SNAP THAT: Flyover Canada

The other day I met a friend down by the Waterfront.

I took the SkyTrain as I was running late.

On the platform catching the train to Waterfront Station.

On the ride to town I saw a few interesting sights for locals and tourists alike.


Science World (the globe).

Click on Science World link above for more information if interested.

As we head northwest, I am looking westward towards False Creek

The building with "spikes" out the top is the stadium called BC Place. Smaller dome on right is "Rogers"

The BC Place is where big concerts are held and also sports like hockey, football or soccer. It seats 54, 320 people.

It opened in June 1983 and has been the main venue for world events such as Pope John Paul IIs visit to Vancouver (1984) and the Winter Olympics of 2010. The stadium underwent massive renovations which included the installation of a retractable roof.

Rogers Arena is just to the right of BC Place in the above photo and is another key venue for major concerts and sporting events. It opened in 1995 under the name, General Motors Place. In 2010, General Motors naming rights ended and sponsorship assumed by Rogers Communications. The arena is the home of the major league hockey team, the Vancouver Canucks and formerly to the National Basketball Association team, the Vancouver Grizzlies from 1995 to 2001.

The dirt in the foreground is being levelled. I've no idea what will be built. Probably a condo.

I asked my friend to meet me at Waterfront Station so we could go to Canada Place together.

She wanted to treat me to a

tourist experience called "Flyover Canada".

Canada Place which you see in the photo below used to be the main, convention centre for the city but now we have a new one which is located to the west of Canada Place (I didn't get a photo today).

The tower in the photo houses the Pan Pacific Hotel. The hotel has housed many famous people such as President Clinton and a host of others.

There were a lot of tourists out and about on Wednesday.

Flyover Canada is a multi media experience.

the name suggests that you will experience Canada but both my friend and I were rather disappointed. She is

Tanzanian and I am a Canadian and neither of us felt that the film gives a good overview and insight as to what Canada is.

One would expect at least a brief photo of key cities and important places in Canada.

That was almost entirely missing!

Also there was absolutely no mention or photo of First Nations or Aboriginal peoples.

There was like a 2 second sound bite of First Nations drummers as one "flew over" 2 dug out canoes which could easily be mistaken for something else.

Now it wasn't a total loss. I did enjoy the flyover where we were strapped into seats and treated to a simulated flying experience. A few times when going over rapids or glacial field we were treated to a fine mist of water as we "flew" over. That was kinda cool.

But over all the images presented did not do justice either in duration of time or in selection of images.

The experience was only about 20 minutes.

Prior to the flight we were treated to a 6 minute film with no narration or explanation of what we were looking at. Much of it was not relevant in my opinion.

Final complaint is that there is absolutely no signage anywhere that tells a person with disabilities or mobility issues,

that they will have to climb 3 long flights of stairs to get to the top.

Neither do you have time to explain to anyone or ask anyone once you get in line and start moving forward. There are no elevators or escalators anywhere and the few staff on hand run ahead and rush everyone along.

I'm lucky I can climb these days but going up so many stairs and then down so many and again more stairs to get out of the back of the convention centre were starting to take their toll on me.

I was not happy.

I made inquiries on the way out.

they said yes they do have an elevator and a wheelchair but you must tell them in advance.

It would be nice to know that in advance. Further it would be more important that they let people know that stairs are going to be climbed. I had no idea this was the case until we were rushed inside and the staff ran ahead so I couldn't ask him anything.

Anyway, I'm not complaining too loudly. My friend was treating me and I really did enjoy it and her company. I noted the deficiencies because my friend asked for my opinion. It turns out she felt the same way.

Also, I was shocked at the number of stairs without any signage. I managed okay but I am more concerned about visitors and locals being caught in the situation of not being able to see the show and then getting caught up in ill feelings as they have to wait for help and so on.

It is a shame in this day and age that companies that do so much business are not better prepared to deal with all the different kinds of tourists that want to participate. It is also a pity that they couldn't do a better job of representing what Canada looks like in all it's fullness and have a little more meaningful portrayal of the country though I certainly do realize they cannot do it all. Some 'tweaks' would be advisable.

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After the event I suggested to my friend that we catch the sea bus to North Vancouver.

We did but we didn't get a good window seat going or coming. I did manage these photos on the return trip.

You will see a cruise ship in the dock and also a helijet on the way to the provincial capital of Victoria, BC.

The sea bus on the way to North Vancouver had much bigger windows that the one on the return trip.

I was famished as by now it was mid afternoon. I had calamari and Greek salad. Delicious!

I end with a few more photos down at Vancouver waterfront. I didn't get photos in North Vancouver other than my lunch as by then my phone was losing juice.