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On June 8th and 9th, the 4th annual Vancouver Festival of Ocean Films will open its doors at the Vancity Theatre to screen some amazing films focused on the beauty of our oceans, and some of the threats to its health. V.I.A. is a proud media sponsor of the festival, below is the first in a series of blog posts highlighting some of the Festival’s films.

‘The Big Fix’ premiered at Cannes in 2011 and is an un-coverup of the BP oil spill in the Gulf.

This expose raises awareness about the serious Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion off the Louisiana coast in April 2010. In addition to the eleven workers killed by this catastrophe, nearly five million barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico over the next five months. ‘The Big Fix’ exposes the truth behind the spill and BP’s negligence in the aftermath.

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Dear Bob [editor of V.I.A.],

I want to thank you and the readers of V.I.A. for helping to find a home for our BC-made bench. We received numerous e-mails within days of the POST from both people suggesting places they know of, and others with space to offer. We were looking for a space to house our bench until the IDSWest show in September, and the person we got linked up with offered a compatible timeframe.

The man for the job was Mark Brand, then preparing to open No.1 Noodle House, a pop-up restaurant in the old Boneta space at #1 West Cordova. Currently the concept for the Noodle House is a seven month pop-up shop. In addition to providing the bench with a home, Mark has reserved space beside the bench for us to promote the product and our business. This is about people helping people and opening the door to opportunity.

For the next location and potential final home, we really wanted to see the bench in a open environment with lots of light and space around it. I got an e-mail from Jodie Braaten, exhibit designer at Science World, with an attached photo of the prospective space.
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Dear Vancouver Is Awesome,

I really enjoy reading your blog and I wanted to introduce you to yet another reason why Vancouver is Awesome! I work (and live) at the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife where we look after a small pack of timber wolves, a barn owl and two orphaned Grizzly Bears named Grinder and Coola.

Back in 2001, Grinder and Coola arrived at Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver as young, 8 month old, cubs. Grinder had been found near the town of Invermere in the Rocky Mountains and was near death from starvation when found. When some forestry workers brought him to a nearby veterinarian he quickly doubled his weight! Around the same time Coola was found on a roadside near Bella Coola and at the side of his mother who had been struck and killed by a vehicle. Both bears were facing humane destruction as no rehabilitation for Grizzly Bears was being offered. Grouse Mountain intervened and offered to set up a large, five acre, mountaintop habitat for the bears. Here we were able to watch them and learn what young cubs know instinctually and what the mothers much teach them. Through these observations we’ve learned a lot that can be used to help future orphaned cubs.
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WORDS: Polina Bachlakova

Real Estate. Development. Condos. Those are three terms that seem to constantly be on the tips of Vancouverites’ tongues – especially for those in the arts. Vancouver is small enough to have disparate elements of its identity and growth intertwine with each other in an unexpected and accelerated fashion; currently, we are faced with record breaking house prices in the midst of a struggling art economy. Where the relationship between art and real estate may seem intangible and unclear, there is much to be said about this relation and the factors driving each. How does foreign real estate investment influence a gallery’s life span or an artist’s career? Why did many of Vancouver’s top galleries evacuate the South Granville Gallery District and head east of Main? What’s stopping people from investing in art the same way they invest in condos? There are many questions about the curious relationship between art and real estate in the most expensive city on earth. Big Mouth No. 2 will showcase seven unique perspectives from some of Vancouver’s thought leaders to paint a bigger picture of the role of art in our rapidly developing city.

Throughout the evening, seven speakers will give the audience their insights and perspectives on art and real estate in Vancouver. The speakers are:

Michael Green – Principal, Michael Green Architecture Michael is Principal at Michael Green Architecture, and is recognized for his award winning buildings, public art, interiors, landscapes, and urban environments. He previously led design at mgb Architecture + Design for nine years. He recently co-authored a 200-page solution for sustainable building, “The Case for Tall Wood Buildings”, and presented it at TED2013. He teaches at SALA, the UBC School of Architecture, and is a fellow of the Royal Architectural Society of Canada.

Mark Shieh – Director, River Market at The Quay Mark is Director of River Market at The Quay, a community and food oriented development in New Westminster that aims to build, strengthen and enrich New Westminster by reimagining the old Quay. Mark’s career has included experiences as a Disney Imagineer and as the Director of User Research at ECCO Design in New York. He is a boardmember for both the Contemporary Art Gallery and Building Opportunities with Business. He currently serves on City of New Westminster’s Economic Development Advisory Committee, and is Vice-Principal of Strathcona’s community hub, School of Chalk.

Ron Burnett – President and Vice Chancellor, ECUAD Ron is President and Vice Chancellor of Emily Carr University of Art + Design. He has authored various respected publications, such as 2005’s “How Images Think”, and has published over 150 articles and book chapters. He is the Former Director of the Graduate Program in Communications at McGill University, and in 2010, he received the “Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres”, a knighthood from the French Government in recognition of his 40 years of work in culture. He has been Educator of the Year in Canada and is a recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for service to Canada. He was the Chair of Knowledge Network for four years, and is one of the founders of film studies in Canada.

Heather Redfern – Executive Director, The Cultch Heather is Executive Director of The Cultch, Vancouver’s East Cultural Centre. She was previously the Executive Director for Vancouver’s Alliance for Art and Culture, an artistic producer for Catalyst Theatre in Edmonton, and a board chair of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival. She has served at the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and the Edmonton Arts council. She is a recipient of the Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award, and in 2010, was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Women in BC by The Vancouver Sun. Heather’s team at The Cultch recently acquired the historic York Theatre off of Commercial Drive.

Steven Cox – Principal, Cause+Affect & Producer, PechaKucha Vancouver Steven is Principal and Creative Director of Cause+Affect, one of Vancouver’s leading multidisciplinary creative agencies. He is also a former architect with twelve years of experience in Architecture and Design. Cause+Affect are the producers of PechaKucha Vancouver, so you may recognize Steven as the host of PechaKucha. Steven sits on the advisory board for the Vancouver Film School, and acts as an external consultant to many of Vancouver’s real estate developers.

Ernesto Gomez – Co-Owner, Nuba Restaurant + Founding Partner, Arrival Agency (formerly Waldorf Productions) Originally from Mexico but transplanted to Vancouver in 2006, Ernesto is a Michelin-trained chef and the Co-Owner of Nuba Restaurant. He is also a Founding Partner of Waldorf Productions, which has recently turned into Arrival Productions since The Waldorf’s closure. Arrival will be taking on numerous exciting projects such as Khatsahlano Festival, Food Cart Festival, and The Fox Cabaret – the transformation of Main Street’s Fox Theatre into a venue.

Donald Luxton – Heritage Consultant + President, Heritage Vancouver Donald Luxton is a Heritage Consultant and advocate. He is the Principal of Donald Luxton & Associates Incorporated, a cultural & heritage planning consulting firm. He is the President of Heritage Vancouver and a member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals. In 2009, he received the British Columbia Heritage Award. He is an honorary member of the BC Society of Landscape Architects and a Fellow of Architecture Canada.

WHERE: Macaulay Fine Art, 293 East 2nd Ave

WHEN: Thursday, April 25, 7:00-10:00

HOW MUCH: Free (SOLD OUT but limited tickets will be released at the door)

Facebook event: fb.com/events/144458722393954/

Curated by Polina Bachlakova

This sponsored feature takes an intimate look at real estate projects in Greater Vancouver, bringing you stories about the developers, the neighbourhoods and the homes themselves. One of the major draws of the River Park Place development in Richmond is its proximity to the city’s natural beauty. Just minutes away from the riverfront and the green spaces of Minoru Park and the Garden City Lands, it’s a prime location for anyone who wants to stay connected with the great outdoors.

That green tradition is echoed throughout the development itself. While its state-of-the-art environmental systems are energy efficient and maximize the benefits of the natural surroundings, the most noticeable example of this effort to mirror Richmond’s lush and fertile landscape is the development’s Rooftop Palace Courtyard.

While it may be out-of-sight from street level, the third-story rooftop courtyard is one of the jewels of River Park Place. The stunning views of the Fraser River, North Shore mountains and vibrant Richmond cityscape might initially capture your attention, but it’s the numerous other amenities that will undoubtedly keep residents coming back time and time again.

The building already offers an indoor Banquet Room but if you’d rather take advantage of the fresh air and sunshine, then the outdoor grill and dining area is ideal for hosting. After the meal, why not continue your visit and gather around the open-air firepit lounge. It’s the perfect place to entertain kids with tales and stories – or, if you’d prefer to just visit with friends, then the nearby play area can keep the children occupied.

At the heart of the courtyard is the Tai Chi pavilion, offering a peaceful and tranquil setting for those who take part in the ancient tradition. The community greenways that border the pavilion feature garden benches for when you want a moment to sit and relax, and a space to play bocce or badminton if you’re seeking healthy competition.

The landscaped seasonal gardens are maintained year round; for those residents who also have green thumbs, they better roll up their sleeves – the community gardening plots provide that chance to cultivate and connect with the earth.

And if you’re looking to stay connected with the outside world, the Rooftop Palace Courtyard offers a hi-speed WiFi hotspot, as do all the other common areas within River Park Place.

There’s not much time left to win a brand new 2013 Range Rover Evoque in The New Luxury contest. By registering your interest on the River Park Place website before April 6 you will be automatically entered and have a chance at winning the Evoque.
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This sponsored feature takes an intimate look at real estate projects in Greater Vancouver, bringing you stories about the developers, the neighbourhoods and the homes themselves. Richmond used to have the nickname ‘island city’, and that could maybe lead people to believe it’s separated from the rest of the Lower Mainland. That’s hardly the case though – with the expansion of the Canada Line providing a speedy and regular link to downtown Vancouver in just 20 minutes, and with River Park Place only blocks away from its Lansdowne Station, there’s no reason to feel isolated.

Indeed, as a development that looks to accommodate your every need and anticipate your every desire, its location plays a large role in helping its residents feel connected to the neighbourhood and the city of Richmond. River Park Place will be the heart of the vibrant new Richmond Oval Village, which will feature a T&T Supermarket opening later this year, not to mention numerous other new amenities.

The Oval Village takes its namesake from the Richmond Olympic Oval. After playing host to the world’s best speed skaters during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, the Oval is now a world class community centre and an international attraction. Facilities include a climbing wall, countless fitness and wellness programs, and areas for events like birthday parties and field trips.

If you’d rather get some fresh air while you exercise, you’re in luck. The riverfront has recently been invigorated and provides access to 40 kilometres of interconnecting trails and cycling routes that lead to parklands. Nearby Minoru Park features everything from a baseball diamond to a cricket pitch and is a hub for cultural facilities including the Richmond Cultural Centre.

The Canada Line provides a convenient link to many other local destinations. Lansdowne Centre and Kwantlen Polytechnic University are located next to nearby Lansdowne Station. From there, travel one stop south to Richmond Centre and its 240 shops and services, or head one stop in the other direction to Aberdeen Centre.

In the summer months, the Richmond Night Market provides a different shopping experience altogether. For starters, there are more than 200 booths offering merchandise and 80 vendors selling delicious food and desserts. This year’s market will also feature carnival rides and a children’s amusement zone. With over a million visitors a year, it’s one of the most popular night markets in North America.

For those who find themselves on the road frequently, River Park Place is located just moments away from Vancouver International Airport and a 30-minute drive from the American border. And what better way to get there then in a brand new 2013 Range River Evoque? By registering your interest on the River Park Place website before April 6 you will automatically be entered to win the Evoque as part of The New Luxury contest. There are also chances to win gift certificates to Holt Renfrew, the Apple Store and many other retailers.

April 6 marks the grand opening of the sales centre where you will be able to view two fully furnished display homes showcasing the best of River Park Place. For more information on builder and developer Intracorp Projects Ltd., check out their pages on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.