Spotted heading up Howe Sound this evening – beautiful night so I guess they thought they’d go for a nice little dinner cruise.
There’s a fun multimedia gallery that’s part of the BC Pavilion on the 4th floor of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
I’m working with DigiBC during the games, and many of their members provided the content and technology for the gallery. And friend Sara Bailey, is the curator. Sara worked on some of the earliest CBC Radio 3 designs back in 1999 (prototypes actually) and she and I worked together as consultants for a number of years.
On Wednesday, she offered photographer Kris Krug and I a preview of the gallery (it opened on Friday).
I shot a full ‘tour’ with Sara guiding us through – that will be online in a few days. But I also put together this little piece for Kris.
He and I first met ten years ago when he was publisher of one of Vancouver’s first online magazines and we were just starting to put some definition on what CBC Radio would be.
There’s a higher quality version online here , on YouTube here, on Vimeo here
You can also see a longer, full video tour of the gallery with Sara Bailey here.
Olympic spirit is most definitely showing itself all over the city of Vancouver.
Even here in sleepy North Vancouver.
It’s true, we’re essentially just a pass-through community as people head either to Whistler or Cypress Mountain or Vancouver or Richmond for events, but still, we’re jazzed.
I first noticed it on my first stop of the day for coffee.
And right up there on display with the commuter mugs, those red Olympic mittens – perfect for handling those hot beverages.
In my local ‘hood - Edgemont Village - all the merchants are sporting these Go Canada Go posters.
And really, there’s no better way to welcome the torch than with a quick haircut…
Or even better, a bottle of wine…

Lots of people are making a fuss about the crass commercialization of the games.
But darn it, why didn’t I think of this.
Chocolate covered sea foam Inuksuit (that’s plural for Inuksuk by the way).
Truth be told, I prefer my Inukshuk with dark chocolate, but that’s just me…
Here’s a basket full of mascots. And I mean full of mascots. There are 4 official mascots, not just one.
This one’s Quatchi.
The other three are Sumi, Migi and Muk Muk.
Given the lack of snow at Cypress Mountain and the financial mess the ski resort at Whistler is in, they really get a fifth mascot.
One who can jury rig a fix up just in time for the games – might I suggest MacGyver
By far the sleeper of all this Olympic merch (and there is plenty of it).
‘Cause nothing is more indicative of winter sports in the lower mainland.
The Official Umbrella of the 2010 Games.
Finally, my favourite.
While organizers have been focusing on getting volunteers and community support for the games, they missed the obvious.
These guys at Contact Printing nailed it.
And just to bring the point home.
Let’s pull back a bit so we can see those fantastic snow covered North Shore mountains.
update: November 27.
I’ve been asked by BBM Canada to remove the data I had presented on this page, since it is copyrighted.
My apologies for any inconvenience for those of you looking for ratings info.
Here’s the deal:
I’ve been doing some work with Sea Dragon Charters over the last few months, and I’ve got a limited number of gift certificates available for scuba dive trips in Howe Sound.
If there’s someone in your circle of family or friends who dives, this is a perfect gift.
Each gift certificate is for 1 person/2 dives aboard Sea Dragon, and includes filling their tank after the 1st dive so they don’t need to bring (or rent) 2 tanks.
Each dive trip is customized to the experience of the divers, and the location(s) in Howe Sound are determined on the dive day.
Each gift certificate is $ 99.00 Canadian. You save on all taxes.
Buy in packets of 2 and save an additional 25%
That’s a 2 pack for $148.50
You don’t have to commit to a date, the recipient can book their dive at a date that’s convenient for them, based on availability on that date. Gift certificates must be used before August 31, 2010. Divers need to bring (or rent) their own equipment as the dive charter does not include scuba dive gear.
You’ll get a personalized gift certificate, custom printed with the name of the recipient(s).
email me if you’re interested info@bigsnit.com
And you can read more about The Sea Dragon on their website.
-Robert Ouimet