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F R E E YOUR AIRPORT AND SEA ISLAND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
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MARCH 2005
Lion Dance Ushers In Year Of The Rooster ast month, the Merchants at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) celebrated the start of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese Lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, with the New Year falling anywhere between late January and the middle of February— this year’s start was February 9. The calendar is made up of five cycles of 12 years with each of the 12 years named after an animal.
L The Chinese New Year celebration at YVR combined art, history and Kung Fu in the lion dance performance. According to the Chinese astrological calendar, the sign of the Rooster indicates a person who is hard-working and decisive.
Jetsgo Expands Western Canada Schedule eginning April 14, Jetsgo will expand its Western Canada schedule by introducing 12 daily Vancouver to Calgary flights, adding Regina to its network, and increasing capacity on existing routes. Vancouver-Calgary will be served by 10 daily non-stop flights, with a schedule designed for the business traveller. Nonstop departure times from Vancouver will be 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Calgary non-stop departures will be 7:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Additional capacity will be added to three existing routes. VancouverEdmonton will move to eight daily flights from the current two, while VancouverWinnipeg and Vancouver-Prince George will be increased to four daily flights from two. To promote the new routes, Jetsgo is offering $1 one-way fares with the purchase of a return ticket at regular low fares from Vancouver to Kelowna, Prince George, Edmonton, Calgary or Winnipeg. Taxes and surcharges apply. The sale runs until March 15. Full details are available at www.jetsgo.net.
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The Year of the Rooster was ushered in at YVR with a performance of the traditional lion dance by students of Lok’s Martial Art Studio in Richmond. Performing the lion dance is an important tradition in Chinese culture and is used to chase away evil spirits and open the door to blessings of health, happiness, wealth and prosperity. It is traditionally performed by two dancers, one at the head and the other at the tail of the ‘lion.’
The ceremony began at the Haida Gwaii in the International Terminal and proceeded to airline counters and concessions. The climax of the performance was the Choi Cheng or ‘Picking the Green’—heads of romaine lettuce hanging in front of the stores and airline counters. The act of eating and dispersing the lettuce leaves by lion dancers symbolized the distribution of wealth and good fortune to those present.
YVR Golf For Kids And Cathay Pacific Aid Tsunami Relief Efforts VR Golf for Kids has made a donation of $5,000 to UNICEF Canada on behalf of Cathay Pacific Airways in aid of tsunami relief efforts. This donation will see matching funds, provided by the Federal Government and, through UNICEF Canada, support children affected by the tsunami. “Cathay Pacific Airways has long been a supporter of YVR Golf for Kids through the donation of gifts in kind, airline tickets and staff participation,” said Raymond Segat, cochair of YVR Golf for Kids. “Our Board of Directors is pleased to contribute $5,000 to UNICEF Canada on their behalf. This donation is in part recognition of Cathay Pacific’s many years of support of YVR Golf for Kids and our joint efforts in raising funds for children’s charities.” This donation marks the first 2005 contribution by YVR Golf for Kids for the benefit of
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The top picture shows the location of the engine run-up pad in relation to the airport, and the bottom picture is a close-up of the pad showing its proximity to the ocean.
Celebrating the donation are, left to right, Martin Mahkovich, CLS, Peter Ho, Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, Brian Flagel, Canada Border Services Agency, Raymond Segat, Airport Authority, and Philippe Lacamp and Robert Antoniuk of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited. children’s needs. “We are delighted that YVR Golf for Kids has contributed this donation on behalf of Cathay Pacific to UNICEF; a very worthy organization,” said Philippe Lacamp, vice president, Canada, Cathay Pacific Airways. “YVR has
been home to Cathay Pacific since 1983, when the airline introduced the first non-stop service from YVR to Hong Kong, and we take our role as a member of the community SEE GOLF FOR KIDS, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
New Engine Run-Up Pad Up And Running ancouver International Airport Authority has officially opened a new engine run-up area at the western edge of Sea Island. The 63,000-square-metre concrete run-up pad will provide a safe location for full power engine tests for aircraft, and allow much of the associated noise to be directed toward the ocean and away from neighbouring communities. “The opening of the new dedicated engine
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SEE RUN-UP PAD, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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