Author Archives: Kieran Phagura

Free barbeque and music festival

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Yet another great festival for you to check out this summer, SummerCamp Rib & Music Fest is coming to Jonathan Rogers Park from June 21st to the 23rd.

Presented by The Narrow Group and The Festival Company, they look to bring not just another event, but an unforgettable experience for you to have this summer. Whether you’re a family seeking quality time together, friends in search of some good food, or a music enthusiast hoping for some old school bangers, SummerCamp offers something for everyone. The festival will have adult sized garden games such as tug-of-war, giant beer pong, and a classic water fight. 

“Adults seem to miss out on all the summer fun that kids have… SummerCamp Festival grew out of our goal of creating an event which would let grown-ups be free, fun, and creative like kids, even with their kids… We’ve brought all the best things about summer days — music, games, food — made them adult-sized and dropped into one place.” Billie Jo Aasen, The Festival Company, Founder.

This will be a barbeque experience like no other at the SummerCamp Rib & Music Fest, where some of the nation’s top rib and food trucks will converge to serve your taste buds with their mouth watering offerings. From savoury ribs to tasty street eats, there’s something for every palate. In addition to the delicious food, lose yourself in the sounds of live music and DJs as they provide the perfect backdrop for your festival experience, so go and soak up the vibrant atmosphere. But of course as most festivals go, definitely go check out the local artisan vendor market, where talented craftsmen and artisans showcase their unique creations. From handmade jewelry to one-of-a-kind artworks, you’ll find treasures to take home as mementos of your SummerCamp adventure.

What’s even better about this festival, is that any money spent there is going straight to raising funds for the Lifted Organization, a charity which supports local youth and mental health initiatives. The organization was founded by Canadian country artist Dallas Smith.

If you’re looking to go, remember, it’s free! All you have to do is show your tickets at the entrance, and you have full access to the event. The SummerCamp Rib & Music Fest will be on Friday June 21st from 12:00pm to 10:00pm, Saturday June 22nd from 11:00am to 10:00pm, and Sunday June 23rd from 11:00am to 8:00pm. You can check out all the details here to find out exactly which food trucks and drinks you can indulge in!

Rosé Disco is back again

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Another FEASTER hosted festival is happening this summer, and for you wine drinkers out there, this ones for you. Rosė Disco, taking place at the PNE Fairgrounds on July 28th, will feature over thirty wineries, artisans, and chefs to discover a try.

FEASTER is presenting Vancouver’s Summer Rosė celebration this year, and you can expect there to be plenty of live music to go alongside the vibrant pink and white decor and landscape. Adam Bloch of FEASTER says that they are excited to share their love of rosė with the people of Vancouver. 

“We are ecstatic to bring back Rosé Disco to Vancouver for its second edition… This event is a testament to our love for rosé wine, music, and creating memorable experiences. With an exceptional lineup and a wide selection of rosé wines from around the world, we can’t wait to turn Vancouver pink once again!” Adam Bloch, FEASTER, president of operations.

Naturally, no summer celebration would be complete without a great soundtrack. That’s why Rosé Disco has curated a lineup of top-tier DJs to ensure the PNE Fairgrounds pulse with infectious beats and positive energy throughout the daytime event. Get ready to party all day with DJs Felix Cartal and BYNX. Their upbeat mixes promise to keep the party atmosphere alive and the crowd moving. From great beats to catchy lyrics and music, their sets will set the perfect backdrop for a day filled with fun and festivity at the fairgrounds.

In addition to the delightful ambiance, prepare your taste buds for a wild yet tasty ride. Indulge in a mouthwatering feast prepared by a lineup of top chefs and treat makers. Sink your teeth wood-fired pizzas from Little Devils Wood Fire Pizza, savour the flavours of Mediterranean cuisine from Loulas, indulge in creamy and delicious risottos from Risotto Party, and satisfy your sweet cravings with delectable treats from Lee’s Donuts, among many other culinary delights awaiting your discovery. From savoury to sweet, this culinary lineup promises to tantalize your palate and elevate your dining experience to new heights. 

Guests who look to participate in the amazing selection of wines, must be 19 plus years old to indulge. The Rosé Festival will be held on Sunday July 28th, and tickets are available for pre-sale purchase on Tuesday April 30th, with the prices starting at $30. 

FEASTER has a great lineup of events for this summer including the Punchbowl Festival, Vancouver Craft Beer and Music Fest, and The Cup at Hastings Racecourse. Be sure to check out any or all of these events if you’re looking for great food, great drinks, and great fun throughout the summer.

Shipyards Night Market

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The Richmond Market isn’t the only night market to check out this summer! 

Located at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue and just east of Lonsdale Quay and the Seabus in North Vancouver, it is a pretty accessible place to get to if you’re looking to transit. Named the ‘Shipyards Night Market’ there is a wide variety of things to do if you are looking for an activity for a nice summer day or evening. 

The market includes: a beer garden, live music, food trucks, and a market to shop for any trinkets that may spark your interest. The beer garden is put on by the Beer Garden Market, a company who specializes in mobile in setting up beer gardens for any size of event. They offer a great selection of local craft and imported beers. It is a great place to chill and unwind after a busy day. They have been setting up at the Shipyards Night Market since the beginning back in 2015. They were founded by a downhill biker, a restaurant owner, a T-shirt printing company owner, and a gift shop owner. Ingrid Doerr, came up with this idea to bring life to the North Shore community and to bring in people from surrounding cities. Unfortunately she passed away in 2018, but now Kyle and Christine have carried on her legacy and have turned this mobile beer garden from one tent and a food truck, to supplying a whole bar, bartenders, and even its own security. There is so much to do when visiting the Shipyards Night Market, but do yourself a favour and go check out the beer garden, in honour of Ingrid. 

The Shipyards Night Market(SYNM) now hosts over ten thousand people every summer, over every Friday starting on May 10th, going all the way until September 13th. The night market has a wide variety of live music throughout the summer, including plenty of artists, bands and dj’s who are all local up and comers. On top of the music, the SYNM is known for its food trucks, including classic night market foods like tacos, potatoes, and street dogs. 

The market stalls are filled with a diverse array of unique products and handcrafted goods. Whether you’re into fashion and jewelry or homewares and artisanal foods, there’s a treasure waiting for you at every corner. Embrace the spirit of supporting local businesses while exploring new finds. The night market offers a vibrant atmosphere, perfect for uncovering one-of-a-kind items and immersing yourself in the lively energy of a busy marketplace. 

Dinosaurs in Vancouver

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North America’s largest dinosaur exhibit is coming back to Vancouver and Abbotsford this May! Vancouver’s dates are May 2nd to May 5th and Abbotsford’s are May 10th to May 12th. 

Prepare to find yourself in a family-friendly adventure like no other, where you can come face to face with these ancient giants through many different interactive experiences. Jurassic Quest offers a wide array of activities including encountering life-sized dinosaurs, thrilling dino rides, captivating live shows, bouncy houses, inflatable attractions, and much more.

With their mission to be as realistic as possible, Jurassic Quest has collaborated with paleontologists to ensure that their dinosaurs are as true to life as possible. Some of the dinosaurs even roam around the event, engaging with guests and providing a glimpse into what it might have been like when these creatures roamed the Earth. Visitors of all ages will be captivated by the Apatosaurus, the Spinosaurus, and the iconic T-Rex, among others. Additionally, you can interact with dino trainers, and witness the spectacle of a live Raptor Training Experience. However if the large dinosaurs are too scary for any young children in your party, there is an amazing baby dino exhibit where you can meet Cammie the baby camarasaurus, Trixie the baby triceratops, and Tyson the baby T-Rex.

Don’t miss the chance to explore the Excavation Station, where you can dig up fossils and find some amazing mysteries from long ago. The Fossil Experience will showcase genuine T-Rex teeth, a triceratops horn, and a life-size dino skull, offering a fascinating glimpse into the past. For the littlest paleontologists, there’s the adorable “Triceratots” soft play area, while those seeking a more immersive adventure can embark on “The Quest,” an educational and entertaining journey through the exhibit. And no visit to Jurassic Quest would be complete without a ride on some of the largest touring dinosaurs in North America.

Tickets are on sale here for either the Abbotsford or Vancouver events. Times for Vancouver are Thursday May 2nd, 3:00pm – 8:00-pm, Friday May 3rd and Saturday May 4th, 9:00am – 8:00pm, and Sunday May 5th, 9:00am – 7:00pm. Ticket prices vary from $23.10 – $28.88. Abbotsford only has a three day event going from Friday May 10th to Sunday May 12th. If you’re interested in learning more about these ancient creatures, and immersing yourself in prehistoric times, this is definitely the event for you. Bring your little ones, your friends or your family, you won’t want to miss this exciting exhibit while it’s here for only a short time.

Abbotsford moves on!

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The Canucks organization just loves winning overtime I guess.

Not only Vancouver, but the Abbotsford Canucks also won in overtime against the Colorado Eagles last night to move onto the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs. 

Game 3 of the first round started off very defensively, with both teams not doing enough to get past the goalies however the Eagles were managing to get quite a few more shots on goal than the Canucks. It wasn’t until almost 15 minutes into the game where the Canucks looked to pour on some pressure that made Colorado uneasy. Max Sasson broke out of the defensive zone and found Arshdeep Bains on the receiving end of a cross ice pass, who was able to put the puck in the back of the net for his second goal of the postseason. The Canucks were now up 1-0, and the prospect of making it to the next round was looking better and better. The score remained the same for a majority of the game, with both goalies making some crucial saves to keep both teams where they were. 

Abbotsford goalie Zach Sawchenko stood on his head last night, making crucial saves when needed to keep the shutout going strong. The game looked sure to go Vancouver’s way, until a penalty late in the third period saw Colorado go up on a man advantage. On top of this, the Eagles pulled their goalie to go on a 6 on 4 advantage for the power play. The attack heavy play call worked out, as Sam Malinski was able to claw a goal back and tie the game up at 1-1 to ultimately send the game to overtime. 

Overtime lasted just under nine minutes, until a pass from Bains found its way through the crowd and deflected off Chase Wouters’ stick into the back of the net. The Canucks won the game 2-1 after the overtime goal.

 

The Canucks will now play the Ontario Reign in a five game series, hosting games 3 to 5. The winner will be the first to win three games. The series begins on May 1st, with game 1 at Toyota Arena in Ontario, puck drop is 7:00pm PST. Abbotsford’s first home game of the playoffs will be on Wednesday, May 8th at 7:00pm PST.

With the first round ending, Arshdeep Bains and Tristen Nielsen lead the team in points with 4 points in three games. Sawchenko ended the series with a 2.50 goals against average, and a 0.925 save percentage. 

Hattrick hero saves the day in game 3

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Wow.

That was one of the most electric nights of Canuck hockey I have witnessed in a long long time. It all looked so dreadful for so long, but Mr. Brock Boeser stepped up to prove that the Canucks are not here to mess around. His third period heroics carried Vancouver into overtime after scoring all three regulation time goals against Nashville. 

It started off well as Boeser fired home a goal on the first shot for the Canucks, just as Miller did in game three, just under three minutes into the game, and put Vancouver up 1-0. That lead didn’t last for too long unfortunately as Mark Jankowski tipped in a shot from Jeremy Lauzon to tie the game up at 1-1. This is where things started to get ugly for the ‘Nucks. Although the score stayed the same, the Nashville fans were fired up and it definitely made a difference in the game. The Preds were piling on the pressure for the rest of the period and continued to do so well into the second period as well. The attacking play became too much for the Canucks defence and Gustav Nyquist fired home a top corner shot on a two on one attack. The score remained 2-1 for the rest of the period, with Canucks only getting six shots on goal in that frame, compared to the Predators ten. 

The third period began and twelve seconds later it was 3-1 Nashville, and the thought of a full seven game series started burning bright in all Vancouverites watching the game. Filip Forsberg scored the goal and registered his fourth point in as many games. For the rest of the period Vancouver really couldn’t get anything going, and it looked blatant that the series would be tied 2-2 heading into game 5. Up stepped Brock Boeser and the Canucks for what could arguably be one of the best comebacks in recent Stanley Cup playoff history. With just under three minutes left in the game, and an empty Vancouver goal to go on a 6-on-5 advantage, JT Miller passed to Elias Lindholm, who slid the puck across the front of goal to Boeser who was able to make it 3-2. Celebrations were short as the ‘Nucks knew that there was still work to do. As the time wined down, the Predators were looking more and more confident that the game would end in their favour. But after Colton Sissons missed what looked like a sure fire goal, there was still a glimmer of hope. With the one man advantage still going, the Canucks kept piling the pressure on to get as many shots on goal as they could. Petterrson found Miller who ripped a shot on goal that bounced to Boeser and with as much persistence as he could possibly manage he smashed the puck in the back of the net for his hattrick with just 6.2 seconds left on the clock and tied the game at 3-3.

The first overtime of the series was beckoning, and both teams looked to put this game to bed. Nashville couldn’t get anything going to start off the extra period, enter the dynamic duo of Connor Garland and Dakota Joshua, as they combined to assist Elias Lindholm who fired home his second goal of the series to complete the comeback. Fans all over the place went nuts, as did the players on the ice as they all rushed to celebrate with Lindholm.

Now Boeser is the obvious player to get all the glory, but third string goalie Arturs Silvos made his presence known, saving 27 of the 30 shots he faced, putting up a .900 save percentage. The Canucks can look back at this game and be ecstatic about the result, but head coach Rick Tochett knows there is still work to do.

Game 5 is back at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Tuesday April 30th. Puck drop is at 7:00pm, and the Canucks look to be the second or third team to move onto the second round.

More goalie issues for the Canucks

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It goes from bad to worse for the Vancouver Canucks as second string goalie Casey DeSmith misses out on game 4 due to an injury, meaning third string Arthur Silvos gets the start.

Silvos only featured four times this season for the Canucks, having a 3-0-1 record, a 2.47 goals-against average, and a .881 save percentage. He has spent most of the season playing for the Abbotsford Canucks, making 34 appearances with a 16-11-6 record, 2.74 goals against average, and a .907 save percentage. DeSmith took over the starting duties for Vancouver after starting goalie Thatcher Demko was ruled out after game 1. After taking a brutal hit in game 2, head coach Rick Tochett decided to be safe and rule DeSmith out for game 4.

It appears that the situation regarding DeSmith’s injury is up in the air, as no official confirmation has been provided regarding the duration of his absence. The nature of his injury remains undisclosed, leaving fans and analysts speculating about the severity and potential timeline for his return.

Making things even more interesting, head coach Rick Tocchet opted to keep details close to the vest during the pregame interview, declining to reveal the starting goaltender for the upcoming game. This decision fueled worry among fans, suggesting that there would indeed be another change in the crease for the upcoming game.

The uncertainty surrounding DeSmith’s status prompted sports journalist Elliotte Friedman to weigh in on the matter. Speaking to the Hockey Central panel, Friedman emphasized that there is undoubtedly cause for concern within the team. His insights likely caused further discussion and speculation among hockey enthusiasts, as they await updates on DeSmith’s condition and the goaltending situation for the remainder of the series.

“He’s not playing today… I don’t think it’s because of the McCarron play; he practised yesterday. But I do think there’s something. The Canucks have decided to be careful.” Elliotte Friedman, Sports Journalist, Sportsnet

Silvos was drafted by the Canucks in 2019, however, didn’t make his debut for them until the 2022-23 season. That season he played five times, winning three and losing twice. The Latvian goalie represented Latvia in the 2023 IIHF World Championships, where he helped bring home a 3rd place medal, Latvia’s first ever medal, with an overtime win over the USA in the third place game. He was awarded as the tournament’s best goalie, made the team of the tournament, and was also named the tournament MVP. Since being drafted, he has spent most of his time with Abbotsford but makes the most of any opportunity that he gets when called up to Vancouver

First ever UBC NFL draftee

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It’s an exciting weekend for the University of British Columbia as Giovanni Manu was drafted into the NFL in this year’s draft.

Giovanni Manu, the Pitt Meadows native, was selected in the 4th round on Saturday, April 27th and became the first ever UBC player to ever be drafted into the NFL. He now has the opportunity to become the 4th UBC Thunderbird to play in the NFL, behind Bill Crawford (OL – New York Giants), Brant Bengen (WR – Seattle Seahawks), and Dakoda Shepley, who currently plays for the Dallas Cowboys. Manu is an offensive lineman, who stands at 6 foot 8 and weighs 352 pounds, hopes to be a great addition to the Detroit Lions this season. Giovanni said that he couldn’t be more excited to join the Lions, who made it to the NFC Conference Championship game last season.

“My phone started ringing, it was a Detroit area code and I just picked it up and it was head coach Dan Campbell on the phone… I had my whole family beside me and the first thing he said when I picked up the phone, he yelled through: ‘are you ready to be a Lion?!’ I was just so ecstatic, all the emotions were running through me. I told him 110 percent I’m ready to be a Lion and represent the great city of Detroit.” Giovanni Manu, Offensive Lineman, Detroit Lions.

As a two-time All-Canadian, Manu was essential to the success of UBC’s offence since his rookie year. The Thunderbirds had the number one ranked offence in 2023, and he helped lead his team to the Hardy Cup and Mitchell Bowl titles. With these credentials, Manu was looked as one of the biggest sleeper picks in this year’s draft. His pro-day was next to unheard of for a man his size, as he ran 5.03 40-yard dash, which is the tenth fastest time for an offensive lineman, even though he ranks as the second heaviest player to attempt it. The Thunderbirds team was highly talented over the past few years, and although many of them didn’t get drafted to the NFL, many of them are touted to be drafted in this year’s CFL draft on Tuesday April 30th.

Giovanni was one of four Canadians to be drafted this year, along with two others who signed as free agents. Theo Johnson was drafted by the New York Giants, Isaiah Adams was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals, Qwan’Tez Stiggers was drafted by the New York jets and Tanner McLachlan was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Rookie mini-camp starts on May 11th, and Giovanni Manu will be looking to make a huge impact there, as he looks to make his NFL debut later this year.

Brian White makes history

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The Vancouver Whitecaps played the NY Red Bulls last night in a hard fought 1-1 draw last night. With that result the ‘Caps slid down to third place in the Western Conference, behind LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake, who both have 18 points. The NY Bulls also slid down to third place behind Inter Miami, 21 points, and FC Cincinnati, 18 points.

The formation used by Whitecaps head coach Vinni Sartini was the 3-4-3 that has been used all year. This time however it didn’t sway in the advantage of the ‘Caps, as they struggled for possession all game, and conceded 16 shots, nine of which were on target, which was the second most all season. Despite not having much of the ball, the Whitecaps made the most of the time they did have with it. Ryan Raposo cut the ball across the Red Bulls 18-yard box and Brian White was there to flick home his 44th goal as a Whitecap, making history by becoming the all-time leading goalscorer for the Whitecaps in the MLS era.

After the goal, White had another opportunity to double the lead, however was denied by NY goalie, Carlos Coronel. The attacking onslaught from NY continued for much of the game, as Vancouver goalie Yohei Takaoka was called into action many times, racking up eight total saves throughout the night. The Red Bulls had numerous other chances to get through on goal, but they were denied by the likes of Ranko Veselinović, Mathías Laborda and Tristan Blackmon in defence. The first half ended 1-0 for Vancouver, after a last minute free kick for the ‘Caps was struck into the defending wall by Sebastian Berhalter. The second half began the same as the first, with the Whitecaps being under constant pressure from NY. Vancouver defended well for the first ten minutes of the game, but after a dangerous corner was all NY needed for forward Lewis Morgan to tie the game at 1-1 in the 56th minute. The pressure continued for the majority of the game, with both teams having great chances to take the lead. White had an opportunity taken away not long after the NY goal, but his chance was cleared away by defender Daniel Edelman. On the other side, Veselinović made a terrific sliding tackle to take away an opportunity from forward Dante Vanzeir. Things remained the same until the 74th minute, when NY defender Noah Elie was given a red card for using his hand in a clear goal scoring opportunity from captain Ryan Gauld. Despite the ‘Caps throwing everything they had at NY with the man advantage, the game remained 1-1 and ended in a draw.

The Whitecaps now come back to BC Place for a game against Austin FC, who just beat LA Galaxy 2-0 this weekend. Kickoff is 7:30pm PST on May 4th.

Whitecaps ready to grab the Bulls by the Horns

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It’s Vancouver Whitecaps game day today as they take on the NY Red Bulls at 4:30pm at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ.

Coming into this game both teams are in very good form, with the ‘Caps winning three of their last five, and the Bulls being undefeated in their last five. The last time Vancouver played NY was in May of 2022, where, now Vancouver talisman, Brian White scored FOR the Red Bulls as the game ended in a 2-2 tie. He now has the opportunity to become the Whitecaps all time leading scorer in the MLS era against his former club.

The teams have played each other in the MLS twelve total times before tonight, six times in Vancouver and six times in New Jersey. Vancouver has outscored NY 18-15 in those twelve matchups and the Whitecaps have won six of those, while the Red Bulls have only won twice, and the other four games have ended in a tie. Vancouver looks to continue their strong attacking style of play with the 3-4-3 formation, allowing them to have at least one extra attacker to put the pressure on the opposing team. The ‘Caps look to continue their strong run of away form as they are a perfect 3-0-0 when playing on the road this year. Their away form has been so good in fact, that they have the best point percentage from away games since July last year, (7W-3L-3D, 61.5%). They also have the second most points secured from away games in that span, only behind FC Cincinnati (7W-3L-4D) who played one other game. If the Whitecaps win their game tonight, they will have the most points in that time frame.

On top of the Whitecaps’ fine attacking display this season, their defence has also been on top of their game. The recent win for Vancouver against Seattle marked their third shutout of the season, placing them in a tie for the second-highest number of clean sheets in the league. Additionally, they boast the third-lowest expected goals conceded (xG) at 8.7, with the Red Bulls leading with 7.8. Yohei Takaoka has been instrumental in the ‘Caps defensive strength, leading the league in clean sheets and wins, while also ranking fourth-lowest in goals conceded per 90 minutes.

With LA Galaxy losing to Austin FC earlier today, the Whitecaps can jump into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference with a win over the Red Bulls tonight. They also still have a game in hand, highlighting how good their season has been this year.