Month: August 2017

Banff, Alberta

Category: Academic Activities, Be healthy, Culture Tips, EC Vancouver Staff, Student Activities, student ambassador, Summer Activities, Vancouver sports / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Banff is a resort town and one of Canada’s most popular tourist destinations. located in Alberta’s Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, known for its mountainous surroundings and hot springs, it is a destination for outdoor sports and features extensive hiking, biking, scrambling and skiing destinations within the area. Sunshine Village, Ski Norquay and Lake Louise Mountain Resort are the three nearby ski resorts located within the national park. Banff is the community with the second highest elevation in Alberta after Lake Louise.     The area was named Banff in 1884 by George Stephen, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, recalling his birthplace in Banff, Scotland. The Canadian Pacific built a series of grand hotels along the rail line and advertised the Banff Springs Hotel as an international tourist resort. The Banff townsite was developed near the railway station as a service centre for tourists visiting the park. It was administered by the Government of Canada’s national parks system until 1990 when the Town of Banff became the only incorporated municipality within a Canadian national park.   – Planning to come to Canada to improve your English skills? Find out more about English Courses in Vancouver!

Richmond Night Market 2017

Category: Culture Tips, EC Vancouver Staff, Student Activities, Study Tips / Tags: , , ,

Every year from May to October, Richmond hosts the biggest and amazing Asian themed market in North America. Located just few steps from Bridgeport Station, the market has easy access by Skytrain. The market is great chance to try many kinds of exotic foods and fun attractions. The website (https://www.straight.com) choose 10 delicious food to try at The Richmond Night Market..   1. Soft shell crab tacos from Tabetai Tacos You’ve probably tried Mexican tacos, but have you ever tasted it with an Asian flair? New to the night market this year is Tabetai Tacos—a food stall that specializes in Asian-inspired tacos. Its most popular item is a soft shell crab taco made with crispy fried soft shell crab, teriyaki glaze, spicy miso mayo, guacamole, masago (fish eggs), nori (seaweed), and a corn tortilla. Not a fan of seafood? It also offers kakuni (pork belly) and gyutan (beef) taco options.   2. Strawberry and balsamic ice-cream bun from Bao Bar Sweets Ice-cream sandwiches will always be a childhood (or adulthood) favourite, but the new bao buns from Bao Bar Sweets show fierce competition. Its ice-cream buns feature perfectly deep-fried mantou (Chinese sweet bun) that is both golden and crispy. A must-try flavour is strawberry with balsamic drizzle sprinkled with basil flakes. Other top contenders include toasted soy milk, matcha, and Vietnamese coffee. 3. London fog tea-ffee from Sippy Tea As you make your way through the hungry crowds, you may notice many people holding a plastic pouch close to their mouths. The answer to this is simply Sippy Tea’s introduction of its tea-ffee in a pouch (reusable and recyclable)—a combination of tea and coffee served in cute little bags. Try the London fog tea-ffee for a light and milky drink; if you want something with stronger flavours, go for the Thai coconut or chocolate lavender.   4. Barbecue oysters from Oyster & Scallop … Read more

Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and Park

Category: Be healthy, Culture Tips, EC Vancouver Staff, Practicants, Student Activities, student ambassador, Summer Activities, Uncategorized, Vancouver sports / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Located within Chinatown, the gardens are accessible from the lane off Carrall Street, between Pender Street and Keefer Street. It is about a 15 to 20 minute walk from the city center, or the closest SkyTrain station is Stadium. Alternatively if you’re on a hop on hop off tour bus, these will stop here. This was the first full-size Chinese garden to be built outside of China and was built between 1985 and 1986 with its opening in time for the Vancouver Expo 86. The gardens and park and named in honor of the nationalist leader, Dr Sun Yat-Sen, who is considered to be the ‘father of modern China’ with their objective being to “maintain and enhance the bridge of understanding between Chinese and western cultures, promote Chinese culture generally and be an integral part of the local community”. The Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and Park uses the philosophical principles of Taoism and Feng Shui and hence attempts to achieve balance of opposites and harmony, where different elements are used together.   Planning to come to Canada to improve your English skills? Find out more about English Courses in Vancouver!

Ways to play in Stanley Park

Category: Be healthy, Culture Tips, EC Vancouver Staff, Practicants, Student Activities, Summer Activities, Uncategorized, Vancouver sports / Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

While you’re here in Vancouver, take advantage of a great selection of activities on land and in the the water — all against a spectacular backdrop of ocean, mountains and forest. So pack your swimsuit, a picnic, a putter or all the above, and get ready to have fun! Seawall Enjoy one of Vancouver’s most popular destinations and take advantage of all there is to do and see along the Seawall! Download the map and learn more about this scenic path lining the city waterfront. Trails Explore more than 27 kilometres of forest trails, winding through the park’s dense foliage. Stanley Park Pitch & Putt Stanley Park Pitch & Putt features sculpted fairways, mature trees, and lush greens in the heart of historic Stanley Park. Playgrounds Visit our four fun-filled children’s playgrounds: Second Beach, Ceperley, Miniature Train, and Rose Garden. Get park locations and find out what amenities are close. Picnic areas Dine with a view – have a picnic in the park! Get information on first-come picnic tables, and making reservations in designated Stanley Park picnic areas. Tennis courts in Stanley Park Work on your game or challenge friends to a match at one of the many tennis courts in park. Find more information about free and pay court options. Water play Water park Cool down with a visit to the Variety Kids Water Park at Lumbermen’s Arch from 1 June to 1 September. Second Beach Pool Second Beach Pool is a heated, outdoor pool located in Stanley Park. It is open from Victoria Day weekend to Labour Day. Second Beach Located on the Stanley Park seawall at Stanley Park Dr and North Lagoon Dr beside the outdoor pool, Second Beach has a concession, washrooms, playground, picnic shelter, summer lifeguards, and pay parking. Third Beach A great spot for … Read more

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Attractions

Category: Culture Tips, EC Vancouver Staff, Student Activities, student ambassador, Summer Activities, Uncategorized, Vancouver sports / Tags: , , , , , , ,

  The 2010 Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games were held in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. The Olympics ran from February 12 to February 28, 2010, and the Paralympics from March 12 to March 21, during which nine competition venues were used, spread across Vancouver, Whistler, and the neighboring areas of West Vancouver and Richmond. The majority of ice sport events were held in Vancouver, while Whistler, which normally serves as a ski resort, hosted the snow events. Six non-competition venues, three each in Vancouver and Whistler, provided athlete housing, space for media, and locations for ceremonies associated with the Games.For the 2010 Winter Olympics, a total of ten sports venues were used, seven in Vancouver (including BC Place), and three in Whistler.  

Safety Tips for the Solar Eclipse

Category: Culture Tips / Tags: , ,

What is a solar eclipse? A solar eclipse is when the moon appears to cover the sun. Although the moon is smaller than the sun, the way they line up, once about every 18 months, there is a total eclipse and the moon looks like it is completely covering the sun. When is this happening? How long will it be? The eclipse will take place on August 21st and total coverage will last for only 2 minutes and 40 seconds. From start to finish, some places will have about three hours where the moon is at least partially covering the sun. Can I see the solar eclipse from where I am? The total eclipse can be seen on a path that is over 70 miles wide, but this path will not be over any locations where EC has schools; a partial eclipse will be visible throughout the United States. Is there anything else I should know? It is important that during the eclipse you DO NOT look up at the sun. It will be tempting to look up, but the light coming from the sun during an eclipse can be extremely damaging to your eyes. There are special solar viewing glasses you can purchase, but if you do not have them, do not look up until the eclipse is completely over! —— Planning to come to Canada to improve your English skills? Find out more about IELTS Courses in Vancouver!

Monday’s solar eclipse 2017

Category: Culture Tips, EC Vancouver Staff, Summer Activities, Uncategorized / Tags: , , ,

Next week, Monday, August 21th find your spot and check it out about this unique spectacle in Vancouver! Solar Eclipse happens when the New Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, blocking out the Sun’s rays and casting a shadow on parts of Earth. Source(https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar-eclipse.html) The website www.vancourier.com selected 4 great places to check the solar eclipse in Vancouver, BC. Science World has partnered with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada to offer a free viewing party that runs all day long. Running from 9 a.m. till noon, the event will include eclipse-themed science activities, a viewing party and demonstrations. Eclipse viewers will be available while supplies last. Live coverage of the eclipse will also take place in the Science Theatre from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Details: scienceworld.ca/solar-eclipse-2017 The UBC Astronomy Club is hosting its gathering at Robson Square from 9:10 until 11:37 a.m. The club suggests scopes and safety goggles will be available for all attendees. Info online at www.facebook.com/events/112384289359857. UBC students and profs will convene at the Department of Physics and Astronomy from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Eclipse viewers and telescopes will be on offer, along with a live streaming and various presentations in the Welcome Centre at the Robert H Lee Alumni Centre. Find info on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/710231359163637. The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre’s event sounds like a doozy. Running from 8:45 a.m. until noon, the by-donation party will include solar telescopes, live streams, sun projections and solar eclipse glasses. During and after the viewing, the Space Centre will be open for special, eclipse-themed shows and activities. Regular rates apply to shows and activities in the main building. Details are online at spacecentre.ca/solar-eclipse. The partial eclipse will begin in Vancouver at 9:10 a.m., reach its maximum at 10:21 a.m. and end at 11:37 a.m. Source(http://www.vancourier.com/news/four-places-in-vancouver-to-take-in-the-solar-eclipse-1.21962685) Planning to come to Canada to improve your English … Read more

Bungee Jumping in Whistler

Category: Student Activities, Uncategorized / Tags: , ,

Summer is here and many of you are planning to go to Whistler to enjoy more of BC! If you want to have a thrilling experience, you should try out bungee jumping! Whistler Bungee is one of only two licensed bungee jumping spots in BC and is located around a 15-minute drive south of Whistler Village. Jumping from a 50 meter bridge above the glacial-fed Cheakamus River sounds crazy but it is absolutely worth a try. Even if you are not going to jump, you will have a good time walking over the bridge and watching other people do it! One of our staff members, Kailey, tried it a few years ago and she described her experience as “it was one of the most TERRIFYING, extraordinary but exciting experienceS I’ve ever had!”. They are open every day throughout the year in all weather conditions. Too scared to jump on your own? Don’t worry, you can jump with you friend to share or divide the fear in half! Don’t run away from your fear, face it! Please visit Whistler Bungee website to find more information such as location and price! —– Planning to come to Canada to improve your English skills? Find out more about English Courses in Vancouver!

The Wildfires in British Columbia

Category: Be healthy, Culture Tips, Summer Activities, Vancouver sports / Tags: , ,

  Wildfire in British Columbia   If you are living in Vancouver or if you are just visiting, you certainly must have noticed the smoke surrounding the city.Metro Vancouver has been affected during the last couple of weeks by a huge wildfires in British Columbia. The famous lakes, hiking trails and natural attractions are not being recommended due to the bad air quality. The province of British Columbia has been facing the worst fire season in 6 decades and remains under a state of emergency. More than 7 thousand people are in alert to leave their homes. Due to the dry and hot weather, the situation is getting worse everyday. The summer season usually is the happiest season of the year for Canadians. Summer means parties, camping, stars and bonfires. This year, more that a half of the wildfires have been caused by humans. According to Chief information officer Kevin Skrepnek, almost 5000 square kilometers have been burned across the province to date. The government of BC issued some wildlife prevention’s:   Prevention means stopping wildfires before they start. Discarded cigarette   butts, campfires, hot exhaust pipes coming into contact with dry grass and vegetation, power tools (such as chainsaws), Tiki torches and even discarded glass can all ignite a wildfire. It is important to exercise caution when in the outdoors, not only when enjoying a campfire or off-roading in the backcountry, but also in using tools and handling, storing and disposing of materials and fuels. Campfires Many British Columbians and visitors to our province enjoy campfires. To prevent your campfire from turning in to a wildfire be sure to; Check current campfire restrictions for the area you are in Select your campsite and campfire location carefully Remove all leaves, twigs and other flammable material from the area around where you plan to … Read more

Orpheum Theatre (Vancouver)

Category: Culture Tips, EC Vancouver Staff, Uncategorized / Tags: , , , , , ,

The Orpheum is a theatre and music venue in Vancouver, British Columbia, it is part of the Vancouver Civic Theatres group of live performance venues. It is the permanent home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The Orpheum is located on Granville Street near Smithe Street in Vancouver’s downtown core. It opened as a vaudeville house on 7 November 1927 (its first concert took place the following day), and went on to host performances by Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers, Rudy Vallee and other performers affiliated with the Orpheum Circuit. The Orpheum displays much of its original splendour since 1927 despite some loss of detail and some updating for acoustics and patron comfort. Its style is an exuberant and eclectic mix of Romanesque, Moorish, Gothic and Spanish Renaissance elements, making it Canada’s best example of the exotic phase of cinema architecture which was the fashion in the larger North American cinemas in the late 1920s. Disparate elements are linked through the effective use of repetition. The overlapping arches that encircle the ceiling, for instance, visually link the oval dome to the curves of the organ screens on either side of the elliptical proscenium arch. The theatre was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1979.   —– Planning to come to Canada to improve your English skills? Find out more about English Courses in Vancouver!