Today marks the first day of the Year of the Dragon which is considered to be the luckiest year in the Chinese Zodiac. The Dragon symbolizes good fortune in the areas of health and wealth as well as a long, prosperous life.

To celebrate, we started the day with an opening ceremony and traditional Chinese New Year Lion Dance which took place in front of the Haida Gwaii, Spirit of the Jade Canoe. The Lion Dance moved its way through the terminals, visiting our business partners and exchanging heads of lettuce for red envelopes.

The party wasn’t just before security though. The International Terminal was awash with red and gold decorations after security and passengers gathered around for photos with the hanging banners and bamboo archways.

Aldeasa, YVR’s duty free operator, got into the spirit and offered passengers red envelopes filled with chocolate coins. For a limited time, passengers have access to limited edition New Year products such as Swarovski crystal dragons, fragrances and candy.

For more information about Duty Free specials at YVR, visit our website http://www.yvr.ca

Gung Hay Fat Choy! We wish everyone a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year and 2012!

A ribbon is cut at the official opening of the GRE

Last April we broke ground on YVR’s south side and began construction on Canada’s first Ground Run-Up Enclosure (GRE). Today we are proud to officially open the facility.

The GRE is a massive three-sided steel facility that will reduce noise from engine run-ups conducted as part of regular aircraft maintenance. This five-story building will cut engine run-up noise heard in nearby residential neighbourhoods by up to half! And its benefits extend beyond noise reduction for the community. Airport South operators will see significant environmental and business benefits.  Operators no longer have to taxi over to the designated run-up area at the far end of the south runway, which will save time, fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And during winter conditions, Airport South operators will have a dedicated de-icing facility for controlled glycol recovery and containment.

At the opening event (from L-R): YVR's Anne Murray, VP Community & Environmental Affairs, Larry Berg, President & CEO and Mary Jordan, Chair of the Board.

So essentially, by opening our GRE, the community, our partners and the environment all benefit!
A few GRE facts:

• The enclosure’s north and west walls stand 11 metres high and the south wall is 15 metres high to provide additional noise reduction for the closest neighbouring communities
• The GRE has approximately 1950 sound absorptive panels, each about 6” thick
• The primary users of the GRE will be Airport South maintenance operators testing propeller aircraft such as Dash-8, Beech 1900, Saab 340, Otter and Metroliners
• The majority of YVR’s engine run-up noise complaints are related to propeller aircraft, which constitute 65 per cent of runs-ups at YVR

We’ve shown lots of pictures of the GRE during construction and now here are a few of the completed structure!  Want to see more? View a fly over of the GRE  and check it out in-person at the viewing platform, accessible via the South Terminal parking lot, complete with telescopes, information panels and a great view!

Get out your jerseys, foam fingers and watch your blind side when travelling through YVR because there’s some serious Grey Cup fandemonium happening in-terminal.

The 99^th annual Grey Cup Championship Game is set for kick-off on Sunday, November 27th and we’re already seeing people arrive in Vancouver. As football fans travel through YVR, they’re greeted by friendly Grey Cup Volunteers who are on hand to answer any questions and point people in the right direction.

But it’s not just the fans who are ready for the game.  This year our tenants have helped bring the Grey Cup spirit into the airport. For example, WestJet has transformed its check-in area into a virtual football field with goal posts on both ends of its 17- by 40-foot field. Official Grey Cup merchandise is available at retail carts located in the Domestic Terminal, before security on Level 3 and after security at Gate A1.

If you’re travelling during the game, or looking for somewhere to watch it along the Canada Line with your buddies, YVR has several spots for drinking, dining and cheering both before and after security.

Before Security:

• White Spot, Domestic Terminal, Level 3.
• Koho Restaurant & Bar, International Terminal, Level 3
• Jetside Bar at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport, International Terminal, Level 3
• Stanley’s Happy Landing Lounge, Domestic Terminal, Level 2
• Big Board, International Terminal Food Court, Level 3

After Security:

• Palomino Bar, Gate A3
• Milestone’s Restaurant, Gate D53
• Voyages Bar; Gate E85
• Pacific Grill, Gate E82
• Monk’s Grill, Gate C45

And be sure to check out these Grey Cup specials on November 27:

A Lean Beef Burger with Fries and a Pint of Canadian for $14.99 at Pacific Grill

A Legendary Burger with Fries and Caesar Salad at White Spot with a Nat Bailey Pale Ale for $17.99

A Milestone’s beef burger and fries with a Pint of Canadian for $19.99 at Milestones and Palomino Bar

Don’t miss your chance to save big before the holidays with YVR’s Fall Warehouse Sale. This blow-out sale is located in the East Concourse, U.S. Departures Terminal, Level 3 (beneath the Fairmont) and is happening today only (November 15), between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Save on gifts, apparel, toys, watches and much more.

For Olympic memorabilia collectors, now is your chance to purchase YVR’s 2010 Winter Olympics banners in various sports designs, sizes, and materials.  Banners are $10 each and all proceeds benefit Quest Food Exchange.

It’s hard to believe that just 80 days ago we welcomed Port Alberni native Jaeger Mah as the special Live@YVR live-in storyteller.

But it’s true: tomorrow, we’ll bid Jaeger adieu as he leaves YVR’s Sea Island home for the first time in 80 days.

As part of his Live@YVR assignment to live at YVR, sleep at The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel and share the stories of Canada’s second busiest airport with the world, Jaeger’s affable personality (and bright Hawaiian shirts) helped him forge many a friendship amongst the more than 23,600 people who come to work at YVR every day.

If you haven’t been following Jaeger’s journey at www.liveatyvr.ca, here are a few of the many highlights that have made us laugh and learn:

•   Know what a runway safety check is? Watch as Jaeger goes on the airfield and assists our crew.
•  Have you ever wanted to jump on your suitcase once it’s checked-in and follow it to the aircraft? See Jaeger explore the baggage system.
•  Sugar craving? Jaeger gets sweet when he meets the Queen Bee.
• Want to watch Jaeger get schooled? Check it out as he finds a few BFFs in these future aviators.
•  Look up…. Waaaay up as Jaeger conquers the control tower.

And there’s plenty more. View all of Jaeger’s blogs and videos online at www.liveatyvr.ca or on Facebook & Twitter.

Come wish Jaeger farewell and good luck tomorrow at 10 AM at The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, the Jade Canoe sculpture on Departures Level 3 of the International Terminal Building.

There were spooky sights all over the Lower Mainland yesterday and YVR was no exception. We hosted our annual Halloween Pumpkin Carving and Costume Contest, inviting both the public and airport community to participate in the events. We called for spooktacular and that’s exactly what we got.

The event was well attended by the public and airport community who came out to cheer on their friends and coworkers. Spectators enjoyed lunch specials as part of the festivities, while Live@YVR resident Jaeger Mah kept everyone’s energy level high as Master of Ceremonies.

Prizes were awarded for both the carving and costume contests, with some pretty large stakes at hand. First place winners received an Apple iPad 2 while second and third place winners took home $200 and $100 YVR Bucks respectively.

A total of 65 contestants showed off their carving skills by submitting their pre-carved pumpkins, which looked more like works of art than your everyday jack-o-lantern. We saw tigers, skeletons and some angry looking birds. Even our very own Live@YVR resident Jaeger Mah was carved into pumpkin!

The first place winner was Michael Valeroso from BCIT Aerospace for his Frankenstein pumpkin, dripping blood and mushy brains included. In second place was Crystal Yamamoto from Securigaurd, for her realistic carving of a Tiger, and third place went to the Marquise Facilities team for the iPhone classic game, Angry Birds.

The costume contest proved to be very popular this year with 65 entries. First place was stolen (well… awarded by the judges) by a very realistic Captain Jack Sparrow, while second place was given to Scorpion from Mortal Combat and third place went to the Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz.

Congratulations and thank you to all the contestants for putting such effort and imagination into your creations, and a big thanks to the airport community for coming out and cheering everyone on. You have exactly 365 days (it’s a leap year) to strategize on next years costume & pumpkin.

Hi, Marcus here!

The YVR school program, which takes grade 5 classes on a fact-filled field trip around the airport, started this week.

As tour guides we have had to memorize scripts, facts and figures. We got here two weeks ago without knowing a thing about the airport. Luckily, with the assistance of the amazing communications team at YVR, all three of us have touched the ground running. I am happy and proud to say that my partners and I have given our first set of tours without skipping a beat.

The classes that we have guided through the airport have been more than enthusiastic. We have had question after question pour in. I even had one child who was an airport keener and knew all the statistics before I even spouted them out.

My favorite part of being a tour guide has been the ability to create smiling faces, while introducing the children to important information.

From your tour guides here at YVR,thank for coming out and we can’t wait to meet the rest of you.

Marcus

It’s the day we’ve all been waiting for, tomorrow is moving day for Jaeger Mah! Jaeger, who won a contest to become YVR’s live-in storyteller for 80 days, will land at YVR at 10 a.m. and officially begin his assignment.

We invite you to come meet Jaeger in person and welcome him to his new home. London Air Services is treating him to a bird’s eye view of Sea Island from a Learjet 45 XR. It will land at YVR at 10:00am and taxi to a gate in front of the Public Observation Area. Once he’s been officially welcomed on the tarmac, he’ll head to the Haida Gwaii sculpture in the International Terminal, on the Departures Level, and make himself comfortable in a living room that has been specially built for tomorrow.

Grab a coffee and chat with Jaeger in his living room between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and let him know what stories you’d like to hear him tell.

If you’re unable to make it out tomorrow to meet him don’t worry – he’ll be cruising around the airport, most likely in his trademark bright Hawaiian shirts, for the next 80 days uncovering the stories of YVR. Feel free to stop him if you see him and say hi, and follow his journey on Twitter, Facebook & Live@YVR.

So we knew that coming to Live@YVR for 80 days was a pretty cool opportunity. But what we didn’t know was how great the response would be!

Since the Live@YVR contest was launched last month, 96 hopeful storytellers from across British Columbia – we’re talking Prince George to Penticton – submitted their video entries for the chance to become our special correspondent. 

Five fabulous finalists have been chosen – and now it’s your turn to vote your favourite onto YVR’s Sea Island home.

The public has until August 5 to vote online at www.liveatyvr.ca – in the past three days alone we’ve had almost 3,000 votes.

The winning entrant will begin his or her assignment on August 17 and will move into The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel, experience YVR from a whole new point of view and share these stories with you through videos, tweets and blogs.

Here are the five finalists selected:

• Carrie Dymond (“The Dance”), 36, Vancouver, B.C.
• Christopher Jordan Lee (“Chris Lee at the Tool Library!”), 22, Maple Ridge, B.C.
• Jaeger Mah  (“The HEART of YVR!”), 29, Vancouver, B.C. (
• Marelle Reid (“Circus School”), 29, Coquitlam, B.C.
• Sarah Szloboda (“Sorry YVR I Tried!”), 24, Vancouver, B.C.

Who’s your favourite? Watch their final videos and cast your vote at www.liveatyvr.ca.

Photo from Vancouver Airport Archives

July 22, 1931 has a special meaning at YVR. It’s our opening day, meaning that this week YVR turns 80!

That’s right… 80 years! In recognition of our 80^th anniversary this Friday, we’re hoping you’ll join us and don a party pilot hat (say that three times fast and you’ll receive one when you arrive) during a free community open house this Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Original ticket belonging to Al Miller - generously loaned to YVR for its 80th anniversary

This is a huge birthday celebration – done airport style! We’ve got DJs, live entertainers, commemorative giveaways, a historic photo gallery, vintage aircraft and even an airside ballet (intrigued?).

Over the past 80 years, we’ve marked many landmarks.  And we’re taking one long walk down memory lane to remember them as part of an 80 Memorable Moments photo gallery throughout the Domestic, International and South Terminals.

The action is not limited to inside the terminals, either. At 11 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, our emergency and airfield trucks will perform a ballet like you’ve never seen before – check it out from our Public Observation Area.

Photo credit: Gordon Irons Photos - courtesy of Harry Pride

And if you’re ‘all about the metal’ you’ll want to check out the vintage aircraft display at the South Terminal Friday and Saturday. The aircraft will be visible from the South Terminal outdoor viewing platform (yes… that’s right, it’s brand new and almost complete!) and complimentary shuttle buses will transport visitors between the Main and South Terminal.

If all that wasn’t enough of a party: we’re handing out an 80^th Anniversary Grand Prize, to boot. Pick up an Event Guide for a ballot and hop aboard the shuttle bus to the South Terminal for the chance to win a two-night stay in a Deluxe room at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport, and $200 YVR bucks to spend at any YVR retailer.

I’m sure you’re saying to yourself, “All these celebrations sound great, but how will I get there???” We encourage all visitors to hop on the Canada Line, but if you choose to drive, $5 flat-rate parking coupons (for a four-hour maximum visit at any of our Main Terminal self-park lots) will be available at Customer Care counters throughout the Main Terminal, while supplies last.

For complete YVR 80^th Anniversary details and schedules visit our website.