Although the meaning of a work of art is something that often escapes us, the human figure is something that everyone can relate to and a Vancouver  collective of artists called Phantoms in the Front Yard, (formed by Michael Abraham, Jordan Bent, Chad Krowchuk, Marcus Macleod, Jay Senetchko, and Jeremy Birnbaum), believe that paintings of the human figure, unlike many other genres, communicate with the viewer because we cannot help but engage with it.  ”On Great Men” (curated by Pennylane Shen) is the upcoming show of this group  running from June 3 to 5, 2011 at 566 Beatty Street. The “Great Man Theory”  was a 19th century idea that history can be largely explained by the impact of heroes, or men that utilized their power in such a way that it had historical impact.  ”The history of the world is but the biography of great men”, according to writer Thomas Carlyle and to study them is profitable to your own desire to make yourself worthy.  This view unleashed a debate that great men are the products of their societies, and that their actions are impossible without the social conditions built before their lifetimes. It is this debate that sparked the idea for this fascinating exhibit. So how does a painter interpret this challenge? I had the opportunity to visit artist Michael Abraham at his studio on Beatty Street to find that out. In the painting featured above entitled “Tom’s Great Leap”  Abraham portrays his mentor and former art instructor Tom LaPierre.

Michael standing in front of his easel in his studio on Beatty Street, Vancouver

The piece of advice that has stuck with Abraham decades after art school was LaPierre’s admonition to “take a great leap with your art” and this piece personifies those words in a whimsical yet thought provoking manner.   LaPierre passed away last year and this homage portrays his last great leap.   As with all Michael’s paintings, there are many things in this work that only reveal themselves when you take the opportunity to unravel the layers of complexity.  Abraham addresses many issues; time, death, our purpose in life and does so with a great sense of humour.  Abraham excels at narrative art by using figures to deal with issues that are pertinent to society but at the same time you can’t help but smile and feel a sense of joy when you gaze upon his paintings. You could never imagine that when Abraham decided to attend the Ontario School of Art he struggled with drawing.  In fact,  at the end of his first term he wanted to quit school and only decided to stick it out because he was advised he was unable to get the tuition monies back and couldn’t bear to face his father.  He resolved that we was going to master the art of drawing the human and by the end of his fourth year he won the award for figurative drawing.  Since then Abraham has never looked back and can’t imagine creating art that does not use the figure.  His forte seems to be poking fun at important issues by bending things out of shape, and creating a funky modern version of figurative art.

"Sun, Right Perfect Balance, Who Da Man, Yikes........."

I couldn’t stop looking at the other painting that Michael has prepared for the upcoming exhibit as it was like looking into a mirror.  Having formerly carried a briefcase as a professional and now practicing yoga to obtain “inner peace” I was naturally intrigued to ask Abraham about his thought processes as he was painting this.  One cannot help but notice how many Westerners are trying to find a sense of purpose and have turned to eastern practices of yoga and meditation yet feel a compelling need to be successful as defined by our own western culture.   What I found so compelling are the “eyes” and how Abraham has created a work that raises many questions as well as makes you want to laugh out loud at the absurdity of taking yourself seriously.   I can’t wait to go see what the other artists have done with this theme and if you want further information about this exhibit and upcoming “Phantoms” being created by this group  check out their website.

If you want to learn more about “Great Men” there is a wonderful free lecture on June 5, 2011 where Brad Leith will moderate a discussion on this topic.  But be sure to RSVP as seating is limited.

Russian virtuoso pianist Denis Matsuev graced the stages of the Chan Center on May 14 and captivated the audience with his extraordinary performance thanks to Svetlana Dvorestskaia, of Show One Productions  (showoneproductions.ca). To say that Matuev’s technique was breathtaking does not do it justice. This artist was born to dominate the piano and in fact when he was three years old he heard a piece on television and went to the family piano and reproduced it perfectly by using one finger! At the age of 23 Matsuev won the International Tchaikovsky Competition and since then has embarked on a career touring the major concert halls dazzling audiences far and wide with his amazing talent. Within the first few bars of his performance it was clear to me why Matsuev has taken the classical music world by storm. From the minute he marches on stage and seats himself on the bench Matsuev is a formidable presence and his hands fly over the keyboard making it submit to his will.

Denis Matsuev plays Rachmaninoff Concerto #3

This particular night Matsuev was performing solo and when he commenced the Liszt “Mephisto Waltz” and then finished with the Rachmaninoff Sonata in B flat minor, I had to remind myself to breathe as I was mesmerized by his blistering performance. When one thought that the evening could not get any better and felt completely satisfied, Matsuev performed a parade of four encores, each piece literally causing members of the audience to gasp with delight! In summary, I’m not sure that I will ever have the opportunity to experience another performance that matches this one, unless of course Denis decides to visit Vancouver again.

If you want to learn more about Denis vist his web site: .http:/www./matsuev.ru/eng_index.mhtml

Laura is also one of those generous people that shares what she learns on her journey through life by blogging about it.   You can find insights on how to grow a similar business,  tips about participating in design shows, and ideas on art and design including cool items to make if you are so inclined.     Check it out at  laurabucci.com. 

Laura has generously agreed to giveaway a cup cozy and a fabric covered pin and magnet. The winner gets to choose the cup cozy. Here’s how you can enter to win:

I will draw one winner at random from all contest entries at 12 pm on April 15, 2011.

For those of you who want to know where you can purchase some of Laura’s creations, go visit her at the Got Craft show May 8, 2011.

Peggy Wong (no relation) working on a dress.

It’s tough trying to get your own look these days. The clothing we wear is a key way to express ourselves and tell the world who we are. It is said that you’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover but we do it anyways. There’s only so many options for those of us who aren’t interested in paying to advertise for big corporations. Especially when their goods are made overseas from the cheapest available materials. Quality clothing looks good and lasts longer but it can get pricy.  That’s where Sheila Wong comes in. She provides the facilities, materials and knowledge for making your own clothes at her Gastown studio.

Sheila Wong teaching me how to sew.

It’s very rewarding making something yourself. You can be creative, practical and economical at the same time. The best part is that you can custom make it to perfectly fit your own shape. If you don’t know what you’re doing Sheila offers lessons for all skill levels. She provides sewing machines that range from simple to industrial. A big part of Sheila’s clientelle are fashion students. She specifcally chose the location for it’s proximity to 5 fashion design schools and 2 fabric stores. She also provides a library with business and marketing books for those who want to brush up or do a little research. In addition, the whole place is adorned with a variety of art for sale by local artists.

The finished Infinity Scarf is very versatile and comfortable.

Sheila opened up SWFDS (Sheila Wong Fashion Design Studio) in May 2010 and is elated with how things are going. She graduated with an international business degree from Mt. Royal in Calgary where she’s from and then came to Vancouver a few years ago to attend Blanche MacDonald’s fashion design program. She is passionate about both business and fashion, combining them with this innovative idea. She loves to sew dresses and although I don’t know very much about fashion I was quite impressed with her designs. Sheila is a warm and vibrant person who has a knack for teaching. Under her direction I was able to make a very professional looking scarf in just a few minutes. Check out www.swfds.com for more info and to get in touch with Sheila.

***Contest*** Everyone who comments on this post will be entered into a contest to win an Infinity Scarf!

Vancouver artist Steven Pollock fuses wood and concrete into amazing one-of-a-kind furniture sculptures.

We first saw Steven Pollock’s work at the East Side Culture Crawl. We went back to visit him at his studio which is a super cool space in itself. Located in an old factory on the tracks turned into an artist commune the place is bursting with creative energy. Even the outside walls are always changing murals as graffiti artists constantly paint over each other’s work in what was described to me as a turf war.

Steven works primarily with wood and concrete. When I tried to picture a table made of concrete the first thing that came to mind was something dull, grey and unseemly. I had absolutely no idea that concrete could be so beautiful. Simple yet elegant these furniture sculptures struck me as timeless in that they would never go out of sytle but also that they would not succumb to any sort of natural disaster. They’re created from start to finish in Steven’s studio which is just as much a workshop complete with his own cement mixer and a massive vibrating table to set the concrete.  As the process was explained to me I was surprised at how complicated and delicate the nuances of concrete can be.

After wearing a tie and working for an IT company for 10 years Steven started to crave a forum for personal expression. He’d had a good experience with an inspiritational shop teacher in high school and loved carpentry but hadn’t done it in years. He was passionate about furniture and so he went down to California and was mentored in the art of mixing concrete. He came back to Vancouver in 2002 and has relied almost solely on word of mouth to find prospective clients. He has a very laid back attitude when it comes to business and has faith in himself  sometimes spending  months on a single piece.

What I like most about Steven’s work is that he takes concrete, the most commonly used man-made product, and makes it into something completely unique. Check out his website – www.woodstonedesign.ca

 Labour Omni Vincent; work conquers all. Local sailor, explorer and writer Anthony Dalton who just turned 70 shows no signs of slowing down. In 2010 he published five books; Polar Bears, A Long, Dangerous Coastline, The Graveyard of the Pacific, River Rough, River Smooth, Arctic Naturalist, the life of J. Dewey Soper. Mr. Dalton has been busy and has published twelve books in total (two being coauthored). In 2009 he was winner of the Surrey Board of Trade Special Achievement Award. A self confessed workaholic I was fortunate to catch up with him briefly at the Rusty Anchor Pub in Ladner.

“If you want something you have to work hard and go out and get it because it’s not just going to come to you.” Mr. Dalton speaks from experience as he is also President of the Canadian Authors Association, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Fellow of the Explorers Club. The approach that Mr. Dalton takes is “Life is an adventure. Live it.”

Tenacious, travelled and seldom timid Mr. Dalton has been to the far north, and through the jungles of Bangladesh. He spent the 70′s leading expeditions across the Sahara. He has crossed paths with Royal Bengal Tigers and encountered knee-chomping snakes. He’s survived a shipwreck in the artic circle. If you are interested in learning about living in Timbuktu Mr. Dalton can tell you all about it. His stories are numerous and full of drama, danger and delight.

Mr. Dalton is currently working on some screen plays and plans to do a fictional novel in the future. He enjoyed talking about his experiences but I suspect that he undoubtedly has some more adventures lined up and has a lot more work to do. Check out his website – www.anthonydalton.org

John Cuzner is the kind of person I admire. At 61 years of age he had raised a family and had a successful business. As a real estate broker for 30 years he built up a company with 30 employees.  A good life’s work and a job well done as far as most people are concerned but John isn’t most people. He was bored out of his mind. After an anomaly of a rare chest infection made him realize life was short he decided to set out for adventure. He paused and asked himself what he wanted out of life and after a lot of introspection he decided he wanted to be on the water. He told me the water brings out the two extremities of who he is; it both calms and innervates him.  So knowing next to nothing about the subject he set out to buy a sailboat. He liquidated his assets and spent the next several months searching for the perfect vessel.

He found her in Tortola – the largest of the British Virgin Islands.  A 47 foot Gib’Sea was priced to sell and in a buyer’s market John put down his offer conditional upon not one but three inspections and getting to live on it for a week to make sure he was well suited to the lifestyle. Being a light sleeper with a boat moored 50 paces away from the Boomba Shack, a rocking joint with a steel drum band that night, John slept like a baby. He knew then that he had made the right choice.  After a little more negotiating John acquired his boat and christened it J’Sea.  Now he had a boat but it wasn’t where he wanted it. Having no interest in the easy going Caribbean lifestyle John wanted to go somewhere with some history and some culture. He already had his sights set on the Mediterranean but wasn’t entirely sure how to get there. He looked into shipping costs and realized it was almost $20,000 to get his boat where he wanted it. He had a boat and all that was between him and his destination was water so he entered the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. Now all he needed was a crew.

At this point John not only needed to fill some berths but he needed some people who knew what they were doing. He had a pretty audacious attitude toward the whole thing referring to the sails as a “couple of rags up there” with a sly grin. Finding a few guys to tend them wouldn’t be a big deal. He put up some fliers, called a few friends and before he knew it he had a stock broker, a diesel mechanic, a truck driver and a businessman ready for the maiden voyage.  They set out for Antigua where the rally started going the long way around so John would meet the requirement of having 250 miles of offshore experience.  Then they set off across the Atlantic, 5 type-a personalities on a 47 foot boat.  After facing 40 foot swells and several near break-downs John made it across the 2000 mile journey in 4th place having used only 32 engine hours. Having got the hard part out of the way it was time to have some fun.

John parted ways with his crew in Portugal and set off looking for some new members.  After making an announcement in a bar he had 22 people show up the next morning looking to pay their way to Turkey. Now seven years later and John has sailed all over the world with people of every nationality and background you can imagine.  He’s met life-long friends and is more often than not welcomed like royalty wherever he goes.  He’s raced with the best of ‘em and held his own. A freak accident involving some coral made him come home to Vancouver a little early but it was a blessing in disguise as he was diagnosed with cancer but that didn’t stop him for long. He’s headed back out in May and plans to cross the Atlantic again and then go from England up to St. Petersburg stopping in Western Europe, Scandinavia and the Baltics along the way and then finishing off in Poland in September.

I asked John what I had to do to tag along and the answer was fairly simple. Pay my way and get a few lessons under my belt to make sure it’s something I enjoy. After having coffee with John and listening to his stories I wouldn’t hesitate to spend a few months touring Europe with him. Check out his website (www.jsea.ca – jsea1@hotmail.com) for past and upcoming adventures – you just might want to tag along too.

I first had the pleasure of seeing Sarah Mulder’s incredible talent at the Art for Life auction last month. I could not take my eyes off one of her pieces from her City Scape series. As i came closer to City Scape 3 I was amazed not only at Sarah’s talent but at her ingenuity. Like many other artists, Sarah was influenced by her surroundings and the ever changing Vancouver skyline. What makes Sarah’s interpretation of the city so captivating is that you realize that the painting is in fact several smaller paintings that have been sewn together like pieces of a puzzle creating an even greater beauty when combined.

First of all Sarah starts with a small canvas on which she draws and paints urban images. She does this on piece after piece of canvas and then she cuts up these paintings (yes you heard me right!), embellishes some by sewing on various pieces of tactile materials, and then sews pieces together to create a painting that is greater than the sum of its parts. She describes the experience as experimental, stress free and says there’s no rhyme or reason to it. She has no plan when she stars, it’s pure creation. But wait, she is not finished. Sarah then looks at her new creation and paints and draws on it to create a cohesive painting that is fresh and mysterious at the same time. These amazing cityscapes are fairly recent addition to Sarah’s repertoire. Sarah also paints divine florals for which she has become well known. And if painting isn’t your thing, you can wear a one of a kind piece of jewelry that Sarah creates together with her partner Cheryl. Check out the website:  www.cherylandsarah.com

Sarah grew up in East Vancouver and was one of those kids that would entertain herself for hours provided she had any art supplies at hand. Sarah’s mom told me that “It was clear to everyone around her that Sarah was a very gifted child even before she started kindergarten.” Her opportunity to travel through Europe and experience the masterpieces first hand at the Langara College Art History Field Study programme ignited Sarah’s passion to create art to an even greater degree and she attributes this experience as one of the most influential of her life to date. It prompted Sarah to attend and receive her Bachelor of Arts degree from Emily Carr and she has been steadily gaining recognition as an artist ever since. Having had the opportunity to experience Sarah’s lovely demeanour it is not surprising that she also loves to teach kids how to make art and works as a programme director for Hastings Elementary Community School.

If you want to take a look first hand at some of Sarah’s creations you can do so at the Agro Cafe in Yaletown. She’s also going to be part of an exhibit at the Cultch in the spring. Her website is www.sarahmulder.com where you can find out more information.

What’s for dinner tonight? It seems like a fairly simple question but it is fraught with the dangers of the unknown. You’ve probably noticed some changes in the choices available to you in the grocery store over the past few years. It seems to be getting more and more complicated with an over-abundance of choices. Organic, sugar-free, fat-free, low-sodium, diet, supersized and so on. The problem is that no one really knows what they’re ingesting anymore. Food is so obviously vital and so intricately linked with out survival that it boggles the mind to think about how little the general populous seems to care about their diets. Hence the need for experts to guide us through the mess we’ve gotten ourselves into.

The whole landscape of food started to change in the early 20th century and not for the better. As human beings we are, for the most part, omnivores. We eat plants and we eat animals. That’s it. For thousands of years we would go out and hunt or gather our food. Then we started farming. Things were still relatively similar except we started to stay put long enough to apply ourselves to other endeavours. Still we ate plans and we ate animals. We relied on our instincts and accumulated knowledge when making meal-time decisions. It continued this way up until very recently in the grand scheme of things. Somewhere along the way the definition of food began to mutate. In the late 19th century we realized that sugar could turn a nice profit through candy and soft drinks. We used chemicals and technology to turn grains into a “multi-purpose” flour. We overlooked the fact that the heat and chemicals in this process destroyed any trace of nutrients or fibre. We figured out how to turn the poisonous rapeseed into canola oil. None of this was all that detrimental because people for the most part were still eating animals and plants grown locally.

The 50′s and 60′s are when the big changes came. Frozen convenience meals, sports drinks, instant mashed potatoes, high fructose corn syrup, Tang, Pop Tarts and diet soft drinks (to name a few) were introduced to the general public. McDonald’s restaurants started to pop up all over the place. Everything became more abundant, faster and cheaper.  At the same time everything has become less nutritious, more processed and purely profit-driven.  This is a slope that has continued to spiral out of control until present day.  Take a look at the types of things people put into their bodies on a regular basis and see if you can identify the plants or animals they come from. Energy drinks, frappuccinos, margarine, aspartame and french fries have become a regular part of people’s diets. Is it surprising that record numbers of people are dying from heart disease, cancer, diabetes? Obesity was virtually non-existent up until recently. People complain about food being expensive but it is cheaper than it has ever been at any point throughout history as a percentage of our disposable income – less than half of what it was before the 1950′s. The tragedy is that people below the poverty line don’t even have the option of purchasing real food anymore and as such the vicious cycle continues.

Now that you’ve withstood my rant about the current food climate, let me tell you about a shining beacon in the cesspool. Ariel Laakso recently started a consulting business called Nutrista in which she gives personalized guidance on navigating your way through this maze and achieving a healthier, happier lifestyle. As a Registered Holistic Nutritionist she doesn’t just prescribe a diet but gets to know her clients through conversation and educates them on the physical, emotional and spiritual importance of dietary choices.  Her expertise is a combination of old and new. Modern scientific research juxtaposed with ancient Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic traditions. As an excellent communicator and teacher she will help you understand the reasoning behind making certain choices which is necessary in order to make them stick.  As a realist she knows that life is fast-paced and it’s not always easy to get the food you want in any given situation so she advocates the 80/20 rule.  She recognizes that trying to be %100 strict is a recipe for failure. She charges a flat rate for a session and stays until the job is done so you don’t have to worry about watching the clock.

As a savvy and hard-working young woman Ariel worked a number of jobs and was able to climb up the ranks quick. She went from retail management to advertising and then tried her hand in the service industry at a salon and spa.  She had decided to go back into advertising when a job opportunity came up at the prestigious TAXI advertising agency. She was all set to go to the interview when half an hour beforehand she experienced an intense sensation of foreboding and had an epiphany telling her this wasn’t what she wanted to do.  She had always been excited about food, cooking and fresh ingredients since growing up in a family where everything was home cooked from scratch. 48 hours later she was enrolled in the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. I envy Ariel because I can see that she’s found her calling in life and that is no easy feat. She is passionate about nutrition and she can’t help but light a fire underneath you. Conversing with her is effortless and fascinating. I have no doubt that she will find success and change some lives along the way.

I asked Ariel what her three most important but overlooked health tips were and I was surprised by her answers. First off, drink more water. Water is the essence of life and keeping hydrated is of the utmost importance. Secondly, chew your food. Digestion starts in the mouth with your teeth and enzymes in your saliva that aren’t found anywhere else. Properly chewing your food takes a load off the rest of your digestive system and allows you to ingest more nutrients with less energy.  Eating slowly is better for your system and allows you to feel satisfied with less intake.  I’ve been trying to consciously chew everything to a pulp and I admit it hasn’t been easy. Especially when I’m hungry. Last but not least she recommends thinking about where your food comes from. Remember that we should only be eating plants and animals so if you can’t figure out which plant or animal you’re eating, you probably don’t want to eat it.  The further away something comes from, the more it has to undergo treatment to stay fresh. Plus you’re not just what you eat. You’re whatever your food eats too.  An animal that’s fed processed junk becomes processed junk. Humanely treated animals are not only happier but healthier. If you wouldn’t personally lock an animal up in a little cage or kill it in a way that causes suffering then don’t support others who do.  We live in a culture where food has been devalued and taken for granted when it should be appreciated and savoured.

Visit www.nutrista.ca to start the journey.

Yet another great feature of living in Vancouver is that Jack Frost tends to leave us relatively unscathed yet all the best parts of winter are so readily available.  Snow is magical, beautiful and incredibly fun in the right venue but it’s a pain in the ass when you’re trying to get home from work.  Thanks to places like Grouse Mountain we can enjoy winter on our terms.  What sets Grouse apart from the rest is the full gamut of activities and experiences they offer all year round.

Everyone knows that Grouse offers skiing and snowboarding less than 30 minutes away from downtown Vancouver so what I’m going to do is fill you in on everything else you can do up there. 

First off is the Grouse Mountain Skyride which is a gondola ride up or down the mountain involving a jaw-dropping view of the city, the coast and the surrounding wilderness.  This saves you having to drive up the mountain so you don’t need snow tires or chains.

Once you get to the top you can check out the Theatre in The Sky where there are a couple of cinematic options for nature and animal  lovers. The mainstay Born to Fly is a documentary about the natural beauty of BC shot from the perspective of an eagle. The other option, Animal Tracks, is a documentary series focusing on endagered species. The Refuge for Endagered Wildlife is even better because you can see a couple of real live grizzlies and grey wolves rescused by this animal sanctuary. You can also take the tour up to the top of Grouse’s wind turbine, Eye of the Wind. This was built in an effort to become more self-sustained and environmentally friendly. The 20-story elevator takes you up to a 360 viewpoint where you can see as far as Mt. Baker and Vancouver Island from the same spot.

If you’re not into the nordic scene there are plenty of less thrilling but equally fun outdoor activities all included with your Skyride admission. First off, Grouse has Vancouver’s only outdoor skating pond. One of my fondest childhood memories is skating outdoors on a frozen pond and I think it’s something every Canadian child should experience growing up. Next up you can go snowshoeing which is actually a lot more fun that it sounds. Snowshoes allow you to prance atop the snow getting a great workout while you find places you’d normally never be able to access on foot.  When everyone gets tuckered out you can meetup behind Santa’s Workshop for a sleigh ride and then hit the chalet for a hot drink.

The best time to hit up Grouse is right now. Up until Christmas Grouse will be hosting The Peak of Christmas where they turn everything into a festive, winter-wonderland.  They go all out with lights, decorations and live entertainment from local choirs. Don’t just take your kids to see Santa in a mall when you can take them to see Santa in his workshop complete with live reindeer!  Check the Grouse Mountain website for a number of other activities and workshops going on throughout the holiday season.

For those of you like myself who correlate fun with speed and height Grouse has three terrain parks for skiers and riders. The Paradise Jib Park was designed for keeners who couldn’t wait for the Quiksilver Terrain Park to get built up. This is one of the best terrain parks around packed with almost a kilometer of jumps and rails to perfect your lines and combos. If you’re still learning you can hit up the Rookie Terrain Park where things are not so daunting. Ziplining is another good way to kill a couple of hours and get in some thrills. Harness yourself to a cable and literally zip through the air a couple hundred feet off the ground at up to 80km/hr. Good times!

Sadly winter only lasts a few short months but the fun doesn’t stop at Grouse. Anything not dependent on snow stays open all year long and when the weather clears up you can take a more ambitious route up the mountain - walking up thousands of stairs! If you haven’t heard of The Grouse Grind I am shocked and excited to be the one to tell you about it. It’s a world-famous Vancouver hike that’s been around for over 100 years. I should warn you though that this is not for the feint of heart as you gain 853 metres in elevation in just under 3 km’s. Go up at a leisurely pace or do a timed trial to compare with other fitness junkies. My goal for next spring is to do the Grind in 35 minutes and then reward myself with yet another activity readily available at Grouse – tandem paragliding.

To me there’s nothing more exciting than hitting the slopes. I’m headed up for my first run of the year tomorrow and I am aquiver with delight. Combine the crisp mountain air and scenic views with the almost weightless sensation of gliding down the mountain and you truly do have something magical. Throw in some sick jumps and a few well maneuvered landings and I’m in cloud nine. Don’t forget to ask the powers that be to provide a little fresh powder for some freestyling after lunch. People spend their whole lives trying to achieve Nirvana but this is it. Pure, unadulterated bliss. There is no where else on earth I would rather be. It’s more than a sport or a past-time. It’s a love affair and a lifestyle!

There really is something for everyone to do at Grouse Mountain and it makes this city that much more appealing to someone like me. Their slogan is One Destination, Endless Experiences and I couldn’t agree more.