The globally celebrated annual idea conference TED2016 comes to Vancouver (February 14-19) with a call to world’s innovators to DREAM. Wines of Chile will be onsite to spark discourse about Chile’s own dream for sustainability and diversity in the wine industry, and I am honoured to be their social media ambassador in attendance.

Wines of Chile will invite TED2016 attendees to consider how sustainability, if practiced on a global scale, could positively impact planet Earth.

Wines of Chile at TED2016 in Vancouver

A series of interactive workshops and dedicated wine events will be hosted by Wines of Chile throughout the conference to share the best practices in winemaking, including behind the scenes details on the sustainable certification process and hands-on learning. Ten Chilean wineries will present wines, soil and barrel samples, and varieties for a tasting and education station led by wine experts from Chile.

An Education Station will be presented by Wines of Chile with three parts: Framework – exploring the rigorous processes each winery must go through in order to become certified sustainable in Chile; Groundwork – discovering first- hand the tapestry of soils that give Chile its winemaking diversity; and Craftsmanship – learning the art of the blend by becoming ‘winemakers’ and blending barrel samples to taste and compare against top winemakers’ blends.

The Education Station invites attendees to learn why worldwide sustainable winemaking would truly be a dream and how the code used in Chile could be used as a model for other regions. The hands-on experience will share with attendees the new heights which Chilean winemakers are going to in order to perfect their wines, and will immerse participants in terroir, dream soils which nurture different grape varieties, and the alchemy of winemaking – experience firsthand the taste, aroma and texture that different grapes yield when well blended.

“Creativity and innovation are revolutionizing Chile’s wines, and propelled Wines of Chile to join TED2016. TED, a leader in revolutionary ideas, mirrors our vision of how to evolve,” says Wines of Chile Managing Director Claudio Cilveti. “Chile shares TED’s vision of leading with impactful ideas and will bring the culture of wine as a point of discussion to the TED conference. Everything happens very quickly in our world today and one cannot just wait and follow others’ lead. The future is upon us, and Wines of Chile is excited to engage the TED conference in a dialogue about the future of wine.”

How to Follow Along

I will be providing updates on the Wines of Chile accounts, here’s how you can follow:

• On Twitter: @drinkChile with the tags #WinesWorthSharing and #ThinkTedDrinkChile
• On Facebook: Wines of Chile
• On Instagram: @DrinkChile with the tags #WinesWorthSharing and #ThinkTedDrinkChile

The official tag for following TED Talks in Vancouver is #TED2016.

This post has been contributed by Michael Murray, Communications Volunteer with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”). I have been following SPES since I moved into the West End a decade ago and I have been a member for three years. I wanted to offer the team an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I have created “SPES Saturday” where they contribute and share stories with my audience once a month.

A Who’s Hoooo: Owls in Stanley Park

By Michael Murray, SPES Communications Volunteer

Barred Owl (Photo: Milva De Siena)

“Who’s awake? Me, too!” This haunting call echoed through trees near the Stanley Park miniature railway last month startling SPES Conservation Technician Paul Higginson as he worked nearby.

Paul is used to hearing “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” from the more common Barred Owl. This time, however, it was a Great Horned Owl seeking a mate. Along with the Barred Owl and the seldom seen Western Screech Owl, these elusive raptors patrol the forests of Stanley Park as they hunt for prey and call for mates. Love is in the air not only for people this Valentine’s Day, but for owls, too.

Of the three species of owls found in Stanley Park, the most common is the Barred Owl; with its distinctive grey and brown plumage and huge dark eyes, these owls are truly a sight to behold. Typically roosting on tree branches during the daylight hours, the Barred Owls become more active at night hunting for rodents, insects and other smaller birds. As the weather warms and the days become longer, their attention shifts to finding a mate. Courtship usually begins in February and nest occupancy can run from the latter part of March through mid-August. If you’re lucky enough to spot a breeding pair they’ve probably been together for a while as Barred Owls are considered to be monogamous and mate for life.

Great Horned Owl (Photo: Milva De Siena)

The Great Horned Owl is the largest of the three species found in Stanley Park. With its pointed ear tufts, bright yellow eyes and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks and fairytales.

While beautiful, the Great Horned Owl is a fearsome predator, taking down prey larger than itself and even dining on other owls. Female Great Horned Owls are slightly larger than their male companions. What the males lack in size they make up for in voice, with a deep loud resonating hooting call. They can often be heard hooting together in unison warning other owls to stay clear of their territory.

The Western Screech Owl, including the provincially blue listed (threatened) Kennicottii subspecies, is the smallest and rarest owl to call Stanley Park home.

Western Screech Owl (Photo: Michael Schmidt)

Topping out at under 25 cm high with grey and brown striped feathers that blend into the landscape, these tiny owls can be difficult to spot. They prefer to nest in old growth forests but also thrive in riparian habitats as well as forests along the edges of clearings, rivers and lakes including Beaver Lake.

Threats from larger owl species taking their territory could spell the end for the Western Screech Owl in Stanley Park.

Owls have long been revered for their beauty and grace, so next time you’re walking the trails of Stanley Park look up and keep your ears open; you might be lucky enough to spot or hear one – especially at this time of year when hooting to attract mates increases during nesting season.

Love is in the air this weekend and whether you’re checking out my 5 Most Romantic Places in Stanley Park, Valentine’s Day at Robson Square, or Valentine’s Day for Singles, there’s plenty of things to do on your own or with your sweetheart.

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

This weekend Miss604 is proud to be the Social Lounge sponsor at the 50th Variety Show of Hearts Telethon. You can tune in via Global BC or get tickets to the live show in Downtown Vancouver, by donation.

Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green.

Friday, February 12, 2016
Yoga Date Night
Valentine’s Day at Brentwood
Salvador Ferreras and Drum Heat
Opening Reception: I CHEW CHEW CHEW YOU, A Pizza Art Show
UBC Symphonic Wind Ensemble – Arctic Dreams
Mixed Media Events & Studio Sessions
POLYRHYTHMICS w/ Santa Lucia LFR at The Rickshaw
Bentall, Taylor, Ulrich at The Cultch
The Mayor’s Breakfast Series, Surrey
Botox Workshop
Chopin Society: Dénes Várjon
I Have a Dream, A Dancer’s Journey to Freedom
Vancouver Wellness Show
Peter Pan, West Vancouver
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Gateway Theatre Presents: Closer Than Ever
Vagabond Players: Over the River and Through the Woods
Pacific Theatre Presents: Common Grace
Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival
SFU Woodward’s and Théâtre la Seizième Present: Robert Lapage’s 887

Saturday, February 13, 2016
Sponsored by Miss604: Variety Show of Hearts Telethon Live Show
Bollywood Ball
Say Hi to a Stranger
Trading Post Brewing: Grand Opening, Langley
East Van Mardi Gras
Valentine’s Dinner at Hycroft
Valentine’s Couples Cooking Class
The Cypher: Unveiling the Underground
Eastside Flea Farewell to the Wise Hall
Watershed Snowshoe Tour at Mount Seymour
John Mann In Concert
Lunar New Year Celebration at Wesbrook
Pet Health Day
Structure Your Speaking Business to Get What You Want
JRfm Boots n’ Babes Ball
Bitter Sweet: Valentines Event
CIDERWise Vancouver
Crow Roost Twilight Bike Ride
VSO Lunar New Year with Avan Yu
Yoga Date Night
Alberta Symphony: Stradivarius Tour
Vancouver New Music: Garth Knox
Rogers Hometown Hockey, New Westminster
Nat Bailey Farmers Market
Peter Pan, West Vancouver
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Vancouver Wellness Show
Gateway Theatre Presents: Closer Than Ever
Vagabond Players: Over the River and Through the Woods
Pacific Theatre Presents: Common Grace
Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival
SFU Woodward’s and Théâtre la Seizième Present: Robert Lapage’s 887

Sunday, February 14, 2016
Sponsored by Miss604: Variety Show of Hearts Telethon Live Show
Chinatown Spring Festival & Chinese New Year Parade
Romantic Stanley Park Discovery Walk
Trading Post and CocolaTas: A Valentine’s Day Match Made in Langley
Valentine’s Day at Robson Square
Second Sunday Concert Series: Heart Strings with Cordei Duo
Yaletown Love Letters Pop-Up
Vancouver Cantata Singers: Liebeslieder
Dance Extravaganza 2016, Surrey
Valentine’s Day Speed Dating
Year of the Monkey Temple Fair Celebration of the Chinese New Year
Rogers Hometown Hockey, New Westminster
Valentine’s Day: Lovers’ Lane Stroll & Supper
Hastings Park Farmers Market
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Vancouver Wellness Show
Gateway Theatre Presents: Closer Than Ever
Vagabond Players: Over the River and Through the Woods
Pacific Theatre Presents: Common Grace
Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival

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Check out the full February event listings here and if you have an event to include, please send it in by email for a free listing. Follow Miss604 on Twitter for more daily updates.

The 43rd Chinatown Spring Festival Parade (Chinese New Year Parade) takes place Sunday, February 14, 2016. This signature event in Vancouver’s Chinatown will feature lion dances, cultural dance troupes, marching bands, martial arts performances and much more.

Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade

Celebrating the Year of the Monkey, the parade will begin at 11:00am and follow a 1.3km route from the Millennium Gate on Pender Street (between Shanghai Alley and Taylor Street), over to east along Pender Street, turning south onto Gore Street, turning west onto Keefer Street and then dispersing on Keefer at Abbott.

The parade features the largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams in Canada with dozens of colourful and energetic lions from various local fraternal and martial arts organizations. Over 70 entries will take part, bringing in 3,000 participants and drawing over 100,000 spectators.

Following the Parade

As a Chinese New Year tradition to promote good fortune for the year, some of the lions will be visiting the shops and businesses in Chinatown between 2:00pm and 4:00pm.

Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival

Throughout the whole weekend, on Saturday, February 13th (1:00pm to 4:00pm) and Sunday, February 14th (2:00pm to 4:00pm), the Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival will have feature multicultural performances, a special lion dance grand finale, and martial arts demonstrations at the Sun Yat-Sen Plaza (50 East Pender Street).

All events of the 2016 Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival are open to the public. The Chinese New Year Parade and the Cultural Fair both have free admission. Read more about this event and more via the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver.

The BC Home and Garden Show is happening February 17th to 21st at BC Place, where you can get real advice, real inspiration and hear from real experts to make your dreams for your home a reality.

BC Home and Garden Show 2016

The show features Bryan Baeumler, star of HGTV’s House of Bryan, joined by landscape designer Carson Arthur, star of HGTV’s brand-new series Home to Win, lifestyle expert Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault, and Vancouver’s top gardeners and design experts, covering everything from home decor to renovations, curb appeal and more.

Shop and consult more than 425 exhibitors and local vendors, all under one roof. Don’t miss the always-popular Ask a Designer booth, where you’ll have direct access to the city’s best designers, offering up free, 10-minute drop-in consultations. Be sure to pay a visit to the Westcoast Smart Home presented by Trinity Post & Panel Inc., where you’ll find a stunning 810-square-foot vacation home featuring chic, cost-effective construction that’s made for left coast living.

Highlights

BC Hydro Main Stage; The Cooking Stage; Battle of the Brewmasters; BC Hydro Power in Style; Westcoast Smart Home; The Balanced Home; Ultimate Upcycle Challenge: Planted; #SewAndShow; M(art)ket; Portobello West; Ask a Designer; FLOFORM Lounge; Feature Gardens: Water Wise; Toyota Test Drives; The Vancouver Sun Gardeners’ School; Barkitecture; and more including celebrities, experts, makers, artists, and special guests.

Check out the Main Stage Schedule, Cooking Stage Schedule, and Garden Stage Schedule. Enter to win a ultimate garden makeover, and thousands in prizes from show exhibitors and sponsors.

Enter to Win

I have a painting by Vancouver contemporary abstract artist Donna Giraud (valued at over $250) to give away along with two tickets to the BC Home and Garden Show at BC Place.

Enter to win this Donna Giraud piece!

Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment naming something/someone you’ll see at the BC Home and Garden Show (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

Follow the BC Home and Garden Show on Twitter and Facebook for more information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, February 16, 2016.

Update The winner is Kim!