The scene was blissfully beautiful: a placid expanse of water with patches of lotuses floating here and there, birds swooping and settling, children splashing, adults wading with fishing nets.
Do as Vancouverites do: pack a locally-produced picnic (do not forget the lotuses and Dirty Laundry), negotiate space on a boat, and claim a prime viewing spot on the glassy waters of English Bay to ensure your Vancouver city summer - however languid - goes off with a bang.