Family Events In Vancouver

We are launching our Online Visual Arts Series with artist Marlene Lowden. The first FREE trial class is LIVE NOW on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bA1f_uR3e8

Join Marlene Lowden to learn about the mysterious world of abstract art through fun activities, while learning the key elements of design. This video is suitable for all ages and ability levels, gather your household or tune in with friends virtually and begin creating!

This video is the first in a series of five videos available through Place des Arts. Each video will run between 20-30 minutes and viewers can watch at their own pace. Register to join Marlene for the complete series exploring the elements of design through abstract art here:

https://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/placedesarts/Activity_Search/5609

It’s o-fish-al! After being closed for more than three months, the Vancouver Aquarium will reopen to the public on Friday, June 26 thanks to an outpouring of community support. Every ticket purchased will help ensure the future of the not-for-profit Vancouver Aquarium.

 
Safety of visitors, staff and animals remains the Vancouver Aquarium’s top priority. In accordance with Government guidelines, the Vancouver Aquarium will offer a new, time-ticketed, one-way flow experience that will allow visitors to encounter the wonder of our ocean, safely and in a crowd-free setting.

Learn more about the new experience and book your ticket at VanAqua.org/tickets. 

Every day, historians comb through journals of people who lived during significant times in history to piece together important details. These journals were often written by regular people with normal lives who took a few minutes each day or so to record what was going on around them. These records have become instrumental in our understanding of past events, tragedies, and everyday life.

You now have the opportunity to contribute to future historians’ understanding of the COVID-19 crisis of 2020, in Coquitlam, and beyond.  We want to hear your stories as they unfold and while they are fresh in your minds.  Thoughts, feelings, commentaries, scrapbooks, art – all are important.

We are encouraging you to keep a journal during the COVID-19 pandemic. It could be a few words each day or a several pages of in depth information. It could be a notebook of doodles or illustrations. It could be in English or in any other language you are comfortable recording your thoughts, feelings, and musings.

For more information, visit our event website (https://www.coquitlamheritage.ca/the-journal-project) or contact us by email at info@coquitlamheritage.ca or by phone at (604) 516-6151.

Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) invites audiences to a summer of love with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Hello, Dolly! on alternate evenings from July 4–August 29, 2020, at Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl. Celebrating a milestone 80 years in Stanley Park, TUTS’ 2020 season offers two Broadway blockbuster musicals: an enchanting tale of true love as a small-town girl with big dreams wins the heart of a Beast, and a delightful story about a charming — but meddlesome — matchmaker who ultimately finds her own perfect match. Two-show subscription packs are on sale now through May 1. Best seats to both shows are just $80 for adults and $50 for children and youths. Subscriptions can be purchased at tuts.ca or by calling 1-877-840-0457. 

This summer,  join The Yoga Buggy for physically-distanced classes in the park.  Our family-friendly classes include games, storytelling, music and of course, yoga!    See you this summer at Yoga!

**Classes are FREE but you MUST register at www.yogabuggy.com**

Date: Jul 14/21/28, Aug 4/11/18/25 (Tuesday)

Time: 10:30 – 11:15 am

Location: 705 Woodland Drive, Vancouver

Have you heard the news? The Vancouver Aquarium has extended its hours on weekends through the summer! The Aquarium is now open until 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays, with the last entry time at 5:30 pm. The updated hours are now posted on the Vancouver Aquarium’s website.

Perfect for a romantic date for two, or an evening outing for the kids, the extended hours allow you to take advantage of the long summer evenings to visit the Vancouver Aquarium’s 70,000 animals – including barking sea lions, fluffy sea otters, seals, snakes, a caiman, electric eel, crabs, octopus, shark, turtles and more.

Why not cap off your visit with a relaxing picnic in Stanley Park? Take-away picnics are now available for purchase from the Ocean Wise Café with the option to upgrade to a beautiful keepsake wicker picnic basket. For more information, check out https://vanaqua.org/picnic. 

To ensure the safety of everyone, don’t forget that all Vancouver Aquarium visitors (including members) need to book tickets in advance of their visit. Also, face masks are required for everyone aged four and over.

We look forward to seeing you this summer!

This summer,  join The Yoga Buggy for physically-distanced classes in the park.  Our family-friendly classes include games, storytelling, music and of course, yoga!    See you this summer at Yoga!

**Classes are FREE but you MUST register at www.yogabuggy.com**

Date: Jul 16/23/30, Aug 6/13/20/27 (Thursday)

Time: 10:30 – 11:15 am

Location: 2125 Victoria Drive, Vancouver

The Britannia Mine Museum is launching a new educational temporary exhibit this summer exploring the antimicrobial properties of copper and how it has been used in the battle against superbugs and other diseases throughout history.

“Copper: Bug Buster” launches Saturday, July 18^th (until Sunday, September 13^th) inside the Museum’s Machine Shop and delves into copper’s bug busting capabilities and the role it played in medicine as an antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal metal. For over three thousand years, civilizations around the world have used copper and its minerals in health remedies. The exhibit also asks the question whether copper can be used to help in the battle against COVID-19.

“We pride ourselves in providing visitors with insightful educational experiences and we felt it was important for this year’s temporary exhibit to reflect on the current COVID-19 pandemic given how much it has impacted our lives,” says Kirstin Clausen, Executive Director of the Britannia Mine Museum.

“Our Museum’s curator and her team assembled some fascinating facts and science about the antimicrobial properties of copper, and how the metal has played a role in medicine throughout history. We felt it was fitting, since the Britannia Mine was a copper mine.”

Here are some interesting facts about copper that the exhibit will explore:

• In ancient Egypt, green mineral malachite (copper carbonate) was ground up and used as an eye makeup, and supposedly also prevented eye infections.

• Another treatment speaks of soldiers in battle having wounds sterilized with malachite.

• The Incas disinfected wounds with gauze soaked in copper sulphate solution.

• The Aztecs gargled with a copper solution to treat sore throats.

• In ancient Greece, they recorded the first use of copper bracelets for arthritis.

• In ancient Rome, Pliny the Elder’s works recorded around one hundred and fifty copper-based remedies, and skin conditions and tonsillitis were said to be treated.

• In modern times, research has shown that when a virus or bacteria lands on copper, the metal releases electrically charged particles, which destroys the cell membrane, then the DNA and RNA inside.
• Copper has also been proven to kill Ebola, MRSA, E. coli and norovirus. A recent study found that SARS-CoV-2 – the virus causing COVID-19 – lasted only four hours on a copper surface compared with 48 hours on stainless steel or 72 hours on plastic. Could copper be useful in the fight against COVID-19?

The Britannia Mine Museum is currently open to the public with appropriate COVID-19 safety measures and procedures in place. This includes enhanced staff training, opening with limited attendance and tour sizes, advanced ticketing and reservation required, accommodating appropriate physical distancing, and implementing site sanitation protocols.

The Britannia Mine Museum was established in 1974 as a non-profit organization to celebrate the contributions of mining and minerals to society, the history of the storied Britannia Beach community and the ideas and practices of environmental renewal and sustainability.

Today, the Museum is multi-award winning and highly regarded, consistently receiving 4.5 stars (out of a possible 5) on TripAdvisor. It provides visitors with a unique blend of experiences, serving as a tourist destination, an adventure attraction and an education venue that allows guests to leave with a better understanding of mining in BC: its past, present and future.

Operating hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with limited guided tours and BOOM! showings in order to maintain proper physical distancing. Check the Museum’s website for specific tour times and to purchase tickets in advance.

The Museum is encouraging everyone to practice safe COVID-19 protocols including frequent hand washing, physical distancing and staying at home if you are sick.

About Britannia Mine Museum:

The Britannia Mine Museum is a mining legacy site and a vibrant, internationally recognized education and tourist destination located between Vancouver and Whistler on the Sea-to-Sky highway. It is a National Historic Site and a non-profit organization encouraging mining awareness through entertaining, experiential education programs and exhibits, important historic collection preservation and insightful public engagement that allows guests to leave with a better understanding of mining in BC; past, present and future. www.britanniaminemuseum.ca

Twitter: @BritanniaMine Facebook: @BritanniaMineMuseum Instagram: @BritanniaMineMuseum

The first two editions of the annual Chilliwack Sunflower Festival, in 2018 and 2019, were huge successes. Countless guests, from across the region and beyond, descended upon the grounds at Yale Road to marvel at the beauty of acre upon acre of sunflowers, plus many other all-ages attractions.

This year, in order to ensure everyone’s health and safety, the usual components of the festival have been reimagined. And so, while there may not be a formal festival in 2020, festival presenters Tulips of the Valley are pleased to bring you the Chilliwack Sunflower Experience, offering plenty of safe, family-friendly ways to see the sunflowers — and take some cherished memories (as well as your own sunflowers) home with you.

The fields will be alive with 25 different varieties of sunflowers, and more than 50 varieties of dahlias. Plus, this year the team has planted an array of colourful gladiolas. From mid-August to Labour Day, roam more than three kilometres of pathways throughout the fields. Strict social-distancing guidelines will be in place for you and your loved ones’ peace of mind, including:

• the fields’ capacity will be limited to 25%
• directional pathways that are 3 to 5 metres wide
• hand-sanitizing stations and safety notices placed where needed
• staff will be sanitizing high-touch areas throughout the day
• tickets will be sold online only, per one-hour block
• limited hands-on photo-op props
• no playground, picnic tables or lawn games this year.

In addition to the breathtaking flower fields, guests can expect freshly cut flowers and local Chilliwack corn for sale. Cool off with an individually wrapped frozen treat or enjoy a delicious meal to-go from a food truck (located in the parking lot, off the fields). (And don’t forget — dozens of great local restaurants are just a few minutes’ drive away in Chilliwack.)

“This summer, everyone is looking for ways to have fun while staying local and staying safe,” says Tulips of the Valley co-founder Kate Onos-Gilbert. “I hope everyone in the region who enjoyed the Chilliwack Sunflower Festival in years past — and those who haven’t had the opportunity before — will come and spend some time among the flowers. It’s the perfect way to relax in nature.”

Tickets for the Chilliwack Sunflower Experience go on sale Friday, August 7. Please note that due to this summer’s unusually chilly weather, Tulips of the Valley can’t yet provide an official opening date, but mid-August is the aim. Keep an eye on the social media links below for updates.

Instagram: @chilliwacksunflowerfest
Facebook: chilliwacksunflowerfest
Twitter: @onosfestivals

Location is 41310 Yale Road (entrance off Royalwood Drive).
Tickets will go on sale on August 7. Ticket prices vary; children two and under are admitted free. For more information, visit: chilliwacksunflowerfest.com.

Joey was found orphaned at only a few days old near Kyuquot B.C.  He was rescued and brought to the Ocean Wise Marine Mammal Rescue Centre in Vancouver, where he received around-the-clock care.  

Having been deemed as non-releasable by Government officials, Joey will now get a second chance at life and has joined the 6 rescued otters at the Vancouver Aquarium.   

For the very first time, visitors will be able to watch his rehabilitation journey in his newly-built nursery. Joey’s custom new digs will be visible to the public and lucky viewers may catch glimpses of bath and feeding time with his care team between naps. 

Watch Joey via live cam and purchase tickets to visit at vanaqua.org/Joey.  

Put on your Sunday bests, grab your cameras and snap a picture perfect moment at Abbotsford’s first ever Sunflower Festival! You’ll be able to take pictures at different photo op’s perfectly decorated to trend on the explore page and then snip your own golden beauties at our U-Pick field which is grown with only premium varietals. Once you’re done basking in the glow of our sea of sunflowers, grab a wine tasting flight to sip on and enjoy. Do it for the gram. If you didn’t snap it…did it really happen?

• Mon to Fri 9 am to 6 pm
• Sat & Sun 9 am to 8 pm

PHOTO OPS

Stylized locations throughout the field to capture the perfect IG Pic.

GOAT WINE!?

Enjoy a glass of our Award Winning Wine while sitting across a field of sunflowers. Only on the weekends.

KIDS UNDER 3 FREE

Anyone 2 years of age is free to enter our patch.

DOG DAYS

Bring your pups on Aug 17th or !8th and take a picture in our field. Time for the family photo!

MAMA MAAN’S KITCHEN

Tornado Potatoes, Pakoras, Samosas, and Butter Chicken! Mama Maan will be cooking her favorite foods for you to eat during the entire festival.

CUDDLE BB GOATS

Your Ticket gets you into the rest of the farm and to see all the baby animals plus on all of our farm attractions!

From blobfish and plankton, to bats and berries. Join the Stanley Park Ecology Society and Ocean Wise for a journey from the depths of the ocean to tree tops in a virtual summer camp engaging youth on local habitats and how to get involved to help protect them. We will explore nature around us through art, activities, short presentations, Q&A and more. What challenges do these ecosystems face? How can we use community science to make a difference? Find out on our journey through nature from home!

Know any youth 11-15 interested in exploring marine and terrestrial ecology, community science and connection to place?

Join for single days or the whole week! https://bit.ly/owspescamp

Full 5 day week of camp: ticket price $100, book single days of camp: ticket price $25.