Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Canada Day,
July 1
•
British Columbia Day,
first Monday in August
•
Labour Day,
first Monday in September
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Thanksgiving,
second Monday in October
•
Remembrance Day,
November 11 (only banks and government offices are
closed)
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Christmas Day,
December 25
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Boxing Day,
December 26
The spring sports schedule kicks off with a blast from the starter's gun for the
Van-
couver Sun Run
(downtown,604/689-9441,thirdSun.inApr.),a10-kilometer(6.2-mile)
run (or walk) through the streets of downtown. Attracting over 50,000 participants, it is
Canada's largest (and the world's third-largest) such run. The route follows West Georgia
Street to Stanley Park and then Beach Avenue beside English Bay and Pacific Boulevard
tothefinish line atBC Place Stadium with drinks,snacks, andentertainment. Thewinners
complete the course in less than 30 minutes, with the stragglers taking over three hours
(given the party atmosphere, some take up to an hour just to reach the starting line).
A couple of weeks after the annual fun run, serious runners hit the streets for the
Vancouver Marathon
(downtown,604/872-2928,
www.bmovanmarathon.ca
,firstSun.in
May), an internationally accredited marathon (and a qualifier for the Boston Marathon).
Races are held for various distances, including the marathon, half-marathon, and five-
miler. All begin and end at BC Place Stadium, with the marathon following the shoreline
of False Creek, winding through the streets of downtown, then Stanley Park, and crossing
to Kitsilano.
Rodeo isn't usually associated with Vancouver, but each May cowboys from
throughout North America descend on the city for one of western Canada's biggest
rodeos, the
Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair
(Cloverdale, 604/576-9461,
www.cloverdalerodeo.com
, third weekend in May). The rodeo went professional in 1948
and in the mid-1990s combined with a local agricultural fair that was first held in 1888,
guaranteeing big and diverse crowds over the three-day event. The rodeo—saddle bronc,
bareback, and bull riding; steer wrestling; and calf roping—takes place daily at 2:30pm
and7:30pm.Grandstand tickets costfrom$22.Othereventsinclude theagricultural show,
