Vancouver 2010 News You Can Use - Feb 27th

Paralympic battle for 2010 Games berths Vancouver Sun - British Columbia, Canada It was all about earning a return ticket to the same Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Centre next year when the 2010 Paralympic curling event is to be held. ... See all stories on this topic

Canada gets tough on gangs International Herald Tribune - France AP VANCOUVER, British Columbia: Canada's Conservative government proposed a new law Friday that would raise jail sentences for drug crimes, ... See all stories on this topic

Newwest Special Projects LP: Deluxe Cruise Ship Offers Great ... MarketWatch (press release) - USA The ship will be docked in North Vancouver from February 10th through March 2nd, 2010. Norwegian Star will arrive in Vancouver on February 10th, 2010 after ... See all stories on this topic

Curling sweeps aside image of "true' Olympian USA Today - USA Olympic trials for the 2010 American curling team wind up Saturday near Denver. The sport -- something resembling shuffleboard on ice -- has found a ... See all stories on this topic

Canada cracks down on gangs before Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games Chicago Tribune - United States ... new law Thursday to crack down on an unprecedented wave of gang-related murders in Vancouver, which is preparing to host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. ... See all stories on this topic

2011 Grey Cup to be held in Vancouver Sports Network - USA The league announced on Tuesday that Edmonton will host the 2010 event while Calgary will host this year's season finale. The 2008 Grey Cup saw the Calgary ... See all stories on this topic

Sales hot for Olympics souvenirs Canada.com - Don Mills,Ontario,Canada Michelle Collens (left) and Vance Ng, sports fans looking forward to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, pick up a few Mukmuk mascots give as gifts. ... See all stories on this topic

Olympic Digest – Vancouver 2010, London 2012, Beijing 2008 GamesBids.com - USA Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a plan Thursday to crack down on an unprecedented wave of gang-related murders ahead of the Vancouver 2010 ... See all stories on this topic

Ice Sledge Hockey Test Event Energizes Vancouver International Paralymic Committee - Bonn,Germany The Canada Cup is also a Test Event in Ice Sledge Hockey for the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, with the UBC Thunderbird Arena serving as ... See all stories on this topic

At the Garage, not Dome 24 Hours Vancouver - Vancouver,British Columbia,Canada The $10-million Games will also provide the Canadian Border Services Agency, Vancouver International Airport and the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit ... See all stories on this topic

Torch Song: The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay

Beginning in October 2009 with the official lighting ceremony in Olympia, Greece, the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay was followed by a handover ceremony in Athens. The Olympic Flame will then make its way across Canada, connecting Canadians in every province and territory, throughout a 45,000 kilometre journey, over approximately 100 days, and involving 12,000 torchbearers. The journey of the flame will culminate at BC Place on February 12, 2010 with the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, signalling the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The 2010 Olympic Torch

The 2010 Olympic Torch is a symbol of the 2010 Winter Games, and will carry the Olympic Flame across Canada on its 45,000 kilometre journey.

Designer/Manufacturer: Bombardier/VANOC

Inspiration: Canada’s open land, vast potential and smooth, fluid lines left in the snow and ice from winter sports

Height: 37.125 inches / 94.5 centimetres

Weight: 2.8 pounds / 1.6 kilograms

Materials used: Stainless steel, aluminum and sheet moulding compound

Burn time: At least 12 to 15 minutes

Fuel used: Blend of Propane, Isobutane and Hydrocarbons

Olympic Torch Relay - Quick Facts

In 1936, the first modern day Olympic Torch Relay took place when the torch travelled from Olympia, Greece to Berlin, Germany.

At the London 1948 Olympic Summer Games - the first Olympic Games after World War II - the lead torchbearer was a corporal in the Greek army who changed out of his military uniform and laid down his arms to signify the sacred truce before carrying the Olympic Flame.

The first Olympic Winter Games Torch Relay occurred in 1952 in Oslo, Norway.

At the Montreal 1976 Olympic Summer Games, the Flame was transformed to an electronic pulse. The pulse was then carried by satellite from Athens to Montreal, where a laser beam was used to light the cauldron.

A highlight of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Summer Games was a special appearance by Muhammad Ali, a former Olympian recognized for his boxing success and battle with Parkinson's disease. He was selected as the final torchbearer to enter the stadium and light the cauldron in what was a most inspiring moment of the Opening Ceremony.

The first global relay took place before the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games. The journey lasted 78 days, covered a distance of 78,000 kilometres and involved 11,300 torchbearers.

History

The Torch Relay is an Olympic symbol of peace, brotherhood and enlightenment and represents a summons to the Olympic Games. The modern-day Torch Relay is derived from ceremonies once a part of the ancient Games of Olympia, Greece. Torch and relay races were important elements of the cultural festivals surrounding the Games, and heralds travelled throughout Greece to announce the Games of Olympia, declaring a sacred truce for the duration of the Games. These events carried a deep ritual significance - a significance that is still respected in the modern-day Olympic Torch Relay.

Carl Diem, an Olympic historian and philosopher, initiated the first modern-day Olympic Torch Relay for the Berlin 1936 Olympic Summer Games. Since that time, the Torch Relay has been a significant part of the Games, with each relay reflecting the culture of its host country.

Canada's Women's 2010 Hockey Gold in Jeopardy

The women's Olympic hockey final is a year away but Canada's defence of the gold medal is far from certain.

Canada lost three of its last four games to the U.S., including the world championship final, and fell to Sweden for the first time in history in November.

Canadian head coach Melody Davidson knows there's plenty of work to be done over the next 12 months.

"The bottom line is we hate to lose," said Davidson. "We're going to go at it with everything we can and see what happens in the end.

"The losses we've had, there's lots of learning that comes out of that but we also have to take a step forward with this group."

The women's hockey team is one that can virtually guarantee an Olympic medal for the host country.

But for a team that has won two of three Olympic titles and nine of 11 world championships, anything less than gold on Feb. 25, 2010, is a disappointment.

"We want to win. Anything short of that is not a success," said defenceman Becky Kellar of Hagersville, Ont.

The U.S. remains Canada's main rival for gold in Vancouver, but Sweden and Finland have upset the top two countries recently. The Finns defeated the U.S. for the first time at last year's world championship.

Canada opens defence of its Olympic title Feb. 13 against Slovakia, which was a surprise qualifier for the Olympics. The Canadians then face Switzerland and Sweden in the preliminary round.

The U.S., Finland, Russia and China make up the other group and the top two teams in each pool advance to the semifinals.

Davidson, from Oyen, Alta., had the Canadian women so prepared for the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy, it appeared to be an easy ride to gold.

The stress and hard work, however, came in the weeks leading up to those Games when players were centralized in Calgary trying out for the team and preparing for Turin.

Davidson will again invite between 25 and 27 players to try out for the 2010 squad. Those who don't already live in the Calgary area will move there in early August to embark on an intense journey to Vancouver.

"It's a long year and a great year," said veteran forward Gillian Apps of Unionville, Ont. "I know on TV people see these two weeks where, if everything goes right for us and falls into place, we end up in that gold-medal game. There's so much behind the scenes that goes on that leads us to that very moment.

"There's a lot of fun that happens and a lot of hard times and a lot of times where we have to pull together as a team. I think that's what it's all about and that's what makes us so great.

"Going into Torino, it might sound a bit cocky, but we were so good and so prepared going into those Olympics."

Davidson's vision for her 2006 Olympic team was successful, so in the don't-fix-what-isn't-broke vein, her plans for 2010 are similar. She's not trying to replicate the teams that won the previous two Olympic gold medals, however.

"It's not the 2006 team, it's not the 2002 team and it's not the 1998 team," she said. "This is a whole new group. Some have been there before and some haven't."

Dates and locations have yet to be determined, but Canada and the U.S. will face each other in exhibition games in the months leading up the Olympics.

The women played a regular schedule of games against Alberta men's midget triple-A teams prior to the 2006 Olympics. Those matches were crucial to the Canadian women's success because it had them competition-sharp for Turin.

The Canadian women will again participate in the Alberta Midget Hockey League in 2009-10, but Davidson is upping the ante. She's an assistant coach of the Junior A Calgary Canucks and plans two or three games against men bigger, older and stronger than the midget teams.

"In the last centralization year and we were playing midget boys and we really didn't know going into it how we would do against them," Apps said. "I think it turned out to be a great experience.

"We could only play a certain number of games against the United States and we're always looking for good competition to push ourselves."

Canada, the U.S., Finland and Sweden will play an Olympic test tournament this summer at the University of British Columbia and GM Place, which will be known as Canada Hockey Place during the Olympics.

The annual Four Nations Cup in November, featuring the same countries, will be in Finland. Canada will attempt to reclaim the title it lost in a shootout to the U.S. in Lake Placid, N.Y., last year.

But even before the Olympic campaign begins, Canada wants to reclaim the world championship it relinquished to the U.S. last year in Harbin, China.

The players Davidson names to her roster for the 2009 world championship April 4-12 in Hameenlinna, Finland, will probably be invited to try out for the Olympic team. The Canadians want to re-establish themselves as No. 1 in the world in Hameenlinna.

"I think it's really important, especially with the Olympics being in Canada and there being so much talk about it, for us to stay grounded and remember we have a huge tournament in about a month," Apps said. "It's very important to perform well there."

SOURCE: TSN.CA

Vancouver 2010 - Men's Hockey Schedule

The hockey schedule for the 2010 Olympics is set.

The Canadian men's team begins its quest for gold on Feb. 16, when it will face Norway at GM Place - dubbed Canada Hockey Place during the Olympic tournament.

All three of Canada's preliminary games will be played in the mid-afternoon local time. It faces Switzerland on Feb. 18 and the U.S. on Feb. 21.

The gold medal game will be played at 12:15 p.m. local time on Feb. 28 - the final day of the Olympics.

The women's team opens its tournament on Feb. 13 against Slovakia at Canada Hockey Place. The other two preliminary games - Feb. 15 against Switzerland and Feb. 17 against Sweden - will be played at UBC.

The International Ice Hockey Federation expects only minor changes to the schedule.

"Any possible changes will be due to television requests or logistical reasons," said IIHF sport director Dave Fitzpatrick. "Hopefully, very soon we will be able to consider the schedules we announced today as final."

MEN'S TOURNAMENT
(All times listed are Pacific Time)

Venues: Canada Hockey Place and UBC Thunderbird Arena (UBC)

PRELIMINARY ROUND
Tue 16.02.2009
A 12.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE USA - SUI
A 16.30 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE CAN - NOR
B 21.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE RUS - LAT

Wed 17.02.2009
C 12.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE FIN - BLR
C 16.30 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE SWE - GER
B 21.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE CZE - SVK

Thu 18.02.2009
A 12.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE USA - NOR
A 16.30 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE SUI - CAN
B 21.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE SVK - RUS

Fri 19.02.2009
C 12.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE BLR - SWE
B 16.30 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE CZE - LAT
C 21.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE FIN - GER

Sat 20.02.2009
A 12.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE NOR - SUI
B 16.30 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE LAT - SVK
C 21.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE GER - BLR

Sun 21.02.2009

B 12.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE RUS - CZE
A 16.45 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE CAN - USA
C 21.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE SWE - FIN

QUALIFICATION PLAYOFF
8 Tue 23.02.2009
12.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE QP1
16.30 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE QP2
19.00 UBC QP3
21.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE QP4

NOTES:
QP1 - if playing in Qualification playoffs, USA to play in the 12.00 game
QP2 - if playing in Qualification playoffs, CAN to play in the 16.30 game

QUARTER-FINAL ROUND
9 Wed 24.02.2009
12.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE QF1
16.30 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE QF2
19.00 UBC QF3
21.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE QF4

NOTES:
QF1 or QF4 - if qualified, USA to play in either the 12.00 or 21.00 game
QF2 - if qualified, CAN to play in the 16.30 game

10 Thu 25.02.2009  DAY OFF

SEMI-FINAL ROUND
11 Fri 26.02.2009

12.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE SF1
18.30 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE SF2

NOTES:
SF1 - if qualified, USA to play in the 12.00 game
SF2 - if qualified, CAN to play in the 18.30 game

BRONZE MEDAL GAME
12 Sat 27.02.2009

19.00 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE

GOLD MEDAL GAME
13 Sun 28.02.2009

12:15 CANADA HOCKEY PLACE

Who will win?

(HINT: Rhymes with Banada.)

Vancouver: An Overview

I actually lived in Vancouver for a time - although that was almost 20 years ago. That being said, I've been back to visit enough that I feel I know the town. As often is the case, I fall into the belief that since I know Vancouver, you all do as well. Of course, I imagine most of you don't know the place at all. So, from time to time I will present facts about Vancouver in the hopes you will get to know the 2010 Olympic city a little better!

Population/ Climate

Vancouver is the third largest city in Canada with a population of approximately 580,000 and has one of the mildest climates in Canada with temperatures averaging around 3 degrees celsius in January and 18 degrees celsius in July.

Business/ Economy

Vancouver has Canada's largest and most diversified port, trading $75 billion in goods annually. It is home to a variety of different industries, including the mining, forest, biotech, film and software industries.

History

Archaeological evidence shows that the Coast Salish people had settled the Vancouver area by 500 BC. In the 1870s, Vancouver was founded as a sawmill settlement called Granville. And in 1886, the city was incorporated and renamed Vancouver after Captain George Vancouver, a British naval captain who explored the area in 1792.

City Government

The City of Vancouver is governed by Mayor Gregor Robertson and 10 Councillors, all who serve a three-year term. In the province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver is governed by a provincial statute called the Vancouver Charter.

Vancouver's sister cities include Los Angeles, Guangzhou, Yokohama, Edinburgh and Odessa.

Its a wonderful city - more details to follow!

Source: City of Vancouver

Vancouver 2010 - Venues Ready!

Wow … this is almost starting to feel like it might actually happen!

One of the biggest milestones in preparing to host the top athletes from countries around the world has been reached by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) and its partners: construction and upgrades on all sport competition venues were completed on time and within the $580-million budget. Athletes are now training and competing in the venues in preparation for the Games.

The Vancouver 2010 sport venue program is officially complete today with the opening of the Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre, the venue for curling and wheelchair curling events during the Games.

“Today is a proud moment for all of us and would not have been possible without the unwavering support of the Government of Canada and the Province of BC,” said John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Officer. “After years of teamwork and careful planning, together we’ve reached one of our biggest milestones. It’s wonderful to see athletes now competing and testing these venues while youngsters and adults alike experience the legacies far in advance of the Games.”

New sport competition venues for the 2010 Winter Games include the Richmond Olympic Oval, The Whistler Sliding Centre, University of British Columbia Thunderbird Arena, Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park, Cypress Mountain, and the Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre – one of the greenest curling venues in the world. Substantial upgrades were also made to existing facilities such as the Pacific Coliseum and Whistler Creekside. All the facilities and upgrades were planned to leave lasting legacies in their communities. Further enhancements will continue to be made to some venues after VANOC receives feedback from athletes and officials competing at them during sport events this season.

“We want to congratulate our venue partners, the venue construction teams and all of the workers from here and across the country for making the construction of these venues their own Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Dan Doyle, VANOC executive vice-president, venue construction. “Their outstanding work will showcase to the world the best in Canadian construction and sustainability and what can be done when partners come together with a common goal.”

The final sport venue to be completed, the Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre will be in the international spotlight this Saturday when its ice sheets get a workout from the men and women competing in the World Wheelchair Curling Championships, which run until February 28. The centre will host another major event, the World Junior Curling Championships, from March 5 to March 15.

Six thousand spectators can watch the rocks curl and twist at the venue, the largest seating capacity for wheelchair curling in Paralympic Winter Games history.

The Government of Canada and province of British Columbia contributed $40.25 million to the centre via VANOC. The curling venue is perched on one of the highest point of land in the city, with views of downtown’s glass towers and the snow-capped peaks of the North Shore mountains. Construction started in February 2007 – the last competition venue for the Games to break ground.

The Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre is targeted for the gold standard in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

This eco-friendly venue captures rainwater and siphons it into the building to flush toilets and urinals. The toilets, showers and sinks also use low-flow water systems, reducing water usage by up to 30 per cent. The building is wrapped in a high-performance envelope that helps keep temperatures just right inside for the perfect ice sheet. Heat is reused during the ice-making process and the building is powered by a mixture of electricity, natural gas and solar energy.

After the Games, the venue will transform into a multi-purpose recreation centre. It will include ice sheets for hockey and curling, a gymnasium, library, and aquatic centre. The site is jointly managed by the city and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation.

Vancouver 2010 News You Can Use - Feb 20th

Olympics-Vancouver debt downgraded over 2010 financing Reuters - USA VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The credit rating of Vancouver, host city for 2010 Winter Olympics, was lowered by Canada's major debt ... See all stories on this topic

2010 Olympics & Seal Hunting Green Muze - Salt Spring Island,British Columbia,Canada The Vancouver 2010 Campaign to Help End the Canadian Seal Slaughter is using the extra attention focused on Canada during Olympic preparations to highlight ... See all stories on this topic

Vialuxe News Omega Marks Year Countdown For Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games Vialuxe News - Sunnyvale,CA,USA To commemorate its partnership with the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Omega has announced a special edition Seamaster watch--the Seamaster Diver Vancouver ... See all stories on this topic

Cultural Olympiad 2009 artists take the show across Canada Canada NewsWire (press release) - Toronto,Ontario,Canada With less than a year to go before the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Cultural Olympiad 2009 is branching out beyond British Columbia to ... See all stories on this topic

Olympic Chefs gather in Vancouver Olympic - USA Representatives of 75 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are currently meeting at the Vancouver 2010 Chefs de Mission Seminar to prepare next year's Olympic ... See all stories on this topic

Hurry, hurry - last Olympic venue opens on time Globe and Mail - Canada "This is a simply wonderful day for Vancouver 2010. ... Our team is feeling a great deal of pleasure today but also a great deal of thanks," said a beaming ... See all stories on this topic

Cost of security for 2010 Olympics rises to $900 million Nanaimo Daily News - BC, Canada The biggest chunk, an estimated $491.9 million, will go to the RCMP-led Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit. Another $212 million goes to the Department ... See all stories on this topic

Vancouver security to cost more than $700 million USA Today - USA VICTORIA, British Columbia (AP) — Canadian officials say security for the 2010 Winter Olympics in British Columbia will cost $715 million -- more than five ... See all stories on this topic

Vancouver's 2010 security costs rise sharply Reuters Canada - Toronto,Ontario,Canada By Allan Dowd VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Security costs for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver will be about $900 million, five times what ... See all stories on this topic

2010 security budget to cost $900000000 24 Hours Vancouver - Vancouver,British Columbia,Canada The biggest chunk, $491.9 million, is for the RCMP Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit. Department of National Defence gets $212 million. ... See all stories on this topic

Team Canada's Timeline - Men's Hockey

For better or worse, the winter Olympics are associated in most Canadian’s mind with a single competition: men’s hockey. I cannot think of another example in the entire world where a national identity is so tied to a single event. As many of you (Canadians) are likely aware – our Olympic hopes for 2010 have been placed on the broad shoulders of former NHL great Steve Yzerman. While never a Detroit fan myself, (GO LEAFS!), even I must admit that ‘Stevie Y’ as competent as anyone to cope with the intense pressure. For the curious, here is the timeline that will lead up to the naming of the Canadian Men’s Hockey Team for 2010:

- March/09: Meeting of the Minds. Executive director Steve Yzerman and his staff will meet to go over the scouting reports for both potential coaches and players.

- April 24-May 10: The world championship in Switzerland. Good audition for some hopefuls.

- Mid-June: The Coach Cometh. Yzerman hopes to name the coaching staff directly after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup final. That would allow them several weeks to figure out who should be invited to the orientation camp later in the summer. We would be shocked if the head man is not Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock.

- July 1: Invitations. Invitations will be forwarded for those players selected by the hierarchy to attend the orientation camp.

- Aug. 24-28: Summer Camp, Pengrowth Saddledome, Calgary. Time for the 2010 wannabes to strut their stuff in front of the brain trust.

- December: Team Canada 2010 will be named.

Will your favourite player make the cut? Only time will tell …

GO CANADA!

The Athletes Speak!

With the days ticking down to the start of the 2010 Winter Games, it’s time to brush up on the sports!

Vancouver2010.com caught up with some of the top athletes from every sport of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. We asked them to explain how they train and how they fuel-up and gear-up for competition. They also talk about their best games, races and competitions of their careers.

Hear audio clips from these athletes:

 

Alpine skiing — Julia Mancuso (USA)

Biathlon — Sandra Keith (CAN)

Cross-country skiing — Chandra Crawford (CAN)

Curling — Shannon Kleibrink (CAN)

Figure skating — Evan Lysacek (USA)

Freestyle skiing — Vincent Marquis (CAN)

Ice hockey — Jennifer Botterill (CAN)

Luge — Regan Lauscher (CAN)

Nordic combined — Bill Demong (USA)

Short track speed skating — Jessica Hewitt (CAN)

Skeleton — Mellisa Hollingsworth (CAN)

Ski jumping — Stefan Read (CAN)

Snowboard — Drew Neilson (CAN)

Speed skating — Chad Hedrick (USA)

ENJOY!

Vancouver: Fast Facts

Where better for the 2010 Olympics Winter Games to take place than the home of Winter Sports – CANADA! Vancouver is regarded as one the most popular cities in North America, while nearby Whistler counts itself among the world’s best ski resorts. Vancouver is the largest city in British Columbia and the third largest city in Canada. It's surrounded by water on three sides and is nestled alongside the Coast Mountain Range. Vancouver is home to spectacular natural scenery and a bustling metropolitan core, and boasts one of the mildest climates in Canada.

The City of Vancouver supports a wide range of destination sites — from more than 190 parks to three different civic theatres — that are interesting places to visit for tourists and residents alike. Vancouver is also home to many other sights and is networked by a comprehensive transportation system.

Main Streets & Orientation

With four different bodies of water lapping at its edges and mile after mile of shoreline, Vancouver's geography can seem a bit complicated. That's part of the city's maritime charm, of course, and visitors usually don't find it too difficult to get their bearings. Downtown Vancouver is on a peninsula: think of it as an upraised thumb on the mitten-shaped Vancouver mainland. Stanley Park, the West End, Yaletown, and Vancouver's business and financial center are located on this thumb of land bordered to the north by Burrard Inlet, the city's main deep-water harbor and

port, to the west by English Bay, and to the south by False Creek.

Farther west beyond English Bay is the Pacific Ocean. Just south across False Creek is Granville Island, famous for its public market, and the beach community of Kitsilano. This part of the city, called the West Side, covers the mainland, or the hand of the mitten. Its western shoreline looks out on the Strait of Georgia with the Pacific beyond, and the North Arm of the Fraser River demarcates it to the south.

Pacific Spirit Park and the University of British Columbia (UBC), a locus for visitors because of its outstanding Museum of Anthropology, take up most of the western tip of the West Side; the rest is mostly residential, with a sprinkling of businesses along main arterial streets. Both mainland and peninsula are covered by a simple rectilinear street pattern.

Lastly, North Vancouver is the mountain-backed area directly across Burrard Inlet from downtown Vancouver.

Currency Yes, Canada has its own currency, people...and it's no longer a laughing matter! The US and Canadian Dollar are in fact almost equal. Well, depending on the day I suppose – I guess the Canadian dollar is a bit lower - listen, its close enough!

Internet Free Internet access is available at all the Vancouver public libraries. As well, with the ever-growing cafe culture, there are sprouting up plenty of free wi-fi areas all around town. Most coffee shops have it for example – anyway, if fast, cheap and quite often can be found for free if you’re willing to look around a bit.

Police For emergencies, dial 911. This is a free call and the same as in the USA.

Post Office & Mail Letters and postcards up to 30 grams cost 85¢ to mail to the U.S. and C$1.45 for overseas airmail service; 50¢ within Canada. You can buy stamps and mail parcels at the main post office or at any of the postal outlets inside drugstores and convenience stores. Look for a POSTAL SERVICES sign. The main post office is at West Georgia and Homer streets (349 W. Georgia). It's open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5:30pm. You'll also find post office outlets in Shopper's Drug Mart and 7-Eleven stores with longer opening hours.

Restrooms Fast food restaurants and hotel lobbies are your best bet for downtown facilities. The shopping centers like Pacific Centre and Sinclair Centre also have restrooms.

Safety Overall, Vancouver is a safe city; violent-crime rates are quite low. However, property crimes and crimes of opportunity (such as items being stolen from unlocked cars) occur pretty frequently, particularly downtown. Vancouver's Downtown East Side, on Hastings between Gastown and Chinatown, is a troubled neighbourhood and should be avoided at night. That being said, it's more eyesore than danger in this area.

Phones in Vancouver Phones in British Columbia are identical to U.S. phones. The country code is the same as the U.S. code (1). Local calls normally cost C25¢. Many hotels charge up to C$1 per local call and much more for long-distance calls. You can save considerably by using your calling card or cellphone.

Well, that’s a start … more info to follow but please don’t hesitate to submit your questions below.

Vancouver 2010

Vancouver 2010 News You Can Use - Feb 13th

Jacobellis, Schairer win on 2010 Olympic course USA Today - USA WEST VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Lindsey Jacobellis of the United States and Markus Schairer of Austria won World Cup snowboardcross events at ... See all stories on this topic

Vancouver grapples with drug gangs before Olympics Reuters - USA ... violence that has erupted in the Vancouver area just as the West Coast Canadian city is celebrating the one-year countdown to the 2010 Winter Olympics. ... See all stories on this topic

Many questions around 2010 team Globe and Mail - Canada For one thing, it keeps Plekanec out of Saturday's date with the Vancouver Canucks, one of the teams Edmonton is jockeying with for a playoff spot in the ... See all stories on this topic

BC students connect with countries around the world Sun Peaks Independent News - Sun Peaks,BC,Canada To mark the official countdown to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, students at Elsie Roy Elementary school connected with Oakdale ... See all stories on this topic

MEDIA ADVISORY - Canadian Olympic Team to Name 2010 Assistant ... Canada NewsWire (press release) - Toronto,Ontario,Canada VANCOUVER, Feb. 13 /CNW/ - The Canadian Olympic Team will make a formal announcement regarding Canada's Assistant Chefs de Mission for the 2010 Olympic ... See all stories on this topic

A 2010 Legacy: Welcome to the Richmond Oval - A skater's dream TravelVideo.tv (press release) - USA As the venue for speed skating events during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, this 512000-square-foot riverside facility was designed ... See all stories on this topic

Women's ski jumping is not on the docket for Vancouver 2010 Boston Herald - United States With the Vancouver Winter Games set to begin next February, Van and nine other women ski jumpers from six countries have filed suit against Vancouver's ... See all stories on this topic

Aljazeera.net Vancouver readies for Olympic glory Aljazeera.net - Qatar I mean we know we're in a very beautiful part of the world, and the venues have a chance to show that off," said Maureen Douglas of the Vancouver 2010 ... See all stories on this topic

KL begins countdown for Olympic Torch relay Northern Daily News - Kirkland Lake,Ontario,Canada The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are just around the corner. With just 365 days remaining before the Games period starts, ... See all stories on this topic

Olympic VANCOUVER 2010 – Countdown to 2010 Olympic - USA Vancouver and Whistler will host the XXI Olympic Winter Games from 12 to 28 February 2010 and the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from 12 to 21 March 2010. ... See all stories on this topic

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Views of Vancouver

Ah, such good memories ... once a week or so I will post some pictures from the Vancouver area. Here are some that will give you an overview of the downtown area ...

A Quick Introduction

Hello there, Welcome to my Vancouver 2010 site - many of you may already be familiar with my work through my main site Canucklehead.ca. For starters, I am Canadian and a pretty big fan of the Olympics - mostly winter but certainly I watch the summer as well. I recently found out that I may get a chance to work at the Olympics through my day job and/or possibly get a chance to carry the Olympic torch. Needless to say I'm VERY excited at the prospect. I was so excited in fact, that this site was born shortly thereafter. Anyway, I currently live in Ontario but lived in Vancouver years ago. I have many friends out there and as I stated just above- hope to be in B.C. once again for the games. This site will give all the major news, but more importantly I hope it will be able to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the Vancouver 2010 Winter games and offer insights that you just cannot get anywhere else. That being said, if you live in the Vancouver area and/or have your own Olympic related story - I'd LOVE to hear from you. Please leave me a comment below or email me HERE. That's all for now - thanks for stopping by and please join us again for all your Vancouver 2010 news. CHEERS!