Surrey - Venue City

Well I'm not sure what a venue city is but it appears that Holland Park in Surrey is the hub of free Olympic activities. They have tents set up full of free music, large big screens to watch Olympic news and events and they have food pavilions galore like the PNE: http://www.surrey2010.com/

You don't have to be rich to attend any of this free entertainment. No doubt the Cypress venue would have benefited from opening up concessions to more than one contractor. The new day lodge is busy feeding all the staff, athletes and security. Having another huge tent set up like a food court with many different choices from many different vendors like the old food pavilion at the PNE sure would have helped feed the masses of spectators attending events there. Imagine having one booth feed 10 thousand people and you can visualize some of the challenges those employees face.The problem is there are only a few events at Cypress so staffing that many pavilions on a sporadic basis would also be problematic.

Surrey House at Holland Park is the place for free loud music but they also have several other booths including First Nations Village and a cultural pavilion to express the city's diversity. They had a real dug out canoe they made two years ago at the Surrey Arts Centre. Someone from Kla-How-Eya was there explaining how they carved it out and how they steamed and stretched the sides. It was very impressive. As was the traditional drums they demonstrated. This is another example of some of the positive energy out there engulfing the city. http://www.surrey.ca/Inside+City+Hall/Your+Mayor+and+Council/Cultural+Capital/2008+Projects/Kla+How+Eya+Canoe+A+Learning+Journey.htm

Obviously Yaletown has the biggest venues. I'm sure Bob Marley's son's event will have huge line ups. The overcrowded stage push at Yaletown when many were injured was unfortunate indeed. People need to use their brain and not rush the stage with a packed crowd. Like at any concert, that is how people get hurt.

Robson square seems to be another hub of positive activity. I'm thrilled to hear the outdoor skating rink has returned. The Olympic Flame at Pacific Centre and the light show and fireworks at English bay are more sites to see. All free events. You don't have to be rich to attend any of them. Like any carnival or festival it can be a great experience for people respectful and positive.