Get Ready for this Year's CelticFest Vancouver 2006
VANCOUVER - It has been an exciting year at the CelticFest Vancouver Society and Dugg Simpson, the new artistic director, is busy exploring creative ideas and talent for the next festival, which takes place in downtown Vancouver from March 15 to 19, 2006.
 |
|
IRISH DANCERS performed along the route at last year's St. Patrick's Day parade, along with numerous other cultural groups and organizations.
|
Steve McVittie, the parade organizer and owner of The Celtic Treasure Chest, has already begun recruiting new and past parade participants. With a second store recently opened in White Rock, it’s amazing how he finds time to give so much to the St. Patrick’s Day parade and his community.
CelticFest Vancouver is pleased to welcome back the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association as the presenter of CelticFest Vancouver and Western Union to present the St. Patrick's Day parade on March 19.
Other sponsors back this year, include the BC Lottery Corporation; Imperial Parking Corporation; Cadillac Fairview Corp.; Amacon Developments; Granville Island Brewing; Bonnis Properties; ZOOM Airlines; and the Granville Entertainment Group.
CelticFest is also delighted to have Tekton Creative onboard to handle the festival’s creative design and direction, along with Bloom Communications to execute the publicity campaign.
Another new partner this year is the City of Vancouver Cultural Affairs department which has provided the 2006 festival with a celebrations grant. Other important partners include media sponsors: The Vancouver Sun and Province; Global Television; CKNW; and Rock 101; TransLink; and The Celtic Connection newspaper.
The festival's community partners confirmed to date include McDonald's Restaurants; Tom Lee Music; Vancouver Illustrated; Pacific Cinemateque; the Caprice Lounge; Atlantic Trap & Gill; The Celtic Treasure Chest; Rogue Folk Club; Commodore Ballroom; the Vancouver Canucks, Spirit of Vancouver; Irish Sporting & Social Club (ISSC); and the Honorary Irish Consul John Cheevers.
More news: Remember the film When Hockey Came to Belfast, screened at the last festival? The two boys in this film, Paul and Andrew, are coming to Vancouver!
 |
|
SPRINGTIME 2005. Last year's parade was blessed with glorious weather. City dignitaries, including former Mayor of Vancouver Larry Campbell, stood in the reviewing stand under the cherry blossom trees along Granville Street.
|
They will be hosted by the Canucks, who have taken a deep interest in the boys as well as the Belfast Giants Hockey Team. The new owner of the Belfast Hockey team, Jim Yaworski (from Calgary) is flying Paul and Andrew along with their parents to Vancouver to experience the festival and hockey.
The boys represent what the film conveys: how Canadian ice hockey transcends religious lines, bringing Northern Irish youth together in a shared love of the game (Paul is Catholic and Andrew is Protestant).
The boys, their families, Linda Conway (film director), Jim Yaworski and the members of the Canucks team will be making appearances throughout the festival including at Pacific Cinemateque, the parade and ceremony.
The boys will also meet with John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Some events to look forward to in March include: The second annual Brewmasters dinner with Granville Island Brewery's Brewmaster, Vern Lambourne; a limerick slam contest (involving the public at large); a scotch-tasting event (with an edge); a variety of music workshops at Tom Lee Music; a great headliner act (TBA) at the St. Patrick's Day Extravaganza event on March 17 at the Commodore Ballroom.
There's much more talent to be announced later this month when the festival’s program is released. The Weekend Street Market will be set up with a live performance stage on Granville Street between Smithe and Nelson. Applications for vendors and artisits can be downloaded from the website.
BC Hydro Powersmart Outreach will have a cool interactive display in the festival KidsZone area. They will also be in the parade. The KidsZone, sponsored by Imperial Parking will be improved, with more activities and live entertainment such as story-telling, circus acts and much more for kids and families to enjoy over the weekend.
The parade entry costs are still affordable! The corporate entry fee is $500 and non-profit fee is only $50 per organization. Applications can be downloaded from the CelticFest website. Volunteers are also needed to help ensure the safety of the public, if you can help out, visit the CelticFest website at: www.celticfestvancouver.com.
|
