The main objective of this website is to scout out and promote the things that make Vancouver such a sweet place to be. We do this with an emphasis on the city’s independent spirit to foster a sense of connectedness within and between our communities, and to introduce our readers to the people who grow and cook our food, play the raddest tunes in our better venues, create our most interesting art, and design everything from what we wear to the spaces we inhabit. The Scout List is our carefully considered, first rate agenda of super awesome things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week, from our calendar to yours!

FUSE | Head down to the Vancouver Art Gallery on Friday night to see it transformed into a one-night futuristic party palace. From the VAG: “Welcome to FUSE: 2167, an eclectic array of unexpected happenings and surprise encounters that will send this art-infused night into a time warp, creating an environment where FUSE-goers can ponder the present moment from the imagined vantage of 150 years into the future.” Dig the decidedly different night-time vibe that blends live music, performance art and adult beverage options with an evening of art. All four floors of the Gallery’s current exhibitions will be on view including Claude Monet’s Secret Garden. A glass of wine and some Monet? Sounds like a perfect way to kick off a long weekend!
Fri, June 30 | 8pm-midnight | Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby St.) | $24 | DETAILS

FIELD TRIP | The Steveston Salmon Festival is a fantastic excuse to grab a few friends and trek out to the quaint fishing village of Steveston for the day. There’ll be a pancake breakfast ($8), a parade, a Japanese Cultural show, a craft fair, plenty of live music and the biggest, best, most wonderful salmon BBQ you have ever seen (1,200 pounds of wild salmon grilled over open fire pits). It’s estimated that somewhere in the neighbourhood of 70,000 people will show up, and many of them will be arriving by car. Make it easy on yourself by taking public transit or the festival provided shuttle from Lord Byng Elementary. Get all the details here.
Sat, July 1 | All Day | Steveston | $16 per plate | DETAILS

DISCOVER | Whether you’re new to the city of just interested in brushing up on local history, an Architectural Institute of British Columbia walking tour is a great way to get to know Vancouver. View the personality of the city through the prisms of its landmarks, buildings, structures and streets. Learn about heritage preservation, contemporary and historic architectural styles, the impact urban planning policy has on the evolution of the city, and more. There are six tours in all, each covering a distinct area of the city. Walks include: Chinatown; Gastown; Strathcona; Yaletown; West End; and Downtown — pick one and get walking!
Various days and times | 440 Cambie St. | $10 | DETAILS

ENGAGE | City staff are looking for public feedback on concept and development ideas starting to take shape for the 10th Avenue corridor at an open house this Thursday night. The ‘corridor’ runs along 10th between Quebec St. and Guelph St. in East Vancouver. Whether you live there or not, you may want to bring yourself up to speed on what changes are expected or contribute your own thought(s) on how the neighbourhood could or should develop. Showing up and speaking out is the best way to be heard, so do it!
Thu, June 29 | 4-8pm | Centre Court, Kingsgate Mall, 370 E Broadway | Free | DETAILS

ART | Be Polite opens at the Contemporary Art Gallery this week. This exhibition presents a selection of works on paper (expect drawing, painting, watercolour, poetry, and essays) that provide context for a deeper understanding of the works of Australian artist Gordon Bennett (1955–2014). As the CAG explains: “Paper is the site where imagery, words and ideas often found their first expression before being combined into the large-scale conceptual paintings for which Bennett is known.” Motivation and method are fascinating aspects of the creative process. This show continues until September 24, but opening night goes down this Friday.
Fri, June 30 | 7-9pm | Contemporary Art Gallery (555 Nelson St.) | DETAILS

CANADA DAY | Cruise around the seawall, hit a parade, take the family to The Richmond Night Market, chill out with some live music in Crab Park, or save up your energy until the evening and join the crowds for the fireworks at Canada Place. It’s a busy day! Visit pretty much any park, beach, or community hub and you’ll find a celebration going on. Traffic is going to be thick, so if you’re going out and about make sure to leave your car at home and take instead your most agreeable Canadian disposition.
Sat, July 1 | All Day | Everywhere | Mostly Free 

FREE! | Get this: The Cinematheque is celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary with a full week of Canadian film (and television) all for free! From Glenn Gould and Anne of Green Gables to Degrassi and Jesus of Montreal – there is a lot of ground to cover!
July 1-7 | Various times | The Cinematheque (1131 Howe St.) | $FREE | DETAILS

KIDS | If you’ve got kids, you may not be ready to accept it, but school is out and the full-time job of finding activities to keep little hands busy has begun. This weekend we suggest you hook yourself up with a place in the Puppet Making Workshop at Blim. It’s a little pricy ($91) but participants in this course will learn about theatre and puppetry by exploring the basics of acting, puppetry and the set design. Plus there’s the value of 3 hours of freedom for you to kick around Chinatown on your own.
Sun, July 2 | 1–4pm | Blim (115 E Pender St) | $91 | DETAILS

BRUNCH | It’s summer on a long weekend. Your primary objective should be to kick back and do as much relaxing as possible. Lounge around in bed as long as you can and when you are ready to eat, don’t do it in your house and create a mess you’ll have to clean up. Go out for brunch. For a list of potential locations, check out our Vancouver brunch gameplan here.

ESCAPE | If you’re in need of a summer vacation but can’t manage to slip away from work for a long weekend, consider heading toward Ladner/Delta for a day trip to Westham Island. There’s something so relaxing about the sound of wooden slats under your tires (be they car or bike) as you cross the Westham Island Bridge. On the other side are soft roads lined by long grass and foxgloves, u-pick berry farms and roadside egg and vegetable stands. Don’t miss the on-site ice cream stand at Emma Lea’s – amazing milkshakes and sundaes made with fresh fruit. Westham Island Herb Farm is a great place for peas, potatoes, preserves (and promising little tomato plants). Fit in a walk at Reifel Bird Sanctuary. You’ll feel like you’ve escaped on a country vacation, because you have!
Westham Island Herb Farm | 9-5 Daily | 4690 Kirkland Road | DETAILS
Reifel Bird Sanctuary | 9am- 4pm | 5191 Robertson Road, Delta | $5 | DETAILS
Emma Lea Farms | Daily 8am – 7pm | 2727 Westham Island Road | DETAILS