Summer weather arrived here in Vancouver just in time for Canada Day, and also the official start of my sabbatical! Debbie went with Victoria Harrison and a group of hikers on the ferry to Bowen Island and a 17 km hike, while I took the boys down to Canada Place for the Canada Day party. CP is down at the waterfront, and very easy to get to on transit. We first took the bus to Metrotown to stock up on bubble tea, Chinese buns, and egg tarts. From there, we took the skytrain straight down to Waterfront station - easy! On the left the boys are at "The Canadian Mosaic" exhibit. An artist is making a huge Canada flag with portraits of everyday Canadians, about 36,000 or more including us. Look for us in the white part of the flag when it's ready in time for Canada's 150th birthday in 2017!Lots more pictures of how we spent Canada Day!
The boys and I have been hooked on "The Lazy Song" by Bruno Mars, especially the music video and the chimp dancers. So on the left, they're busting their best hip-hop move. On the right, we're at Canada Place, where they lit up the Olympic Torch for the day. Lots and lots and lots of people out enjoying the great weather and the party. Right as we got there, completely to my surprise we literally bumped into my SFU labmates Sanja Savic-Kallesoe and Klaus Kallesoe! Hi Sanja and Klaus!
At the armed forces tent, a Search and Rescue technician was displaying all of his massive array of equipment. They have to be prepared to operate in almost any condition and any climate. Some of their gear included SCUBA diving gear, parachutes for getting to the incidents, climbing and rappeling gear, snowshoes, and plain old walking! They also had extensive emergency medical kits, and are trained to survive with minimal gear for days at a time. I talked to one SAR Tech about the Arctic study that we did, and he didn't seem too keen on volunteering! On the right is another of our "Handstands around the World" shots, at Canada Place in front of the "Digital Orca." That's 4 handstand shots and counting!
In the convention centre itself, there were several exhibitions. A major one was by Tom Meire (on the left), who made over 100 portraits of famous Canadians. He was inspired by the party in Vancouver after the Canadian hockey win at the Olympics, and decided he wanted to celebrate how much Canada has contributed to the world. The portraits included athletes (Terry Fox, Wayne Gretzky, Donovan Bailey), political figures (Sir John A MacDonald was right next to Louis Riel, who he ordered executed!), musicians (Sarah MacLachlan, Glen Gould, Neil Young), actors (John Candy, Michael J. Fox), scientists (Frederick Banting - discover of insulin, David Suzuki), and lots more. One Canadian we learned about for the first time was Louis Cyr, who was the world's strongest man in the late 1800s. He could lift 500 pounds with a single finger! On the right was an aerial artist who was painting a picture while in the air!
One highlight for me were the two concerts we caught at the main stage at Jack Poole Plaza, where the Olympic Torch is. The setup was beautiful, with the musicians in front of a backdrop of Burrard Inlet and the North Shore mountains behind. The first act (left picture) was "The Irish Descendants" from Newfoundland, and the Gaelic-themed rock was awesome. Their last song they sang unbelievably fast and then sped up from there! The final concert was a blast from my youth, indie act Grapes of Wrath from Kelowna (right picture). They were one of my favourite bands during university days, and I pretty much still know almost every word of every song they played.
Lots more pictures of how we spent Canada Day!
Happy Belated Canada Day!!! Well, it certainly sounds like you all had much to do and celebrate!! July 1st was a busy day for Uncle Crabby and I. The Death Star was in need of kitchen chairs so we spent the entire day cruising furniture stores. FINALLY during a fight over a fushia buddha (don't ask!) we happened upon a store called "Revolution" and found the perfect chairs for the death star canteen. I am impressed with your mom's 17 km hike. Clearly she will fair much better in the deserts of Tantooien than I. Today we took Yoda and Chewie on a 6 km (at best) hike in Nosehill park. Aside from being raped by mosquitoes, half way thru Yoda packed it in and buried himself in the prairie grass. How he plans to take on the Emperor in this state god only knows. It was no where near what your mom did!!! As I type, Yoda, Chewie, and I are staring at the duck tape imaginary plasma TV that Uncle Crabby is also collecting bottles for. As we stare at the duck tape borders of imaginary technology, we imagine we are watching Star Wars in HD 3D. And in our imaginary viewing, Haden Christenson can actually ACT and Liam Neeson's character does nor die defeating Darth Maul but retires to Maui and opens up a totally happening coffee shop/jazz club.
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