Tag Archives: Vancouver

Movies and TV Shows Filmed at UBC

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We all know that our university is one of the best for a variety of reasons and one of those is that many of our favourite movies and TV shows were filmed on campus!

Location 1: Iona Building

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UBC’s Iona building is disguised as a building at Harvard University the popular TV show Fringe, as seen in the picture above. Another TV show filmed in Iona building is Psych where the the building acts as a mental health facility.

Location 2: Chemistry Building D-Block

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You’ve probably noticed that the Chemistry Building is a popular film location, but what exactly are they filming? TV shows Psych, Fringe, Supernatural, Caprica, Stargate Universe, and movie Kingdom Hospital are just a few. The image above is a shot of two characters of Caprica on their way to court.

Location 3: Chan Centre

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UBC’s beautiful Chan Centre was featured in several movies such as Battlestar Galactica, seen in the image above. Other movies include, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Kyle XY, Antitrust, Human Target, Bionic Woman, and more!

Location 4: Walter C. Koerner Library

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Walter C. Koerner library was featured in both TV shows and movies! Some examples are The L Word, Smallville, Battlestar Galactica (seen above), The Butterfly Effect, and 88 minutes. So the next time you find yourself studying away in Koerner, just know that you may be sitting on the same chair that Ashton Kutcher sat on.

Location 5: Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

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Irving has been featured in the hit TV show Fringe as a Boston Federal Building, Massachusetts Port Authority, and a part of Harvard University. It’s also features in Emily Owens, M.D. as the exterior of Dever Memorial Hospital. You might also have recognized the foyer of the library in Human Target, as seen in the image above.

 

Location 6: The Buchanan Towers

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The Buchanan Towers have also been a popular film site in the recent years. X-Men Origins: Wolverine, seen above, along with Supernatural, Fringe, The 4400, and the Exorcism of Emily Rose were all filmed in or outside Buchanan!

 

Location 7: Rose Gardens

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The UBC Rose Gardens have been a popular site for filming in both the summer and the winter. For example, lat summer Tomorrowland, featuring George Clooney was being filmed by the Rose Gardens. Other movies and TV shows include The 4400, Battlestar Galactica featured in the image above, Martian Child, Stargate Universe, and The King of Fighters.

by Shazia Damji

TED talks are coming to Vancouver!

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The Vancouver move, my favorite talk & the 20 most popular talks

For the last few years TED has become a regular talking and reference point for me with all the new and innovative ideas being shared by extremely talented people. I’m especially excited for the conference this year (in March) because it is being held in my home town of Vancouver! In celebration, I want to share the reason why TED decided to move, some popular talks that anyone new to TED can watch to learn what all the hype is about and share my personal favorite talk.

TED has spent five years in Long Beach, but have decided to try a new space in Vancouver, a city that’s itself an inspiration — cosmopolitan, energetic, innovative, yet with unrivaled natural beauty, surrounded by mountains and water. The conference will be held in the recently completed convention center because it is a truly spectacular meeting space in a beautiful, peaceful corner of the city. TED isn’t moving to accommodate more people — in fact they’re slightly reducing audience size. Vancouver was chosen because it is a venue that can do even more to inspire creative thinking and dynamic ideas.

So what is TED all about? Well with over 1600+ posted talks, each representing an idea worth spreading, it can get fairly daunting. So below are the 20 most-watched talks as of December 2013 which anyone new can use as starting point to see what it’s all about. What really makes this list so incredible is the fact that it spans so many areas of interest, from education to happiness, statistics to creativity, tech demos to illusions. This list revels in the wonders of the human brain, as well as in the incredible creatures of the deep sea, and far beyond.

Sir Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity (2006): 23,510,221 views
Jill Bolte Taylor‘s stroke of insight (2008): 14,343,197
Simon Sinek on how great leaders inspire action (2010): 14,228,854
Brene Brown talks about the power of vulnerability (2010): 12,703,623
Amy Cuddy on how your body language shapes who you are (2012): 12,682,694
Pranav Mistry on the thrilling potential of SixthSense (2009): 12,068,105
Tony Robbins asks why we do what we do (2006): 10,425,014
David Gallo‘s underwater astonishments (2007): 10,266,221
Mary Roach on 10 things you didn’t know about orgasm (2009): 9,435,954
Daniel Pink on the surprising science of motivation (2009): 9,176,053
Pattie Maes and Pranav Mistry demo SixthSense (2009): 8,363,339
Dan Gilbert asks: Why are we happy? (2004): 7,788,151
Hans Rosling shows the best stats you’ve ever seen (2006): 7,685,726
Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing your creative genius (2009): 7,593,076
Steve Jobs on how to live before you die (2005): 7,223,258
Susan Cain shares the power of introverts (2012): 6,807,240
Keith Barry does brain magic (2004): 6,371,778
David Blaine reveals how he held his breath for 17 minutes (2010): 6,359,084
Pamela Meyer on how to spot a liar (2010): 6,256,589
Arthur Benjamin does mathemagic (2005): 4,951,918

And finally, my personal favorite TED talk, “If I should have a daughter …” by poet Sarah Kay. Her poems rip at my heart strings and inspire me to be a more creative human being. Sigh. I love her. A little about her: A performing poet since she was 14 years old, Sarah Kay is the founder of Project VOICE, an organization that uses spoken word poetry as a literacy and empowerment tool.

I hope this blog and the upcoming TED talks in March inspire you too.

by Liam Loxton

Top 10 things to do during December in Vancouver

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Staying around Vancouver for the holidays? You may be far from your family and your closest friends, but that doesn’t mean you will have less to do this holiday season! Finally exam-free, you are now able to explore this city during the greatest time of the year. Here are the top 10 things to do during December in Vancouver:

1. The Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain: 8,000 square foot outdoor ice skating pond, Santa’s workshop and much more all a top the peak of Vancouver.

2. The Vancouver Christmas Market: Celebrating the rich and unique German culture with all who enter through the gates, the Vancouver Christmas Market is a showcase of traditional German crafts, delicious food, and entertainment for all ages.

3. Skating at Robson Square: The Robson Square Ice Rink is a family favorite for the holiday season! Just beware that it may get a little crowded.

4. Bright Lights at Stanley Park: This year marks the 16th year of Bright Nights at Stanley Park. During the holiday season Stanley Park’s forest is adourned with 2 million lights transforming Vancouver’s crown jewel into a wonderful holiday winter wonderland.

5. Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge: CLIFFWALK, the park’s latest attraction and a hit with guests since it opened in June, brings an exciting new holiday thrill during the winter chill. The narrow 700-foot cliff-side walkway, split into ascending and descending staircases and viewing platforms takes guests along the colour-washed cliff-face, through an enchanting light display high above the rushing waters of Capilano River.

6. Karaoke Trolley Tour: Join The Vancouver Trolley Company and sing your favourite holiday carols while visiting two of Vancouver’s most spectacular light displays.

7. VanDusen Garden Festival of Lights

8.Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Jack Poole Plaza: This is the largest tree lighting ceremony in Western Canada, with a 50-foot Rockefeller-style Christmas tree that illuminates the dreary winter nights.

9. Woodward’s Windows: In the 60′s & 70′s in Vancouver, Christmas meant heading down to the Woodward’s Department Store with your family or sweetheart and seeing the display windows come to life with Santa, his elves, “The Lamplighter”, teddy bears and more. When Woodwards’ closed in 1993, Canada Place purchased the windows and since then they have been a part of the holiday magic at Canada Place adding nostalgia and romance to Christmas in Vancouver.

10.Christmas in Kerrisdale: Head to one of South Vancouver’s great neighbourhoods and soak in the sights and sounds of Christmas.

by Tina Gao

Winter Adventures

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Bright Nights Christmas Train in Stanley Park
When: December 5, 2013 – January 5, 2014
Cost: $6-$11

Travel over trestles and through tunnels on your two-kilometre winding journey through the forest. Appreciate nature from a relaxing seat on the Miniature Train, a replica of Canadian Pacific Railway #374, famous for pulling Canada’s first transcontinental passenger train into Vancouver in the late 1880s. The Miniature Train is one of Vancouver’s most popular attractions carrying more than 200,000 passengers per year. See the Miniature Train and Plaza sparkle this winter holiday season at Bright Nights in Stanley Park. Ride the train, watch animated displays and be dazzled by three million twinkling lights. Partial proceeds go to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund.

For more information visit: http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park-miniature-train.aspx

Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden
When: December 11, 2013 – January 4, 2014
Cost: $14.25

Get into the spirit of the holiday season at the 2013 Festival of Lights. The Festival of Lights is a magical experience for everyone with over a million twinkling lights covering Van Dusen Botanical Garden from 4:30pm to 9:00pm, every evening during the holiday season except on Christmas day (December 25).

For more information visit: http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/festival-of-lights.aspx

The Robson Square Ice Rink
When: November 15, 2013 at 1pm until the end of February 2014
Cost Skating is free and rentals are available for a cost of $4

Come down, lace up your skates and enjoy the rink. This winter, renew a classic Vancouver tradition and enjoy some old-fashioned fun. Come celebrate winter in style with free skating in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Enjoy the holidays with your friends, family and loved ones.

For more information visit: http://www.robsonsquare.com/ice-rink/

The Vancouver Christmas Market
When: November 22 – December 24, 2013
Cost: $3-$6

This is an annual can’t-miss Vancouver Christmas event!! More than just a craft fair, this authentic German Christmas Market creates the perfect atmosphere to mix and mingle with friends and family, strolling through romantic rows of little wooden huts decorated in pine branches and illuminated with strings of little white lights. In each hut discover food and drinks and a wonderful array of gifts.

For more information visit: http://vancouverchristmasmarket.com/about-vancouver-christmas-market.php

Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
When: November 20, 2013 – January 4, 2014
Cost: $25.95 for Students 17+ with I.D

Capilano Suspension Bridge’s annual holiday tradition Canyon Lights always adds sparkle to the holiday season. Canyon Lights is a must-see holiday event for all ages. You will be dazzled by thousands of magical lights twinkling across the Suspension Bridge, on the Cliffwalk and throughout the park.

For more information visit: http://www.capbridge.com/explore/canyon-lights/

The Whistler Holiday Experience
When: December 20 – January 5, 2014
Cost: Varies depending on activity

In addition to snowboarding and skiing, whistler’s annual holiday experience consists of a variety of events that will fill everyone’s hearts with Holiday spirit. Come out and enjoy the Peak 2 Peak Sightseeing, the Coca-Cola Tube Park, Skating with Santa, the exciting and free Fire and Ice Show or one of the many other unique activities offered.

For a full listing of activities offered visit: http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/events-and-activities/winter-activities/christmas-season-in-whistler.aspx

Grouse Mountain – The Peak of Christmas
When: November 23, 2013 – December 24, 2013

Sleigh bells ring, choirs sing! Grouse Mountain presents a magical celebration and a multitude of festivities. Come out and explore Santa’s Workshop and meet reindeer, or take a sleigh-ride through our mystical alpine forest. You can also experience the tranquil beauty of skating on our 8,000 square foot mountaintop Ice Skating Pond, surrounded by snow-topped trees. 

For full listing of activities offered visit: http://www.grousemountain.com/events/the-peak-of-christmas-2013 or call 604.980.9311 for more information and cost details

Cypress Mountain
When: December 2013 to April 2014

Cypress Mountain, the Official Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard Venue for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Located in West Vancouver, BC, Canada. Cypress is only 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver and is proud to continue to provide skiers, riders and sliders with the most vertical drop, most terrain, most lifts and best snow conditions on the highest skiing and riding peak of Vancouver’s Legendary North Shore Mountains.

For more information visit: http://cypressmountain.com/

by Nikisha Khare

Five Activities to do on a Rainy Vancouver Day

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Five Activities to do on a Rainy Vancouver Day

1)      Vancouver Aquarium – With dolphins and belugas, as well as over 70,000 other creatures, the Vancouver Aquarium is a great way to spend a rainy day.  Keep warm inside walking through the attractions, sit down and watch an amazing 4D movie, and then pull that poncho over your head and outside for the rest of attractions!

 

2)      Vancouver Museums – Vancouver has some great museums such as the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Vancouver Maritime Museum, Science World, as well as the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) which is conveniently located directly on campus! Keep your eyes peeled for posters around Tbird and campus, MOA is a hot spot for advisors to host events.

3)      Bloedel Floral Conservatory – Situated atop of Queen Elizabeth Park, this conservatory is a great place to relieve some stress and take a stroll while bird watching and learning about ecology ( a great way to supplement your studies!)

 

5)      Vancouver Indoor Pools – If you don’t want to get wet outside, why not get wet while indoors.  Vancouver has some of the best indoor pools around, and they are a great way to get some exercise or relieve some stress in the hot tubs.  UBC has its own Aquatic Centre which is close to home, and who wouldn’t want to swim in the same water as a former World Record holder.

 

by Jason Luce