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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

2012 World Wetlands Day Celebration at the Little Campbell Fish Hatchery

Celebrate World Wetlands Day at the Little Campbell River Fish Hatchery (operated by Surrey's Semiahmoo Fish and Game Club) with tours, a walk along the interpretive trail, birdhouse building and a fair featuring local community groups educating visitors about wetlands! Come learn about wetlands in British Columbia's Lower Mainland and their importance as an ecosystem and as a habitat for birds, animals and insects.

Take a tour of the Little Campbell River Fish Hatchery (operated by Surrey's Semiahmoo Fish and Game Club), walk through the adjoining interpretive forest trail, build a birdhouse and learn about wetlands and why they are important at the community booths and fair:

DATE: February 5, 2012
TIME: 10:00am - 4:00pm
LOCATION: Semiahmoo Fish & Game Club: 1284 - 184th Street, Surrey, British Columbia (map)
COST: Free
WEBSITE: Surrey Fish & Game Club

You can also visit Lower Mainland wetlands such as the Serpentine Wildlife Management Area, Delta Nature Reserve, George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Minnekhada Regional Park, Boundary Bay Regional Park and Cheam Lake Wetlands Regional Park in celebration of World Wetlands Day!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2012

2012 Maple Syrup Festivals on Vancouver Island

Experience the Eastern Canadian traditions of the sugar shack at maple syrup festivals celebrating Vancouver Island's Bigleaf Maple Syrup. Learn about British Columbia's maple syrup at two events: the 5th Annual West Coast Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival (February 4, 2012) and the 11th Annual Maple Sugar Festival du Sucre d'Erable (February 10 - 12, 2012). Learn about making maple syrup, talk to local experts, sample BC's heavenly amber gold and enjoy authentic French-Canadian food! Don't miss these sugary sweet maple syrup festivals!

2012 Maple Syrup Festivals on Vancouver Island Learn about and taste British Columbia's Bigleaf Maple Syrup on Vancouver Island at the regions 2012 Maple Syrup festivals:

• WEST COAST BIGLEAF MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL | February 4, 2012 | 10:00am - 4:00pm | BC Forest Discovery Centre: 2892 Drinkwater Road, Duncan (map) | Free - $15 | Celebrate British Columbia's maple syrup at the 5th Annual West Coast Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival! Experience the unique taste and aroma of this unique specialty product - meet local experts, see demonstrations, sample syrup, see BC's best at the competition awards presentation and take a train ride! | Website
• MAPLE SUGAR FESTIVAL DU SUCRE D'ERABLE | February 10 - 12, 2012 | 10th: 4:00pm - 10:00pm; 11th: 9:00am - 11:00pm ; 12th: 9:00am - 4:00pm | Beban Auditorium: 2300 Bowen Road, Nanaimo (map) | Free - $5 | Enjoy the sugary sweetness of maple syrup at the 11th Maple Sugar Festival du Sucre d'Erable! Experience this unique bilingual event inspired by eastern Canada's sugar shacks which includes presentations, performances and authentic French Canadian food! | Website

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2012

2012 Illuminate Yaletown

Experience Yaletown at night as its lit with beautiful and dazzling light installations during the 3rd Annual Illuminate Yaletown! Started during the 2012 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Illuminate Yaletown has evolved into a mid-winter festival for all ages which celebrates light and artistic expression in the heart of Vancouver's former rail yard neighbourhood. Using video and lighting, Illuminate Yaletown, partnering with the City & Slope Festival bring back this unique visual spectacle in Yaletown's Heritage District! Don't miss this spectacular event which runs dusk until late on the streets, in restaurants and businesses in Yaletown from February 10th & 11th, 2012!

Photo Credit: Kama Guezalova (http://yaletowninfo.com/illuminate-yaletown-2012) Shake off the dreary effects of winter and experience a festival of visual creativity at the 3rd Annual Illuminate Yaletown in Downtown Vancouver! Based in the unique Yaletown Heritage District neighbourhood, Illuminate Yaletown is an interactive, innovative, and interesting light art experience. Bring your friends, your camera and enjoy this annual event in Vancouver's historic Yaletown locale:

DATE: February 10 - 11, 2012
TIME: 6:00pm - 11:00pm
LOCATION: Yaletown Heritage District: Mainland and Hamilton Streets between Drake and Nelson Streets, Vancouver, British Columbia (map)
COST: Free
WEBSITE: Illuminate Yaletown | Facebook | Twitter

Also, experience City & Slope, a four day festival celebrating Vancouver and the regions three slopes which partners with Illuminate Yaletown in 2012.

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

2012 City & Slope Festival Vancouver

Experience Vancouver's unique locale during the 2012 City & Slope Festival! Blessed with three world class ski resorts within twenty kilometers from its vibrant downtown core, Vancouver offers slope lovers the premier winter destination! Celebrate the region during this four day festival - a combination of city events (Illuminate Yaletown, Science World Light Shows and the Neon Vancouver / Ugly Vancouver exhibition), slope events (Canada Ski and Snowboard Festival, 24 Hours of Winter and Mount Seymour 86) as well as music performances across the city!

2012 City & Slope Festival Celebrate Vancouver's unique locale, nestled in the North Shore mountains during City & Slope with festivities in the city, on the slopes and in venues across Vancouver:

DATE: February 9 - 12, 2012 [schedule]
WEBSITE: City & Slope | Facebook | Twitter

CITY ACTIVITIES
• ILLUMINATE YALETOWN | February 10 - 11, 2012 | 6:00pm - 11:00pm | Yaletown Heritage District: Mainland and Hamilton Streets between Drake and Nelson Streets, Vancouver (map) | Free | Explore historic Yaletown as its lit up for Illuminate Yaletown - an interactive, innovative, and interesting light art experience! | Website
• SCIENCE WORLD LIGHT SHOWS | February 9 - 12, 2012 | Dusk to Dawn | Science World: 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver (map) | Free | Visit Science World after dark and enjoy its unique light shows from its 286 colour changing LED's capable of producing millions of colours. | Website
• NEON VANCOUVER / UGLY VANCOUVER | October 23, 2011 - August 12, 2012 | Tues-Sun: 10:00am - 5:00pm; Thurs: 10:00am - 8:00pm | Museum of Vancouver: 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver (map) | Free - $12 | Take a look at the fascinating explosion of neon signage during the 50s, 60s and 70s, and learn about the visual purity crusade that virtually banished it from Vancouver streets. | Website

2012 City & Slope Festival SLOPE ACTIVITIES
• CANADA SKI AND SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL | February 9 - 12, 2012 | Times: Vary | Cypress Mountain: 6000 Cypress Bowl Road, West Vancouver (map) | Free - $59 | Enjoy four days of fireworks, scavenger hunts, mascots, music, a beer garden, the Canadiana at Cypress festival and more! | Website
• 24 HOURS OF WINTER | February 11 - 12, 2012 | 11th: 9:00am to 12th: 10:00pm | Grouse Mountain: 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver (map) | $13.95 - $58 | Enjoy 24 hours of snow-filled fun for the whole family atop Grouse Mountain with skiing and snowboarding, ice skating (including a hockey tournament), ride the terrain parks, enjoy sleigh rides and snowshoeing. | Website
• MT SEYMOUR 86 | February 12, 2012 | 9:00am - 10:00pm | Mount Seymour: 1700 Mount Seymour Road, North Vancouver (map) | Free - $46 | Celebrate the impeccable tastes of 80's slope style at Mount Seymour! Vie for prizes for best dressed skier and snowboarder plus all the 80's music you can handle in your neon onesie! | Website

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2012

Photos: 2012 Chinese New Year Celebrations in Vancouver

Vancouver rang in the Year of the Dragon on January 28, 2012 with events happening throughout Canada's largest Chinatown. The spectacular Chinese New Year Parade which wove through the streets included marching bands, firecrackers, traditional costumes, performers, lion dancers and saw hundreds of red envelopes handed out to spectators lining the streets. As well, the iconic Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden, decorated with paper lanterns, offered Chinese New Year activities such as fortune telling, traditional games, a lucky coin toss, and music!

Here are a few photos of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown and at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden in Vancouver.

Lanterns being carried during the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver. Flags bearers in the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver. Lion Dancers in the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden participants in the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver. Man in costume during the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver. Costumes at the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver. Dragon in 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver, Fan dancers performing during the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver. Children dragon dancers at the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver. Fan dancers at the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver. Paper umbrella dancers at the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver. Dragon dance at the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver. Lion dancer at the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver. Costumed character in the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver. Horse costumes in the 2012 Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver. Chinese New Year at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden in Vancouver. Lantern decorations at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden in Vancouver. Red lanterns at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden in Vancouver. Red lanterns in the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden in Vancouver. Flutist at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden in Vancouver. Wishes for the new year at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden in Vancouver. Chinese lanterns in Vancouver's Chinatown. Fortune cookie.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2012

2012 Family Snow Day at Mount Seymour

Take a drive up to the mountain tops of North Vancouver to enjoy a day in the snow on Mount Seymour! Enjoy Mount Seymour's Second Annual Family Snow Day which includes tobogganing, tubing, crafts in the snow park yurt, games and prizes, snowshoe demonstrations, free hot chocolate and popcorn! As well, visit Harold's Cafe and grab lunch or pull up a seat by the fire pit outside where you can warm up and roast marshmallows! Enjoy Family Snow Day atop Mount Seymour in North Vancouver, British Columbia on January 28, 2012!

THE FAMILY SNOW DAY EVENT ON MOUNT SEYMOUR IN NORTH VANCOUVER FOR JANUARY 28, 2012 HAS BEEN CANCELLED: LINK

Family Snow Day at Mount Seymour on January 28, 2012. Enjoy a day in the snow during Family Snow Day atop Mount Seymour in North Vancouver! Enjoy a wide range of fun activities including crafts, games, demonstrations, tobogganing, tubing, free hot chocolate and popcorn and warm up by the fire and roast some marshmallows! The first two hundred people to show their North Shore Credit Union Member Card or Northvanrec Playcard receive free tobogganing or $8 off tubing:

DATE: January 28, 2012
TIME: 10:00am - 2:00pm
LOCATION: Mount Seymour: 1700 Mount Seymour Road, North Vancouver, British Columbia (map)
COST: Varies
WEBSITE: Mount Seymour | Facebook | Twitter

In the winter, visitors can enjoy a variety of fun snow activities including alpine skiing, snow shoeing, snow tubing, tobogganing.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2012

2012 Year of the Dragon Temple Fair at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at Vancouver's iconic Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden during the Chinese New Year Temple Fair! Experience a "Hot & Noisy" (re-nao) mixture of traditional decorations and cultural activities such as Chinese games and activities, fortune telling, water Calligraphy, a lucky coin toss, tea and snacks and of course, red envelopes! Enjoy Chinese New Year 2012 at the festive Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden!

Celebrate Chinese New Year and the Year of the Dragon at the 2012 Temple Fair at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden. Celebrate Chinese New Year at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden - an authentic Ming scholar's garden located in Vancouver's Chinatown. Come to the garden and experience a "Hot & Noisy" (re-nao) mixture of traditional and cultural activities along with spectacular decorations which celebrates the Lunar New Year which in 2012 welcomes the Year of the Dragon:

DATE: January 28 - 29, 2012
TIME: January 28th (a "Sneak-Peeking" afternoon): 1:00pm - 4:30pm | January 29th: 10:00am - 4:30pm
LOCATION: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden: 578 Carrall Street, Vancouver, British Columbia (map)
COST: By Donation (suggested: $5)
WEBSITE: Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden | Facebook | Twitter

Visit Venture Vancouver's 2012 Chinese New Year Events blog for a full list of events and activities celebrating the Year of the Dragon.

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2012

2012 Chinese New Year Parade in Vancouver

Ring in the Year of the Dragon at the Chinese New Year Parade in Vancouver's Chinatown. Celebrating the start of the new year on the Chinese lunar calendar, the spectacular Chinese New Year Parade in Vancouver's Chinatown is a two hour cultural extravaganza which includes the largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams in Canada with dozens of colourful lions, beautiful costumes and dances, music, fireworks and of course, plenty of red envelopes! Rain or shine, don't miss the Chinese New Year parade in the heart of Canada's largest Chinatown!

The Chinese New Year Parade in Vancouver is January 29, 2012. Celebrate the Lunar Year of the Dragon in Canada's largest Chinatown in Vancouver, British Columbia with a spectacular Chinese New Year Parade which includes dozens of colourful and energetic dragons, beautiful cultural costumes, music and dance, floats, firecrackers and of course, plenty of red envelopes filled with sweets!

DATE: January 29, 2012
TIME: 12:00pm
LOCATION: Parade Starts: East Pender Street at Carrall Street, to Gore Avenue, Gore Avenue to Keefer Street. Parade Ends: Keefer Street at Carrall Street, Vancouver (route map) (map)
COST: Free
WEBSITE: Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver

Visit Venture Vancouver's 2012 Chinese New Year Events blog for a full list of events and activities celebrating the Year of the Dragon.

MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

2012 CIBC LunarFest Vancouver

Celebrate the Lunar New Year at the CIBC LunarFest at the Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza from February 1 - 5, 2012! Walk through the spectacular Lantern Aquarium - the first of its kind in the world - see art installations, watch puppet shows by the Taiyuan Puppet Theatre Company from Taiwan, enjoy activities at the CIBC Pavilion, taste delicious culinary delights at the Lunar Cafe and join the lantern lit Lunar Skate at the Robson Square Ice Rink on January 28th! Welcome the Year of the Dragon at LunarFest 2012 in Vancouver, British Columbia!

CIBC Lunar Fest is on February 1 - 5, 2012 at the Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza.

DATE: February 1 - 5, 2012
TIME: 12:00pm - 8:00pm
LOCATION: Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza: 801 West Georgia Street (corner of West Georgia Street at Howe Street), Vancouver, British Columbia (map)
COST: By Donation
WEBSITE: CIBC LunarFest | Facebook

ACTIVITIES
• LANTERN AQUARIUM | February 1 - 5, 2012 | 12:00pm - 8:00pm | Free | Celebration and Imagination inspired by the Sea! See a collection of lantern works depicting the beauty of our ocean creatures by professional artists and thousands of school children.
• PUPPET SHOW: THE BOY, THE SHARK AND THE SEA | February 1 (1:00pm - 1:40pm (Workshop); February 2 - 3 (1:00pm - 2:00pm); February 4 - 5 (3:00pm - 4:00pm) | Free | Enjoy an interactive performance by the Taiyuan Puppet Theatre Company.
• CIBC PAVILION | February 1 - 5, 2012 | 12:00pm - 8:00pm | Free | Enjoy a variety of hot Asian beverages, get a Sea Dragon lantern hat, visit the photo booth and take part in a variety of games and workshops.
• LUNAR CAFE | February 1 - 5, 2012 | 12:00pm - 8:00pm | Check out this culinary experience featuring dishes that are tied to Lunar New Year traditions.
• LUNAR SKATE | January 28, 2012 | 12:00pm - 8:00pm | Robson Square Ice Rink: 800 Robson Street, Vancouver (map) | Free | Skate under the moon with a lantern and experience the magic when speed interacts with light.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

Family Day at Place Des Arts: January 15, 2012

Visit Place des Arts in Coquitlam on January 15, 2012 to enjoy three hands on art activities inspired by PdA's latest gallery exhibitions. Fold origami from recycled books, create your very own three dimensional spaceship and express yourself by hand painting a ceramic tile! Family Day is a great indoor activity for the whole family in an inspiring artistic local. Also, enjoy a guided tour of the facility. Make art and memories during Family Day at Place des Arts in Coquitlam, British Columbia!

Family Day at Place Des Arts in Coquitlam on January 15, 2012. Enjoy a day out with the whole family at Place des Art's Family Day! Make make three hands on art activities inspired by Place des Art's latest gallery exhibitions: fold origami from recycled books, create your very own three dimensional spaceship and express yourself by hand painting a ceramic tile to put on display in your home:

DATE: January 15, 2012
TIME: 1:30pm - 3:30pm
LOCATION: Place des Arts: 1120 Brunette Avenue, Coquitlam, British Columbia (map)
COST: By Donation
WEBSITE: Place des Arts | Facebook | Twitter

Also, take the opportunity to explore the area as Place des Arts is located in Coquitlam's historic French-Canadian neighbourhood of Maillardville which was once the largest Francophone community west of Manitoba.

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