February 12 marks the official one-year countdown to the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games (the Vancouver 2010 Paralymic Winter Games begin on March 12). Are we excited? You bet! Are we celebrating? Every day! (We're serious.) The month of February is packed tighter than Michael Phelps' trophy case with cultural and sporting events in Vancouver. There's something happening every single day. The following are some of the highlights.
- Cultural Olympiad 2009 featuring daily art and cultural events in Vancouver (February 1 to March 21).
- The One-Year Countdown Celebration, featuring Sarah McLachlan (February 12).
- Eight major international sporting events including the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships (February 2 to 8) and the FIS Snowboard World Cup (February 12 to 15).
- The opening of the Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre, the curling and wheelchair curling venue (February 19).
- Winterruption festival on Granville Island featuring free music, theatre, film, visual arts and culinary events (February 19 to 22).
- Talking Stick Festival, a celebration of Aboroginal performance and art (February 9 to 15 - more details below).
Don't miss a thing! Come and join us in Vancouver this February to experience the excitement of the one-year countdown and so much more.
Tickets are on sale now for the Vancouver 2010 One-Year Countdown Celebration on February 12 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Sarah McLachlan, Vancouver resident and multiple Grammy award-winner, will headline the concert and be joined by an all-star cast of Canadian talent including Joel Plaskett, Adrian Anantawan and the Alberta Ballet. The One-Year Countdown Celebration is being presented as part of Cultural Olympiad 2009. Tickets start at $59 CAD per person ($47 USD) and are available through Vancouver2010.com.
www.vancouver2010.com
With more than 400 free and ticketed events on the roster, Cultural Olympiad 2009 offers daily entertainment for art, music and theatre lovers between February 1 and March 21. This year's festival features 85 per cent Canadian content half from across Canada and half from BC alongside artists from five continents.
February and March highlights of Cultural Olympiad 2009 include the following.
Broken Social Scene with Tegan and Sara
Toronto's Broken Social Scene and Calgary's Tegan and Sara set the stage with a hot double bill. Orpheum Theatre, February 6, tickets start at $33 CAD ($26 USD).
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
One of the world's most revered orchestras, the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields performs a program of Bach, Mozart and Walton for its Vancouver debut. Orpheum Theatre, February 15, tickets start at $25 ($20 USD).
Bell Orchestre, featuring members of Arcade Fire
A triple-bill featuring Beast, The Besnard Lakes and Bell Orchestre (featuring members of Arcade Fire). Commodore Ballroom, February 19, tickets $19.50 CAD (approximately $16 USD).
Ballet BC presents Carmen
The tragic love story of a fiery Gypsy temptress who pushes the men in her life to the explosive limits of their passion. Queen Elizabeth Theatre, February 26 to 28, tickets start at $35.75 CAD ($29 USD).
New Songs, New Voices
This series features four nights of music from a dozen of the next great Canadian singer/songwriters. Waterfront Theatre, February 26 to March 1.
Hawksley Workman with Chad VanGaalen
The diamond voice and gritty bass beats of this Juno award-winning Canadian rocker have won him legions of fans around the world. Commodore Ballroom, February 27, tickets $28.50 CAD ($23 USD).
Esthero and K'NAAN
Somali-born rapper K'NAAN opens for Toronto-born Esthero who has been part of a number of high profile collaborations in 2008 including the Barack Obama-inspired Yes We Can song and Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreak album. Commodore Ballroom, March 11, tickets $28.50 CAD ($23 USD).
Check the Cultural Olympiad 2009 section of www.Vancouver2010.com for full listings.
Richmond Olympic Oval and Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre Open
Construction is complete on the final two competition venues for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
The Richmond Olympic Oval (venue for Olympic speed skating events) officially opened on December 12, followed by a free public skate on December 13 and 14. The iconic $178-million structure features a "wood wave" roof made from "pine beetle enhanced" wood. During the 2010 Winter Games, the Richmond Olympic Oval will host 14 days of competition and 12 medal events. It will also be home to the anti-doping laboratory for the 2010 Winter Games. Wanna check it out yourself? The Oval will offer public programs and drop-in skating throughout 2009. In addition, spectators can purchase tickets to the ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships (March 12 to 15) for a real taste of the action to come.
The Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre (venue for Olympic curling and Paralympic wheelchair curling) was completed in December and will officially open its doors to the public on February 19. The $82 million centre is a model of sustainable design. Rainwater is used to flush toilets and heat created during ice-making is used to warm the swimming pool (after the 2010 Winter Games, the curling venue will become a multi-purpose community recreation centre). Interested in seeing the Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre in action? Attend the WCF World Wheelchair Curling Championship (February 21 to 28) or the World Junior Curling Championships (March 5 to 15).
www.vancouver2010.com
The eighth annual Talking Stick Festival (February 9 to 15) is back to celebrate traditional and contemporary Aboriginal performance and art. The festival takes place at locati
[Back to Press Releases Main]
