to November 2009 (1,396). The benchmark price increased by 2.7 per cent from November to $399,686.

• Attached property sales (444 units) experienced a 9.1 per cent increase compared to November 2010 (407 units), and a 15.1 per cent decrease compared to November 2009 (523 units). The benchmark price increased by 4.5 per cent since November 2010 to $510,960.

The net count of properties currently listed for sale on the Greater Vancouver MLS® stopped at 14,090. Compared to October 2011, this number represents a 9 per cent decline. On the other hand, this number increased by 13 per cent compared to last year’s figures.

The MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in the Greater Vancouver over the last 12 months has experienced an increase of 7.2 per cent from $580,080 in November 2010 to $622,087 in November 2011.

Greater Vancouver Real Estate Market Results: November

Post from: Vancouver REALTOR® Jay Banks

This short article will help you register and start using Vancouver’s Car2Go car-sharing program and hopefully explain all the questions you have about this new exciting opportunity in our city.

What is Car2Go?

This project came from southern Germany, where it was introduced in March 2009 in the city of Ulm. The success of the German project also inspired Austin, Texas, which introduced Car2Go only a few months later.

The Car2Go system consists of a fleet of Smart Fortwo cars parked all over the city. After registration, you can either walk straight up to the car or reserve it up to one day in advance. Once you’re in the car, you can use it as long as you want and return it at any authorized Car2Go parking space. Per-minute rates include everything — even parking!

What Do I Have to Do to Become a Part of the Car2Go Community?

Step One: Becoming a Member

The first thing you have to do is complete the registration. You can do this on the Car2Go webpage. registration is very easy and fast. There is a one-time sign-up fee of $35 that will only be charged when your membership is approved by Car2go, and for drivers to be eligible for ICBC’s special car sharing insurance, an annual fee of $2 will also be charged. You’ll also need to enter your valid driver’s license number and valid Visa or Mastercard number. You’ll also be asked to call ICBC Driver Licensing (1.800.950.1498) to request that your drivers abstract be sent to Car2Go secure email at After you’re approved, you’ll receive a member’s card in the mail. It usually takes about five days.

There is also a possibility to register in person; you just need to go to the Car2Go Vancouver shop. Be sure to bring your valid driver’s license and a valid Visa or MasterCard with you.

Not sure who can register? A member-to-be needs to have three or more years of driving experience. (This means that the learners permit is out of the question, although N drivers are allowed.) You must also have a drivers abstract in good standing with no alcohol or drug prohibitions.

Step Two: Find your Car2Go

• Call the service team at 1.855.454.1002 for over-the-phone information.
• Use a Car2Go application on your smart phone.
• Go to the Car2Go.com website and click on “Car Finder” on the homepage.
• Spontaneously rent any Car2Go you see on the street with a green indicator light blinking!

  You don’t need to reserve a Car2Go vehicle, but you can if you like. There are two options when reserving. You can reserve a Car2Go up to 24 hours in advance online (just log into My Car2Go and click “reservations”) or you can call the Car2Go call centre at 1.855.454.1002. If you reserve a vehicle online or via the customer call centre, you will receive a text message with all required information 15 minutes before the rental is to begin.

Step Three: Start the Car

Car2Go in Austin by Denis Bocquet

To get into the car, hold your member card up to the card reader on the windshield of the car. You will find the key attached to the touchscreen and the ignition next to the emergency brake on your right. Enter your 4-digit PIN on the touchscreen, assess the cleanliness of the car, choose the billing account, confirm that you accept the Terms and Conditions, and you’re ready to go. There is a GPS navigation system available as well. All these initial preparations seem to be very complicated, but you’ll get the hang of them very quickly.

Step Four: Park

Parking with Car2Go is surprisingly simple, and it’s not because of the Smart Fortwo’s small size. Free curb-side and dedicated venue parking for extended stopovers and when ending rentals are located all over the city. If you’re in a residential area, curb-side parking is available in any legal permit-only residential spot. You can also park in specially dedicated parking spots. Be careful: you’re allowed to end your journey only in an authorized parking spot!

What is the price of Car2Go?

Car2Go is great way to travel around the city quickly and effectively without the need to buy your own car. Car2Go is also quite inexpensive, since you pay only 35¢ per minute, which makes it a maximum of $12.99 plus tax per hour — no more than $65.99 plus tax per one day (up to 24 hours).

How to Use Car2Go in Vancouver

Post from: Vancouver REALTOR® Jay Banks

Aboriginal art has always had a very strong tradition in Vancouver, both in homes and galleries around the city. Most of the galleries selling First Nations and Inuit art were established some 30-40 years ago, in the times when Aboriginal motifs became highly fashionable. According to some gallery owners, nowadays, as the First Nations and Inuit hype is no longer so powerful, people tend to be less interested in the “mystery” behind these artworks. Instead, they take interest in quality and artistic value, and if they’re considering purchasing an art-piece, they are happy to buy even one from a contemporary artist using First Nations or Inuit motifs. This gives many younger artists focusing on aboriginal art an opportunity to display and sell their works. Here is a selection of the finest Vancouver galleries that make this happen.

Lattimer Gallery (Map)

Webpage: www.lattimergallery.com
E-mail:
Phone number: (604) 732-4556

This is the gallery you want to go to when you’re looking for some authentic First Nations jewellery and sculptures. Their also offers other artworks like masks, bentwood boxes, and prints, but who really cares about those when you have the opportunity to lay your hands on some of the most unique jewellery in B.C.? And what’s more, everything is handmade.

Another advantage of Lattimer Gallery is its high diversity of prices. You don’t need thousands of dollars to get something really special for your home. Lattimer also attempts to support upcoming artists and promote their work, and I’m sure that this part of the gallery’s collection contains some truly fascinating pieces as well.

Marion Scott Gallery — Kardosh Projects (Map)

Kakulu Saggiaktok
in Marion Scott Gallery - Kardosh Projects

Webpage: www.marionscottgallery.com
E-mail:
Phone number: (604) 685-1934

This family-run gallery doesn’t feel like most family-run galleries at all. Its contemporary character and focus on Inuit artists make it so specific that one might ask how such a gallery will survive. I can assure you that you’ll get your answer when you enter. The passion and confidence the gallery presents itself with is quite impressive.

The key to success of this gallery lays somewhere in Cape Dorset, where most of the artists are individually selected for the gallery’s showrooms.

The Gallery has recently expanded its activities to include, under the name Kardosh Projects, a series of sponsored initiatives with some of Canada’s most innovative artists. These projects will include publications, editions, and special commissions intended to give artists new opportunities to pursue their artistic enquiries and share them with the public at large.

There is no doubt that this gallery is one of the few we can ask for the rediscovery of Inuit artworks.

Douglas Reynolds Gallery (Map)

Webpage: www.douglasreynoldsgallery.com
E-mail:
Phone number: (604) 731–9292

Don Yeomans (Haida)
in Douglas Reynolds Gallery

This is the kind of gallery you should visit even if you’re not considering the purchase of any artwork. The display of collections is quite impressive, despite the fact that the gallery itself isn’t very spacious. I mean it: don’t bring too many people along, as it might get overcrowded easily.

The specialities of Douglas Reynolds Gallery are historic carvings, masks, and contemporary prints. The fact that this gallery is highly curated is visible immediately after you enter through the front door. The staff is very well trained and ready to answer all your questions.

The gallery carries works by well-known artists such as Robert Davidson, Bill Reid, Beau Dick, and Don Yeomans, while also supporting emerging Native artists such as Phil Gray, David R. Boxley, Jay Simeon, and Marcus Alfred.

Inuit Gallery of Vancouver (Map)

Webpage: www.inuit.com
E-mail:
Phone number: 1-888-615-8399 (Toll Free)

Arctic Hare Kelly Qimirpik
in Inuit Gallery of Vancouver

One of the biggest advantages of this gallery is tradition. Some people don’t consider this to be important; however, years of networking can influence the range of artworks offered quite significantly. The Inuit Gallery of Vancouver was established in 1979 and has been providing Vancouver-based art collectors with Inuit and Northwest Coast Native art ever since.

The staff is very helpful, whether you come as a private viewer or just a random person walking by. They are also quite willing to set up a payment plan if you don’t have the cash on you to pay right away. If you’re interested, they even offer regular updates on sales. If you’d like to ship your art-piece somewhere outside of Vancouver, Inuit Gallery ships worldwide.

The gallery claims that it specializes in fine Inuit sculpture in stone and bone, Inuit prints and original drawings, museum-quality Northwest Coast First Nations masks, totem poles, bentwood boxes, and other ceremonial objects. This is mostly true, although their contemporary collection is not always as impressive as they present it. Still, it can surprise you from time to time.

Share your opinion on First Nations/Inuit art with us!

Do you know any other interesting gallery that specializes in First Nations or Inuit art? Not everybody shares a passion for this kind of art. Are you one of them? Does this kind of art have any deeper meaning for you? Do you think that contemporary artworks using Aboriginal motifs should be appreciated as much as traditional pieces? We’ll be happy to hear your reactions!

Vancouver Galleries: First Nations and Inuit Art

Post from: Vancouver REALTOR® Jay Banks