Tickets are on sale now for the 11th annual Canuck Place Gift of Time Gala happening Saturday, October 3rd at the Westin Bayshore. Presented by The Ledcor Group of Companies, over 700 donors, partners, sponsors and supporters of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice will come together for this special event that features a three-course meal, live and silent auctions, entertainment, and Canuck Place family remarks. Global BC’s Sophie Lui will serve as emcee for the evening.
Each year this elegant event has live music, silent and live auctions, raffle prizes, a delicious dinner, and moving speakers who share very personal stories about how Canuck Place touched their lives.
Last year we heard from Cheryle Ismirnioglou, who spoke about her son Joshua who, just days away from his 11th birthday, was diagnosed with Rhabdomayosarcoma, a relatively rare form of cancer that begins as a malignant tumor in the muscle cells. Joshua underwent treatment for a few years, but unfortunately the cancer returned in 2012:
This year’s speaker will be Amy Ross, who recently participated in the Canuck Place Adventure Race. “What was the most special part about this race was that my seven year-old son, James, was able to take part in the kids race,” said Amy. “He has such fond memories of Canuck Place and felt very empowered to raise funds in honour of his late sister, Gabrielle.”
“Canuck Place was the only place that could support a family like ours.”
Gabrielle was born in 2010 with a terminal genetic disorder called I-Cell. After three years with her family, Gabrielle passed away at Canuck Place, surrounded by her three brothers.
“We couldn’t cure our daughter. All we could do was love her and be the best parents we could be.” Canuck Place enabled the Ross family to just be together as a family, knowing that Gabrielle’s complex medical needs were being taken care of.
When parents need to devote their time to caring for sick children, they often fear their other children will feel forgotten. Canuck Place ensures the entire family feels welcome. “Canuck Place made them feel loved and special,” said Amy. “With a very busy mom and dad who spend most of their time and energy focusing on Gabrielle, Canuck Place always made sure the siblings were well taken care of.”
Get Your Tickets Now
Hear more of Amy’s story and much more at the Gift of Time Gala on October 3rd. Tickets are available online now as individual tickets or tables of eight. All funds raised at the Gift of Time Gala will support the delivery of specialized pediatric palliative care for over 600 children and families facing life-threatening illnesses across British Columbia.
About Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
Canuck Place Children’s Hospice (“CPCH”) opened its doors in 1995 and is British Columbia’s recognized pediatric palliative care provider, delivering care to over 600 newborns, teens and families across the province and through two locations: Vancouver and Abbotsford.
Care is provided in the areas of respite and family support, 24-hour province-wide phone consultation and in-house clinical care, pain and symptom management, grief and loss counselling, including music and play therapy, art, education, recreation therapy, and end-of-life care. Dedicated, professional staff and over 325 volunteers provide a vital lifeline for children and families in their greatest time of need. Canuck Place relies on the generosity of individuals, corporations, and various organizations to raise operating funds, with a portion funded by the Province of BC.
Miss604.com is a proud Media Sponsor of the Gift of Time Gala
In 2007 two sea otters holding hands at the Vancouver Aquarium arguably became the very first viral internet sensations in Vancouver. There are four of these playful marine mammals at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre — Elfin, Katmai, Tanu and Wally — and each has an incredible rescue story that will be featured during Sea Otter Awareness Week.
Tanu and Katmai Rafting. Photo courtesy of the Vancouver Aquarium.
Sea Otter Awareness Week
Sea otters will be in the spotlight at Vancouver Aquarium starting this Saturday to mark the annual Sea Otter Awareness Week. A number of special activities and programs will take place between September 19th and September 27th, including trainer-led enrichment sessions where guests can learn about the four rescued sea otters at Vancouver Aquarium.
Throughout the week guests will have an opportunity to learn more about these creatures through trainer-led sea otter enrichment sessions and family programming. Crafts will also be offered on weekends.
At the Life in a Kelp Forest show, visitors will gain an understanding of kelp forests and the sea otter’s role in maintaining the health of these important ecosystems. During the Spotlight on Sea Otters program at the sea otters’ habitat visitors will learn about the training and enrichment that the four rescued sea otters at Vancouver Aquarium receive.
The aquarium will host an online Twitter chat on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at 11:00am with a sea otter expert chiming in on the @vanaqua account. Check in on the sea otters anytime via the live Sea Otter Cam.
Ada Lovelace Day is an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and maths (“STEM”) and you can celebrate at Science World in Vancouver this year. In partnership with Microsoft Canada, Science World will celebrate women working in STEM by holding an innovator speaker event called STEM Talks, at TELUS World of Science.
Women in STEM: Ada Lovelace Day at Science World
What: Women in STEM Talks Where: Science World @ TELUS World of Science (1455 Quebec St, Vancouver) When: Tuesday, October 13, 2015 from 6:15pm to 10:00pm Tickets: Purchase online. General $25, VIP $35 (reserved seating & VIP reception)
The purpose of this fundraising event is to celebrate women working in STEM and to support the continued advancement of women in these fields. You’ll hear from a diverse group of successful women, who will share their own personal experiences about working in STEM, along with their insights on how we can be a part of the positive change in our environment, to help cultivate talent and promote full inclusion.
The event will be moderated by CBC Meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe. The five distinguished speakers for the evening include: Dr Amiee Chan, President and CEO of Norstat International, Inc.; Dr Elizabeth Croft, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UBC and former NSERC Chair For Women In Science And Engineering (BC/Yukon); Dr Jennifer Gardy, Senior Scientist, Molecular Epidemiology, BC Centre for Disease Control; Janet H. Kennedy, President of Microsoft Canada; and Genevieve L’Esperance.
The evening will start with an interactive partner forum, followed by speaker presentations and discussion, and concluding with a meet and greet reception. Funds raised will support Science World’s Scientists and Innovators in the Schools program—a BC-wide program that delivers presentations and hands-on workshops by passionate scientists, engineers, technologists and technicians to inspire the next generation of science leaders.
Comments2
by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Review — My tour was part of a media visit with Bellingham Whatcom County. Views and opinions are my own. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
3shares
By sea and by air, you can quickly get to know a destination like never before, whether you’re just passing through or you’ve been visiting your whole life. This summer I had the opportunity to paddle in Bellignham Bay and also to soar high above it in a helicopter with Bellingham Aviation Services (“BAS”).
Bellingham Helicopter Tour
Departing from a building adjacent to the Bellingham International Airport, a 4-seater Robinson helicopter picked me up on the tarmac for a quick 30 minute flight around Whatcom County. Passing Downtown Bellingham, then continuing south to Fairhaven, the pilot pointed out places of interest like the Chuckanut Drive, oyster farms, railroad lines, fishermen, and Larrabee State Park.
We turned 90 degrees to head inland and lifted up above the popular hiking viewpoint at Oyster Dome, gliding above a patchwork of forests that, from our altitude, looked like a lush bed of green moss covering the landscape.
Mount Baker wasn’t visible on this day to to low cloud cover but I did get to see two new-to-me lakes. Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish, both lined with vacation properties and homes, each tethered to the water by way of docks and boat launches.
Heading north, then west again, we returned to the airport, crossing the I-5 and following the runway path back to our landing site. BAS offers these quick sightseeing tours on a regular basis and they are very popular for couples (surprise sunset engagements in the sky) and those just wanting to get above the region to see the San Juan islands, Skagit valleys, Mount Baker and the North Cascades. Tour packages range from 18 minutes to 60 minutes, details can be found online.
The Bellingham International Airport is located just 30km south of the Canada/USA border at Peace Arch or the Pacific Truck Crossing into Blaine.
Add a Comment
by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — This post is sponsored by the Burnaby Village Museum Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
1share
Burnaby Village Museum is throwing a free, fun family party on September 27th to celebrate the 11th Annual World Rivers Day and the 35th annual BC Rivers Day. Over 20 environmental groups and societies plus entertainers will be on-site this year with displays, demonstrations and fun activities.
World Rivers Day at Burnaby Village Museum
Where: Burnaby Village Museum (6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby) When: Sunday, September 27, 2015 from 11:00am to 4:30pm Admission: Free admission. Carousel Rides $2.55 each
Ventriloquist Kellie Haines starts off the entertainment at 11:15am and kids’ performer Will Stroet & His Backyard Band start their upbeat brand of funky folk-rock sounds at 11:45am. Stay for lunch! New, this year is a wild salmon barbecue for $12.95.
“Bring your boots” to join an Evergreen BC invasive species pull and streamside planting demonstration on Deer Lake Brook or to join them for a Water Quality Sampling session. The Britannia Creek Clean Up are hosting water cleaning demonstrations and the S.F.U.-Science ALIVE Program activities including making different styles of spider-webs and ecosystem energy circuits.
“Rivers are the arteries of our planet; they are lifelines in the truest sense.” ~ Mark Angelo
Visitors are encouraged to take a stroll through the Village and into Burnaby’s past pausing on the bridge over Deer Lake Brook to enjoy the ecologically significant stream that runs through the village site.
World Rivers Day, created by Burnaby resident and internationally renowned conservationist Mark Angelo, is celebrated by millions of people around the globe. In 1993, the City of Burnaby was the first municipality in BC to proclaim BC Rivers Day.
Live Entertainment
Will Stroet and his Backyard Band have developed a large family-based following. The funky high energy shows get all ages singing and clapping along.
Rene Hugo is known for his lively Peruvian music. His performances on the mandolin and guitar have won several awards and are sure to entertain. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Where: Burnaby Village Museum (6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby)