Location: At St. Paul's hospital on Burrard north of Nelson…read more Parking: There are a bunch of Parking lots bit you could probably just jump on a street parking spot, jump out and admire the lights a jump back in and drive away before anyone realized what you did! The goods: The lights. They are beautiful and change over time. I was sitting i the burgoo across the street and watched the light show cycle through. The lights represent donations and im glad there are so many lights!!!

The Lights of Hope is an annual celebration featuring fireworks and the turning on the enormous…read morelight display on the exterior of St. Paul's Hospital, located at 1081 Burrard Street. We attendants gather across the street from the hospital, on Burrard by Helmcken Streets, where there are fenced-off areas and multitudes of patrolling police officers directing traffic and reminding people where to stand. There's also a stage where there are speeches and choirs singing, and there also are tents with Santa (great place to get your Santa photos! Mrs. Claus is always there too!), and tents from radio stations, and a Starbucks tent giving out free coffee and hot chocolate, and a few food trucks, too. All in all, it's a great way to kick off the holiday season, as this event always takes place mid-November, and once the lights are on, they're up until Boxing Day. The hospital façade is so beautifully illuminated, it's a fabulous backdrop for photos (there's also a multi-colored light tunnel!), and a super place to take out-of-towners for a few awesome photos. Also makes a great backdrop for your Christmas cards! This annual event is free, but donations are VERY welcome, all monies going to the St. Paul's Foundation, for the hospital. So.... awesome cause here. They've made donating super convenient this year, too; along with being able to donate online, at the site there is a "Living Light" - a large star over a freestanding red metal box, right by the light tunnel. Here you can tap your credit card and choose the amount you wish to donate and that action lights up the large star. And the kick-off show is pretty spectacular. I've gone to this event every year since I moved here nearly three years ago, and it's always fun. The highlight, of course, is the turning on of the lights and the fireworks (which occurs simultaneously). The fireworks go off for a sustained 5 minutes and they always are spectacular. It's hard critiquing a worthwhile charitable event, but it's important to keep it real so readers who plan on attending this event in the future can plan accordingly. Some years this event is more organized then others. It's always crowded so plan on going early to get a decent vantage point across from the hospital, against the fence. But if you're not into crowds and getting jostled a lot, think twice about coming to this event. This year there were a few minor issues that impacted some of us, so I feel compelled to mention them: -in advance of this event, the media stressed that the "Celebration" begins at 6pm. All the people around me (and I) arrived early to get a good spot. One lady was wheeling her very elderly mom in a wheelchair. There were other seniors around me. Keep in mind that it's not easy for geriatric folks to stand for extended periods outside, in jostling crowds, in the elements, with screaming kids and all. It's not easy for the young kids, too, to be still for so long. We all expected the fireworks to start at 6pm or soon after. Well, this year, they did not. At about 6:15 a Childrens choir came on. They were very adorable but very discordant and the novelty and cuteness of the juvenile renderings of familiar songs wore off around song #3. They sang for a good 15 minutes. The lady beside me whispered her mom in the wheelchair would need her oxygen canister soon. Another lady beside me asked a nearby cop when the light show would start; the cop just shrugged and said it's anyone's guess. Then a guy came on stage and spoke of the charitable foundation, and some folks came up to present him with some incredibly generous checks, then more speeches, then the Mens Choir came on stage to sing. (They were phenomenal, BTW). The wheelchair mom was getting chilled so I offered her my scarf, and a lovely Japanese lady offered her mittens. At this time it was 6:30. FINALLY the fireworks went off at 6:40. They were wonderful as usual. But my point of all this is, you might be standing outside for a long time waiting for the main attraction here. We all commented that it really would do us all a favor if they published in advance a schedule of events, so we could arrive on time for the attractions we wished to see or hear. Standing in place outside for nearly an hour (for most of us, as we were early), was really tough - especially for seniors and very young toddlers. -another issue this year had to do with the Santa pictures. They ask for a $10 donation. I wanted to take a picture with the Big Guy (and I think it's a worthwhile donation, too), but I had a $20 and they couldn't break it. So ... no photo, no donation. Seems they should be able to make change. I encourage anyone in the downtown area to detour down Burrard a few blocks to check out the gorgeous lights on St. Paul's. And try to come to the fireworks show next year, too (hopefully they'll publish a schedule of events!). And if possible, check out the Living Star by the tunnel and consider making a donation!

It's 10 minutes away from my house with a decent court yard to play ball and badminton, however,…read morethere is no SWIMMING POOL (you can walk 25 minutes to Killarney). It has the basics which is appreciated. During various times of the year they throw craft fairs and special events. Prices are decent and staff is friendly.

This "house" is actually a sort of community centre meets poor house…read more It offers services to help the poor and needy. The herritage house has been fully renovated on the inside to use for various programs that involve kitchen, gym and daycare. Although there are many obvious flaws like less-professional staff, and visible distress to the structure. There is also many people (mostly elderly) that frequent the house for cheap meals and slow exersize classes. Poor woman and children use some of the programs offered. One would assume the place is poorly funded by looking around inside, but it still means something to those who use it. Not many neighbour houses exsist in the lower mainland. I dont know if it's been closed during the pandemic.

Great service and wide range of community services and events. Awesome people.read more

well the tour was a HIT! I was captivated from start to finish. We hit 5 homes, heard two of…read morethe most well known west coast architects speak, and learned that it's not a dirty thing to use the words modern and heritage in the same sentence! so a quick break down of the homes I saw: Mclellan - Saddy house- a 1958 Thompson, Berwick & Pratt (my favorite) Gibson house- a 1959 unknown architect Private owner- a 1963 Thompson, Berwick & pratt (inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright) Hwang house- a 1980 Arthur Erikson (some of the most amazing vista's and use of floating walls and columns Wong House- a 1955 Duncan McNab I had the pleasure of listening to Duncan McNab speak about the home, what inspired him, what he had to do to complete the rock outcropping, and a general background of what it was like in the fifties to be an architect in the Vancouver. I cant wait to do it again next year! Note to self...I am going to wear slip ons next time.

The annual Heritage House Tour is great. You purchase a booklet that serves as your admission…read moreticket. Then you walk, drive or bike to each house/flat for a self-guided tour of the interior. This year, the offering ranged from east-side gritty rehabs in progress to a stunning English Arts & Crafts Shaughnessy mansion. I do like the balance of residences they offer, but would like it if more of the owners were on hand for chats.

I recently volunteered at the urban orchard-in-progress on Great Northern Way. I won't go on about…read morethe organization and all the good things they do; rather I will simply treat it as any other outing and rate the experience. (I will, though, encourage you to visit their website and look into how you can help out.) After completing the generic volunteer application, I was contacted via email by the project coordinator. Volunteers were given a choice of days to work and told where to be, what to bring and what we would be doing. The onsite representative was able to answer my many questions (what kinds of apples will grow, how much water/dirt/sunlight etc., what kind of irrigation is needed...what can I say, I'm a curious person!) She is clearly invested in the project and has a lot of passion for it. It wasn't easy, shoveling dirt and filling the planters, but it was fun and I met some great people. There were about twelve people helping the night I was there, which, isn't a lot. There will be a need for help as the season goes along and I hope that people will read this and get inspired. It's fun to help out and actually see something grow from your efforts. The location is cool, too, as there are some interesting things going on, such as roof garden experiments and big future plans for the site. The experience was even better than I expected. The people were friendly, helpful and enthusiastic and the location is easy to access via bike, transit or vehicle. And, it's free!

Amazing place amazing prices and people! Always a fun place to be…read more Very sanitary during these covid times. Kitchen has great food, burger and fries

This Legion Branch is my hometown spot. They have all the…read moreusual stuff you would expect, including a meat draw, but this is the little branch that could. They do a fantastic family breakfast once a month, they have bands every weekend and the place is full. They have a great multi purpose room you can rent for parties for a great price. There is plenty of parking and the LA makes a mean smorg for a great price. It is nice to go in for a beer and a game of darts with friends. The atmosphere is warm and relaxed.

When it's afternoon and you're in Chinatown, you may want to grab a coffee at Matchstick or Dalina…read more You may also want to stray into ACCESS GALLERY, which has been supporting and presenting the work of emergent artists, curators and cultural practitioners on the unceded, traditional and ancestral homeland of xmkwym (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Slílwta/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations since 1991. It's a small space but one well worth checking out (it's free!). Intimate enough to encourage solo shows and installations, yet just spacious enough to facilitate group exhibits, performance events, talks and discussions, the gallery flexes some considerable curatorial muscle in changing things up. You may not always understand or even like what you see, but you always sense that you are encountering the work of new artists and artistic approaches. At worst, it's curious or confusing; at best, it's hermeneutically formative and transformative. The not-for-profit artist-run centre also publishes chapbooks on art and sells the occasional artsy merch item (e.g. tote bags).

Sorry to see after a 23 year run, one of the most convenient spots in central Richmond to return…read moreyour returnables is now closed permanently. Just another business in Johnson Center to not renew their lease pending redevelopment.

This is a super small return it Depot and is definitely one of those cleaner ones. There are two…read morepeople working inside taking bottles (not sure how many people at the back). This place is never too busy. Its located in a good convenient area. Thumbs up to those who recycle.