The city is preparing for a packed week from September 7 to 13, featuring everything from baseball games and a Weezer concert to a pickle festival. At the same time, the areas around Vancouver hold traces of forgotten disasters—from sunken ships to fighter jets that veered off course. And the opening of a private Dyslexia Centre highlights problems in the public education system: parents are being forced to pay for help that schools should provide free of charge.
A Week in Vancouver: From Baseball to a Pickle Festival
This week in Vancouver looks set to be so packed that it may make your head spin. From September 7 to 13, there will be something extraordinary for every taste. If you thought September was when the city slows down in anticipation of the rainy fall, you would be very much mistaken. The city’s parks, stadiums and cultural venues are turning into arenas for all kinds of events: from high-energy baseball games to intimate theatre productions, from farmers’ festivals to concerts by legendary rock bands. Local organizers clearly decided that summer should end with a bang, putting together a program capable of satisfying even the most demanding entertainment enthusiasts. It is especially welcome that many of these events are either free or reasonably priced, allowing nearly every resident and visitor to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Without a doubt, the central event of the week will be the performance by the iconic American band Weezer, who will bring not only their timeless hits to Rogers Arena, but also such renowned guests as The Shins and Silversun Pickups. The concert, titled “Weezer: The Gathering,” promises to be a real treat for fans of ’90s and 2000s alternative rock. For those who prefer more active recreation, organizers have come up with something completely unique: the so-called Hoagie Half, which combines a half-marathon relay with a culinary tour of the city’s best sandwich shops. Participants will run a total of 21 kilometres, but not simply from start to finish. They will stop at independent sandwich shops, where each runner must pick up a sandwich and deliver it to base. It is part sport, part entertainment and part opportunity to support local small businesses.
The annual Vancouver Fringe Festival, which begins September 10 on Granville Island, will surely appeal to fans of theatre and live performance. This year’s festival promises to be especially large, with more than 80 different shows, ranging from experimental productions to classic comedy. One of the most unusual performances will be “That Show (time) of the Month,” in which male comedians will attempt stand-up while connected to a menstrual-cramp simulator. This bold and provocative concept is intended not only to entertain audiences, but also to draw attention to the challenges women face every day. The festival will also offer more traditional entertainment, including a free music terrace, children’s activities and many other surprises throughout its 10-day run.
This week will also offer opportunities to immerse yourself in the traditions of different peoples. Langley will host its fifth annual powwow, where more than 500 Indigenous dancers will showcase their vibrant regalia and captivating dances. It is a unique opportunity to experience a living culture that is an integral part of Canadian identity, and organizers emphasize that the event is open to people of all ages and backgrounds. Meanwhile, Surrey will host a Filipino festival, allowing visitors either to reconnect with their roots or to discover the island nation’s cuisine, music and customs for the first time. On the North Shore, a Polish festival will feature traditional treats and a marketplace where visitors can sample authentic Polish delicacies. The Richmond Night Market occupies a special place in this cultural mosaic. This year, it is offering visitors not only more than 500 kinds of street food, but also the world’s first zipline over a night market—something sure to become a hit with thrill-seekers.
Organizers have clearly taken care of sports fans and those who enjoy active family outings. Several major games will take place this weekend: the Vancouver Canadians will face the Eugene Emeralds in the Northwest League championship, while Vancouver Whitecaps FC will take on LA Galaxy and Austin FC at BC Place. For those who prefer spending time outdoors, the enormous Maan Farms pumpkin farm in Abbotsford is opening with a corn maze, a petting zoo and even a zipline. Richmond will host an agricultural festival featuring a farmers’ market and cooking workshops led by a renowned chef. Animal lovers can take part in the VOKRA charity run, with proceeds going toward rescuing homeless cats and kittens. In addition, the miniature railway in Burnaby and tours of the historic Orpheum Theatre will continue to operate, likely attracting architecture and history enthusiasts.
Perhaps the most unusual and entertaining event of the week, however, will be Picklefest, which promises to become a true kingdom of fermented cucumbers. Visitors will be able to try pickles in every form imaginable: in jars, on sticks and even as ingredients in various drinks. They can also enter a homemade pickle competition, where the best makers will receive prizes and widespread recognition. It is a celebration for those who appreciate culinary experimentation and unusual flavour combinations. Judging by the variety of events, this week in Vancouver really can satisfy every interest—from the desire to enjoy high art to the simple human wish to have fun and eat well. The Daily Hive events guide can help you navigate this kaleidoscope of experiences.
Five Forgotten Disasters: What the Vancouver Area Conceals
When people think of Vancouver, most picture mountains, the ocean and well-kept parks. Yet the areas around this Canadian city contain remarkable and sometimes tragic traces of the past that few people talk about. From sunken ships to military aircraft that crashed into mountainsides, these sites have become silent witnesses to history, even if they do not always appear in tourist guides. If you decide to search for these relics, remember that British Columbia’s Heritage Conservation Act strictly prohibits damaging or removing any fragments, as each of these objects is already several decades old.
One of the most intriguing sites is the so-called “Sun Island” on Westham Island. Despite its misleading name, it is not an island at all, but an old vessel abandoned at the edge of a marshy area. The 84-foot ship, built in 1929 by Japanese immigrant Jirokichi Arimoto, was used to transport fish. Its fate, however, is shrouded in darkness: the boat was likely abandoned when the Canadian government confiscated the property of Japanese people sent to internment camps during the Second World War. Today, the ship—nearly a century old—quietly rusts in Ewen Slough, overgrown with brush and becoming part of a landscape that few people recognize as a monument to an entire community’s tragedy.
Grouse Mountain, popular with tourists and skiers, holds an unexpected discovery for those who enjoy long walks. Right beside the Skyline Trail lies the engine of an F-86 Sabre fighter jet. In 1954, American pilot Lieutenant Lamar Barlow was flying at near-sonic speed when his compass failed. As they tried to help the pilot, controllers on the ground saw what is known as a “ghost” on their radar—a false return they mistook for Barlow’s aircraft. Believing he was over Tacoma, they gave the pilot incorrect coordinates, even though he was actually over Vancouver. Because of heavy cloud cover, Barlow did not see the approaching mountain and crashed into its slope. The wreckage, including the engine, can still be seen near the trail, while a small memorial recalls how an error on a radar screen can prove fatal.
For diving enthusiasts, Porteau Cove is considered a true mecca. Several vessels were deliberately sunk there to create an artificial reef. They include the schooner Granthall and the vessel Centurion III, as well as a reef made from old tires. The site is accessible to divers of all experience levels and is home to more than 100 marine species, from octopuses to longhorn sculpins. Unlike the grim stories of air disasters, this underwater museum was created intentionally and demonstrates how old ships can be given a second life as homes for ocean wildlife.
The story of the steamer JD McCormack, which now rests on the banks of the Fraser River, is no less fascinating. Built in 1921, it travelled the waters of Greater Vancouver for decades before being converted into a barge. About 80 years ago, the vessel ended up on the north bank of the river in the Coquitlam area, near the Port Mann Bridge, where it remains today. This forgotten steamer is a silent witness to an era when rivers were the region’s main transportation routes.
Mount Strachan holds a particularly sorrowful place in this collection. In 1963, a Canadian military T-33 training aircraft crashed there. Both pilots—Lieutenant Norman Ogden and Lieutenant Donald Clark—died after bad weather played a fatal role in the disaster. The aircraft’s wreckage is scattered across the slope, accessible by a difficult trail, while a memorial at the crash site pays tribute to the courageous airmen whose service ended in tragedy.
Each of these stories is more than just a fact about abandoned equipment. They are reminders of the fragility of human life, of mistakes that can come at an unbearable cost, and of how time transforms wreckage into objects of historical significance. Today, as modern technology makes accidents increasingly rare, it is difficult to imagine that real dramas once unfolded in these picturesque places. But if you find yourself in Vancouver and want to connect with the past, remember: every rusting hull and every memorial on a mountainside preserves the memory of those who were here long before us—and of the mistakes we must not repeat. More information about these stories can be found in this Vancouver Is Awesome article, which brings together archival records and eyewitness accounts.
Vancouver Dyslexia Centre: A Lifeline for the Few or a Warning to the System?
A specialized Dyslexia Centre is preparing to open in Vancouver and is expected to begin operating next fall. The news may seem encouraging for families dealing with this learning disorder, but it has exposed a longstanding and painful problem in British Columbia’s education system. The emergence of a private initiative intended to fill gaps in the public sector has prompted experts and advocates to express concern rather than optimism: why is this support not available in ordinary schools, forcing parents to seek it elsewhere—often at considerable cost? The situation appears especially paradoxical given statistics suggesting that a class of 30 students may include as many as six children showing signs of dyslexia.
Kathy McMillan, founder of Dyslexia B.C., whose own children have the diagnosis, speaks from bitter experience. Her younger daughter, who has severe dyslexia, would not have been able to complete public school without enormous additional spending on private specialists. “It was very, very expensive,” McMillan recalls. “It was absolutely impossible for her to remain in the public system all the way through.” The girl eventually graduated from university with honours, but only thanks to her family’s tremendous efforts and financial investment. McMillan’s older child remained in public school, but even there, tutors and paid lessons were necessary. In McMillan’s view, the creation of the Dyslexia Centre is not a solution to the problem, but rather striking evidence that the problem exists. “It shines a light on the gap,” she says, “and on how low a priority serving children with dyslexia is for the system.” She is calling on the government to “get serious” and develop a comprehensive plan that would include dyslexic students in the new literacy policy rather than shifting the burden onto parents.
The academic community appears to agree with this assessment. Linda Siegel, professor emerita at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and author of a book on dyslexia, supports the centre’s creation with one qualification: “...only because it isn’t happening in schools.” She stresses that children and their parents suffer from the lack of systemic support. Siegel points out that education faculties generally devote very little attention to recognizing dyslexia and determining how to address it. Psychoeducational assessments used to identify learning disabilities are also so time-consuming that they are effectively inaccessible to many families. Sterett Mercer, an associate professor of special education at UBC, shares her concerns: the effects of dyslexia do not disappear with age. They can “spill over” into adulthood, interfering with careers and everyday tasks. The centre’s creation, he says, is a step forward, but it must not replace a public support system that is supposed to serve everyone.
What will the new centre offer? Its director, Neil Johnston, explains that its main focus will be free screening for early signs of dyslexia and educational support. However, the paid support services will cost roughly the same as tutoring sessions, while the weekly training program for educators will cost more than $1,000. The centre is also prepared to work directly with schools and districts to develop individualized education plans. This financial aspect has prompted criticism, since ideally such expertise should be built into every school and district rather than sold to parents who are already under stress. In effect, access to quality assistance may once again become a privilege reserved for those who can afford it.
In response to a request from CBC News, the provincial Ministry of Education and Child Care said it is taking action of its own. Beginning this year, mandatory early-reading-skills screening will be introduced from kindergarten through Grade 3, and the investment will also include professional development for teachers. The ministry also noted that school-based support should be provided regardless of whether a child has an official diagnosis, and that a new “Community of Practice for Literacy Support” will begin operating in the fall. Nevertheless, as the experiences of Kathy McMillan and other parents demonstrate, declarations do not always match reality. The private centre scheduled to open next year remains, for many families, the only real light at the end of the tunnel—even if it lies outside the public system.
