2009: My Year in Review

Comments 13 by Rebecca Bollwitt

My year in review was going to consist of several posts that would each feature images and descriptions of all that I have seen, accomplished and valued in 2009. However, I have decided to fit everything into a single entry instead. That’s not to say I didn’t do a lot this year, quite the contrary actually.

Events that made my year….

January 2009
Iowa Roads
Family trip to Iowa, meeting the fabulous Rachael Chatoor for the first time, being a part of Blogger Night at the Opera, hanging out with the Altar Boyz, hosting WordCamp Whistler.

February 2009
Cultus
Covering Winterfest in Surrey, hosting Vancouver’s Twestival Global, speaking at Northern Voice, visiting Duane in Chilliwack at his new house, interviewing Ellen Muth of Dead Like Me, celebrating 3 years of marriage with my man.

March 2009
Russell Peters
Liveblogging from Canucks games, covering the 2009 Juno Awards, interviewing Matthew Barber, interviewing Brett Gaylor of RIP: A Remix Manifesto.

April 2009
Island Weekend
Visiting the Developmental Disabilities Association, speaking at the inaugural Tech Valley Social Club meetup, doing my first car (hybrid) review for Earth Day, having an amazing getaway to the Island with Keira (as she brought Jordy home for the first time), meeting Erica Ehm.

May 2009
Agassiz, BC
Starting at the end of April, taking my first Circle Farm Tour in the Harrison/Agassiz region, taking a plane ride with Westcoast Air, going to the SPCA’s Open House (and wished I had a kitty), interviewing producer / director Todd Hallowell, doing candidate interviews for the Provincial election, hosting my first Bard on the Beach contest, going to San Francisco for WordCamp.

June 2009
Sailboat Trip up Indian Arm
Going on a yacht cruise with Wantsa, taking on a sailboat trip up Indian Arm, publishing a freelance article for Tourism Vancouver (that has since made it to the NBC Olympics website) going kayaking in Deep Cove and Ziplining on Grouse Mountain, heading to Victoria on a blogger press trip.

To say that I have been blessed in 2009 would be a severe understatement. I got to see more family and spend more time with my husband all while growing my business and traveling to all corners of the province, the continent, and the globe. Through it all, I have been able to share each experience online, with my readers — and that what has helped make 2009 even more special.

More events that made my year….

July 2009
Grotto Spa @ Tigh-Na-Mara Resort
Covering Canada Day in Surrey, going on a Girls Island Getaway with Keira, snooping behind the scenes at the City of Vancouver Archives, flying to New York for two days and meeting Mike Dilorenzo of the NHL, covering the Surrey Fusion Festival, covering the Death Cab for Cutie show, getting t a preview tour of the Canada Line before it opened, hosting Blogathon Vancouver 2009.

August 2009
Beach, Punta Cana
Waking up in the Dominican Republic, crossing Capilano Suspension Bridge for the first time ever, doing the Peak to Peak gondola in Whistler, dining at Araxi, and visiting the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, traveling to the Island for a tour of the Cowichan region (and meeting baby water buffalo at Fairburn Farm), starting what would become to be one of my most popular segments – the “Then and Now” photo series.

September 2009
Whistler Mountaineer - N. Vancouver to Whistler
Taking my first train ride on the Whistler Mountaineer, hosting Vancouver Twestival Local, chatting with Sean Horlor of OutTV, having a fantastic getaway with my sister at Sonora Resort, hanging out with George Stroumboulopoulos, covering We Day Vancouver 2009, being named the Best Local Blog in Vancouver.

October 2009
Lions Gate Bridge Photowalk
Hanging out at BarCamp Vancouver 2009, heading out on a photowalk along the Lions Gate Bridge, covering the Vancouver International Film Festival, being a judge at the Thrill the World zombie dance.

November 2009
Bern
Learning more about Movember, going on a fall photowalk, being at the launch of the ABSOLUT Vodka Vancouver bottle in the panorama room atop the Hotel Vancouver, spending almost a week in beautiful, breathtaking and hospitable Switzerland, celebrating the fifth blogaversary of Miss604, being named a finalist for Female Entrepreneur of the Year by the Impact Entrepreneurship Group.

December 2009
Opening Day of the New Seabus
Waking up in Punta Cana once again, getting a tour of the YVR Observation Area, meeting Santa at GE Ice Plaza, baking with Keira, sailing across Burrard Inlet on the bridge of the new Seabus on launch day, snowboarding on Seymour with Jenny, John (who learned to ski), James and Sean on Christmas Day.

Diavolezza - St Moritz

These are just a small sampling of events that made my 2009 memorable. I am truly thankful for the trips I’ve been able to take, the friends that I have made this year, and the difference Miss604.com has been able to make thanks to my dedicated readers.

I’m proud to say that events I organized in 2009 raised over $10,000 for local causes, I gave away about 60 contest prizes (about $5,000 in swag), I built websites for amazing clients including the Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Run Newsroom, and I wrote a book that will be on store shelves in about two weeks.

I feel as though I’ve worked the hardest in my life but what made it all worthwhile was being able to play hard as well. Here’s to a fantastic 2010 — it’ll be a big one of Olympic proportions for sure and I look forward to sharing it with you. Cheers!

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13 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. Kristi FergusonThursday, December 31st, 2009 — 10:08am PST

    Happy New Year Rebecca 🙂

  2. Eileen FisherThursday, December 31st, 2009 — 10:54am PST

    That’s an inspiring list! I’ve loved reading your blog this year & your photos are just fabulous! Happy New Year!

  3. DaveOThursday, December 31st, 2009 — 12:19pm PST

    Stellar year Becks – can’t wait to see what you brew up in 2010.

  4. Alan HawkerThursday, December 31st, 2009 — 12:41pm PST

    Happy New Year!
    I found your blog via twitter sometime in the middle of the year, just before you went to the Dominican Republic and love reading it.
    In nine days time, I will be a Vancouveran (is that the right name) when I land at YVR with my PR. I can’t wait.

  5. Dom RichardsThursday, December 31st, 2009 — 1:13pm PST

    Happy New Year Rebecca.
    I’ve really enjoyed your blog throughout the year. Always an interesting read, great contests and stunning photos.
    Looking forward to 2010.

  6. Nick AmadoThursday, December 31st, 2009 — 2:38pm PST

    Congratulations on a successful year!

  7. 2000 – 2009: My Decade in Review » Vancouver Blog Miss 604 by Rebecca BollwittThursday, December 31st, 2009 — 4:52pm PST

    […] Liveblogging Services « older 2009: My Year in Review […]

  8. MaktaaqThursday, December 31st, 2009 — 4:59pm PST

    Happy new year, Rebecca!

    By the way, what’s your book called?

  9. Miss604Thursday, December 31st, 2009 — 5:02pm PST

    Thank you everyone, all the best to you!

    @Oana it’s “Blogging to Drive Business” – I think it’ll be in Chapters… not sure about a launch party yet 😉

  10. Victor TangFriday, January 1st, 2010 — 2:26pm PST

    happy new year rebecca and all the best! your visit to DDA was definitely a 2009 highlight for us as well!

  11. SherryFriday, January 1st, 2010 — 4:26pm PST

    Happy New Year. I really enjoy your site and visit it at least once a week. Such fabulous photos!

  12. Sean HorlorSaturday, January 2nd, 2010 — 9:09am PST

    Congratulations on such a great year, Rebecca! It was great to meet you in September. All the best for 2010.

  13. Rachael ChatoorSaturday, January 2nd, 2010 — 1:20pm PST

    Happy New Year to you, it was a complete pleasure to meet you this year as well, my world has expanded because of your influence on me. So much so that I also mentioned you in my own Year in Review Blog post! Best to you and John, I know you will both have a very prosperous and busy year and I look forward to more collabs, do-gooding, and Tweet ups! xoxox

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