What’s On: BC Day Long Weekend (August 1-4, 2008)

• The Enchanted Evening Concert Series continues at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden with a concert on Friday, August 1st by Lehera, a musical group that brings together their roots in Indian classical music and Western musical forms. The concert begins at 7:30pm (doors at 7pm) and tickets are $18 for non-members and $15 for Garden Society members. Reservations are recommended; please call 604-662-3207 or email assistant@vancouverchinesegarden.com.

• Head to the Fort Langley National Historic Site for Brigade Days, which run from Saturday, August 2nd to Monday, August 4th from 9:00am-8:00pm all three days. Brigade Days will mark the British Parliament’s establishment of the Colony of British Columbia in 1858 (BC’s 150th anniversary). Witness live historic dramatizations and demonstrations by costumed guides and volunteers. Highlights for the weekend include the Chief Trader’s Dinner on Saturday at 5:30pm (purchase your tickets from the Mighty Fraser Bistro), the traditional canoe brigade’s arrival at the waterfront on Sunday at 1pm, and a Picnic in the Park concert at 6pm on Monday.

• Local Historian John Atkin will be leading another Historic East End walking tour for the Vancouver Heritage Foundation on Saturday, August 2nd at 10am. Saturday’s tour will be of Japantown, and you must call 604-264-9642 to make a reservation for this tour. The tour meets at Strathcona Community Centre at 601 Keefer Street, and is approximately two hours in duration. Tickets are $14 per person.

• Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre will be holding an Edible Forests Walk on Saturday, August 2nd from 10:30am-12pm. This walk is family-oriented and will teach you about edible plants of the temperate rainforest. Please pre-register by calling 604-990-3755.

• Need another reason to visit the Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre this weekend? From Saturday, August 2nd to Monday, August 4th the centre will be holding a Local Harvest Film Festival, featuring not only food-related films, but also relevant workshops. This is a good opportunity to learn about farming and where your food comes from, to celebrate local farmers and gardeners, and to learn how to grow your own food. All events are by donation, but you are encouraged to bring a donation of local, home-grown produce for donation to The Edible Garden Project if you attend on Monday. To view the full list of films and workshops, please visit the centre’s website and scroll down to August 2nd-4th. Pre-registration is only required for workshops and walks; please call 604-990-3755.

• Head down to Britannia Heritage Shipyard on Saturday, August 2nd for a summer concert by RZR. The promoters for the concert describe RZR’s music as “back to basics, grass roots, intelligent rock.” The concert starts at 6:30pm and admission is by donation. Don’t forget to bring your chairs, blanket and picnic basket!

• Burnaby Village Museum will be marking BC Day with a Salute to the Veterans event on Monday, August 4th as 2008 marks not only the 150th anniverary of the Crown Colony of British Columbia, but also the 55th anniversary of the Korean War Cease-Fire and the 90th anniversary of the First World War Armistice. Veterans of the Korean War will be honoured at the Korean War Memorial in Burnaby’s Central Park, and also at a ceremony at the museum involving veterans, political and military dignitaries and members of the Consular Corps. The museum will feature displays from over 35 military and veterans’ groups and performances by military bands. Village interpreters will highlight aspects of British Columbia history. Admission to the museum is free on BC Day.