A Collection of Daily Wisdom by Dennis Sylvester Hurd since September 2003.

I really like living in downtown New Westminster. We can't imagine being happier in any other suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia. We feel the sense of community and are sitting in the exact geographical center of the Lower Mainland. Things seem as if they're growing and moving.



On Flickr I created a group named, New Westminster, BC (The Royal City). Apparently other people have digital photos that highlight the subject. Sixty-three others have joined me in uploading photos of New West. In fact, all combined there are now over a thousand of them!

Labels: Flickr, Hayack, New Westminster, parade

Our city's Hyack Festival Parade was today. Now it's billed as The Largest International Parade in Western Canada.

There were something in the neighbourhood of 136 entries this year. That made it several hours long. As usual the 'Seafair Pirates' pulled up the rear exploding their cannon in shock waves that made poodles tremble in fear.

While the parade was en route though, I was thinking how people, similar to crows, like shiny objects. The local students did a fine job but there is certainly something 'showy' about the visitors. Many high school marching bands were up from the US. This video shows a group of Californian students.

With all the flash, I couldn't help but think of the music from the musical Chicago. Then, with a strange twist of fate, a few minutes ago, I watched the song mentioned in the title in HD. The 2002 movie version is on NBC tonight!

Labels: Hayack, HDTV, movies, musical, New Westminster, parade, YouTube

The fireworks were easy to watch from the balcony last night. It really doesn't feel like it this morning, but this weekend is considered the beginning of the summer season here. To celebrate, we are in the middle of a three-day weekend as tomorrow is Victoria Day.

In fact, both this and next weekend are a time of special events in our little city. New Westminster's Hyack Festival has begin and will continue through the end of next weekend which coincides with the Memorial Day weekend in the USA. In fact, a highlight, the International Parade, will take place on the 26th. In that event, many local and British Columbia high school marching bands as well as many from US states participate. The parade is on the local festival circuit. Floats and beauty queens arrive as representatives from summer events such as the Apple Blossom Parade in Wenatchee or the Puyallup parade in Washington State.

I certainly endorse the whole concept of summer! It is a nice feeling to see trees full of green leaves, people wearing fewer clothes, and dusk arriving well after eight at night!

Labels: balcony, fireworks, Hayack, New Westminster, YouTube

It started yesterday. The annual spring festival always begins during the Victoria Day long weekend and runs through the end of the US Memorial Day weekend. It's a tradition in New Westminster.

Probably the most famous and popular event is the Hyack International parade with around 140 entries from around British Columbia, Washington state, and as far afield as California.

The history of the events spring from festivities around May Day. The city likes to boast that this it the longest-running celebration of its type in the Commonwealth. Another deeply-rooted part of the festival is the anvil firing. The anvil battery has fired a 21-gun salute to Queen Victoria since the late 1800's. The Hyack Voluntary Fire Brigade first used anvils because there was a shortage of guns. In colouful costumes, members continue the event tomorrow at noon. The modern version of the festival with its many scheduled, community events started in the early 1970's.

Fireworks were exploded from a barge on the Fraser River last night. Here's an example I photographed from the balcony of the apartment.

Labels: balcony, fireworks, Fraser River, Hayack, New Westminster

Yesterday's Hayak Festival parade was close to 2 hours long!

Labels: Hayack, New Westminster