The ferry service, which linked the communities of Albion and Fort Langley, began operating in 1957, and offered a free trip for up to 24 cars at a time, every 15 minutes. Averaging 80 trips a day, it was not uncommon to have waits of 4, 5, even up to 8 sailings – a huge amount of time to wait, considering the ride itself was less than 7 minutes.

Enter the Golden Ears Bridge, named after the landmark mountain peaks in the Golden Ears Provincial Park north of the Fraser. Construction began in 2006 for a project that included the 1km bridge span, 12.3kms of 2, 4, and 6-lane mainline roadway, 5kms of off- and on-ramps, 12kms of municipal street upgrades, and 2kms of modifications to existing highway infrastructure. It is certainly more than ‘just a bridge’.

The Completion Celebration that occurred last Sunday was a fantastic opportunity to get a close look at the bridge, and the views it afforded. Organized by Translink, the regional transportation authority and owner of the new bridge, the event anticipated a crowd of 30,000 people. Unfortunately, 50,000 visitors later, the deck had to be closed off at the entrances until some of them left. The total estimate for the day is in the 60,000 range, showing just how excited people were to see the bridge, and enjoy the events that were scheduled for the day.

The events began at 8:30am with a foot race from one end of the bridge to the other, with a bike-pedaling George Tabert, the local pastor who suggested the Golden Ears name, leading the way. Afterwards, crews got to work finishing setting up the 3 stages and event tents. Visitors, traveling from parking areas on the north and south via free Translink shuttles, or walking up the circular pedestrian ramps, were allowed onto the deck at 11am. Concerts and performances took place throughout the day, including a Capoeira performance by Aché Brasil, routines by Blues Brothers too, and Bhangra dancing courtesy of the Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration.

Volunteers were stationed across the bridge to let visitors ‘cut the ribbon’ and collect ‘i made history’ passport stamps. Classic cars from local car clubs were displayed across the bridge, and a number of vendors provided cool treats, hot dogs, and bottled water. Later in the afternoon, visitors could win collectable ‘I Made History’ buttons by doing their best dance or hula-hoop. The atmosphere was completely festive, and was comparable to a day at the PNE, or Cloverdale Rodeo.

By 1pm the crowd had assembled to witness the official ribbon cutting ceremony on the north stage. BC Premiere Gordon Campbell talked about the great things happening in BC, and representatives from each of the connected communities touched briefly on the significance of the bridge. Translink also had a few words to say, as well as the Golden Ears Project Manager. Before cutting the ribbon, the ceremony was blessed by a member of the local Katzie first nations.

At a cost of $808 Million, the bridge is the first in Western Canada to utilize electronic tolling – cameras and sensors record the type of vehicle, and front and back license plates as it drives across. For drivers who will be using the bridge on a frequent basis, a transponder can be leased, which will provide cheaper toll rates, however none of the rates match the free Albion service.

This fact is not lost on the many people who take the ferry – the final sailing is planned for July 31, 2009. Many are still against the toll, pointing out the fact that the free alternative will no longer be available, while others are against the Gateway transportation project in general. They voiced their opinions on the bridge, along with other groups rallying groups.

I personally am very happy to say ‘I Made History’ on the Golden Ears Bridge that day, and was glad to see my sister and nephew show up to have a look. Some have criticized an apparent lack of planning for the event, which were perhaps visible when the crowds became too thick during the ribbon cutting, and people were asked to wait before walking onto the bridge deck. However, for such a highly-publicized, and well-attended, historic, community event, the number of problems (crowding, a few people fainting, and a pregnant woman having contractions) were really insignificant.

Kudos to Translink for a great celebration, and a beautiful new bridge!

If you’d like to see it for yourself, follow the Golden Ears signs at the 176th or 200th street exits on the Transcanada Highway (hwy1) south of the Fraser, or take the Golden Ears Way exit off the Lougheed Highway north of the Fraser (map here). If you’re taking Transit, the new 595 route travels between Langley Centre and Haney Place, stopping at the Walnut Grove Park & Ride and the Maple Meadows WCE Station.

For more shots, be sure to check out my Golden Ears Bridge set on Flickr.

As a bit of background, the new Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre was built as an addition to the existing centre, Canada Place, which was completed just prior to the 1986 World’s Fair, Expo86. Since then, it has held thousands of conventions and exhibitions, and has welcomed millions of cruise ship passengers to our fine city. When Vancouver won the 2010 Winter Olympic bid, it was time to get to work on an addition, with a focus on sustainable practices, and a desire to complement the existing centre.

Designed by Seattle-based LMN Architects, in association with MCM Partnership and DA Architects and Planners (who partnered back in the 80’s to design the iconic ’sail’ roof structure of Canada Place), the West Building plans called for a massive infill on the shores of Coal Harbour – 40% of the building would be built on what was, at the time, nothing more than a bunch of rocks and silt meters under the water. Construction began in 2004, and after a few years, the new peninsula was finally complete, and the building started to grow.

Tripling the conference and exhibition space in the complex, the new Vancouver Convention Centre was built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification standards, and is designated a Powersmart Convention Centre by BC Hydro. The most visible environmentally-friendly feature is the massive six-acre green ‘living roof’, maintained by Holland Landscapers and PWL Partnership, which provides a place for over 400,000 various indigenous plants, along with all the insects and wildlife that discover them (there are even a few bee hives to keep it all going). In addition, the building features a fish habitat built right into the foundations, seawater heating and cooling (similar to Canada Place), grey and black water recycling, and on-site water treatment.

The new VCC building, also referred to as the West Building to differentiate it from the East Building at Canada Place, is surrounded in floor-to-ceiling glass, offering breathtaking views of downtown, Coal Harbour, Burrard Inlet, and the North Shore mountains. The interior walls were inspired by stacks of lumber, which have been a common sight since the birth of the city – the locally-harvested Hemlock boards were assembled into panels by machine. The lighting and other design elements contribute to the festive atmosphere and all work together to complement the interior and exterior views.

Coming in at just under $900 million, the expansion was an estimated 4 hundred million dollars over budget, and proved to be a touchy subject for the politically-minded. The rapid cost increase of an economic slowdown, and the requirement of extra pilings sometime into construction are the key factors. However, it’s difficult to argue the elegance of the structure, and the sheer fact that this building – 1.1 million square feet of space, and the size of 4 city blocks – blends into the waterfront so seamlessly it risks going unnoticed. Magic, I tell you!

Connecting with Canada Place to the east, and surrounded by a continuation of the Seawall (a continuous waterfront recreational path stretching from Coal Harbour all the way around the coastline to Spanish Banks), the new Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project included the creation of Thurlow Plaza, to the west of the centre. If you’re looking for an un-obscured view of the mountains on the North Shore, this is the place. It’s one of the largest outdoor public spaces in the city, and a great spot to visit at night when the walls inside the convention centre glow, and the lights sparkle across the water and on top of Grouse Mountain. It also provides a pretty good vantage point to see the lights of downtown, including the long green-blue strip on Shaw Tower.

When 2010 arrives and the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games come to town, the centre will be host to the International Broadcast Center, inviting an estimated 7,000 broadcasters to cover the Games. Afterwards, a number of public art pieces are said to be installed, and the retail spaces along the seawall will be open to businesses. Can’t wait to grab a coffee on a patio overlooking the harbour.

I wasn’t sure about the building during construction. I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to late-70s spaceship designs, but now that it’s complete, I’ve been won over. Already, I’ve made sure to mention to any visiting friends that this is not a sight to miss. Vancouver through and through, the new Vancouver Convention Centre is an outstanding achievement.

For more shots, be sure to check out my Vancouver Convention Centre set on Flickr.