How to donate to the relief efforts in Japan

Organizations helping earthquake- and tsunami-ravaged Japan have made it easy for Canadians to donate.

Canadian wireless customers with most major carriers can text ASIA to 30333, to donate $5 to the Canadian Red Cross Japan Earthquake/Asia-Pacific Tsunami fund and there is no charge for the text.

According to the Canadian Red Cross, a total of $3 million has already been donated by Canadians since the catastrophic 8.9 magnitude earthquake Friday.

Those wanting to help can donate online at redcross.ca or call 1-800-418-1111.

James Astleford, donor-relations director for ADRA Canada, a humanitarian agency established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, said his organization has representatives in Japan working with stranded residents.

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee has set up a Japan donation website as well and says it is working with partners on the ground to determine what role its volunteers can play.

Donations to CRWRC can also be made by calling 1-800-730-3490.

Médicins Sans Frontières says two teams of three people are trying to reach the worst-hit areas in Japan’s Iwate and Miyagi prefectures.

“The MSF teams, composed of medical and logistics personnel, will try to reach the area by helicopter,” said spokeswoman Naomi Sutorius-Lavoie in an email Friday. “Once there, the two teams will liaise with local emergency-response authorities to assess medical needs. Another 25 MSF medical and logistical staff in Japan are on standby to respond once the situation has been assessed.”

UNICEF says it has already positioned supplies and personnel in countries throughout the Pacific region.

Plan International Canada had an emergency-response team on standby in Indonesia, where it has a warehouse stocked with 5,000 family kits available for immediate distribution.

World Vision Canada has also set up a webpage to solicit donations to provide disaster relief for victims of the earthquake.

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, a group that supports IsraAid, an Israel-based humanitarian organization sending teams of rescue personnel, emergency medical officers and water pollution purification specialists to Japan, is also accepting donations here.

CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Quebec and Save the Children Canada have formed a group called The Humanitarian Coalition and began accepting donations Saturday.

The Salvation Army announced it was allocating $75,000 to the earthquake relief effort in Japan and is accepting donations online here.

Canadians can also donate online through International Development and Relief Foundation or by calling 1-866-497-IDRF (1-866-497-4373).

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada says “the best way for Canadians to help is to donate money — not clothing or food.”


article published On Tue Mar 15 2011 in the Toronto Star

Canadian Statutory Holidays

It seems like the next holiday is so far away. What are the holidays in Canada anyway?

Statutory holidays are New Year's Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas Day - these days are celebrated nationwide and are paid day off for employees. In addition to these Canadian statutory holidays businesses may choose to close on other holidays but they are not required to do so. Confused yet?

The next nationwide statutory holiday in Canada is Saturday, April 2, Good Friday

There are 5 nationwide and 4 provincial holidays in BC plus Easter Monday, which is a bank holiday and commemorated by federal employees.

The four provincial holidays are Victoria Day, British Columbia Day, Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day.

Boxing day is not an official holiday in BC but Remembrance Day is. Family day is also not a statutory holiday in BC.

Generally banks, municipal libraries, schools and some businesses will be closed on public holidays, however most entertainment venues, shops, grocery stores and tourist attractions remain open. Special events may also be held on these days in celebration or commemoration of the occasion.

BC Holidays for 2011 number nine. These nine stat holidays in British Columbia entitle most employees to a day off with pay.

* New Year's Day - Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011
* Good Friday - Friday, April 22, 2011
* Victoria Day - Monday, May 23, 2011
* Canada Day - Friday, July 1, 2011*
* B.C. Day - Monday, August 1, 2011
* Labour Day - Monday, September 5, 2011
* Thanksgiving - Monday, October 10, 2011
* Remembrance Day - Friday, November 11, 2011
* Christmas Day - Sunday, December 25, 2011

About Victoria Day

Held the Monday preceding May 25 each year, the Sovereign’s birthday has been observed in Canada since Queen Victoria’s (1837-1901) reign in honour of both Queen Victoria and the current sovereign’s birthday. Canada remains a voluntary member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

About Canada Day

Canada Day is a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of July 1 1867 enactment uniting Canada as a single country known as the Canadian Confederation. Many events are observed throughout Canada with no shortage of fun things to see and do to cap the day off in celebration of the ‘birth’ of Canada. In Vancouver, street festivals, parades and sporting events are held in many communities including Granville Island, Yaletown, Surrey, and in Canada Place. The
Canadian flag is proudly sported publically from homes, businesses and communities alike.

About British Columbia Day

Introduced in 1974 to honour the pioneers of BC and in celebration of achievements as Canadians in this province, many people have a day off work. This popular long weekend is often used to go camping or taking short trips out of town to enjoy the beauty of BC in summer. Various celebrations are held province-wide with events including fireworks, parades and cultural festivals.

Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Father's Day and Halloween are not official holidays but are celebrated nationwide, however, no paid vacation is given for these days.

On unofficial holidays - especially on Boxing Day and Remembrance day - most businesses are closed with the exception of select retail stores.

Every statutory holiday has some must-do activities. On New Year's Day you should either be on a cruise ship drinking champaign or have a snowball fight and party with your friends while on Canada Day its customary to rent a cottage if you don't have your own and travel "up north" for the long weekend.

Victoria Day marks the unofficial start of the summer and that's when people usually pull out the bbq from the garage and keep it on the deck until Labour Day, which is the unofficial end of the summer. Many travel agencies and parks have special family weekend getaway packages for the long weekends for those who prefer to spend the days hiking, camping, birdwatching, canoeing, etc.

Holiday Destinations

The majority of people travel during their time off from work. Popular travel destinations for Canadians include Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica and select European countries like France and Italy - it all depends of the season. During the winter people fly south to spend some time in hotels and beaches in Florida, Hawaii or Costa Rica for example, indeed a great alternative to snow shoveling.

In the summer there are countless travel deals to Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan and other not-so-warm countries and because of the relatively strong Canadian dollar it doesn't cost too much to rent a car and stay at nice hotels abroad. Well, except in the UK that is.

How to meet Canadians

Now it's the new year. 2011. Time to make some resolutions. Study harder, exercise more, practice English. Those are all pretty usual promises that are easy to make but hard to continue. How about make your goal this year to meet Canadians?

Making friends with Canadians is a great way to improve your English. It can also help you understand Canadian culture and make Vancouver life more interesting.

Many of you have asked this question but it is not an easy answer. Because of culture, language, and personality, it is difficult to know how to approach Canadians.

Here are some easy pointers for you to get you started.

1. Do something that Canadians like to do. This includes joining a Canadian activity club, yoga class or community centre. If you try to do an activity that has many Canadian participants, it won't be long before you start up a conversation with someone.

2. Volunteer at a Canadian organization or non-profit society. There are thousands of volunteer opportunities in Vancouver. If you volunteer you can get a chance to talk with Canadians and meet some people who have similar interests.

3. Join drop-in sports games and the community centres. There are many community centres in Vancouver. Most centres have drop-in sports games like volleyball, basketball and badminton. You can not only get a workout but also meet people are into sports.

4. Enjoy Vancouver's nightlife. Vancouver has various clubs, pubs, live shows and performances. Canadians love to go out especially on the weekend. Go somewhere out of downtown that doesn't have a large ESL population. Once you find a good spot that you can enjoy, don't be afraid to start a conversation with someone. Canadians love small talk especially when out on the town.

Check out the web list on the right for links.

Polar Bear Swim

If you are looking for a unique way to celebrate New Year in Canada, it doesn't get cooler than this. The annual Polar Bear Swim is a tradition across Canada. Canadians all all ages celebrate the new year by refreshing their body and mind in the ocean, river or lake. In Vancouver this takes place at English Bay.

The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world. Its initial swim was in 1920 when a small number of strong swimmers took the plunge into English Bay on New Year's Day. Led by their founder, Peter Pantages, the swim has grown from around 10 swimmers in that year to the record number of 2,128 swimmers in 2000.

Today, the swim takes place at 2:30pm on the first day of each new year. Costumes and the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race are the highlights of this event.

To be a club member you must register before the swim -- it's free. Registration takes place in front of the English Bay Bathhouse from 12:30pm - 2:30pm each New Year's Day. You may also register by clipping out the coupon in The Province and presenting it at the registration desk the day of the swim. Prizes are drawn from all registrations.

Ready, set, SHOP!

December 26th is Boxing Day, a holiday in Canada and the day after Christmas, when everything imaginable goes on sale, making it the most notorious shopping day of the year.

Expectant Boxing Day shoppers have been known to form lines early in the morning or late into the night (even though most sales will continue through the week), so wherever you go, be prepared for the crowds.

Here are a few tips.

1. Do research before you shop. Compare prices online before you shop to be sure you’re getting the most for your money.

2. Find the best deals. Retailers everywhere want to clear out their stock and you could find big savings on cameras to capture those holiday memories from Henry’s. Save big from clothing retailers such as Old Navy and Sears. Grocery stores want to sell off Christmas items so you’ll likely discover delicious deals for your New Year’s Eve party.

3. Prioritize your purchases. Determine your "must-have” items and plan to visit those stores first so you won’t be disappointed. And remember, a deal is only a deal if you really need the item, so shop with care and don’t be tempted by the low prices.

4. Set clear goals. To make the most of Boxing Day shopping, planning is important. Make your list, set your budget and determine how much time you will spend at the malls and stores.

5. Shop smart. Wear comfortable shoes, leave the heavy coats in the trunk of your car and bring snacks and drinks so you don’t waste time and money purchasing them at the mall.

6. Be patient. Boxing Day shopping can be even more hectic than last-minute Christmas shopping, so just relax and accept the fact that stores will be busy and the line-ups long.

7. Stay home and shop online. If the post-Christmas mall madness is more than you can manage, remember that many online retailers offer Boxing Day deals too. You can avoid the shopping chaos and take advantage of savings online.

Boxing Day's biggest deals will be found at the larger, name-brand stores, making it a good day to shop for electronics, appliances, furniture, designer clothes and accessories, and toys.

For downtown Vancouver shopping, both Robson Street and Pacific Centre Mall will be packed with deals--and other shoppers. Luxury retailer Holt Renfrew is a great place to shop for designer apparel: it's always pricey, but sales there lead to fabulous finds!

For mall shopping, you can't beat the behemoth Metropolis at Metrotown. With 450 stores, Metrotown is BC's largest mall, and it has its own SkyTrain stop for getting there car-free.

Enjoy!!

What should we do for Christmas?

Christmas is here. From all the staff at ULC we wish you a merry Christmas. For some of you, this is first time to spend Christmas abroad. You might feel lonely or even homesick, but don't waste this season feeling down. There are too many interesting things to see and do. Here is a great list of how to enjoy the holiday season.

Ongoing through December 24
Grouse Mountain - The Peak of Christmas
What: Grouse Mountain celebrates the holidays with a month of family fun: live entertainment, real reindeer, breakfasts with Santa, free ice skating, and more.
Where: Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver
Cost: See site for details

Ongoing through January 2
Bright Nights at Stanley Park
What: Stanley Park's Bright Nights is an annual Vancouver holiday tradition where over a million twinkly lights transform the forest into a winter wonderland.
Where: Miniature Train and Children's Farmyard, Stanley Park, Vancouver
Cost: $9; $6 for seniors & kids 2-18

Ongoing through January 3
Magic of the North at Vancouver Aquarium
What: Vancouver Aquarium celebrates the season with a special exhibit on Canada's Arctic Ocean, Scuba Santa, a Christmas Tree switched on by their electric eel, and much more!
Where: Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver
Cost: $21; $16 for seniors & students; $13 for kids 4 - 12; free for children 3 and under

Saturdays & Sundays through December 25
Christmas in Kerrisdale
What: Kerrisdale’s shopping district gets in the Christmas spirit on Saturdays, with Christmas decorations galore, free horse & carriage rides, roving quartets, and visits from Santa and his elf.
Where: West 41st Ave, between Larch St. & Maple St., Vancouver
Cost: Free

Friday, December 3 - Sunday, January 2,
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
What: Every year, the Capilano Suspension Bridge transforms into a celebration of light for the holidays, with live music, kids activities, and more.
Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge, 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
Cost: $15 for adults; $5 for kids

Saturday, December 4 – Sunday, January 2
White Christmas, The Musical
What: The Arts Club Theatre Company’s holiday offering is a stage version of Irving Berlin's famous film, perfect for kids and adults alike.
Where: Stanley Theatre, 2750 Granville St., Vancouver
Cost: $25 - $74

Friday, December 10 - Sunday, January 2
VanDusen Botanical Gardens' Festival of Lights
What: The gorgeous VanDusen gardens turn festive with elaborate light decorations, a Candy Cane Tree, Gingerbread Walk and much more.
Where: VanDusen Botanical Gardens, 5251 Oak St., Vancouver
Cost: $13; $9.50 for seniors & youth; $7.25 for kids 6 - 12; $29.75 for families

Thursday, December 23
Free Horse & Carriage Rides for Christmas
What: Kerrisdale invited everyone to come for free horse and carriage rides and a chance to see Santa--who will hand out chocolates--in person, too.
Where: West 41st Ave, between Larch St. & Maple St., Vancouver
Cost: Free

Halloween

It's time to celebrate Halloween! This is Canada's most unique holiday, full of costumes parties, fireworks, and candy. Why don't you come to the ULC Halloween party this Friday, October 28 at 6:00pm. To get ready for the event, here are some costume ideas. Remember there is a prize for the best dressed!

1. The $10 Pirate – White Long-Sleeved Shirt, Red Bandana, Eye-Patch, Hoop Earring, Black Tights/Pants, Black Boots – Ahoy There Me Harties! (cost – $2.00)

2. Train Engineer – Pair of Overalls (striped ones are ideal, but any will do) White T-Shirt, Red Bandana to tie around neck (cost – $1.00)

3. Cheap-Skate Ghost – Old White Sheet (done) Oh, and to dress him up a little, why not add a colourful Bow-Tie!?! (cost – Free!)

4. Inexpensive Bag of Candy - 1 Dry-Cleaners Bag, 20 Multi-Coloured Balloons (cost $1 for Balloons)

5. Stingy Skeleton – Black Turtle-Neck, Black Pants, White Acrylic Paint. Use an anatomy text book to re-create a rough skeleton out-line. (cost – Free!)

6. $9.99 Witch – Long Black Dress, Witch’s Hat, Black Gloves, Large Pendant etc. (cost – $9.99 for hat at Walmart)

7. Cheapy Scarecrow - Straw Hat, Old Jeans, Plaid Shirt, Straw to Stuff out Neck and Cuffs (cost – $3.00 for straw bail from local farm)

8. Money-Mad Scientist – White Lab Coat (see if you can have or borrow an old one from a highschool, or University Lab) Pens and Pocket Protector, Lots of Hair Gel to make a crazy “do” (cost – free!)

9. No-Money Mummy – One roll of good quality Toilet paper, and that’s a wrap! Hah! Wrap, get it? (cost – .50)

10. Tacky Tourist - Loud Hawaiian Shirt available in husband’s closet, Camera around neck, Hawaiian Leis, Straw Hat, Sun Glasses, Zinc Sunblock on nose, Maps (cost – free!)

How to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving

Here is a challenge for all you students studying ESL in Vancouver. As some of you know, it's Thanksgiving and Canadians love to eat, drink, and relax during this harvest holiday. However, the main reason for this fall holiday is to give thanks for our food, health, and loved ones.

Typically Canadians love to eat turkey during this holiday. We generally roast the turkey in the oven along with stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, and pumpkin pie.

The challenge is for you to roast a turkey for your friends this weekend. Here is an easy and delicious recipe that your friends will never forget.

Roast Turkey Recipe

Preparation time: About 4 to 5 hours.

Ingredients

* 1 turkey, approx. 12-15 lbs. (5-7 kg) for 10 to 12 people

* Juice of a lemon
* Salt and pepper
* Melted butter
* 1/2 white onion, peeled and cut into large pieces
* 2 sticks of celery cut into big pieces
* 2 carrots
* fresh parsley
* fresh rosemary, thyme, sage (found in one pack)

Method

1. To start, if the turkey is cold, bring it to room temperature before cooking. Keep it in its plastic wrapping until you are ready to cook it. While in the refrigerator, and or while you are bringing it to room temp, have the bird resting in a pan, so that if the plastic covering leaks for any reason, the juices go into the pan.

If you get a frozen turkey, you will need to defrost it in the refrigerator for several days first. Allow approximately 5 hours of defrosting for every pound. So, if you have a 15 pound turkey, it will take about 75 hours to defrost it in the refrigerator, or around 3 days. Make sure you have enough time to defrost your turkey.

Remove the neck,heart,liver from inside the turkey. Don't worry, they are already in a small bag inside the turkey.

2. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

3. Wash out the turkey with water. Dry with paper towels. Put the juice of half a lemon inside of the turkey and outside. Take a small handful of salt and rub all over the inside and outside of the turkey.

4. For flavour, put inside the turkey a half a white onion, peeled and quartered, a bunch of parsley, a couple of carrots, some celery, and the rosemary, thyme, and sage . You may need to close the body hole with some aluminum foil so that the stuffing doesn't easily fall out. Make sure that the turkey's legs are tied together, held close to the body.

5. Rub melted butter all over the outside of the turkey. Sprinkle salt all over the outside of the turkey. Sprinkle pepper over the turkey.

6. Place turkey on the bottom rack of the oven in a roasting pan big enough to catch all the juice.

7. Put the turkey in the oven and cover it with aluminum foil loosely like a tent around the turkey. Here is table to show you how long to cook it.

Pounds Kilograms Hours of Cooking
6 - 8 Lbs 2.5 - 3.5 Kg 2 - 2.5 hrs
8 - 10 Lbs 3.5 - 4 Kg 2.5 - 3 hrs
10 - 12 Lbs 4.5 - 5.5 Kg 3 – 3.5 hrs
12 - 16 Lbs 5.5 - 7.5 Kg 3.5 - 4 hrs
16 - 22 Lbs 7.5 - 10 Kg 4 - 4.5 hrs

8. Be sure to take the turkey out of the oven every hour and pour the turkey juice from the bottom of the pan onto the turkey. Be sure cover the whole turkey. You can also pour more melted butter on it as well. Don't forget to cover the turkey again with the aluminum foil.

To check the turkey cut into the breast. If the meat is pink or the juice is pink, it's not done yet.

9. For the last 20 minutes take off the aluminum foil to allow the turkey skin to turn brown.

10. Once you remove the turkey from the oven, let it rest for 15-20 minutes.

Making Turkey Gravy


Get all the juice off of the bottom of the roasting pan. Pour into a small pot. In a separate small bowl take two table spoons of corn starch or flour and add just enough water to dissolve the corn starch or flour. Beat the mixture with a spoon to remove lumps. Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the juice, stirring constantly. You may not end up using all of the cornstarch mixture. Only add as much as you need to get the desired thickness. Allow time for the cornstarch to thicken the gravy. Add salt, pepper, sage, thyme, or other seasonings to taste.

After you are ready to eat!

Why study at the library when you can study at ULC for FREE?

At the request of ULC students in Vancouver, the school is now open on Saturday from 10am to 1pm. The best part is that it's FREE!

During this three hour session, students can study ESL on their own like they would at the library. However a ULC teacher will also be at the school to answer any questions students have or to mark homework.

This session is open to all ULC students and their friends. Students should bring their own work and be prepared to ask the teacher questions or hand in homework.

Come to school between 10am and 1pm every Saturday. Please buzz #710 to get into the building.

See you soon!

New Helpful Website List

ESL students in Vancouver always have more questions than I can answer and a lot of the questions have nothing to do with learning English.

"Where is the best place to eat? How can I get to the community centre? Where can I volunteer?"

With those questions in mind, I have started a list to the right of the page. The list includes all the websites students need to find the answers, from a beer guide to the weekend weather.

Recommend a friend for a Free Lesson

Are you happy with ULC?
Would you recommend ULC to your friend?
Do you want a free English lesson?

If you answered yes those three questions, let's get started!

For the month of August ULC is offering FREE CLASSES to ULC students. All you have to do is:

1. Recommend a friend to come to ULC.
2. Tell your friend to give your name at the reception office.
3. After your friend takes one trial lesson in any program, you get a FREE CLASS!
4. You can recommend as many friends for as many classes.

This offer is only for students of Urban Learning Canada. Free classes include all programs at ULC excluding one-on-one tutor.

Two festivals for the long weekend

The August long weekend is approaching. Summer is already half-over! I'm sure most ULC students in Vancouver are wondering how to enjoy this three-day holiday. Well, I know this blog has turned into more of an events calendar, but don't miss out on the Gay Pride Parade and the Powell Street Festival.

1. Pride Parade

Sunday August 1, 2010
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Robson St, to Denman St, to Beach Ave.
Tickets:Free!

The 2010 Pride Parade travels from Robson and Thurlow to Denman Street following along to Pacific and Beach Avenues ending at Sunset Beach Festival Site. There are 150 parade entries including colourful floats, musical marching bands, community groups and 600,000 spectators. Pride takes over the streets and rainbows fill the city at this is MUST SEE event!

More info: www.vancouverpride.ca

2. 34th Annual Powell Street Festival

Saturday, July 31st and Sunday, August 1st, 2010
11:30 am to 7 pm
Oppenheimer Park (400 block Powell Street)
Tickets: FREE!

The Powell Street Festival is heading home! After last year’ one-year relocation to Woodland Park, the Powell Street Festival will return to its traditional home in the newly-renovated Oppenheimer Park. Taking inspiration from the Japanese notion of Koen debut, or Park debut, whereupon neighbourhood toddlers are introduced to their local community, the 34th Annual Powell Street Festival celebrates the idea of neighbourhood, youth, children, the park and its landscape. The festival includes music, performances, art, food, and more!!

More info: www.powellstreetfestival.com

ULC Top Restaurants-Pubs Out of Downtown

For those students who spend all their time wandering up and down Granville and Robson, it's time to get out of downtown and experience Vancouver. Here is a short list of great places to check out to really feel the diversity of this great city. The places are not in any order.

Anton's
Italian Food
This restaurant one of the most famous places for a plate of pasta. The prices are reasonable and if you eat your whole meal, IT'S FREE! Amazing! The only problem it's a little far from downtown, but it's worth the commute. Arrive early as there is a line up.

4260 Hastings St., Burnaby (east of Willingdon)
604-299-6636
www.antonspastabar.com

Jolly's Indian Bistro
Indian Food
This is the best Indian food in Vancouver. The restaurant has a homey, friendly atmosphere. The dishes are a reasonable size and the prices are descent for what you get. It's only open for dinner. Go early to avoid a line up.

2778 W. 4th (west of 4th and Macdonald)
604-730-6929
www.jollysindianbistro.com

Kings Head Pub
Beer and Pub food
The Kings Head is a place for cheap beer, nachos, and free live music. The Kings Head may seem a little on the dirty side, but it's the best place for a round of drinks and listening acoustic guitar cover songs. Music usually starts at 10pm and it can get crowded. This place also offers brunch on weekends.

1618 Yew Street( Near Starbucks at Kits Beach)
604-738-6966
http://dinehere.ca/vancouver/kings-head-the-yew

The Cascade Room
Restaurant/Bar
This is a great Main Street place to hang out with friends for a burger, thin-crust pizza, and cocktails or beer. It has big booths and long tables, so bring your friends!

2616 Main (near Main and 10th Avenue)
604-709-8650
www.thecascade.ca

Thai Son
Vietnamese Food
Thai Son is an authentic Vietnamese restaurant. The atmosphere is not that great, but the food is cheap and delicious.

373 E. Broadway (east of Main Street across from Kingsgate Mall)
604 875-6436
http://dinehere.ca/vancouver/thai-son-vietnamese-broadway

Festivals Round 2

We are now into the hot summer months in Vancouver. Besides joining in on the Urban Learning Canada BBQ parties and other great events, how can you enjoy the summer like a true Vancouverite? Here are three great events for July.

1. Vancouver Folk Music Festival
July 16 - 18, 2010
A celebration of traditional and contemporary folk and roots music from around the world and across the street. 3 evenings and 2 full days of entertainment on 8 outdoor stages, with food, crafts and a special area for the Little Folks. All of this takes place in the spectacular outdoor setting of Jericho Beach Park, amidst groves of pine & cedar trees & against a backdrop of the beautiful coast mountains rising above a modern city skyline.
Visit www.thefestival.bc.ca for more information

2. The Celebration of Light
2010 marks the 20th anniversary of the Celebration of Light (originally known as the Symphony of Fire), an international fireworks competition which has attracted the world’s leading fireworks designers and is considered one of North America’s top pyrotechnic competitions.
Dates:
•Wednesday July 21st 2010 – The Keg presents USA Night
•Saturday July 24th, 2010 – London Drugs presents Spain Night
•Wednesday July 28th, 2010 – HSBC presents Mexico Night
•Saturday July 31st, 2010 – Concord Pacific presents A Tribute to China
Time:
10:00PM – Rain or Shine
For more information: www.celebration-of-light.com

3. Free outdoor movies at Stanley Park
July 7, 14, 22, 29 at dusk
A free movie series under the canopy of the stars. For the second year running, the West End BIA will be hosting the outdoor “Dinner & a Movie” series at Ceperley Meadow (near Second Beach in Stanley Park) throughout July 2010. The free movies will start at dusk, but it is recommended to be there as early as possible to ensure a good spot in front of the giant inflatable screen. This community event gives people of all ages the opportunity to enjoy their movie favourites in a natural setting under the twinkling canopy of the stars.
Visit www.westendbia.com.

Where to watch the World Cup in Vancouver

The world is watching! Even in Vancouver we have been watching our favourite teams in the early morning hours. But when it comes time for the final few matches, where will the best party be? Here are a few suggestions on where to watch and world cup finals.

Commercial Drive
"The Drive" is what makes it perfect for viewing the World Cup as nations compete for what many say is the greatest trophy in sport. If you want to watch the 2010 World Cup South Africa in Vancouver, then Commercial Drive is the best place to be in the Lower Mainland.

Top 5 Places to Watch the World Cup on Commercial Drive:

1. Caffé Roma Sports Bar (1510 Commercial Drive)
2. Caffé Napoli (1670 Commercial Dr)
3. Caffé Amici (1344 Commercial Dr)
4. Portugese Club of Vancouver (1144 Commercial Drive)
5. Rio Theatre

Here’s a list of other hot spots to watch all the World Cup action:

Forum Sports Bar, 1163 Granville St. will televise every match and feature jersey giveaways. Drink specials after 9 a.m.

Malone’s Bar & Grill, 608 West Pender St. boasts 10 42-inch screens, and giveaways of gear and jerseys.

Red Card Sports Bar and Eatery, 900 Seymour St. features cocktails with eight national themes, a signature pizza and special breakfast items, starting at 11 a.m.

The Vancouver Alpen Club, 4875 Victoria Drive a favorite hangout of German and Swiss fans. Deutsches Haus has fare from the German-speaking world and plenty of beer.

Falconetti’s East Side Grill, 1812 Commercial Drive, headquarters of the World Cup on the Drive. Good food, lively ambience.

Nando’s Flame-Grilled Chicken, 828 Davie St., From June 1 t July 11 all of Nando’s restaurants will feature five country-themed meals. You can enter to win catering for 50 for your own World Cup Party.

Soho Bar and Grill, 1184 Denman St. This is the ‘headquarters for english soccer”. The games will be televised at all Soho locations in Burnaby and Vancouver.

The Academic Public House, 1619 W. Broadway offers a full English breakfast plus a pint of suds. Come in and cheer for your team!

Joey Burrard, 820 Burrard St., large-screen TVS, weel-stocked bar, great food. All World Cup games will be televised here.

If going out is not an option on world cup day, the CBC will have extensive coverage including commentary from Vancouver’s own Bob Lenarduzzi. You will even be able to watch matches live online.

Summer Festivals in Vancouver

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ULC TESOL PROGRAM

Come and check out our TESOL program!!


URBAN LEARNING CANADA TESOL Certificate
100-hour program

The ULC Teaching English as a Second or Other Language (TESOL) program is an 8- week intensive program designed specifically for upper- intermediate to advanced ESL learners. This is the perfect program for students who are interested in teaching English and improving their academic language skills.

The objective is to provide hands on experience, theory, and training to enable students to become qualified ESL teachers.

The ULC curriculum examines teaching methodology used for listening, speaking, reading and writing, pronunciation, and grammar. Additionally the program provides opportunities for peer presentations, classroom observations, and practice teaching.

ULC TESOL CERTIFICATE
100-hour program
9am to 2:30pm Monday to Friday

Phrasal Verbs

pick up, pick on, pick out, pick through....sounds confusing? That's because they really are. Here are some tips from the ULC grammar program to help you understand how to use phrasal verbs.

The term phrasal verb refers to a verb and preposition or adverb which together have a special meaning.

For example, put + off means “postpone.” Phrasal verbs are really common in informal English. There are two main types of phrasal verbs: separable and nonseparable.

The most basic rule for phrasal verbs is if it's seperable, put the object noun in the middle or at the end. If the object is a pronoun put it in the middle.

Separable Phrasal Verbs
a. I handed my paper in yesterday.
b. I handed in my paper yesterday.
c. I handed it in yesterday.
(Incorrect: I handed in it yesterday.)

For nonseparable verbs you can't split the verb at all.

Nonseparable Phrasal Verbs
a. I ran into an old friend yesterday.
b. I ran into her yesterday.
(Incorrect: I ran and old friend into yesterday.)
(Incorrect: I ran her into yesterday.)

Got it? Now that you have the this rule, Let's learn a few phrasal verbs. For more on phrasal verbs come by ULC in Vancouver.

act like (inseparable): behave in a way that's like _____ .
"What's wrong with Bob? He's acting like an idiot."

butt in(no object): impolitely interrupt (a conversation, an action).
"Hey, you! Don't butt in! Wait for your turn!"

chicken out (no object): lose the courage or confidence to do something--often at the last minute.
"Sam said he was going to ask Lulu for a date, but he chickened out."

drag on (no object): last much longer than expected or is necessary.
"I thought the meeting would be a short one, but it dragged on for more than three hours."

egg on(separable): urge / encourage greatly toward doing something (usually something negative).
"At first Bob and Chuck were just having a mild argument, but Bob's friends egged them on until they started fighting."


figure out (separable): logically find the answer to a problem; solve a problem by thinking about it carefully.
"For a long time I couldn't understand the last problem, but I finally figured it out."

give up (separable): stop doing something (usually a habit).
"He knows smoking isn't good for his health, but he can't give it up."

Prepositions at ULC

While teaching ESL at Urban Learning Canada, one of the most common errors students make is with prepositions.

A preposition links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence. The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the object of the preposition.

Here is a sample of the ULC grammar material that can help students correct preposition mistakes.

Prepositions with Position
A) In

in a room / in a building in the water in a row / in a line
in a garden / in a park in the ocean
in a town / in a country in a river

• There’s no one in the room / in the building / in the store.
• The children are playing in the garden / in the park.
• When we were in Italy, we spent a few days in Venice.
• Robert lives in a small village in the mountains.
• She keeps her money in her bag / in her purse.
• What do you have in your hand / in your mouth?
• Look at that girl swimming in the water / in the ocean / in the river.
• When I go to the movies, I prefer to sit in the front row.
• Have you read this article in the newspaper?
• Who is the woman in that photograph?
• It was a beautiful day. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

B) At

at the bus stop at the top of at the end of the street
at the door at the bottom of
at the window

• Who is that man standing at the bus stop / at the window / at the door?
• Turn left at the traffic light.
• If you leave the hotel, please leave your keys at the front desk.
• Write your name at the top / at the bottom of the page.
• Jack’s house is the white one at the end of the street.

D) On

• Don’t sit on the floor / on the ground / on the grass!
• There’s a butterfly on the wall / on the ceiling / on your nose.
• Have you seen the notice on the bulletin board?
• The book you are looking for is on the top shelf / on the table.
• There’s an interesting article on page 7 of the newspaper.

We also say:

• In Japan people drive on the left. (or….on the left-hand side)
• ULC is on the seventh floor of the building.

We also say that a place is on the coast / on a river / on a road:
• Vancouver is on the west coast of Canada.
• Montreal is on the St. Lawrence River.

Note: We say “in the corner of a room,” but “at the corner (or on the corner) of a street.”


Prepositions can be used to show movement
For example: to, through, across, into, onto

We use to to show movement with the aim of a specific destination. We say go/come/travel to a place or event. (Note: we don’t use to if the place is here or there)

For example:-
I moved to Vancouver in 1998.
He's gone to the grocery store.
Do you want to come to my party?
Next year, I’m going to travel to South America.
I came here 3 months ago. (not I came to here)

We use through to show movement from one side of an enclosed space to the other.

For example:
The train went through the tunnel.
You must walk through the living room to get to the kitchen.
If you look through a telescope, you can see outer space.

We use across to show movement from one side of a surface or line to another.

For example:
She swam across the river.
When we went to North Vancouver, we drove across the Lion’s Gate Bridge.
My best friend lives across the street.

We use into when someone or something enters a room, building etc.

For example:
I opened the door and went into the room.
A bird flew into the room through the window.
I finally got into the English literature class I need to graduate.
The boy jumped off the diving board into the swimming pool.

We use onto when someone or something moves from one point onto a surface.

For Example:
She tripped over a cord and fell onto the floor.
I dropped my ice cream cone onto the sidewalk.

Prepositions with Time
A) At We use at with times:
at 5 o’ clock at 11:45 at midnight at lunchtime
Grammar class begins at 1:00

B) On We use on with dates and days:
on March 12th on Friday(s) on Christmas Day
My Birthday is on July 15th.

We also say:
on Friday morning(s) on Weekends
on Saturday night(s) on Sunday afternoon(s)
I usually read the newspaper on Saturday mornings.
What are you doing on the weekend?

C) In We use in for longer periods of time ( months/years/seasons….)
in April in 1968 in (the) winter
in the 18th century in the 1970s in the Middle Ages
He was born in 1952.

We also say:
in the morning(s)/in the afternoon(s)/in the evening(s)
I’ll see you in the morning (but I’ll see you on Monday morning.)

*Please note: We do not use at, on, in before last and next:

I’ll see you next Friday.
What did you do last weekend?

D) In + a period of time = a time in the future

Grammar class will begin in a few minutes. (= a few minutes from now)
Jack is away. He will be back in a week. (= a week from now)
We are getting married in 6 months. (= 6 months from now)

We also use in to say how long it takes to do something:
I learned to drive in four weeks (= it took me 4 weeks to learn)
I ran the marathon in 3 hours (= it took me 3 hours to finish)
I woke up late and got ready for school in 5 minutes (= it took me 5 minutes to get ready)

tips on homestay and working in Vancouver

Learning English and living in a foreign country is not easy, including Canada. When international students arrive in Vancouver, often they have an image that Canada is a very safe country. However, this is sometimes not true. In any country there are people who want to exploit and take advantage of others. Canada is no exception. While living in Vancouver students should be aware of some of the basic safety tips below to ensure they enjoy their time in Canada to the fullest.

1. Homestays
Living in a homestay can be a wonderful way to learn English and experience Canadian culture. However, anyone in Canada can have a homestay. There are no laws or regulations on who can start a homestay. Make sure you choose your homestay only from a certified agency. Have a look at the homestay before you decide to move in and talk with the hosts. Don't be afraid to ask questions about the food, the rules, and the people living there. If you feel uncomfortable after you move in, talk with your agency or a ULC teacher. Generally students pay $700 to $750 a month for a homestay that includes 3 meals. If you are paying more or not getting 3 meals, this is a sign your homestay might not be the best choice. When in doubt, move out.

2. Working Holiday Students
As a working holiday student in Vancouver you have the same rights that protect Canadian workers. If your boss violates these rights, you can complain and file a lawsuit against the company. Some of the basic rules include: full pay for training hours, a minimum wage of $8 per hour, extra payment for working overtime, safe working conditions, and fair treatment from your co-workers and boss. If you feel like something is wrong at work, talk with a ULC teacher or your agency. Check out the guide to the employment standards act for the complete list of rights and regulations. Don't be afraid to stand up for your rights.