British Columbia Magazine

Kong hai fat choy and welcome to the Year of the Dragon.

The Winter 2011 issue of British Columbia Magazine marks the occasion with a rich, behind-the-scenes perspective on Chinese New Year celebrations in the Lower Mainland. See “Behind the lion’s mask” in your copy of the magazine to witness the preparations and determine how you, too, might please the gods and improve your fortune this year.

Are you a dragon person? According to Chinese mythology, those born during a dragon year (2012, 2000, 1988 and backwards in 12-year increments) are powerful, stubborn, intelligent, sexual, and have magical powers. To learn what other special attributes dragons possess, see our online article “The Year of the Dragon.” 

And for more on Chinese New Year, see Jane Nahirny’s “A wok through Chinatown” to read about her experience preparing a traditional dish for the festivities (complete with recipe).

The 17th annual Word on the Street literary extravaganza takes place in downtown Vancouver this weekend, and the British Columbia Magazine team will be there to join in the fun. Visit our booth in the Magazine Tent on Sunday (September 25, 2011) for special offers, the chance to spin our prize wheel, or just to say hello.

The festival also offers author readings, exhibits, and performances. Visit www.thewordonthestreet.ca/wots/vancouver for more info.

Anyone who has grocery shopped while herding a three-year-old wearing a tutu or a unicorn costume knows that children love play-acting and pretending, anytime, anywhere. I figure that it is never too early to spark a love of theatre, so I’ll be bringing my kids to the Victoria Fringe Festival this weekend.

The special one-day FringeKids Fest takes place this Saturday  from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Victoria’s Market Square (560 Johnson). The free event promises puppet making, crafts, live performances and an inflatable bouncy bunny. Families are encouraged to bring new school supplies to donate to the Single Parent Resource Centre.

I’m also planning to buy some tickets for  Aladdin, The Secret Voyage, presented by Victoria’s own Story Theatre Company. And yes, I do hope to see some grown-up shows during the Fringe, which starts today and runs to September 4. Happy 25th anniversary to the Victoria Fringe, and thanks to all the staff and volunteers who make the magic happen.

Last week, I was invited for tea at the Point Ellice House & Gardens, a National Historic Site located in downtown Victoria.  The Victorian-era home, with its pretty, white-picket fence, seems like an anachronism in its now industrial neighbourhood along the Gorge Waterway. But when I stepped out of my car and into the heritage rose garden, I could understand why the O’Reilly family made their home here for several generations, even after others decamped from the neighbourhood. Birdsong filled the air as I walked through the garden towards the house. When I spotted the toy-like Victoria Harbour Ferry dropping visitors off at a dock below, I wished I’d thought to arrive here by water.

I was given a tour of the house by Heritage Branch Director Jennifer Iredale, who explained that when the family sold the house to the Province, they left behind all of its contents–room after room of original, Victorian furniture, china, portraits, music instruments, board games, kitchen utensils, and more. These family furnishings give the house such a sense of authenticity–and afford the visitor a glimpse into the life of Peter O’Reilly, who became one of B.C.’s first Gold Commissioners.  ”It’s a fascinating mixture of high English gentility and the objects from his life on the road in Gold Rush B.C.,” explains Jennifer.

As we peered into the diningroom where our first Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald, once dined, I could almost imagine the lively conversation. They say there are ghosts at Point Ellice House, and I did feel a tingle down my spine as I walked through the house. It was a fine summer’s day, so afterwards, we enjoyed afternoon tea in the gardens–a lovely spread of homemade goodies.

f you’re in Victoria this Sunday, visit Point Ellice House & Gardens as they celebrate their 150th anniversary. The traditional festivities begin at 11 a.m. and run until 4 p.m., and include light refreshments, music, dancing, croquet and children’s activities, and “Ask the Heritage Experts” (bring your questions about gardening, historical restoration, antiques, military history, and the O’Reilly family).  Admission is $12 for one adult; $20 for two adults; $6 for children; and $25 for a family (two adults, two children).

Photo of afternoon tea: Susan Rybar

Info: 250-380-6506 or ellicehouse@gmail.com

Looking for a new ditty to sing around the campfire this summer? Well, you’re in luck. CBC Radio 2 Morning commissioned songstress Sarah Harmer to create a new tune to commemorate Parks Canada’s 100th anniversary.

I heard it this morning on my way to work, and it’s fantastic.  You can download the video and the sheet music here.  

Don’t forget to join magazine staff on Parks Day, Saturday July 16, in Vancouver’s Stanley Park (near the totems).  We’ll be there with BC Parks, Parks Canada, and others (including musical guest K’naan, who will be part of a free concert, beginning at 4 p.m.). See our blog post below for full information about the event.

If you can’t make it to Vancouver, take advantage of free admission to any national park this Saturday and try out Harmer’s new Canadian campfire song for yourself.

British Columbia Magazine will be at Stanley Park’s Brockton Point in Vancouver this coming Saturday, July 16 for Parks Day.

Parks Day is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of both BC Parks and Parks Canada. The event includes a free outdoor concert beginning a 4 p.m.; instructional demonstrations on how to camp, hike, surf, climb, fish, and geocache; the opportunity to meet Olympic gold medalist Maelle Ricker; plus free hugs from Parka the Beaver and Jerry the Moose!

Visit us at the British Columbia Magazine booth to try your luck at spinning our prize wheel.

Festivities run from noon until 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit the Parks Canada website: www.pc.gc.ca

Celebrations in honour of the BC Parks centennial are also taking place July 16 at Fintry Provincial Park in the North Okanagan, with an inaugural Fintry Fair, featuring arts & crafts, musical acts, outdoor activities, and more, as well as at Squamish’s Alice Lake Provincial Park, with cake and a scavenger hunt. For more BC Parks-related events see www.bcparks.ca.

Vancouver is the place to lighten up this February, as Yaletown hosts its annual neighbourhood party to show off some spectacular light installations. Illuminate Yaletown features live entertainment and light-based creations from the city’s top designers and artists.

The first party, held in 2009, drew 20,000 people to view 27 installations. This year’s event stretches over two nights and is intended to commemorate the anniversary of  the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The Yaletown Business Improvement Association, area businesses, design companies, and artists host the free event, which takes place in the Yaletown Heritage District, along Mainland and Hamilton streets, between Davie and Nelson. It runs February 11 and February 12, from 5:59 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

If you haven’t visited Victoria’s Royal BC Museum recently, this week is a great time to become reacquainted with its many fascinating exhibits. Admission is by donation from January 2nd to the 9th, as a gift from the museum to the community.

I was part of the crowd there yesterday, bringing my two preschoolers to learn about everything from longhouses, to woolly mammoths, to alien species. They sat, quietly spellbound, while we watched the presentation on different types of aboriginal masks. It’s an ideal time to take little ones for a brief visit to get a taste of all our museum has to offer.

Admission by donation runs until January 9th. A donation of $5 per person is suggested.

British Columbians wear their Cowichan sweaters with pride. This Sunday, you can show yours off at the Victoria launch of Sylvia Olsen’s new book: Working with Wool: A Coast Salish Legacy and the Cowichan Sweater, published by Sono Nis Press.

Wear your sweater or other Cowichan knit and hear Olsen give a reading from her new work. Some of the oldest Cowichan sweaters will be on display, including one made 90 years ago.

The event takes place December 5 at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (1040 Moss Street) from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is free to the public. Drinks and snacks will be served.

I’ve enjoyed a few teddy bear tea parties in my time, but the one I’ll be attending in Victoria next month is special because it’s for a great cause — the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children.

The Teddy Bear Tea Party for Kids is an annual festive event held as part of the foundation’s Bear Wear campaign, in which local businesses dress teddy bears into costumes — with themes ranging from Elvis to Harry Potter. The bears then find good homes through a silent auction. Everyone is invited to view the bears free of charge in the lobby of the Hotel Grand Pacific, located at 463 Belleville Street, from November 16 to December 19, 2010.

If you have children between the ages of three and eight, then consider attending this year’s tea party to be held December 5 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hotel Grand Pacific. Cookie decorating, face painting, entertainment and a visit from Santa are all on the agenda.

Admission to the tea party is $10 for adults, $7 for the first child, and $5 for additional children. The event sells out fast, so organizers request that there be no more than two adults in attendance per child to keep more spots free for kids. Tickets go on sale November 15, and may be purchased in person at the hotel or booked on credit card by calling (250) 386-0450.

All proceeds from this year’s event will go to creation of Jeneece Place, which will provide a home away from home for families who need to travel to Victoria for medical treatment.