The best is yet to come to the Richmond Olympic Oval as the region is poised to enjoy this world-class facility. Area residents can look forward to participating in a wide range of activities.

The Oval will re-open April 1 for group fitness classes, tours, and meetings. Come by for public skating sessions April 3 to 5, between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Admission is $2, free for children under five.

Following minor retrofits over the next few months, programming is expected to include summer and winter sports, recreation, culture, business and environmental activities in the distinctively designed structure which has become failiar to millions of Olympic viewers.

Check out the legacy for yourself on Richmond's Olympic Oval website. It's called "More than meets the ice.'

Many partners contributed to the Oval’s realization, including funding from the province’s BC Spirit Squares program. But Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie emphasizes that the City did not increase property taxes, or undertake external borrowing to fund the design and construction of the facility.

“We knew we wanted to maximize this opportunity as one of the three Olympic host communities, and we've been delighted by the huge level of interest, and how our profile has really expanded," the mayor said. "For us it has really defined the future prospects for the Oval, and for Richmond as a whole.”

As one of the busiest venues during the Games, the Oval hosted medal events, as well as providing first-class support areas for athletes, coaches, trainers, officials and volunteers. In accommodating hundreds of world-wide media broadcasters the Oval’s stunning waterfront location was front and centre.

And media exposure has truly showcased Richmond’s remarkable location, noted Mayor Brodie.

“We were intent on making a world-class facility that would offer multi-purpose options for the community after the Games.”

And area residents are truly the medal winners in getting to enjoy this facility well into the future.

The roof of this award-winning facility was made using wood affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation in B.C. The Oval was also designed to qualify for LEED Silver certification, through some innovative eco-friendly initiatives.

The final Sharing the Dream webcast (Passing the Torch of Global Citizenship: Vancouver 2010 – London 2012) takes place on Thursday, March 25 at 8:30 a.m. PDT. VANOC CEO John Furlong is one of the special guests.

March 22-26 is Education Week in British Columbia. As part of this week, B.C. students are passing on the education legacy of the 2010 Winter Games to the U.K, which will host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The British Columbia education programs developed by the B.C. Ministry of Education, VANOC and others included Adopt a Country, the Pan-Canadian Paralympic School Week (Nov. 2-6, 2009), Sharing the Dream lesson starters, 2010 Spirit Schools, the Student Reporter program, Student Welcome Cards and /EDU, the Canadian School Portal for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralymic Winter Games.

Students participating in B.C., Canada, the U.K. and the rest of the world will have the opportunity to listen to Furlong and Jonathan Edwards, from the London 2012 Organizing Committee, speak, and then discuss ideas related to global citizenship. The focus will be on what B.C. students learned during 2010, their memories and favourite moments, what it means to be a global citizen, and the dreams of London youth for 2012.

To participate in the webcast, visit www.sharingthedream.gov.bc.ca.

Earlier this week, a group of B.C. students is seeking out gold-medal Olympic and Paralympic moments from athletes, teachers, journalists and elected officials at the provincial legislature, as they prepare to pass on the education legacy from the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to future host countries during the final Sharing the Dream webcast on Thursday.

The high school students are part of the Sharing the Dream webcast team, a group of students who have been leading live webcasts during 2009-10, connecting thousands of participants from across the globe. A part of their research for their final webcast with students from the U.K., they had an opportunity to learn from the following people:

• Ida Chong, B.C. Minister of Healthy Living and Sport
• Sean Leslie, reporter with Vancouver-based radio station, CKNW
• Ryan Cochrane, 2008 Olympic swimmer and bronze-medal winner
• Lauren Groves, 2008 Olympic triathlete
• Deb Whitten, vice-principal at Victoria's Claremont Secondary school, 1992 Olympic field hockey athlete and 2010 Olympic Winter Games torchbearer.
 

On March 22, B.C.'s Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid introduced four B.C. high school students who interview a panel about their 2010 Games experiences. Panel members were Ida Chong, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport; Ryan Cochrane, 2008 Olympic swimmer and bronze-medal winner; Lauren Groves, 2008 Olympic triathlete; Sean Leslie, reporter with CKNW; and Deb Whitten, vice-principal, Claremont Secondary school, 1992 Olympic field hockey athlete and 2010 Olympic Winter Games torchbearer.

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Quatchi, Miga and Sumi, the immensely popular 2010 Games mascots, entertained and enthralled everyone everywhere they went.  And now, they're gone.  A few photos...and world of memories. 

New Westminster visit by Quatchi during the Olympic Torch Relay, February, 2010.

Quatchi in Quesnel during the Olympic Torch Relay, January, 2010.

Miga in Williams Lake during the Olympic Torch Relay in January, 2010.

Miga's biggest fan waits rinkside at Robson Square for a visit. February, 2010.

Sumi made his last skating appearance, March 21, 2010.

The 399 medals of the Paralympic Winter Games are a superellipse, or squared circle, and based on a large master artwork of a raven by Corrine Hunt, a Canadian designer/artist of Komoyue and Tlingit heritage.

Each of the medals has a unique hand-cropped section of the abstract art, making every medal one-of-a-kind.

Did you know that some of the 2.05 kilograms of gold, 1,950 kg of silver and 903 kg of copper was sourced right here in B.C.?

Vancouver-based Teck Resources Limited was the exclusive supplier of metals used in the production of more than 1,000 medals for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. 

Fact: The 2010 medals weigh half a kilogram each.

Ask Canada's Para-alpine skiier Lauren Woolstencroft of North Vancouver — winner of five gold medals on Whistler this week — if she thinks they weigh too much.  Bet not!

You can see the Braille in this view. The metal to make the Olympic and Paralympic medals came from B.C. (VANOC photos)

The Royal Canadian Mint made the 1,014 medals awarded in the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

During the Paralympics Games, the Mint welcomes everyone to see the Vancouver 2010 medals and hear how they were made. Free admission.

Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch
350 West Georgia Street
Until Sunday, March 21

     * Sunday: noon – 5 p.m.

Kickstart, UBC, Ryerson University and the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad present Out From Under: Disability History and Things to Remember at UBC Robson Square, 800 Robson St., Open daily Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Sat-Sun, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. until March 21. Free admission.

Curated by Kathryn Church, Catherine Frazee and Melanie Panitch. This show premiered in summer 2008 at the Royal Ontario Museum. It is a groundbreaking and artful exhibit that pays tribute to the resilience, creativity, and the civic and cultural contributions of Canadians with disabilities. Recipient of the 2008 Access Award for Disability Issues, and jury-selected for Design at Work 2008.

Kickstart and the Pendulum Gallery present Heroes at the Pendulum Gallery, HSBC Bldg, 885 West Georgia., until March 27. Open Mon-Wed 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Thurs-Fri 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Sunday. Free admission.

Co-curated by Elizabeth Shefrin and Bernadine Fox. 20 Canadian artists explore "heroism" from a disability perspective. It’s hoped the exhibition will invite visual meditation or commentary within the context of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Grade 5 and 6 students at Hamilton Elementary in Richmond were recently featured on a Japanese morning news program about the activities they’ve been doing in school as part of British Columbia's Ministry of Education’s Adopt a Country program.

The students adopted Japan and learned about that country’s culture, customs, geography, economy and the education system.

Hamilton teacher Kam Sahota said the learning experience was a rewarding one for students, “It's part of the curriculum but it's important for students to understand that countries around the world are different and that they are influenced by a variety of factors such as geography, history, culture etc.  It's also important for students to develop tolerance and respect for other countries and cultures and understand that we are all part of one global community.”

With the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games approaching, it made sense for the students to learn about the Japanese athletes who are competing at these Games. Students researched the athletes and created a special bulletin board highlighting their goals and achievements.

Nippon Television spent an afternoon filming the students doing various activities related to their learning. Teacher Kam Sahota said the visit from Nippon Television gave her students extra motivation and made the learning experience more meaningful, “Thank you for the Adopt a Country Program. I can't think of a better way to motivate students and have them engage in meaningful learning!”

This assignment wasn’t just about reading books. Students did hands-on activities as part of the regular curriculum and were treated to a guest speaker who taught them about the kimono and the correct way to wear one.

At times, the learning was quite tasty, as students learned how to make sushi. Learning also focused on sumo wrestling, samurai warriors and crafts related to Japanese holidays and festivals.  

Students practiced Kanji, the Chinese characters used in Japanese writing and also honed their literary skills through discussions about the novel “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.” 

One part of Hamilton Elementary's Adopt a Country project as part of the 2010 Games.

Mother Brenda and son Michael Windsor of Sarnia, Ontario are very excited and proud to be torchbearers in the 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay. They are both in the 24-hour relay that started Thursday and finishes Friday in Robson Square in downtown Vancouver.

As Mike's mother writes below: "(C)arrying the flame to the Paralympics was symbolic of his journey of someday being an athlete who competes."

Here's a bit more of their story, in Brenda's own words:

Being blessed with a disabled child makes the entire world look a little different — you learn many lessons that may have otherwise passed you by.

My son, like many other boys, developed his love of hockey at a very young age.  After years of playing stand-up hockey, it was obvious he could no longer keep up with his peers.  At the tender age of eight he joined the Sarnia Ice Hawks sledge hockey team and has never looked back.

A year or so later, while watching some of his teammates at the Ontario games, he was introduced to Paul Rosen from the Canadian National sledge hockey team. Paul was quick to introduce him to Brad Bowden who wore the same number #27 jersey.  They spent a fair amount of time talking and Paul had encouraged Mike to come to Vancouver to watch them in the 2010 Olympics.  

At this moment my son made two decisions:

1) make sure we attended the 2010 Olympics.

2) try his hardest to become a National Team hopeful.

The Olympic Flame came to Mike's hometown of Sarnia on Christmas Eve, 2009.
Here's Candice Worsfold carrying the flame for her Torchbearer Group in Sarnia that day.

When the Olympic torch went through our home town of Sarnia on Dec 24, a group of athletes from our organization were able to carry it.  Unfortunately, Mike did not turn 13 until January 3.  That did not stop his drive and spirit – he stood for hours waiting to see his teammates with the flame.  The very next day while searching for the sledge hockey schedule for the Paralympics, he found the application to become a torchbearer. 

He worked hard at writing his reasons for wanting to participate. He felt that carrying the flame to the Paralympics was symbolic of his journey of someday being an athlete who competes. It has been and will be a long journey, but the light at the end is truly worth the effort.

You can only imagine his excitement when he was informed that he had been selected!  He was totally speechless and I believe the true acceptance has not sunken in yet.  He has read and re-read the emails in attempts to believe it is really true.  He can hardly wait until it is ‘Official’ and can tell his teammates.  That will make it real for him.

Receiving the call that I was also chosen to participate as torchbearer was totally unbelievable. While supporting my son with his dreams, I have taken on the role or trainer-manager for our sledge hockey team and have the honour of working with these budding athletes every week.  

Being able to participate and represent the many athletes who could not attend is a true honour. I hope that there would be some way that I could either receive or hand off the flame to my son, representing the journey we both have shared to get him there – this would be a mother’s dream come true!

I thank you for the opportunity to participate in this event.  It has been the focal point of my son’s life for many years and will leave all of us with memories that will last a lifetime. 

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Got yours?

Sold out at Christmas, a hot item on e-Bay, gifts for visiting friends and the famous — and worn with pride from coast to coast to coast during the Olympic Torch Relay. 

Those Vancouver 2010 Red Mittens...a memorable campaign to show support for Canadian athletes and the 2010 Games.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) says more than 3.5 million pairs have been bought during the five-month campaign.

“To everyone who bought a pair of Red Mittens, who waved at a torchbearer in their community, who showed their spirit every day, or who wore them while cheering their team at the venues or while watching on television, we send a heartfelt 'thank you'," said John Furlong, VANOC's Chief Executive Officer.

"Red Mittens were more than a souvenir, they became the 'it' item to show support for the Games and we're grateful to everyone who literally wore their hearts on their hands. We also thank our partners, and particularly the Hudson's Bay Company and CTV, Canada's Olympic Network, for their strong support of the Red Mittens campaign,” said Furlong.

To quote from VANOC's March 5 news release: "Red Mittens have been seen on the hands of a prince, a premier, a prime minister, the IOC President and millions of proud Canadians and worldwide visitors."

VANOC hoped to sell a million pairs. Well, they surpassed that before Christmas, eh! 

Net proceeds from every pair of Vancouver 2010 Red Mittens sold help complete the funding of the five-year Own the Podium 2010 initiative, which provided Canadian athletes with top Games-related equipment and training. Any additional funds raised through the Red Mittens campaign support a variety of 2010 Winter Games athlete- and sport-based initiatives.

O Canada! 

Trail, British Columbia: Day 87 — Olympic Torch Relay Community Celebration.

Ready for another round of athletic excellence and Olympic dreams coming true?

As it makes its way to B.C. Saturday morning, come out for the Paralympic Torch Relay, the first-ever Paralympic Torch Relay held in Canada, from March 3 to March 11, to officially open the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

This torch relay is already fostering community spirit and preparing B.C. and Canada for hosting the world’s best Paralympic winter athletes starting on March 12.

We’re talking 13 communities, 10 days, and over 600 torchbearers complete with a dazzling, 24-hour finale March 11 located around Robson Square in downtown Vancouver.
 
Perfect for families and friends. Come enjoy local community entertainment, music, big-screen video and lovely disability art demo displays along every torch stop. Every community has something different and exciting planned. Get the latest information here.

The Province is proud to support and invest in a variety of Paralympic programs. We recognize this is a special, once-in-a-life time event that will again ignite the hearts of all British Columbians.

So join us in cheering on our talented Paralympic athletes as they strive for gold! Share your personal story with us. How was your Olympic dream realized, who did you meet, what did you learn?

And did you know there are eight B.C. communities on the Paralympic Torch Relay route? Visit our media gallery for photos, video.

March 12 - 24-hour relay in Vancouver (downtown) [more info about torchbearers]
March 11 - Vancouver (UBC)  [more info about torchbearers]
March 10 - Vancouver (Riley Park) and Maple Ridge  [more info about torchbearers]
March 9 - Lytton and Hope  [more info about torchbearers]
March 8 - Whistler  [more info about torchbearers]
March 7 - Squamish  [more info about torchbearers]
March 6 - Esquimalt and Victoria  [more info about torchbearers]
March 5 - Toronto  
March 4 - Quebec City 
March 3 - Ottawa  

Torchbearer Sabrina Durepos passes the flame to Colin MacLeod on Parliament Hill in Canada's capital.

Have a look at this two-minute video we put together on Vancouver International Airport's accessibility for persons with disabilities. 

By the way, YouTube recently added English language closed captioning to its videos. Click the up-arrow in the lower right corner of the YouTube video frame to access this feature.

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No matter if you’re asking for extra pickles on your burger or a flash of kingfisher-blue on your factory-made sneakers, getting something made to spec is pretty gratifying.  Customization feeds the feeling you’re unique.

So lucky us.  Because one of the coolest free attractions at the 2010 Winter Games is also one of the most interactive. 

Now ‘til February 28, 20 robotic searchlights will illuminate the sky and waters of English Bay every night from dusk until dawn.  The lights have been programmed with designs created online by people around the world.

Video: Light shows and fireworks from the LiveCity site in Yaletown explode in colour over English Bay and downtown Vancouver. 

Anyone can go to www.vectorialvancouver.net to tool around on the interactive site. After you get the hang of it, you’re set to choreograph the light beams' movement and angles, timing your own sequence to create movement and patterns. 

Your display then gets cued up – and runs for all to see, from the beach at English Bay. Word is that Sunset Beach and Kits Beach are two of the best viewing locations (check out our Google map of free attractions for specific coordinates).

Building the light show is creative, public and personalized. But somehow it doesn’t feel self-indulgent. Check out the website: an awful lot of the designs are for someone else. Contributors are dedicating their designs to friends, family and loved ones, even their cats.

Have you seen the light show?  What do you think?

For a class of Grade 3 and 4 students from the small village of Masset, B.C., travelling to Vancouver to participate in 2010 Winter Games festivities is something they would normally only dream about.

However, thanks to generous donations that dream has become a reality.

The small village, population 2,000, raised $21,000 to send 18 students, teachers and chaperones to Vancouver to take in the excitement of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter games this past week.

For many of these students it was their first trip outside of Masset, a small fishing village located on northern Graham Island, the largest of more than 150 islands in the Queen Charlotte/Haida Gwaii archipelago.

Principal Leslie Bellis spearheaded the trip and approached local residents and businesses for donations.

The students experienced an educational trip of a lifetime that complemented the classroom curriculum.

Social studies, science, arts and language were learned through daily activities, including a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium, an Olympic hockey game between Finland and Belarus, an Olympic awards ceremony, the Museum of Anthropology and a visit to H.R. MacMillan Space Centre.

Students documented their experiences each day in journals.

Perhaps they’ll share the highlights with us here. Hope you enjoyed the trip to Vancouver and the 2010 Winter Games!

 Masset students met B.C. Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid and performed some traditional Haida songs.

Did you know that British Columbia has the highest proportion of its population claiming Asian ancestry in the world – outside of the continent of Asia itself?

This fact often catches visitors by surprise, but those of us who call British Columbia home think nothing of it.  And why not?  We are very proud our province’s ethnic diversity.

According to the latest Canadian Census numbers, 22 per cent or 900,000 British Columbians are of Asian ancestry – and this number is growing.

In Vancouver, the influence of Asian-Canadian communities is everywhere – Korean restaurants on Robson Street., the Punjabi Market on Main Street, North America’s second largest Chinatown, and a thriving Persian community on the North Shore.

British Columbia’s Asian composition is also reflected in this year’s Olympic Winter Games. Two dozen countries from Asia are competing in 2010 – and they are being cheered-on by their respective British Columbia-based Diaspora.

The Economist magazine has ranked Vancouver as “The World’s Most Liveable” city. A part of this distinction is due to B.C.’s strong multiethnic composition. After all, where can one eat dim sum at brunch, sit down for a Korean barbeque for dinner, followed up by Gulab Jamun as a late night dessert?

British Columbia long ago claimed the gold medal in vibrancy and diversity – but we don’t mind sharing this honour one bit.

In fact, we would be remiss if we failed to show-off our multicultural province and strong Asian-Canadian communities to the world during 2010.

Did you know?

Saturday, February 20 is Multicultural Day at the 2010 Winter Games. Robson Square is the place to be. See Related Links section.

Olympic visitors to Robson Square might notice a huge sign located near the Hornby Street entrance, just south of Robson Street.

It’s so big in fact, you can’t miss it.

This 6.7-metre long sign boldly announces you’ve arrived at the Province of British Columbia’s Asia Pacific Business Centre, a first point of call where export-ready companies can get advice, country-market intelligence and referrals on doing business overseas.

Given its unmatched geographic advantage as Canada’s only Pacific province, it’s no surprise that British Columbia is placing great emphasis on overseas trade, in Asia.

Anyone who does international business knows the importance of reaching out to potential customers and serving them in a language they understand. Through its multilingual website www.CanadasPacificGateway.com, British Columbia is doing just that.

Available 10 languages (English, French, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Punjabi, Hindi, Spanish and German), CanadasPacificGateway.com, lets visitors explore the many opportunities for business, education, working and living, and tourism that British Columbia has on offer.

One of the new features at CanadasPacificGateway.com is a new blog, launched to coincide with Vancouver hosting the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

This new blog site runs stories, videos and profiles about British Columbia, its industries and regions. While still in its infancy, the blog allows for contributions from readers and links to the most recent Twitter feeds posted by the provincial government.

So if you want to learn more about British Columbia in 10 different languages and want to follow the latest news, bookmark CanadasPacificGateway.com and check out the blogs.

Gotta hand it to those ancient Greeks.

They had a lot of great ideas — including the Olympic Games.

And they knew that culture and sports go together naturally.

The first Olympic Games were as important for cultural events as they were for athletic competitions.

It’s a beautiful tradition that the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will bring to a new level of excitement.

Get ready to enjoy the Cultural Olympiad 2010.

A prima ballerina from Russia — an alternative rock band from France, acrobatic dancers — large scale visual art created in public venues and so much more...

It’s a cultural extravaganza. It opened January 22 and runs until March 21, 2010.

Superb artists from across Canada and around the world will make the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Of course, a two-month event of this magnitude is also giving tremendous exposure and unique opportunities to many B.C. and Vancouver-based artists and performing arts companies.

“The Cultural Olympiad gives us an opportunity to expand our audience base and to make more international contacts," says Jay Hirabayashi, executive director of  Kokoro Dance. He’s also the driving force behind the 10-year-old Vancouver International Dance Festival, which this year runs March 12-21.  It’s also part and parcel of the Cultural Olympiad.  “We hope that this will help us build capacity for the coming years.”

You Gotta Be Here. 

Check it out at www.vancouver2010.com/cultural-festivals-and-events/

Send us your reviews and recommendations here.

There are a million different ways to cheer on athletes at play, but louder is usually better in a fan’s mind. In Japanese baseball stadiums, the stands roar with the clatter of thunder-sticks. Climbing the most horrific mountain passes of the Tour de France, cyclists are ushered by fans sprinting alongside, usually screaming encouragement (and sometimes not).

In these Winter Games, a surprising number of events have been matched by a weirdly pastoral percussion: frantically clanging cowbells. It’s like the soundtrack to a horror film about mad-cow disease.

So what’s with the cowbells? It’s long been a popular noisemaker in cross-country skiing and college sports. But Vancouver 2010 may be the cross-over event for Christopher Walken’s sonic weapon of choice : cowbells have been whanged, clanged and rattled at the luge track and just about every alpine sport so far.

In the mood to purchase a cowbell? Vancouver 2010’s Olympic Store sells authentic 2010 versions – and customer reviews suggest sports fans evaluate the instruments’ heft, quality and clarity of tone with the seriousness of a guild of Swiss dairy farmers. 

If you aren’t in the mood to lug a handful of bovine metal to the events, keep in mind that Cowbell2010 , available on iTunes for 99 cents, turns an iPhone or an iPod Touch into a virtual cowbell. When you shake the phone or tap the screen, you get cowbell. Loudly.

What are you bringing to the Winter Games to cheer on the athletes?Which venue makes the most cowbell noise? Send us an email and let us know.

Imagine what Molson's Hockey House (left) would sound like if you gave these Canadian fans honkin' big cowbells?

One is the loneliest number, the song goes. But it’s rare to find yourself alone at Robson Square, where the crowds are happy, healthy and very hefty.

Given the full range of free events offered daily and nightly, Robson Square is getting some serious traffic. Every day since the Games began, there’ve been an average of:
• 75,000 – 100,000 visitors to British Columbia's Celebration site at Robson Square;
• 4,500 – 5,000 curious guests at BC Canada Pavilion;
• 1,000 skaters gliding on the ice rink at GE Plaza;
• 700 thrill-seekers riding the incredibly popular zipline.

And that’s every day. Now, heading to Robson Square isn’t going to feel like shouldering your way through Shinjuku station at rush hour. But it’s still pretty busy.

The great thing is folks seem pretty content — if not downright festive — in the crowds you see everywhere in Vancouver, from the Skytrain to sports venues to the free pavilions. People are really getting into the act, and British Columbians are making the most of opportunities to reach out and meet visitors from around the world.

So if you’re stuck in a line-up or a crowd and find yourself knocking cowbells with a foreign visitor, here are some handy – if slightly random – phrases to get a conversation going, complete with audio: [some links take time to load]
• “Pleased to meet you” in Portuguese: Muito prazer em conhecer.
• “Do you like sports?” in Japanese: Supootsu ga suki desu ka ?
• “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Norwegian” in Norwegian: Beklager, jeg snakker ikke norsk.
• “You have the most beautiful eyes” in Latvian: Tev ir tik skaistas acis.
• “We won a gold medal!” in Chinese: W?men yíng le j?npái!
• “Sasha walked down the avenue and sucked a biscuit” in Russian: Shla Sasha po shosse i sosala sushku (it’s a tongue-twister – so get practising!).

And for ambitious internationalist linguists, we present this elegant phrase: Mia kusenveturilo estas plena je angiloj . Yes, that’s Esperanto for “My hovercraft is full of eels."

And, of course, "Go Canada Go!" Yell that almost anywhere these days, and everyone will know what you mean!

Saturday, February 20 is Multicultural Day at the 2010 Winter Games.  Come to Robson Square to enjoy the atmosphere and activites.

The afternoon features British Columbia musicians from a variety of genres, an awards ceremony and citizens who will be available to tell their stories about immigrating to British Columbia. Check Saturday event schedule for Robson Square.

Here's what you can see for free in the heart of downtown:

2:30 p.m. - Jarimba, Make A Case Against Racism featured artist, Main Stage.
3:15 p.m. - Sandy Scofield, Make A Case Against Racism featured artist, B.C. Showcase.
4 p.m. - Alpha YaYa Diallo, Make A Case Against Racism featured artist, Main Stage

Jarimba is one of Canada’s hottest world fusion bands. They were recently selected as one of the artists that will appear on the Make A Case Against Racism CD.

Make a Case Against Racism is an anti-racism education program aimed at grade 4-7 British Columbia students.  The students listen to music on a podcast, which features artists like Jarimba… and they let the music inspire them to create artwork that has an anti-racism theme.

Next month, judges will review at all of the submitted artwork and select one to become the Make A Case Against Racism CD cover.

It’s a great program that brings awareness to the issue of racism at an early age.

• Feb. 20, 2010 news release: Provincial Nesika Awards honour multicultural efforts.
  

Did you know?
If you're in Vancouver for the 2010 Games, you've probably been to the city's Chinatown.  But did you know that, outside of Asia, only San Francisco's Chinatown is larger than the vibrant community in Vancouver?

And, last week, shortly before the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, two Surrey-based businesses and a store in Victoria assisted the three-athlete Indian Olympic team. In just over eight months, India will host athletes from British Columbia and Canada in Delhi at the Commonwealth Games.

Do you remember watching your first Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games?

For Mrs. Hoyrup’s Grade 2 students at 150 Mile House Elementary, Vancouver 2010 will be it.

They were too young for Torino 2006 and most weren’t even born until after Salt Lake 2002.

Working on their Student Welcome Cards, these little guys and gals were more excited about having the chance to draw than they were about the thought of their pictures ending up in the hands of a competing 2010 athlete.

But that’s starting to change. On Jan. 29, the Grade 2s capped off a day of school fun and Olympic-themed activities with a community celebration and a visit from the Olympic Torch!

With the Torch relay having passed through their home town and the games now here, Mrs. Hoyrup’s class is feeling the Olympic fever.

They’ve never watched a Winter Olympic or Paralympic event, but you can tell by their Welcome Card art that these kids are going to love the 2010 Games.

Just look at Jack’s hyper-detailed drawing of an NHL power play goal at the top of this page! Try telling me Jack won’t be pumped to get his first taste of Olympic hockey. 

Welcome Card art tells a unique story about the hopes and dreams of B.C. children. Take a look at more examples of student art work at the BC Ministry of Education's Sharing the Dream’s Student Welcome Cards Gallery.

Here are some other Student Welcome Cards with a hockey theme mixed in with two of Team Canada's best hockey players with a distinct B.C. flavour!  

Did you know that five members of Team Canada’s men’s hockey team are from B.C. or work here?

Duncan Keith (Penticton) - defence
team captain Scott Niedermayer (Cranbrook)  - defence
Shea Weber (Sicamous)  - defence
Brent Seabrook (Tsawwassen) - defence
Robert Luongo (born in Montreal but plays in NHL for the Vancouver Canucks) – goal.

Here’s Team Canada men’s hockey preliminary round schedule in these 2010 Games.  Go Canada Go!

February 16   Canada 8  Norway 0
February 18   Canada 3  Switzerland 2 (in shoot-out)
February 21   Canada vs  USA

The playoffs are determined by preliminary round standings among teams in Groups A, B, C and D.  Canada in competing  in Group A.

Keen to explore other B.C. ski resorts and practice your favourite snow sports? Well, it appears folks have already discovered Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna and Silver Star Ski Resort in Vernon as exciting destinations for all these activities during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Whether skiing, snowboarding, mountain tubing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, these interior mountain resorts with their fairytale villages are enchanting visitors from B.C., Canada and around world!

Local mountain operators are estimating an increase of 25 per cent in business over the same time last year. Visitors and locals are finding phenomenal skiing conditions, friendly staff and ready-to-serve establishments with unique character and charm.

And while the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are helping introduce folks to these winter mountain gems, there is no shortage of fun and celebration to entertain!

Both Big White and Silver Star ski resorts have organized Olympic-related activities over the entire 2010 Games period. Come cheer on your favourite Canadian and B.C. Olympic athletes at local restaurants, quaint pubs and public mountain theatre houses.

 

Or get into the action with simulated Olympic-style competitions including hockey, figure skating, speed skating, luge, snow cross fun races, biathlon and even an official mountain-style closing ceremonies. (Silver Star pictured on left and Big White on right.)

Did you win a medal? Did you win a prize!? Tell us your story! Send us your photo! Keep us informed on what’s happening at these beautiful, interior mountain paradises!

Find the best pizza on the mountain and local weather conditions by visiting:

• Silver Star: http://vimeo.com/9437636

• Big White: http://www.youtube.com/user/bigwhiteskiresort

For a complete schedule of events visit:

• Big White 2010 Games

• 2010 Silver Star Games

All ages enjoy the slopes of B.C.'s southern Interior ski country.

Who: Kelowna’s Bankhead Elementary music teacher John Vesterinen and the school’s Bulldog Choir and Orff-Ans musicians.

[The Orff Method is a way of teaching children about music that engages their mind and body through a mixture of singing, dancing, acting and the use of percussion instruments (e.g., xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels). ]

What: Mr. Vesterinen has written a Vancouver 2010 Winter Games tribute song called “The Great Canadian Gold Rush of 2010.” It’s loosely based on the Bob and Doug McKenzie 1980’s hit, “Great White North.”

Q: How did you get the inspiration to write “The Great Canadian Goldrush of 2010”?

John Vesterinen: I awoke from a dream at 4:00 a.m. Dec. 22nd with the song title in my head and a few verses. I didn't dare go back to bed perchance the midnight muse of lyrics and title would be lost so I got up and jotted down the gist of my song! I finished it the next day.

Q: What educational value do you think the Olympic Games can offer to students?

John Vesterinen: The Olympics are an inspiration to young and old alike – it’s a gathering of people all over the world going for their dreams. They believe in themselves but also represent their countries. What a multicultural gathering of sportsmanship and fair play! To reference my song, I can only dream that the political leaders of the world see how brothers and sisters around the world come together in peace and harmony!

Q: What benefits do you see students getting out of participating in music? Why is music education important?

John Vesterinen: Music is a creative outlet for students to learn about the world and themselves. It lets us put into 'feelings' things we cannot put into words. Music exercises all parts of the brain. So what better exercise can there be than music?

Q: Can you share with me what this experience has been like? (Teaching the song to the students, practising)

John Vesterinen: My students are amazing! We started with just the lyrics and then they asked if we could add the Orff instruments to it. They love playing their Orffs. They were right! I threw in a little melodic hook and it added another dynamic dimension to it.

Watch the video!  Lyrics below!  Go Canada Go!  

'The Great Canadian Gold Rush of 2010'
Music & Lyrics by: John Vesterinen Dec. 2009

Intro: ‘The Call of the Great White North’

Koo-Roo-Koo-Koo-Koo-Koo-Koo-Koo

The ‘Call of the Great White North’
Echoes throughout the land
We sing it loud, we sing it proud
Every child, woman & man

O Canada, O Canada
Those words flow through my veins
With glowing hearts right from the start
For the Vancouver Olympic Games

Koo-Roo-Koo-Koo-Koo-Koo-Koo-Koo

Blue, yellow, black, green & red
Colours of the rings illuminate my head

Swifter, Higher, Stronger
We’re gonna see it in our own back yard
We’ll skate & ski so joyously
We’re gonna hurry & ‘Hurry Hard’

Koo-Roo-Koo-Koo-Koo-Koo-Koo-Koo

The Great Canadian Gold Rush of 2010

We sing it loud, we sing it proud
We call the world our friend

Brothers & sisters, ‘round the world
These words have a beautiful flow to’em
We truly believe that the Maple Leaf
Will ‘Own the Podium’ * We’ll ‘Own the Podium’

 Koo-Roo-Koo-Koo-Koo-Koo-Koo-Koo

The world has come together as one big family
To prove that we can all live in peace & harmony

It’s the largest free festival of the 2010 Olympic Games – the size of 66 football fields. It’s 15,000 people, family, friends and your community coming together to cheer on live Olympic Games competitions on large screens in front of a O Zone Main Stage.

We’re talking 17 nights of world class, live performances with some of Canada’s hottest Bands – Our Lady Peace, Hawksley Workman, Marianas Trench, Bedouin Soundclash, Wintersleep, Tokyo Police Club, and 50 other acts.

It's your chance to dance the nights away, with some of B.C.’s top new music talent including rockin’ raging DJs until 2 a.m.

It’s unique performances ranging from a 3,000-member children’s choir to an interactive BYOD — or Bring Your Own Drum group percussion extravaganza.

It’s being part of the atmosphere in the famous Holland Heineken House, the national house of the Netherlands.

It’s taking in culture and art with enormous ice paintings, interactive art installations, and your chance to tour the BC Lottery Corp. 2010 Winter Games Dome.

It’s celebrating our British Columbia, our nation’s athletes and international sport excellence.

Yes, there’s something for everyone and it's all free...Don’t miss it.

Things got underway February 12. Runs until February 28,  Join your Olympic party at the Richmond Ozone!

Location: Richmond City Hall (6911 No. 3 Road) and Minoru Park (7191 Granville Avenue), Richmond.

For more information visit http://www.richmondozone.com/

What do you have to say? Write us here.

Some of the world’s greatest figure skaters have been making Abbotsford their home in preparation for the Winter Games – and local skaters are practically spinning in the air with anticipation.

The Russian figure skating team has been holidings its pre-Games training camp at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre from February 1-17.

It’s a win-win situation — no silver medals for anyone here. Lucky members of the Abbotsford Skating Club are getting a chance to see some of their sport’s superstars up close and personal.

Abbotsford businesses are getting a shot in the arm from the presence of the Russian entourage. And the Russian skating team gets this awesome community as its temporary home, with a great training facility.

The biggest winner is probably the community at large.

One of the worst-kept secrets of the region is that you can drop by to watch the Russian athletes train for free.

The community turned out in large numbers earlier this month [see photos] to meet the skating team during a community barbecue at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre.

For more details, including the Russian figure skating team’s schedule, visit www.abbylivesite.ca.

The community hosted a barbeque to welcome and thank the Russian figure skating team earlier this month.

It's BC Day at the Olympic Games this Sunday, February 14. Celebrate being a British Columbian in this great country. Show some of that great B.C. pride and spirit!

Throughout the day, our Street Teams will be giving away B.C. flags and a commemorative BC Day pin to help get you in the spirit.

Watch for them at these locations and times Sunday:

o Chinese New Year Parade - 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
o Yaletown Street Party - 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
o Waterfront Station - 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
o Lonsdale Quay - 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
o BC Place (Expo at Pacific Blvd) - 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
o Robson Square - all day. Schedule.
o Whistler Village - 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (with Canadian Olympic snowboarder Crispin Lipscomb)

Drop in to see the exciting exhibits and artisans in the BC Canada Pavilion. It's located in the Vancouver Art Gallery in Robson Square. Busy during the day? You can end BC Day by watching the spectacular 'Ignite the Dream' light and pyrotechnic show!Shows at 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Enjoy the 2010 experience. See you Sunday at BC Day.

Jean-Francois Clusiau, Bombardier’s torch manager of assembly, and Frederic Rehayem, Bombardier’s torch quality assurance manager, spoke to about 20 media Wednesday about their three months of the road following the flame through the -27 C  wind gusts in Dryden to 12 C on the balmy west coast.

“It was an amazing experience to see people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures go through all the kinds of weather this country can challenge us with,” said Clusiau. “You could see it warm people’s hearts.”

Bombardier, best known for its rail and aerospace products, designed and manufactured the 12,000 torches for the Olympic Torch relay.

The torch was designed with recyclable materials such as stainless steel, aluminium, copper and brass. It has a dual burner system using a blend of propane and isobutane and is designed to work at lower temperatures than any other torch in history.

“The recyclables materials will become the trains and planes of the future,” said Clusiau.

The technical components weren’t just on the inside on the torch. On the outside, Bombardier’s design team put a small maple leaf symbol on the centre of the torch which faces the torch bearer.

“When the moment comes to run with the torch, people are concentrating so hard they seem to almost blank out,” said Clusiau. “You have to train them to run so you tell them to just run with the maple leaf facing their heart.”

The flame finishes its 45,000-km relay, the longest domestic relay in Games history, today, when the final torchbearer carries it into BC Place for the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Witness some brilliant, electrifying Vancouver days and nights – each night starting February 12 (11 a.m. - 11 p.m.) at Live Site Yaletown.

As part of being the 2010 Olympic Host City, Vancouver’s LiveCity celebrations are gearing up to offer nightly Laser Waterworks shows at David Lam Park. The daily water works displays and nightly colourful laser light performances promise to dazzle visitors and Vancourites alike.

Come see rays of light illuminate your Olympic Village and glamorize Vancouver’s winter skies and starry nights like never before!

Read what others are saying about Vancouver’s Laser Waterworks Show.

Love B.C.? Live in B.C.!

Attend a free seminar to learn how you can make the move to British Columbia.

If you're coming downtown to enjoy the festivities, pop into an info session in Robson Square. See map.

You'll learn how to Invest, Study, Work & Live in British Columbia.

Drop in, chat with experts and learn about our universities and colleges, investment opportunities and how to start working and enjoying life in BC. Those beautiful mountain you're admiring, that amazing morning coffee, that evening stroll down Robson Street – it can be yours everyday with a new life in B.C.

We know you’re loving it here in B.C. so why not find out how you can come back?

Seminars are held daily:

9 a.m.  – Learn about invest opportunities that are waiting for you in B.C.

10 a.m. – Learn how to come and work temporarily or immigrate to B.C.

11 a.m. – Learn about educational opportunities for you or your children

February 13 – 28
Asia Pacific Business Centre @ Robson Square
800 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC
(just south of Robson Street)

For information on attending these seminars, in Vancouver please call 604-660-9727 or else toll-free at 1-888-880-2742.

WelcomeBC.ca is the Government of British Columbia’s one-stop source for information on immigration. If you’re thinking about living or working in British Columbia, WelcomeBC.ca has the information you need.

They’re wavy and shiny and unlike any Olympic medals in the history of the Games, but there’s probably a lot more you don’t know about the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic medals:

At about half a kilogram each, the 2010 medals are among the heaviest in Olympic Games history. However, don’t worry about them snapping the ribbons. The ribbons can withstand 90 kilograms – equal to 200 pounds.

Vancouver-based Teck Resources Limited was the exclusive supplier of metals used in the production of more than 1,000 medals for the Games.

Some of the 2.05 kilograms of gold, 1,950 kg of silver and 903 kg of copper was sourced right here in B.C. 

And they’re green! In addition to the B.C. metal, the medals contain metal recovered from end-of-life electronics, such TVs, computers and keyboards.

The medals are based on two works of art (an orca and a raven) by Corrine Hunt, a B.C.-born artist who beat out dozens of others for the right to design the awards.

No two of the 615 Olympic and 399 Paralympic medals will be exactly alike. Each medal will have a signature element from the orca and raven artwork, such as the orca's eye or the raven's wing.

They were designed with input from the athletes themselves and are produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. VANOC was responsible for the design and all other elements.

Each of the medals was struck nine times — in three sets of triple strikes — to achieve their unique undulating design. They have been tested in temperatures up to -20 degrees Celsius for their ability to maintain integrity and durability in cold weather.

The reverse side of each medal features the name of the Games in English and French, as well as the Vancouver 2010 logo and the name of the sport for which the medal was issued. The Paralympic medals are inscribed with Braille.

 

Like the competitors themselves, no two medals are alike. At right, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell at the unveiling of the medals last October.

On the eve of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, student leaders from B.C. and across Canada will join Governor General Michaëlle Jean at the Vancouver Public Library to discuss peace as it relates to the Olympic Truce and how individuals can make a meaningful contribution in their own community.

The Youth Dialogue will be webcast as part of the British Columbia’s Ministry of Education’s Sharing the Dream webcast series. B.C.’s own Dream Team—a collection of 12 B.C. student leaders—have been helping to deliver the Sharing the Dream webcast series by participating as interviewers during the webcasts. 

The students will be playing a key role in this Youth Dialogue by providing introductory remarks, interviewing participants and supporting the technical team. Meet the students here.

This Thursday, February 11 at 8:30 a.m. PST, more than 500 young leaders from across the country will convene to celebrate the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games through a Youth Dialogue about the Olympic Truce.

An Olympic Truce is an agreement on behalf of world countries to the cessation of all hostilities worldwide, so as to promote peace and harmony during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The event will bring Olympic athletes, young leaders, Indigenous leaders, foreign dignitaries, government officials and other special guests together to discuss peace building strategies that can be put to practical use in their own communities.

Expect to see a high energy event that brings the sounds of hip hop and traditional Indigenous, African, Asian and European drumming to the Vancouver Public Library.

To watch the webcast live February 11, please follow this link.

Download this event poster [PDF 305KB]. Pass it along your networks.

Watch the Governor General’s welcome to the Youth Dialogue on Olympic Truce.

Students across British Columbia have been showcasing their enthusiasm for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games by showing B.C. and the world the exciting Games-related activities and fun education programs they participated in to become a 2010 Spirit School.

The students at Seycove Secondary in North Vancouver captured the Gold!

For their amazing efforts, the Gold Level Spirit School Winner was awarded the grand prize of a 2010 Winter Games-themed event day, which could feature ActNow BC Athlete Ambassadors, Vancouver 2010 mascots, and other 2010 Winter Games-related activities.

The students adopted a school in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, welcomed a World War II veteran to speak about his battalion’s efforts in the liberation of Holland, joined the B.C. Fruit and Vegetable program, started a garden to reflect the Olympic pillar of Sustainability, and tracked the torch relay in the school’s main hallway.

Silver and Bronze Levels
Westside Academy in Prince George took home the Spirit School Silver Level.  They adopted Korea as part of the Adopt a Country program, prepared special music selections for a visiting long jump Olympian Ruky Abdulai athlete, and their grade 10 planning students took the Canadian Olympic School project Business Education by RBC.

The Bronze Level winner is South Rutland Elementary in Kelowna, who embraced the Olympic spirit and demonstrated their Olympic spirit with the unique approach to their Olympic themed Hallowe'en Games and “Playground Pals” program.

Congratulations to all the schools, students, staff and communities who participated in the spirit of this friendly competition.

More information about the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games education programs can be found at www.sharingthedream.gov.bc.ca. 

We’re pretty sure the saying goes ‘it takes a village to be power smart....’ or something  like that.

During the 2010 Winter Games, BC Hydro’s Power Smart Village will be the place to go for a free and fun celebration site in the heart of the action in downtown Vancouver.

It's open daily February 10 to March 22, 2010 at 333 Dunsmuir Street.  

The village showcases how BC Hydro has been lighting the way for generations. Visitors will hear stories about clean energy, energy conservation and our energy future.

PowerSmart Village houses numerous interactive and educational activities:
•    dance floor that generates electricity as people dance;
•    home of the future showcasing the latest innovations in conservation technology;
•    energy efficient outdoor theatre.

Outdoor Venue Elements
The Conservation Lab:
•     interactive audio-visual experience that teaches about conservation.
Home of the Future:
•    recycling freight containers featuring GE’s energy efficient Profile appliances, smart metering technology, a Chevrolet Volt electric car and solar garage and recharging battery.
Power Smart Theatre:
•    outdoor theatre sharing the Games experience.
Club Energy:
•    sustainable dance floor where energy produced by dancing is tracked with an energy meter linked to the dance floor.

Indoor Venue Elements
Salish Welcome Figure Native Carvings: 
•    two 5.5-m traditional Salish Welcome Figures honouring the Games, showcasing Native carving skills, artistry and story-telling to the public.
BC Hydro Pavilion:
•    multi-faceted display telling the story of how BC Hydro has been proudly serving British Columbia for generati ons.

Paralympic Celebration
Showcasing the innovation and passion in Paralympic sport, with features on BC Hydro's Paralympic athletes.
Expression Wall:
•    digital graffiti wall for youth to tag with messages of conservation and sustainability
Kids Colouring Corner  

The BC Hydro PowerSmart Village is about one block from the Canada Pavilion in downtown Vancouver. Here's a map.

Hours of operation between Feb. 10-28
Sunday to Thursday - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday - 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Click on the arrow below to watch a short video. Both were produced by You Gotta Be Here staff.

Composite of some of the detail outside the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion.

 

Have a look at the wonderful photo presentation of the grand opening of the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion Monday evening here. 

It seems the 2010 Winter Games fever is catching. More and more we’re seeing people’s Olympic and Paralympic spirit going into overdrive as the Games approach.

The ubiquitous red mittens, water cooler chatter, torch relay crowds, blogs, tweets and media coverage speak to our fascination with Olympic sports and the elite athletes who dedicate their lives to pursuing gold.

Maybe it’s because being witness to such raw talent and determination lets us live for a moment in the shoes of people who are accomplishing the impossible, living their dreams and overcoming tremendous odds to make their mark on history. 

Maybe it’s because it appeals to the competitive streak most of us have within us or the patriotism many feel as Canadians.

Or maybe it’s because for many communities in B.C., when it comes to business, the 2010 Winter Games are like a cold drink of water on a hot summer’s day...

According to Greg Phelps, mayor of Courtenay and chair of the Comox Valley Regional District, the Games have helped put the Comox Valley on the map. Fourteen teams and their support staff have been training at Mount Washington, bringing significant revenue to the hill and the community. 

“At last count, Mount Washington and the Comox Valley will be playing host to over 250 athletes, trainers and support staff,” said Mayor Phelps.  “What a great opportunity to showcase the Valley to the world!

“We are all trying to make the athletes’ experience here a positive one so that they can take our message back to their home countries. This is a real shot in the arm for the local economy.”

And with a record-breaking snowfall on the mountain this season, there’s no doubt, the Comox Valley has caught the fever.

The opening and closing ceremonies at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will make for some unique transportation challenges, when an estimated 100,000 spectators, visitors, reporters and TV crews, volunteers, and performers fill the City of Vancouver’s downtown core.

If you live or work downtown, or are planning to attend the ceremonies, VANOC advises that there will be temporary street closures on February 10, 12 and 28 and March 12. The closures are necessary to help ensure successful ceremonies.

To support the movement of athletes, performers, media, and spectators on these dates, the Cambie Street Bridge and Beatty Street (between Smithe and Georgia) will temporarily close between noon and midnight on February 10, 12 and 28 and March 12, but will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists. You are asked to carefully consider your travel plans on these dates and to participate in the success of these signature events by not bringing vehicles into the downtown. 

You can read up on transportation options at www.travelsmart2010.ca and learn how you can help reduce traffic congestion throughout the Games by removing one in three vehicles from streets in Vancouver’s downtown core.

Here are some TransLink options

TransLink publishes its Buzzer Blog with great travel planning tips.

You can sign up for their text message or email alerts. 

Here’s their Twitter feed.

They have an iPhone application, too.  

And don't forget about their six-week unlimited access transit pass for the Games. 

Have a look at the Related Links section below for an overview. 

Footnote: TransLink reported March 21 that the Olympic ridership weekday average across the entire system was 1.6 million passengers, up 31 per cent from normal volumes. 

The system carried 26 million passengers during the Games. Wow1  Well done!

The Expo and Millennium lines saw a 64 per cent increase in service. 

The Canada Line saw a 118 per cent jump and SeaBus passenger numbers were up 119 per cent during the 17-day period of the Games.

One day avid cross-country skier and Princeton resident Ernie Lawrence turned to his wife Marilyn with an idea – why couldn’t Princeton host the Slovenian Olympic cross-country ski team?

A member of the China Ridge Cross-Country Ski Association (CRCCSA), Lawrence knew two things: first, the facilities and trails at China Ridge were being upgraded; and second, Princeton resident Nat Brown, a three-time Olympic coach, had actually run the Slovenian program years ago.

What started as a whimsical thought quickly turned into a huge building project — and an international friendship.

The China Ridge Recreation Site is 30 kilometres of ski trails, managed in partnership with the CRCCSA. The CRCCSA used funding from the provincial government to upgrade ski trails and signage, build a new longhouse, replace an emergency shelter, install and repair directional kiosks, upgrade trailhead parking and produce new highway signs. None of the work could have been done without the enthusiasm and hard work of the many volunteers.

"Memories live forever..."

The site ready, Princeton prepared to host the Slovenian Olympic Team in January, 2009. CRCCSA members hosted the team in their homes, local skiers groomed the trails and one club volunteer even made special trail signs with the Slovene flag on them!

The Slovenians were astounded by the warm reception they received and the quality of the trails. In their goodbye letter they wrote, “The days we spent with you were gone too fast, but the memory will live forever.”

The Slovenians might have left, but Princeton had caught the Olympic spirit. More and more people, including youth, have started using the China Ridge recreation area, and Princeton is even seeing tourists from the United States and Europe visit just to use the trails.

And China Ridge will figure front and centre when the Olympic Torch Relay comes through Princeton on this Sunday, February 7. Festivities include a torch relay to the China Ridge trailhead followed by the China Ridge Games – from snowshoeing to Inuit sports to luge and, of course, cross-country skiing.

The trail and building improvements at China Ridge are a legacy of the 2010 Olympic Games for Princeton. But for CRCCSA members, the legacy is the renewed interest in their sport from Princeton youth, and the lasting friendships they have with athletes half a world away.

Enjoy China Ridge Yourself

• Take Highway 5A heading north from Princeton.
• Continue for 1km before turning left onto Coalmont Road
• Follow the newly erected directional signs for 8.5km to the main trailhead (parking available).

For more information about the China Ridge Cross-Country Ski Association visit their BC Street booth next to the Richmond Oval during the 2010 Games. Princeton will be showcasing their area from February 26-28. You can also visit the association online at www.chinaridgetrails.com

To find out about other recreation sites and trails in British Columbia, visit www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca.

At the age of two his parents bought him a Commodore 64.

At 16, he sold MyDesktop.com for $2 million.

He has worked for Xerox, IBM and Microsoft.

Been featured in Time Magazine and on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

He connects youth from 200 countries through TakingITGlobal.org, and he wants B.C. students to change the world.

Find out how at this Sharing the Dream link.

The Sharing the Dream student-led webcast series brings the excitement of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to classrooms across Canada. Past webcasts have been archived and are accessible from the Sharing the Dream website.

Next webcast: February 4, 8:30 to 9:30 Pacific Standard Time.

Topic: Olympic Truce – Make Your Peace: Student Community Engagement

Guest: Greg Mortenson - Promoting Peace One School at a Time

Greg Mortenson is the co-founder of non-profit Central Asia Institute, founder of Pennies For Peace, co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Three Cups of Tea, and author of the bestseller Stones into Schools.

In 2009, Mortenson received Pakistan’s highest civil award, Sitara-e-Pakistan (“Star of Pakistan”) for his dedicated humanitarian effort to promote education and literacy in rural areas for fifteen years.

British Columbia wood will share the spotlight with the world’s best athletes, thanks to 23 stunning podiums built from timber donated by communities, First Nations, and businesses from across the province.

These made-in-B.C. podiums will be on display during the nightly Victory Ceremonies throughout the Vancouver 2010 Oylmpic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Each podium is built from one of 18 different wood types. The wood for each podium was harvested from a specific area or community, which makes it easy to link the specific podiums to the people and communities that provided the wood.

For example, the podium that will be used at Whistler Creekside for Alpine Skiing events is built from Western Red Cedar harvested in the Revelstoke Community Forest. 

There ‘s a terrific series of 24 fact sheets online. One of them gives you an overview of the wood podium program. The other 23 feature stories and pictures about each podium and:

•    the wood used;
•    the community where the material came from;
•    the area forests, timber companies and other harvesters; and
•    quotes from community leaders, entrepreneurs and officials.

You can download these PDFs from the B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range website. 

Facts and figures

The story of the 2010 Games podiums:

•    23 wood podiums will be at 11 venues to support individual and team victory ceremonies. 
•    13 podiums were built from wood donated by community forests, two from family run woodlots, two from cities, six from businesses, and five from First Nations.
•    The podiums range from 480cm to 1525 cm in length, 170 to 500 cm in depth and 30 to 60 cm in height.
•    The lightest podium, built of Western Red Cedar, weighs approximately 200 kilograms.
•    Each podium is assembled from more than 200 wooden pieces.
•    The wood was harvested near communities as small as a few hundred (Cheslatta Carrier Nation) to cities with more than 80,000 residents (Kamloops), as far north as Fort St. James to Clayquot Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island and from as far south and east as the Ktunaxa Nation near Cranbrook. 
•    British Columbia’s Ministry of Forests and Range sourced the wood  and co-ordinated podium production.
•    The rough lumber was converted to panels at Metro Vancouver’s Bayview Millworks, a high-end wood product manufacturer and distributor. 
•    The panels were cut into complex shapes using sophisticated computer controlled machinery at the University of British Columbia's state-of-the-art Centre for Advanced Wood Processing.
•    The podiums were assembled at Canadian hardware retail leader RONA’s Vancouver 2010 Fabrication Shop, a community-based training centre that teaches carpentry skills to new Canadians and at-risk youth.

On display every night

For the Vancouver-based competitions, the Victory Ceremonies for figure skating, hockey and curling will take place in the competition venue. Depending on the sport and schedule, Victory Ceremonies for other sports will be presented either at BC Place at night or in the venue immediately following the competition.

In Whistler, Victory Ceremonies for all Whistler-based Olympic sports will be presented at Whistler Medals Plaza, with the exception of the men’s 50-kilometre cross-country skiing competition on February 28, which will be awarded in BC Place as part of the Closing Ceremony.

The wood podiums highlight the importance of forestry in British Columbia. The province is a global leader in sustainable forest management and the world’s largest exporter of softwood lumber, paper and bio-energy products that help mitigate climate change and provide innovative solutions to green building and energy needs.

By the numbers:

• •   15,000 crayons
• •    10,000 pieces of paper
• •    8,000 students.
• •    200 hours of creativity
• •    70,000 copies printed 
• •    6,700 athletes welcomed and supported by B.C. students with a welcome card
  

Thanks to all schools, teachers and students who participated.
 
Check out what our students have accomplished. It’s pretty amazing.



• •    Spend some time browsing through the Student Welcome Card gallery. 
  
  

Thanks to the hard work of the Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team (IMPACT), residents and visitors alike should have greater peace of mind when they leave their vehicle at Park & Ride lots and VANOC departure hubs during the Games.

IMPACT has issued a warning to car thieves that they don’t intend on sitting back while they ply their trade. They will be jamming parking lots with bait cars, and undercover surveillance teams will be ready and waiting to catch them in the act where thieves do try to steal cars, or break into them for valuables.

Police will also deploy undercover cars equipped with automatic licence plate recognition technology, which can scan up to 600 plates an hour to locate stolen vehicles. Police dogs and the Air One and Air Two traffic helicopters are ready to join in the action and track down suspects who try to flee. In fact, less than 24 hours after the Province announced that bait cars would be at the Olympics, one of B.C.’s most notorious car thieves was chased down by a police dog and arrested. Thanks to the bait car program, auto theft is now at a six-year-low in B.C. Police say they intend to keep it that way.  Watch car thieves getting caught at www.baitcar.com.

For years it’s been a hidden gem in the Callaghan Valley — 8km up a rough dirt road more often used by black bears than humans – but thanks to the 2010 Winter Games spinoff, Alexander Falls has now become another natural attraction in the Whistler area.

This three-tiered waterfall is impressive for its size (43 metres tall and 12 metres wide) and its location — one of the most spectacular mountain peaks in the area!

Until recently, most would-be outdoor enthusiasts were more or less unaware of its existence. The falls were hard to find. Hard to get to.  Difficult to view.

But with the paving of the Callaghan Valley Nordic Road to improve transportation to the Whistler Nordic Centre in the Olympic Park, the Province of British Columbia took the opportunity to bring the world to this recreation site managed by Recreation Sites and Trails BC.

A huge amount of work went into upgrading the site:

•    the gravel road was widened;

•    the parking areas were upgraded and expanded;

•    new signs were put up along Highway 99 and the Callaghan Valley Nordic Road to direct visitors to the Falls.

And because the Falls are in the traditional territory of the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations, special signs will be put up to educate visitors on the traditional use of the Falls by the First Nations.

Once at the Falls, a new wheel-chair accessible viewing platform, built entirely out of western red cedar and Douglas fir, provides a better view of the Falls and surrounding mountains.

All these improvements, combined with the increased public traffic up to the Olympic Park, have resulted in a huge increase in visitors to the Alexander Falls.

So now, it’s no longer only the black bears and determined travellers who can experience the beauty of the Alexander Falls, but all British Columbians – and tourists too!

Note: The Alexander Falls site will be closed until snow-free.

Visit Alexander Falls Yourself

•    Follow Highway 99 (Sea to Sky Highway) for 70km north of Vancouver.

•    Turn left onto the new Callaghan Valley Nordic Road, approximately 2km north of Brandywine Falls Provincial Park.

•    Drive on Callaghan Valley Nordic Road for 8km to the Alexander Falls site road (first gravel road on the left before the turnoff to Callaghan Lake Provincial Park and the switchback leading to the new Whistler Olympic Park).

View Alexander Falls on Google Maps.

Find Your Own Playground

Recreation sites and trails are public campgrounds and trails located on Crown land outside of parks and settled areas. Sites like Alexander Falls allow you to enjoy your recreation experience within an integrated resource management setting.

To find more B.C. recreation sites and trails, visit http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca

If you live in one of the 124 communities that submitted entries into ActNow BC’s GamesTown 2010 contest, you know that British Columbians across the province are passionate about healthy living and the spirit of the 2010 Winter Games.

Since its launch last February, GamesTown 2010 has allowed people to share stories, videos and photos about healthy living, Olympic spirit and environmental sustainability at www.gamestown2010.ca/ .

Briefly:

•    Close to 7,500 entries submitted to the website.

•    Almost 200,000 votes cast by British Columbians during the online voting period last November and December to pick the top 10 communities.

•    These Top 10, chosen in early January 2010, went before  a celebrity panel of judges that included Olympians Simon Whitfield, Nancy Greene Raine and Steve Podborski. They choose the gold, silver and bronze medal-winning communities.

And the winners are...

Judges picked the town of Princeton as the winner because of their enthusiastic entries. Premier Campbell made the announcement January 27 in Kamloops at the Tournament Capital Centre.

Along with the coveted title of GamesTown 2010, Princeton picks up the competition's gold medal $100,000 cash award, which can be put toward upgrading a local healthy living or sport facility.

“While we have always been very determined to strive for gold, we knew very early on that, win or lose, GamesTown 2010 was an absolutely positive process for Princeton that would reveal a number of insights into our character – that we love our community, our children, our environment and active lifestyle and that we are very proud of all these things,’’ said Princeton Mayor Randy McLean. 

Dawson Creek and Kamloops received cash awards of $50,000 and $25,000, respectively, as the silver- and bronze-medal winners. All three communities won tickets to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The judges chose today’s medalists from these top 10 GamesTown finalists, from five population-based categories:

Population up to 5,000 – Houston, Princeton;

5,001 to 10,000 – Smithers, Quesnel;

10,001 to 25,000 - Salmon Arm, Dawson Creek;

25,001 to 100,000 - Prince George, Kamloops;

Over 100,000 – Kelowna, Coquitlam

Click on image below to see 90-second video of winning GamesTown 2010 communities.  Congratulations all!

Going to Whistler for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games?  Then be a part of a revolution in public transit and ride the bus. 

BC Transit will be operating 20 hydrogen fuel cell buses in Whistler during the Games.  It’s the world’s largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses, and they’ll be fuelled at BC Transit’s new Whistler depot, which includes the world’s largest transportation hydrogen fuelling station. 

These remarkable buses produce zero emissions – no particulate matter, no unburned hydrocarbons, no greenhouse gas emissions.  All that comes out of the tailpipe is water vapour.  It’s a gold medal performance by Canada!

Hydrogen fuel cell bus facts:

• * The hydrogen fuel cell buses will be operating on many of the 17 routes in Whistler, including extra runs before and after Olympic events.
• * The $89.5 million hydrogen fuel cell bus demonstration project is funded by the governments of Canada and British Columbia, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, and is part of British Columbia’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020.
• * The low-floor buses have a top speed of 90 km/h (55 mph) and a life expectancy of 20 years.

Building zero emission public transit

A lot of British Columbia innovation and Canadian know-how (with a little help from our American friends) went into the hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet.

• * The buses are manufactured by New Flyer Industries of Winnipeg.
• * Ballard Power Systems of Burnaby  provided the fuel cell modules.
• * Dynetek Industries of Calgary worked on the hydrogen storage system.
• * The hydrogen fuel and infrastructure are supplied by Air Liquide Canada of Montreal, along with Sacre-Davey Engineering of North Vancouver and Hydrogenics of Mississauga.
• * ISE Corporation of San Diego is responsible for the drive system.

Submitted by Susan Williamson of Field, British Columbia

Not to take anything away from Golden, B.C. because I know they've done a super job, but I'm here to tell you that the thriving, mountainside community of Field, B.C. in Yoho National Park, population 200, was the first B.C. place the torch visited on its first day back to the province, Thursday, January 21, 2010.

What a thrill to see the torchbearer crest the small hill into town and then here comes Premier Gordon Campbell, no less, and Pam Veinotte, Superintendent of Yoho, Kootenay and West Banff National Parks.  We were all smiles, ear to ear, and the best... The Premier says "let's sing O Canada?" and we did and it was just great.

We had a fabulous turnout and a great time when the torch arrived here just before 5:00 p.m., Thursday night.  We all gathered in front of Field's Elementary School and cheered and waved our flag with all our hearts. 

We had two terrific young men from Ottawa who were simply thrilled to carry the flame and equally thrilled with our little town and mountainous scenery.

To follow the excitement of the flame, everyone gathered at our community hall for a grand BBQ of bison burgers, veggie burgers and salmon fillet!  It was fantastic.

We had a band, a young foursome from Calgary, Frankie McQueen, play a set of music and we rocked the evening away.

Good Luck to all the atheletes, Go for the gold in Vancouver!  We'll be watching and cheering you on!

When the British Columbia Ministry of Education made the decision to develop a Vancouver 2010 Olympic Education Program, we thought who better to talk to than a B.C. athlete who has gone through the experience of competing at an Olympic Games.

We decided to approach Victoria’s three-time Canadian Olympic rower and 2008 Olympic Silver medallist David Calder. As a key contributor to the Ministry of Education’s Vancouver 2010 Olympic Education program, Calder gave us the idea to create the Student Welcome Cards program.

The program has been an absolute success! B.C. students submitted nearly 8,000 different Student Welcome Card designs that have been used to create 70,000 cards for visiting Olympic and Paralympic athletes, coaches and dignitaries who stay at the Winter Games athlete villages.

Click on the image above and listen to Dave Calder explain how a Student Welcome Card he received from a young boy who he had never before met, taught him a priceless life lesson while competing at the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Yes, it’s back! Today!

The Olympic Flame returns to B.C. this afternoon. 

It’s the start of the final leg of its 106-day journey.

Big celebrations tonight in Golden; tomorrow in Invermere and Cranbrook.

What’s your community doing when the torchbearers carry the flame through your region and into your town?

Check out our cool interactive map and follow the flame. If you click on your town’s name, loads of community info pops up.

We’re posting photos, stories and videos from your community on this site over the next three weeks.  Follow this Stay Connected blog and send us your content.

We also have a Facebook page and a Twitter feed. You can email us, too.

You just gotta be here.

For the excitement... and the experience of a lifetime.

How great is British Columbia?  Share your stories during the Games…

Look for the You Gotta Be Here trailer during the Olympic Torch celebrations as the flame makes its way through 42 communities over the next three weeks.

Drop by, step inside and pick up your own Olympic Torch Relay You Gotta Be Here button and tattoo.

The You Gotta Be Here trailer is outfitted with four video terminals where you can record a special message of support for the athletes or a warm B.C. welcome to the Games’ visitors.  Two terminals are positioned to allow small children and guests in wheelchairs to comfortably record their greetings.

Messages from British Columbians will be chosen to be played back throughout the Games at Robson Square – our signature celebration site in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

So, come on by for the community torch celebrations — and show the rest of B.C. and the world why You Gotta Be Here!

We invited students from Oakdale School in London, England to share their thoughts with their new friends in Vancouver and tell us what some of their favourite winter sports were.

The students were very excited about helping us count down the days to the 2010 Winter Games because that meant their countdown to 2012 was getting closer too!

Did you know that the 2012 Summer Games will take place in London, England?

Watch here to discover what their favourite winter sports are and to hear them ask a few questions about Vancouver.

Sharing our experiences with students across the globe teaches everyone to respect differences of opinion, overcome stereotypes, and learn about other cultures.

Check out Adopt a Country School Guide for details on how to adopt of one of the participating countries for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

And we have lots of Winter Games-themed education programs including 2010 Spirit Schools, the Student Reporter program, Student Welcome Cards, 2010 Legacies Now, and Sharing the Dream.

The Olympic Flame returns to B.C. this Thursday. First stop: Golden.

Along the way, the torch relay will visit 42 celebration communities. It winds up at BC Place in Vancouver Friday, February 12.

No matter where you live in the province, you can share in the experience of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

How will you welcome the Olympic Flame?

All along the route, British Columbians will celebrate in their own way – unique to their community.

Share your unique voice.

Do it right here: YOUGOTTABEHERE@gov.bc.ca

Send us your photos, your stories.

Send us your community report.

Use our Facebook page. 

And stay in touch with Twitter.  

Share your excitement and experiences.

It’s all about community.

Have you heard about LiveCity yet?

It’s all about Vancouver’s downtown core coming alive when the 2010 Winter Olympic Games begin.

There is not one, but two Vancouver celebration Live Sites ready to bring together families, communities, and international visitors to celebrate all that is B.C. over the 2010 Olympic period.

Between February 13-28 take your pick between Live City Downtown at Georgia and Beatty (also open during the Paralympics March 12-24) or the stylish, trendy Live City Yaletown at David Lam Park.

Bring a camera! Find activities for the kids, complete with animated stages, local entertainment, art displays, dancing, musical talents, magical waterworks and nightly laser light shows.

Count on LiveCity venues having something special for you! Here’s a schedule of events and performers for both venues. You can download this PDF, if you prefer.

It’s all about community.

The 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Think about it. What does the Olympic movement represent?

The people of the world coming together as a community.

And British Columbia’s communities will play a key role in celebrating the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

That’s why the Olympic torch relay will visit 42 British Columbia communities when it returns to the province to begin the home stretch to the opening of the Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Everything starts with a Community Celebration in Golden on Thursday, January 21 — a road trip like no other — community after community.

British Columbians identify strongly with their communities. Each torch-relay community will celebrate uniquely.

What is happening in your community when the Olympic torch arrives?

British Columbians want to know. Canadians want to know.

Make a community connection with us.

Tell us about your plans – your ideas.

Use our Facebook page.

And stay in touch with Twitter.

Keep us up to date. Share your excitement and experiences.

It’s all about community.

Like they say – you gotta be here.

Here in your community.

Flag waving in the background, tears streaming down her face, national anthem playing over the loudspeakers as she stands on the podium to receive her gold medal...

That was the crowning moment in Carol Huynh’s Olympic story.

She made her country proud by earning Canada’s first gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Hers is a story of overcoming incredible odds; a journey that took her from humble beginnings in the small town of New Hazelton, B.C. to competing on the world stage and taking home one of the greatest honours in sport.

During a student-led Sharing the Dream webcast November 2008, Carol shared her Olympic story in a live interview session with students from Heritage Woods Secondary in Port Moody. Students from around the world were able to login and submit their questions to Carol in what was truly a global learning experience.

The interview, which can be viewed online at www.sharingthedream.gov.bc.ca , was the first in a series of six webcasts that explore issues related to culture, sustainability, sports and healthy living, Olympism, Paralympism and global citizenship.

The next webcast – Olympic Truce: Make Your Peace – is set for February 4. Be sure to check it out!

Carol Huynh in Hazelton for torch relay Jan. 30, 2010.

 

In exactly one month, the cauldron will be lit at BC Place stadium — welcoming athletes, officials, spectators and the world to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Yes, in one month! Years of training; years of planning.  Now just four weeks away.

The Olympic Winter Games run from Feb. 12-28; the Paralympic Winter Games run March 12-21.

Over 6,700 athletes and officials. More than 80 participating countries.

Here’s a neat number: 10,000 media! 

That’s roughly the same size as the population of these B.C. communities (give or take a thousand or so): Williams Lake,  Summerland, Dawson Creek, Parksville, North Saanich.

Here’s another great number: 25,000 volunteers. Surprised? Many people are, when they see or hear the figure for the first time.  Many volunteers are British Columbians, of course, pleased to lend a hand at whatever they can, just as they do in their own communities all the time.

As the host province, British Columbia is proudly helping stage one of the most compelling events on the planet.  You Gotta Be Here will be sharing B.C. stories with you and passing along your tales to others — from now until the 2010 Games wind up in late March.  You can reach us by email at YouGottaBeHere@gov.bc.ca.

Visit our Facebook page for other news.

And stay in touch with us through Twitter.

Visitors coming from Oregon and Washington for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games have a civilized, relaxing way to get to Vancouver — with train service from Amtrak Cascades.

For more than 10 years, passengers have been riding the rails between Seattle and Vancouver on Amtrak Cascades.  The company now provides two daily round trips to and from Vancouver, including a newly added train from Portland, Oregon.

It’s a pleasant four-hour trip from Seattle to Vancouver with stunning views of Puget Sound right from your seat! Panoramic windows and natural tones inside the train are designed to showcase the spectacular Pacific Northwest views.

And when you step off the train at Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station, you’ll be close enough to downtown to feel the buzz of Olympic excitement! Pacific Central Station is a transportation hub for transit buses, and the closest SkyTrain station is just a half-block away.

Taking Amtrak Cascades is a great way to visit Vancouver while leaving the car at home. But no matter how you get here, everything you need to know about commuting around Metro Vancouver during the Olympic Winter Games is available at http://www.travelsmart2010.ca/

Amtrak Cascades is operated by Amtrak in partnership with the Washington and Oregon Departments of Transportation.

For fares and schedules, visit AmtrakCascades.com.

You won’t want to miss the Winter Festival at Robson Square – aka Winter Squared.  Runs Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday.  All free in Robson Square in downtown Vancouver.

Festival features snowboard demonstrations, ski and snowboard fashion shows, video game challenges and some great live music all three days.

Take in the snowboard rails competition, staged on a 22-foot snow covered platform.  It’s happening on the North stairs at Robson Square leading down to GE Plaza.

Festival visitors will also have a chance to try their hand at virtual Olympic Winter Games competitions. See how you do in the video arcade at virtual versions of alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, speed skating and ice runs.

So come and interact with some of the B.C.’s best snowboarders and athletes.  Get the detailed schedule for this three-day event here.

From crayons to paper 8,000 B.C. students drew their vision of the 2010 Winter Games.

The original artwork is being made into 70,000 Student Welcome Cards that will greet athletes, coaches and dignitaries when they arrive to their rooms at the Vancouver and Whistler athlete villages.

Here’s just a sample of the cards on display in the You Gotta Be Here media gallery .

Students created artwork based on the theme Dream, Discover and Celebrate Your British Columbia.

We truly live in one of the best places on earth.

It’s a chance for B.C. students to benefit from this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity and contribute to the Games in a meaningful way.

Because the Olympic Winter Games are about more than just athletics; they help us to expand our understanding of other countries and cultures and they teach us about the qualities that are necessary to achieve a dream.

What is your Olympic dream?

There are all kinds of things to see and do – for free or low cost -- in Metro Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Games.

Lots of information online.  Here’s one of the best, at citycaucus.com.  Visit their free attractions section to get started.  They’ve done a great job of gathering information and presenting it in a clear way.

As they put it, it’s basically where to be for free, all in one place:

• •    public transit info and tips for getting around and  “streets to watch”;
• •    Robson Square’s key role as the signature Celebration Site before and during the Games;
• •    LiveCity sites in Yaletown and downtown Vancouver;
• •    other great attractions and venues, many within walking distance from one another;
• •    two-week celebrations in Surrey and Richmond.

The citycaucus.com site is updated on a regular basis, so bookmark it.

Canadian flag...
Red mittens...
Noisemakers...

These Redfish Elementary students from Nelson took a road trip to Spokane Oct. 16 to watch the Canadian women’s hockey team play the American women.

The Canadian team wound up winners and the kids wound up on the big screen!

Redfish is one of 10 B.C. schools who have won prizes as part of the Spirit School Program.

During this Olympic and Paralympic school year, the 2010 Spirit School program encourages schools to show B.C. and the world their amazing 2010-related projects.

The only limit is imagination. What are you doing?

See all 152 Spirit Schools at www.gamestown2010.ca.

The new passenger-only ferry is the third in TransLink’s SeaBus fleet. It will carry commuters and visitors alike between Vancouver and the North Shore during the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.  TransLink is extending hours of service and adding extra sailings during the Games. 

With the same 400 passengers-per-trip capacity as the older vessels, the “Burrard Pacific Breeze” is powered by four 350 horsepower low-emission diesel engines. Changes in the catamaran hull make the new ship more efficient.  And wake energy will be reduced by 10 to 15 per cent.

Travel facts

There are two SeaBus terminals:

• - Waterfront in downtown Vancouver, which connects with buses, SkyTrain and West Coast Express
• - Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver, which connects with an extensive network of North Shore buses
• - Departures are every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening
• - Crossing time is 12 minutes

Building facts

The brand new “Burrard Pacific Breeze” was a team effort:

• - TransLink is leading the $25.5M project, with funding support from the Province of BC and the federal government
• - Victoria Shipyards constructed wheelhouse and hulls
• - ABD Enterprises in North Vancouver built cross-structure and passenger cabin
• - Two structures joined together at Esquimalt Graving Dock
• - Vessel christened July 24, 2009 at Victoria Shipyards

With all the festivities going on at the renewed Robson Square, it’s easy to miss some awarding-winning architecture underneath the decorative lights and boughs of holly.

The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction recently awarded the Robson Square Domes project a 2009 B.C. Steel Design Award in the architectural category for outstanding steel structure, as you can see in this photo.

The recent renovations at Vancouver’s landmark civic square, and the opening of the ice rink after a nine-year hiatus, is breathing much new life into the space, making it a great place to take the family or meet up with friends.

The two Plexiglas domes in the middle of the square have been replaced with larger, more open domes to protect and improve coverage of the lower plaza. The award-winning team includes Hughes Condon Marler Architects, Clive Grout Architects, Read Jones Christoffersen, Ledcor Constructors Special Projects, George Third and Son, KWH Constructors, and the Ministry of Citizens’ Services.

Kudos to everyone involved in helping keep Robson Square the historic landmark that it is.

# 5... For you adults, we know not everyone gets holiday time off, but if you work in downtown Vancouver, why not take advantage of a lunch hour or coffee break skate?! The GE Plaza ice rink is open from 12- 9 pm weekdays, and it’s not only cheaper than a latte, it’s completely free!

# 4... Hey kids! Christmas is just around the corner, and time is running out to get your wish list to Santa! Look for a giant Canada Post mailbox located at GE Plaza, Robson Square from December 6-24. No postage required! And once your letter is in the box, ask mom or dad if you can stay for a skate!

# 3.... The Twelve Days of Christmas are on now at Robson Square, through December 24! Robson Square is alive with people, energy and entertainment in the lead up to Christmas. Go skating! Listen to festive music! Explore the arts and crafts tent with the kids! Take in the huge Christmas tree and Menorah next to the art gallery! Get into the Christmas spirit and enjoy this Olympic Winter Wonderland!

# 2... The Children's New Year's Celebration at Robson Square – Dec. 31, 4:30 -7:30 p.m. — is a family-friendly way to usher in New Years 2010 with the whole family! A special, early New Year's countdown is taking place for the kids, along with mystical comedic storytelling, wizard spells and magic, jugglers and stilt walkers.

# 1... The Winter Games Festival ... runs from Jan 8 – 10, 2010

With Christmas and New Year’s celebrations now behind you, it’s time to turn your sights on the biggest sporting, cultural and arts party that the world has ever seen: the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games!  Come down to GE plaza and get in the spirit!

Mark your calendars folks! You Gotta Be Here!

What do you think? Use our comments section to let us know what you and your family have taken in at Robson Square in the past couple of weeks.

BLOG UPDATE : follow this link to see a beautiful slide show in our flickr photo gallery of the official opening February 8.  What do you think? 

When the world comes to British Columbia to celebrate the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, people from many countries and cultures will enter the traditional territory of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations – known collectively as the Four Host First Nations. These First Nations have lived in the Vancouver and Whistler area for thousands of years.

British Columbia is home to 198 First Nations bands – more than any other province or territory in Canada. Each First Nation features a unique history, language, culture and spirituality. As a province, we are proud of our First Nations heritage.

Today, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is involving First Nations in virtually every aspect of the event.

Don’t miss the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion – showcasing Aboriginal art, business, culture and sport from across Canada! Inspired by the Interior Salish Istken and the shed-style Coast Salish Longhouse, the new structure includes a Trading Post, Reception Hall, and Elders’ Lounge.

Located on the plaza of Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver, the new pavilion will be your gateway to the rich and diverse culture of the First Nations for the 2010 Games.

The Four Host First Nations invited the media to tour the pavilion in early December. 

• Vancouver Island, Victoria & Gulf Islands
  
• Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
• Thompson Okanagan
• Kootenay Rockies  
• Cariboo Chilcotin Coast  
• Northern British Columbia
  

Take advantage of the 2010 Olympic line   — the first of two sleek and ultra chic streetcars, arrived on loan from Belgium’s Brussels Transport Company Monday.

Running 18 hours a day from Granville Island to the Canada Line Olympic Village Station (Cambie Street and West 2nd Avenue), these electric-powered trams will glide across approximately 1.8 km of track and will let you ride in style, picking you up every six to 10 minutes.

From January 21 to March 21, enjoy a fashionable, cool and modern way to get around Vancouver while helping decrease traffic to and from Granville Island.  Best news:  it’s free during this 60-day period!

Get around town and contribute to greener Games? Sounds good to me!

Watch a video and read what others are saying about 2010 Streetcars here and on their Twitter feed.

Have a look at the Bombardier website for photos, video and back story on these amazing low-floor streetcars.

Front and centre.

Everyone has seen that photo – all your friends – all your family.

It’s everywhere – on your Facebook page, on the front page of your local newspaper – and right there on your desk at work.

People love to hear you tell what it felt like to be part of B.C. history as a Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games torchbearer.

There you are – on the move along Main Street in your hometown.

You’re decked out in your official Olympic gear – your track suit, your toque and, of course, your Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games red mittens.

People are lining both sides of the street.

They’re cheering you on.

You’re holding the torch high.

Cameras are flashing. Video is rolling.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

It’s a memory you can enjoy and share for the rest of your life.

Look at you!

Be a Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games torchbearer.

Apply now.

Just follow this link.

Now, thanks to a partnership between the Province and General Electric, free skating returns to Robson Square at the refurbished GE Plaza. Don’t worry if it’s raining — the rink is covered.  The facility puts Vancouver on par with New York City’s Rockefeller Centre skating rink and Ottawa’s Rideau Canal, the world’s longest skating rink — just in time for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

It’s all part of the revitalization of Robson Square in the heart of downtown Vancouver.  Come and take part in the fun, as people of all ages gather in the square.  Catch the spirit and share B.C.’s pride in hosting the Games.  There’s regular live entertainment planned from now through the Games.  December features festive family activities. Details will be posted here.

So grab your skates, some friends or family, and maybe even a thermos of hot cocoa, and join the rest of Vancouver as we celebrate the spirit of the 2010 Winter Games.  You can also buy refreshments at the square.

The rink opens for public skating at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 24.  The Mad Celts will entertain that day between noon and 1:30 p.m. 

Here’s your chance to live the dream…and try a triple lutz!

During the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the landmark public space is serving as the Province of British Columbia’s signature celebration site.

Beginning November 23, and every day through the 2010 Winter Games, there’s free public skating at the GE Plaza in the square — Vancouver’s only outdoor ice rink. 

Robson Square is also hosting live entertainment from now through the Games.  In December, the focus is on festive family activities with more excitement planned as February approaches.

In February, the nearby Vancouver Art Gallery is home to the BC Canada Pavilion. It will feature state-of-the-art exhibits and displays showcasing the very best of B.C. 

During the Games, the square will feature live entertainment, sport demonstrations, light shows, video displays, and fun for the whole family.  Visitors to Robson Square will be able to keep track of the various sporting events and ceremonies on large screens.

The refurbished Robson Square is also home to the 2010 Commerce Centre. The Centre was created by BC 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat to help inform, educate and connect businesses to the economic opportunities of the Games.