Emily sings O Holy Night at the Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza

No Air from Jordan Sparks by Emily Paquette

Christmas recital at the Hycroft University Woman's Club November 20th

Hansel and Gretel makes magic for budding opera fans (Article: Georgia Straight)

 

The Vancouver Opera production features strange puppets, innovative orchestration, and an impossibly young creative team

What strikes you about the playful rehearsal for Vancouver Opera’s new Hansel and Gretel—other than the fact it’s no typical, staid run-through—is how young everyone is.

In the studio of the O’Brian Centre for Vancouver Opera, soprano Taylor Pardell’s Gretel is trying to realistically tickle mezzo Pascale Spinney’s Hansel. She does this while singing Engelbert Humperdinck’s lightning-fast “ticka-ticka-tee” melodies.

As they roll around on the ground, director Brenna Corner jumps in, offering tickling advice, and maestro Alex Prior gives notes on the music.

Cont'd.......................Here

English Bay, Vancouver, Canada

Demi Lovato's "Heart Attack" sung by Emily

This was taking in April, 2016 just minutes walk from our place at the heart of English Bay in the West End for the Vancouver Marathon..

Emily Sings "Halo" by Beyonce at the BMO Marathon, Stanley Park

Celebration of Light 2016 Netherlands

The finale from the first night of the Celebration of Light July 2016. The Netherlands dazzles us with a great ending. Notice we spot a UFO during the performance (which we decide is a drone filming the show).

PHOTOS: Amazing shots of British Columbia in this week's Weather Window! https://t.co/oUR3C3kQkY pic.twitter.com/iSAyWe6zMR

— Global BC (@GlobalBC) June 6, 2016

Louis' 60th Birthday & 218 W 5'th Ave Homecoming Party

This past August, I celebrated my 60th. It was sort of odd, because my gals had to be out of town - overseas at the time. So it could have been a lonely celebration, had it not been for my dear friends who came far and wide to be with me that day! From as far east as Winnipeg - as far south as Portland and as far north as Edmonton! (okay - some of these folks just Happened to be in town for other reasons - but it sounded good!). 

These were all my very dear friends I made shortly after moving west from Ontario in the early 1980's! Since then almost all have relocated elsewhere. So this was a great homecoming party as well as a B-day. 

Back then was exciting! We were all at the prime of our lives - BC was booming and the world was our oyster! Ernie's place at 218 West 5th Ave in North Van was the hub of activity! Thanks for creating the ideal party pad for us Ernie! 

My only regret was that a couple of my friends, Denise and her mum Shirley, needed to come and leave before the rest arrived (and stupid me Forgot to take a few pics of them too!! duh!) 

Anyways - it was a lot of fun seeing everyone! Thanks to Ernie, Paul and Ed Vasvary, Denise and Shirley Wright, Christian Soltendieck, and Val Cheer!  

See pics below from the get together....

August 2015 Party Pics

 Christian & Ernie, and me in next pic

 Ernie, Christian & Paul and Ed & Val in background

Strolling the Seawall @ English Bay

 Ernie & Val discussion world politics

Group Mug Shot

Polar Bear Swim, January 1, 2015

Emily promises to participate in the swim next year.

Polar Bear Swim English Bay, Vancouver, BC Jan 1, 2015

New Years Eve Dinner Dec 31, 2014

Christmas 2014

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY - Suzanne, Jeanine, Leanne and Emelia!

At 65, Bobby Orr is focused on doing good — quietly

Alex G Tsakumis:

"This is an absolutely wonderful, feel-good story about the finest man to ever lace up a pair of professional hockey skates. The most complete player to ever play the game, the two times I was privileged enough to meet him remain some of the finest memories I've ever had in my life. This is what an athlete should be. This is what a human being should be. Quite likely one of the finest human beings with which God ever bless this planet. There are no limits to his goodness."

Alex is an awesome local news editor and he posted this in his Facebook today, I just had to share it with everyone. Of course, Bobby's always been my childhood hockey idol being the greatest scoring defenseman in NHL history. But after reading this story, I also want to nominate Bobby for sainthood...

Link to video and story

Foreigner tomorrow night at PNE

 

Each year we have a family tradition near the end of summer, we always go to the PNE for at least one of the concerts they have.

This year, Emily and I will be attending the Foreigner concert Tuesday evening. Sadly, mummy is at work and couldn't get it off. 

"Foreigner are one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time with worldwide sales of nearly 80 million albums,^[2] including 37.5 million albums in the United States alone." Wikipedia
  
 
I was a little disappointed to learn this week the band does not include Lou Gramm, the curly haired lead singer they had most of the time until there were disagreements among band members. This new guy fills in okay but not quite the same.