Andrew Fleming, an openly gay film and television director, discusses the challenges he faced with his latest comedy feature, 'Ideal Home', starring Paul Rudd and Steve Coogan. Despite his extensive career, Fleming encountered resistance from major film festivals and distributors, who rejected the film for its portrayal of a gay couple. Fleming reflects on the social implications of this rejection, noting that while his film was declined by mainstream festivals, it was embraced by gay film festivals. He argues that the discomfort some may feel towards the film's 'gayness' is a form of homophobia, whether external or internalized. Fleming emphasizes the importance of representing real gay relationships and experiences in media, and despite the difficulties, he remains proud of 'Ideal Home' and the positive reception it has received at gay film festivals.

On March 4, 1971, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, then Prime Minister of Canada, married Margaret Sinclair in a secret ceremony at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in North Vancouver. Trudeau was 51 and Sinclair was 22 at the time. The secrecy was maintained by Trudeau pretending to go on a ski trip and Sinclair telling her family they were gathering for a family portrait. The wedding was delayed due to Trudeau's sister being unable to attend because of a snowstorm. The couple honeymooned in Whistler and had three sons during their 13-year marriage. Their son Justin is currently the leader of the Liberal Party and is seeking to become Canada's 23rd prime minister.

The Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley, an annual 800-km bicycle ride fundraiser, is nearing its $525,000 target, having raised $363,644 so far. The event, now in its 20th year, supports childhood cancer research and services like Camp Goodtimes through the Canadian Cancer Society. Participants include police, paramedics, and other emergency service providers. Delta Police Const. Jeremy Pearce, whose mother is battling cancer, and Const. Karrie Graham, who donated her hair for wigs, are among the riders. The initiative began in 1994 when Edmonton Police sergeant Gary Goulet shaved his head in support of a young cancer patient. Since 1997, Cops for Cancer has raised $42 million for pediatric cancer research in Canada.

The opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics were marked by a tribute to Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who tragically died during a practice run. The ceremonies, orchestrated by David Atkins with a budget significantly less than that of the Beijing 2008 Games, were watched by an estimated two-thirds of Canadians. Despite a technical glitch with the Olympic cauldron, the event concluded with Wayne Gretzky lighting the official cauldron after an eventful journey through the streets.

Au Lac is a catering company specializing in vegetarian Vietnamese cuisine. The company emphasizes the health benefits of their dishes, highlighting that they are made with nutritious ingredients. Au Lac offers services for parties and events, ensuring that their food is not only fresh and healthy but also delicious. They encourage potential customers to contact them via phone or email for their catering needs, promising to save them time and money while aiming to impress with their flavorful offerings. The company's mission is to share the taste of their dishes with the world.

Vancouver residents have welcomed the return of rain after weeks of dry weather, which has provided some relief from the recent severe heat and helped clear smoke from numerous wildfires in the area. British Columbia is currently experiencing around 270 wildfires, with significant communities like Merritt, Kamloops, and Vernon under evacuation orders or alerts. The province has faced over 1,500 fires this year, a significant increase from 2020. The main highway connecting the Lower Mainland to the rest of Canada is also closed due to the fires.

Dave Weston, a supervisor at the Vancouver Harbour Air Control Tower, discusses the common misconception that the Harbour Centre is the air traffic control hub, when in fact, the actual control tower is atop the Granville Square building. The facility, operated by Nav Canada, is the world's tallest air control tower and is crucial for visually managing air traffic above Vancouver. The tower oversees more than 50,000 flights annually within a specific airspace. Andrew Worthington, a former air traffic controller at a different center, now enjoys the benefits of working at the waterfront facility with its unique views and lifestyle advantages.

Gord Downie, the lead singer of The Tragically Hip, celebrated his 51st birthday by performing in Vancouver. The band is currently on a North American tour, playing their 1992 album 'Fully Completely' in its entirety, rather than promoting new material. The article reminisces about the band's rise to fame in Canada and their uniquely Canadian content. It also describes the concert experience, noting Downie's energetic performance and the band's interaction with the audience. The Tragically Hip, consisting of members Paul Langlois, Rob Baker, Gord Sinclair, and Johnny Fay, received a positive response from the crowd, indicating their lasting appeal.

The article discusses the completion of seismic upgrades at École Jules Quesnel and Laura Secord Elementary in Vancouver, Canada. These renovations were undertaken to make the schools safer in the event of an earthquake. École Jules Quesnel received upgrades to classrooms and exterior walls, while Laura Secord Elementary underwent more extensive renovations, including the addition of shearwalls and foundation strengthening. John Murnane, the Vancouver School Board's manager of facilities, emphasized the comprehensive nature of the upgrades. The article also mentions the broader seismic upgrade initiative in British Columbia, which has been ongoing since 2004, with a commitment of $1.5 billion over 15 years. Patti Bacchus, chair of the school board, expressed urgency in accelerating the approval and funding for upgrades, citing the catastrophic risk of earthquake damage to older schools.

The article discusses the naming of parks in Vancouver, highlighting that despite the presence of bald eagles, no parks are named after them. Instead, parks are named after other birds, such as the Pigeon and the Bobolink. Bobolink Park, named after nearby Bobolink Avenue, is unlikely to see its namesake bird, which is a medium-sized songbird that migrates long distances but is rarely seen in Vancouver. The park was opened in 1956 and includes various recreational facilities. The article also touches on the origin of the street's name, which may be linked to a British golf course, and the etymology of 'Bobolink', an onomatopoeia for the bird's call.