Community Events – February 1, 2019

What’s happening in your community in February?  

February’s Vancouver calendar features important dates and events in the Lower Mainland including shows, concerts, spring festivals, markets and events.

Link to February events around the GVRD:  https://www.tourismvancouver.com/events/calendar-of-events/vancouver-events-in-february/

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Caramel Coffee House and Social Club|Recurring Event (See all)

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A Dam-Goode Friendship

Friday, February 15th, 2019  1:00 – 2:30 pm

3223 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C.

Free Workshop

Email: tinagdam@gmail.com for more information

Persisting Pain and How to Manage Your Chronic Pain

Tuesday, February 19, 2019 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Vancouver Public Library – Renfrew Branch

2969 E 22 Avenue, Vancouver, BC

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Vancouver, Surrey to offer free test rides in driverless shuttles in February

Driverless cars may be a way off yet in Canada, but Metro Vancouver residents curious about the technology will soon get a chance to try it out.

A driverless shuttle will be taking passengers on free, short rides in Vancouver and Surrey next month, as a part of the two cities’ joint entry in the Smart City Challenge, a federal competition with a $50-million prize aimed at fostering innovation in municipalities.

The initiative is meant to act as a proof of concept for a pair of future driverless vehicle corridors that could be built with the the $50 million prize money, should the Vancouver-Surrey entry win the competition.

The Surrey corridor is envisioned as a 3.4-kilometre route between Surrey Memorial Hospital and a major transit hub.  The Vancouver corridor would be a two-kilometre route between Granville Island and Science World.

“This is the first time that autonomous vehicles are being considered for large-scale use in the Lower Mainland. Together, Surrey and Vancouver are setting the standard for other cities in Canada to follow our lead on smarter streets,” states the initiative’s website.

Anyone looking to hitch a ride on the smart shuttles will have to make an online booking.

The shuttles will be active in Surrey Feb. 1-4, 6, 9, 10, and 13-17, operating from the Surrey Civic Plaza at 13450 104 Ave. for five-minute rides.

WATCH: Federal government to provide $500,000 funding for driverless vehicle projects (June, 2018)

In Vancouver, the shuttles will be active from Feb. 23 to Mar. 3, offering 15-minute rides.

The shuttle will operate on a one-kilometre stretch of West 1st Avenue between the Olympic Village Train Station parking lot and the northwest corner of Manitoba and West 1st Avenue.

You can find out more about Vancouver and Surrey’s Smart City Challenge bid here.

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