2006 Features

Listed below is an archive of featured stories spotlighted on the Park Board's home page in the 'feature boxes' section. These four boxes accentuate timely activities, events and other information of interest to the public.

The Park Board web site maintains its "freshness" by changing the home page feature boxes on a weekly basis to reflect the events and highlights of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation.

Park Board Holiday Lights!

December 1, 2006 - If you're a visitor or an uninitiated resident, you will want to make a list of the best holiday lights to drive-by or walk-through. Here's a starter course...

Where Water Holds One's Heart

December 1, 2006 - When Shideh Khorasheh and Mehrdad Ashooian were married in April 2003 they had their wedding pictures taken in the beautiful Stanley Park Rose Gardens. Mehrdad's love of all natural things - the ocean, mountains, trees and flowers - made the park a favourite spot and one that held such happy memories for the couple...

Along the Shores of Stanley Park

November 14, 2006 - What better time of year to take a walk along the Stanley Park Seawall? Fair weather visitors and tourists are at a minimum and some days you can pretend that this magnificent creation of nature and man, belongs to you alone...

Pitch & Putt - Picture Perfect

October 23 , 2006 - Too often the zeal to get a tee time on one of the Park Board's magnificent full length golf courses makes one forget the easier and slower passed alternatives where swings can be analyzed or new players introduced to the gentler, kinder art of golf...

Hurricane or Typhoon - Looking Back

October 3, 2006 - There are events in the life of a city that are long remembered by its denizens - these include the unlikely companions of centennials, elections, wars, annual summer fireworks etc - but little can compare with the remembrance offered by Mother Nature...

The Most Beautiful Park in the World: Stanley Park Dedicated 117 Years Ago

September 25, 2006 - It's always interesting, even after years of driving to work into one of the most beautiful landscapes, to think back to how it all came about. Though othe rareas of the Park Board web site contain more detailed information about the park's provenance, this story will shed some light on Stanley Park's official dedication...

Investing in the Future

September 18, 2006 - Charles Franklin Moore thought about the things that gave him the most pleasure in life while planning his estate. A longtime resident of Vancouver's West End, his back garden was everybody's favourite place, Stanley Park, and his decision to invest in one of the great parks of the world has made all the difference...

Holding On To Summer

August 28, 2006 - Who among us does not long for just one more week of summer? Another stroll along the beach to gather shells; a final swim in English Bay's waters as high tide envelops hot sand; a sunset cycle along a seemingly endless seawall. Well, there may only be one week of real summer left, before the rule of autumn pulls children back to schools and others bac kto the work-a-day routine, so let's make the best of it...

Fitness with a View!

August 14, 2006 - What could be better than an early morning dip in one of Vancouver's stellar ocean-side pools? Not much, you'll soon discover, if you take advantage of the Park Board's professionally led Aqua-Fit classes at Second Beach Pool in Stanley Park...

Hydrangea Heaven

August 14, 2006 - Of all the shrubs one could plant, the glorious and many coloured hydrangea is one of the most popular and best choices. Extremely forgiving in both dry and wet climates, this stalwart species can even survive on a windy shoreline or beachfront when all other best bets have turned up their toes in the face of unrelenting salt-filled breezes...

Vancouver's Best - Up Front Garden Winners Announced

June 16, 2006 - The Vancouver Park Board and the Garden Club of Vancouver have announced the winners of a spring contest that drew over 300 entries. Launched in early April and organized by the dedicated members of one of Vancouver's most esteemed service clubs, the Up Front Garden contest recognizes wonderful front gardens, small and generous, that can be viewed from the sidewalk...

Temporary Sculpture Exhibits at Several Vancouver Parks

May 26, 2006 - In September 2005 sculptures started to be placed in Vancouver parks as part of the Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale. To date, pieces have been installed at a variety of greenswards including Devonian Harbour, Coal Harbour, Thornton, English Bay, Vanier and Morton Parks.

Vancouver's Beaches and Pools Make "Active Living" Easy and Fun!

May 15, 2006 - When the weather gets warmer what better way to keep active than a visit to one of Vancouver's beautiful ten bathing beaches or three seaside pools? Outdoor pools and beaches are open each year from Victoria Day weekend through to early September.....

Ted and Mary Greig Rhododendron Garden in Flower Now Through Middle May

May 15, 2006 - In a city the size of Vancouver it may seem at times that there are no hidden horticultural treasures waiting to take us by surprise, but you would be wrong. Now, and for the next several weeks, the meandering pathway that encircles the Stanley Park Pitch & Putt Golf Course is blooming in a confetti of pastel colours with rhododendrons and azaleas taking centre stage....

Park Menus Just for Mom

May 8, 2006 - Of course you love your mother and have been thinking about getting just the right gift and card to mark her special day this Sunday but somehow time has slipped away and the date is fast approaching...

Stanley Park Heronry - "Chicks" Happily Hatching! Nesting area located near Beach Avenue Entrance to Stanley Park

May 2, 2006 - Stanley Park's seasonal winged residents have flown back to their high-rise nests to set up housekeeping for another spring and summer. Returning for the fifth year in a row, some as early as January 16th, the herons now occupy over 150 commodious nests in 24 trees...

The Heart of a Volunteer - A Time to Recognize the Contributions of Our Many Exceptional Volunteers

April 24, 2006 - Times and interests may change but it remains that there is nothing as enduring as the heart of a volunteer. This strength of heart has always been a vital part of the programs and services of the Park Board...

Walking in the Magnolias - The Ted and Mary Greig Rhododendron Garden in Stanley Park

April 3, 2006 - The flowering Magnolias near the Beach Avenue entrance to Stanley Park are in beautiful blossom this week. Many of these much looked-forward-to bloomers take as long as two decades to reach flowering age so when they put on a show, everyone wants to see it. Read on for all the details of a delightful tour of this magnificent site...

Vancouver's Up Front Garden Competition

April 1, 2006 - The Garden Club of Vancouver and the Board of Parks and Recreation are sponsoring an Up Front Gardening Competition. The focus of this event is to recognize wonderful front gardens, small and generous, that can be viewed from the sidewalk. The sponsors believe our communities are enhanced by interesting gardens that inspire others to contribute to the greening of the streetscape....

Herons Wing Back to Stanley Park - March Best Month for Viewing

March 20, 2006 - Stanley Park's seasonal winged residents have flown back to their highrise nests to set up housekeeping for another spring and summer. Returning for the fourth year in a row, several as early as January 16, the herons now occupy over 66 commodious nests comprised of about 103 birds in 18 trees. Now is an excellent time to view the mating and nest repairing rituals of these majestic creatures before the leafing out of tall trees obscures bird watching...

Stanley Park's Rose Cottage Restoration Wins Heritage Recognition Award

March 6, 2006 - The Vancouver Park Board and its contractors were recently recognized at the City of Vancouver Heritage Awards for their restoration of Rose Cottage, a Class "B" 1932 Rustic Arts and Crafts style cottage...

Inukshuk Lights Up The Night

March 2, 2006 - The city's landmark Inukshuk, the inspiration for the Official Emblem of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, was illuminated last night amidst a crowd of 3000 enthusiastic observers on the banks of English Bay...

Vancouver's First Leisure Pool

March 1 , 2006 - Vancouver's First Leisure Pool - The brand new Killarney Swimming Pool, an $11 million destination leisure aquatic facility serving all Vancouver residents, is now open and receiving rave reviews. For the month of March there will be a special "getting to know you" schedule. Click on the link below and get ready to dive in!...

Snowdrops and Snowflakes

February 27, 2006 - The snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is a much looked forward to harbinger of spring in eastern climes that comes much later than their west coast cousins in Vancouver...

Dive In Killarney Pool Opens

February 22, 2006 - Vancouver's First Leisure Pool - The new Killarney Swimming Pool, an $11 million destination leisure aquatic facility serving all Vancouver residents, will have a special opening weekend Saturday, February 25 and Sunday February 26 from 9 am - 5 pm...

Park Perfect Picnics

February 6, 2006 - What better place to have a get together than outside in one of Vancouver's beautiful parks? Surrounded by family and friends there's nothing quite like balmy weather, all the usual al fresco dishes to feed a crowd and the sound of children playing pick-up soccer or baseball to transport us back to less hectic and simpler times...

Ski and Boarding Activities Offered Through Park Board Community Centres

January 30, 2006 - Several of Vancouver's community centres have geared up for the snowy season with a wide variety of day trips and other activities to local and regional mountains. There's something for everyone including cross country skiing, boarding and down hill skiing with transportation, lessons and lift tickets often included in one basic price...

Seawall Birding

January 16, 2006 - It's at this time of year, when rain and wind are constant companions to walkers on the Stanley Park seawall, that over-wintering birds populate the shoreline and capture your heart. From the Inukshuk groin on English Bay to Third Beach several visiting waterfowl species can be easily spied just meters off in the salt chuck as they dive and bob for marine vegetation...

Hastings Park - Great Rainy Day Adventure

January 9, 2006 - Don't let the liquid sunshine get you down, rather, embrace the rainy weather and find your way to the Italian Garden (il giardino) at Hastings Park. Officially opened in 2000 as part of the Hastings Park Restoration Project, this 2 hectare (7 acre) Italianate style garden celebrates Vancouver's more than a few, rainy days. Architectural areas of the garden are animated by water through rills, cisterns, fountains and gargoyles along with other numerous design details referring to the weather...

ParkFinder – Your New Best Friend

January 3, 2006 - Perfect Pathfinder to Green Spaces For almost a year the Park Board's best little web tool this side of the Rockies has been under development. ParkFinder is the result and it is the discerning browser who starts here first on their search to all park amenities, services, locations and histories...

Plant of the Month – Shrubby Dogwoods

January 3, 2006 - Cornus alba 'Sibirica' The shrubby dogwoods are just what the doctor ordered when it comes to the January landscape. Their upward spears of crimson bark shine a light on winter hoar frosts and through snow drifts when they come. In short they are so easy to grow and cultivate that every garden should include one. Both VanDusen Botanical Garden and Queen Elizabeth Park have wonderful specimens on display...

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