Yes that was the Push Festival. For la Marea (the tide), they closed off a block of water street from carral to ~abbot and had rotating ~10 minute vignettes in the store fronts, or even outisde the store fronts. It was an innovative show, free but unfortunately over.....
I saw circa over at freddy wood (awesome!) Sound machine at scotia dance festival and floating at arts club (inconsistent, great in some parts, slow in others).
pple here might be interested in 100% vancouver, a locally themed show that has dialogue with regular joes from vancouver. i haven't seen it, but i hear it is engaging.
http://pushfestival.ca/shows/100-vancouver/