January 1, 2011 Polar Bear Swim.  The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club, one of the largest & oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world. Its initial swim was in 1920 when a small number of hardy 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 official entries in 2000. Today, the swim takes place on the first day of each new year. Costumes and the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race are the highlights of this event. https://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/ January 1, 2010 to January 26, 2011 The North Vancouver Community Arts Council is proud to present: District Foyer Gallery, North Vancouver District Hall, 355 West Queens Road. 3D - (Textile Arts) Olga Uhrin – creates hand knitted baby fisherman sweaters made with cable knitting and twist stitches from cotton and cotton blends.  Olga is very passionate about this century’s old craft that is making a revival. 2D - (Paintings) Ron den Daas – presents a painting study that was created on site at MacKay Creek, an ancient passage and spawning ground.  The 60 pieces were created each week from Dec. 2008 – June 2010 documenting the many facets that culminate the conditions to support the numerous life cycles still evident in MacKay Creek. www.nvartscouncil.ca January 1 to February 28, 2011 Free Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink.  Lace up your skates and kick off the festive season with FREE SKATING at the Robson Square Ice Rink. Skating is free. Skate rentals available for $3. Helmet rentals available for $2. Robson Square Ice Rink Hotline: 604-646-3554. www.yougottabehere.ca January 7, 2011 Casual Scottish Country Dance. Fun, informal, Ceilidh (Kay-Lee) dance for all ages. A lesson at 7:00 followed at 8:00 by three hours of dancing to toe-tapping live music. All ages welcome, no partner, experience, or Scottish connection required. Just wear soft shoes and bring a smile. Scottish Cultural Centre. www.rscdsvancouver.org/ceilidh.html January 8, 9, 15, 16, 29, 30, 2011 Eagle Point Tour.  Did you know that the Harrison River has one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles in North America in a one square mile radius?  Yes they are right here in your backyard.  With over 2000 eagles feeding on the spawning salmon in the area, it truly is a sight to see. The best way to view the eagles is on board an ATV. BC Power Sports can take you up to 2200 feet above sea level to soar with the eagles.  They will mesmerize you as they effortlessly hang in the wind above, it is truly breathtaking!  Take pictures and enjoy the sights on this exclusive BC Power Sports Eagle Point tour. https://bcpowersports.com January 13, 2011 Walk Myself Home: An Anthology to End Violence Against Women.  Every minute of every day, a Canadian woman or child is sexually assaulted. Half of Canadian women have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16. There is an epidemic of violence against women in Canada and the world. For many women physical and sexual assault, or the threat of such violence, is a daily reality. Please join us for readings from Walk Myself Home (Caitlin Press), an anthology of poetry, fiction, nonfiction and oral interviews on the subject of violence against women including contributions by Kate Braid, Yasuko Thahn and Susan Musgrave. (Admission is free. Seating is limited. Co-sponsored by Caitlin Press).  Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch 350 W. Georgia Street, 604-331-4040, www.vpl.ca January 13, 2011 Self-Knowledge for Enlightenment. Self-Knowledge: experience the gnostic practice that leads to enlightenment.  YWCA, 535 Hornby St.  Nearest Skytrain station: Burrard. To RSVP: Register online at www.gnosticawakenings.com/centers/vancouver/events/self-knowledge-enlightenment. January 13 to February 5, 2011 January Exhibitions Opening Reception, 7pm. Fine art, inspiration and a glass of wine — the perfect way to spend an evening. Join us at the opening reception for three exquisite exhibitions. Suzy Stroet presents Library, works in multiple media; Robi Smith visits the oceans deep in her acrylics exhibition, The Voice of the Sea; husband and wife team Nathania Vishnevsky and Rick Glumac explore memories of Italy in Remembering Venice. All three exhibitions run to February 5. Place des Arts, 1120 Brunette Avenue , Coquitlam | www.placedesarts.ca January 15 to March 26, 2011 The Japanese Canadian National Museum presents The Art of Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani.  "Make art not war" is Jimmy Mirikitani's motto. Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani is a fiercely independent, 90-year-old Japanese American artist who has survived the traumas of war and homelessness by creating art every day. This remarkable exhibition about his art and life is a poignant exploration of the lasting impacts of discrimination, and the healing power of creativity. www.jcnm.ca January 16, 2011 21st CENTURY FLEA MARKET.  Boho chic to 50's kitsch, collectibles and memorabilia to vintage kitchenalia, 175 tables of bargains on deluxe 20th century junque! Retro furnishings, books, antiques, dolls & toys, jewelry, country stuff, china & glass, records, mid-century Modern, linens & lace, postcards, garden accessories, lamps & shades, sports items, silverware, paintings & prints, advertising, collectibles & much, much more. Croatian Cultural Centre, www.21cpromotions.com/flea_market/index.html January 16, 2011 Family Day at PdA.  Gather up the family and tour three stunning exhibitions by artists Robi Smith, Suzy Stroet and Nathania Vishnevsky and Rick Glumac. Get the inside scoop on the artworks during artist floor talks, and have fun in two all-ages, drop-in arts & crafts workshops: 2D Aquariums and Venetian-style carnival masks. 1120 Brunette Avenue, Coquitlam | www.placedesarts.ca January 16, 2011 Listen! Laugh! Enjoy! Stories for YOU. Stories about Vampires & Rowan Trees featuring: Tony Rainbow; Naomi Steinberg; Newfoundland vampire teller: Cathy Sheehan. Come: 1805 Larch/2nd Ave, Kits; alley off St Mark's; parking. Pay: $7 at door. Details: www.vancouverstorytellers.ca January 17, 2011 You, Me and the SPP: Trading Democracy for Corporate Rule.  Please join us for a screening of Paul Manly's documentary which exposes the corporate agenda that is currently undermining the democratic authority of the citizens of North America. What do secrecy, police provocateurs, an assault on democracy and infringements on citizens' rights have in common? The Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP). The film features interviews with Naomi Klein, Maude Barlow and Joel Bakan, among a host of other opponents of the SPP. (Admission is free. Seating is limited. Co-sponsored by Cinema Politica). Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch 350 W. Georgia Street, 604-331-4040, www.vpl.ca January 18, 2011 17th Annual Taste BC! The 17th annual celebration of local food and drink takes place January 18, 2011 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver. Guests will taste, sip and experience BC's finest wine, beer and spirits, accompanied by tasty fare from our best local restaurants. Along with excellent food and drink, attractions include live music, door prizes and a silent auction that features luxury items, including local experience packages and delicious products made by British Columbia's own. A fundraiser for the Children's Hospital-Oak Tree Clinic. Tickets can be purchased at all Liberty Wine Merchants locations for $49.99 each. https://www.libertywinemerchants.com January 18, 2011 Anne Giardini. Please join us as Anne Giardini reads from her warm and witty novel, "Advice for Italian Boys" (Harper Collins Canada). Nicolo Pavone is the middle son in an Italian-Canadian family. His younger brother is a law student on the path to a brilliant career. His older brother is married and hides his secret ambitions. Nicolo still lives at home, saving his money and respecting his parents and his nonna while trying to find his own way in the world. The novel explores the delicate balance of what we are born into and what we eventually become. (Admission is free. Seating is limited. We acknowledge the support of The Canada Council for the Arts). Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch 350 W. Georgia Street, 604-331-4040, www.vpl.ca January 18 to February 6, 2011 PuSh: International Performing Arts Festival.  As one of Vancouver's signature events, the PuSh Festival presents groundbreaking work in the live performing arts: theatre, dance, music and various hybrid forms of performance. It attracts acclaimed local, national and international artists and their work. Various Venues, https://www.pushfestival.ca January 20, 2011 Forks Over Knives: Film Screening.  Please join us for a screening of Brian Wendel's fascinating documentary which explores the correlation between diet and disease. The film focuses on the groundbreaking research studies of researchers, Dr. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, who conclude that diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even several forms of cancer, can almost always be prevented - and in many cases reversed - by adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet. (Admission is free. Seating is limited. Co-sponsored by Liberation BC).  Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch 350 W. Georgia Street, 604-331-4040, www.vpl.ca January 22, 2011 Game Design Expo 2011.  For game industry professionals, students of game design, and everyone passionate about games, Vancouver Film School presents the fifth annual Game Design Expo, January 22, 2011 in Vancouver, BC. This years event features an incredible range of talks by leading minds in games, spanning everything from bestselling iPhone game Angry Birds to Dead Space 2 and beyond. Tickets to Industry Speaker Day are $125 plus applicable fees. Register early, because the event usually books to capacity. For schedules, tickets, registration, and up-to-the-minute news, visit www.gamedesignexpo.com. January 22, 2011 Place des Arts Faculty Concert. Feel the love when five of Place des Arts talented faculty members join forces to share their passion for music. Forming trios and quartets, Johanna Hauser on clarinet, Karina Slupski on violin, Roger Mangas on viola, Aleksandra Dziobek on cello and Anna Levy on piano will draw you into the intimate magic of live chamber music. Place des Arts, 1120 Brunette Avenue , Coquitlam | www.placedesarts.ca January 22, 2011 TASTE OF BURNS.  A introduction to Robbie Burns. An Informal Burns Supper for ALL the family, CHILDREN VERY WELCOME.Entertainment: Highland Dancing with the Stave Falls Dancers, Piping in the Haggis,a Ceilidh and dancing to the Mad Celts. Traditional Burns Supper will be served. The Scottish Cultural Centre. Tkts: Adults $28,Children under 5 $5,5-14 $14 FAMILY RATE(2 adults and 2children) $80. For tickets call Cathy at 604-940-9260 or email jocklaidlaw@dccnet.com January 24 to February 6, 2011 Dine Out Vancouver.  Dine Out Vancouver is a city-wide celebration of food & BC wine. Virtually every type of restaurant in the city gets involved, giving you the chance to taste Vancouver's hot restaurant digs, new hit eateries and neighbourhood favourites, all for a reasonable prix-fixe price. We hope you're hungry! Indulge in your love of food and BC VQA wine at over 200 restaurants with 3-course meals at $18, $28 or $38. Participating restaurants and their menus will be listed on www.tourismvancouver.com January 24, 2011 Gung Haggis Fat Choy! Please join us for World Poetry's Gung Haggis Fat Choy gala event, celebrating Robbie Burns Day and Chinese New Year. A celebration of Chinese and Scottish traditions with a distinctly Canadian twist! Poetry by James Mullen, Steve Duncan, Michael Morris, Dr. Ray Hsu. Performances by Rob McDonald on bagpipes and Ariadne's Dream Dragon Dance. (Admission is free. Seating is limited). Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch 350 W. Georgia Street, 604-331-4040, www.vpl.ca January 24, 2011 Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia (Lecture).  Join Daniel for a photographic tour of the plants of southern interior British Columbia, from the mountains of Manning to the rangelands near Merritt, from the shrub-steppes of the south Okanagan to some of the proposed sites for a potential South Okanagan-Lower Similkameen National Park. UBC Botanical Garden. www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org January 26 - 29, 2011 The Cultch presents RELAY.  ubbed “notoriously adventurous” by Toronto Life, Canadian choreographer Ame Henderson brings us relay—a disarming investigation into the taboos and pleasures of watching and making movement in unison. A cross-disciplinary collaboration between eight dancers and two musicians, relay asks important questions about the politics and possibility of togetherness. Borrowing from memories of dances past, relay re-imagines unison, asking how we maintain our sense of self while working together.  Tickets from $15! Now available through The Cultch’s Box Office: 604-251-1363 or tickets www.thecultch.com. January 27, 2011 Motherstone: British Columbia's Volcanic Plateau.  Chris Harris, one of Canada's most respected photographers will introduce his new book MOTHERSTONE: BC's Volcanic Plateau. Award winning author Harold Rhenisch did the research and authored the book in collaboration with Harris' incomparable photography; all verified by Dr. Mary Lou Bevier of UBC who was the scientific consultant. In his illustrated talk Mr Harris will share his visual journey of discovery with behind-the-image stories of adventure and will show stunning volcanic topography unknown/unseen by most British Columbians. Free. Unity Church, 5840 Oak St., www.naturevancouver.ca January 28, 2011 Critical Mass in Vancouver; Critical Mass is a grassroots reclamation of public space -- a bike ride and skate -- held the last Friday of every month. You are invited to enjoy the safety and comfort in the car-free space that we create by simply riding together! Bicycles, skateboards, rollerskates, self propelled couches, and any other form of human powered locomotion are all welcomed! We ride around the city wherever people want to go - this is decided collectively - the length of the ride depends on enthusiasm and is also collectively decided. No one who comes is forced to or needs to break the law in order to participate.  Meet 5 to 5:30 at the Vancouver Art Gallery, leave at 6pm; Critical Mass in Vancouver (https://www.bikesexual.org/cm/) January 31, 2011 Gabor Gasztonyi: A Room in the City.  Please join us as award-winning photographer Gabor Gasztonyi presents "A Room in the City" (Anvil Press), his five-year project of photographing the residents of the Cobalt, Balmoral, Regent and Sunrise Hotels in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The residents are represented in private moments, with respect and dignity - in their rooms and on the streets - as they wish to be seen. Gasztonyi's images urge us to look longer and harder at a city deemed one of the world's best places to live. (Admission is free. Seating is limited. Co-sponsored by Anvil Press). Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch 350 W. Georgia Street, 604-331-4040, www.vpl.ca February 9 - 13, 2011 Vancouver International Boat Show.  Marking the start of the boating season in B.C., the 2011 Vancouver International Boat Show is back after a one-year Olympic Games hiatus. Western Canada's premier boat show takes place in one of the most beautiful settings in the world - the new Vancouver Convention Centre. Visit more than 300 exhibitors showcasing the latest boats and marine products on the market at the best deals of the year. The Vancouver International Boat Show runs February 9-13, 2011, at the Vancouver Convention Centre and the False Creek Yacht Club. Visit www.VancouverBoatShow.ca for discounted tickets, schedules and Show updates. February 18, 2011 Day of the Arts: Stormy Weather.  Day of the Arts: Stormy Weather features a variety of visual and performing art classes that will fit right in with our stormy February days. Kids from Kindergarten to grade 5 can whirl up a tornado from clay, fashion a kite to fly on a windy day, create thunderous rhythms with taiko drums, finger-knit a warm scarf and more. To view the full time-table and class descriptions, visit www.placedesarts.ca or pick up a brochure at Place des Arts. Registration opens January 10 and may be done by phone at 604.664.1636, online at www.placedesarts.ca or in person. March 16 - 20, 2011 CelticFest Vancouver 2011. Western Canada’s largest and best-loved Celtic festival returns to rock the city with an extraordinary range of over 50 free and ticketed events over five days. CelticFest’s most popular free event is sure to be the 7th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, presented by Pacific Centre on Sunday, March 20th. This huge, enchanting spectacle kicks off at 11am in downtown Vancouver with a new parade route. It’s estimated that more than 300,000 people will line the streets to cheer on almost a hundred parade entries with around 2,000 enthusiastic participants. International award-winning pipe and drum bands, marching Colour Guard, Celtic music and dance groups, the Vancouver police motorcycle drill team and fire brigades, acrobats, giant stilt walkers, rare, vintage cars, youth performers, multicultural displays, distinguished local guests and many more will take to the streets, donning their best green attire, to share the Celtic spirit. For full information and to purchase tickets for all concerts, go to www.celticfestvancouver.com. March 18 - 19, 2011 Ballet BC is proud to announce the Vancouver performances of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on March 18 and 19, 2011 with two performances at 8 pm and a matinee at 2 pm.  Created by Alvin Ailey in 1958 and under Artistic Director Judith Jamison since 1989, the company is well established as one of the world's favourite dance companies, called by The New York Times "...possibly the most successful modern dance company on the planet." For more information, visit our web site: www.balletbc.com. March 26, 2011 Motown Meltdown.  Featuring over 30 artists. Backed by our 12-piece hot Motown band “The Scorchers”! Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville St.). Tickets Advanced: $30 (+ s/c) at Ticketmaster (604) 280-4444 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca or Highlife Records Ongoing until March 31, 2011 The Golden Age of Steam Ship Travel. This exhibit is focused on the Wallace and Madeleine Chung donation of important early 20th century steamship ephemera and artifacts. The exhibition will draw upon more than 600 posters, ship models, and over 4,000 archival items. Collection includes pamphlets, reports, deck plans, promotional brochures, clippings, books and photographs. https://www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com Ongoing until March 31, 2011 Vancouver Winter Farmers' Market.  Check out our Winter Farmers Markets. Everything from organic and conventional produce, meat, cheese and seafood, preserves, baking and bread. Plan to grab lunch from our on-site Creperie or sausage vendor. Warm up with a hot coffee on a cold winter day and start shopping. We'll also have select craft vendors selling high quality craft items for gifts and treats for yourself. Don't forget your reusable bags and parking in the area is limited so walk, bike or take transit if you can.  Saturdays, 4610 Ontario St, Nat Bailey Stadium Parking Lot,  https://www.bcfarmersmarket.org