The District of Squamish, BC is the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada and one of the most beautiful corners of the “604” region. From the estuary and river channels to slick rocky cliffs, glacial mountain peaks and an incredible gondola, this community embodies the Sea to Sky spirit and is truly a playground for those who love nature – and rockin’ summer musicfestivals.
April is Autism Awareness Month and Central City Brewers + Distillers has launched their annual IPA for Autism fundraising initiative for Simon Fraser University’s Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and Magnetoencephalography (MEG) research for children with autism.
Red Racer IPA for Autism
Throughout the month of April, Central City will donate $2 from every 6-pack of 355ml cans and $0.25 from every 473ml cans of specially marked Red Racer IPAs to autism research. In addition, $0.25 from every pint of IPA sold at participating BC restaurants and pubs will also be donated.
Red Racer IPA is Central City’s best selling craft beer and is available in most Canadian provinces. Since 2012, Central City has raised a total of $175,000 for autism research.
Autism now affects 1 in 68 children: 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls, a 30 per cent increase over the last survey released in 2012 when it was 1 in 88 children. While currently there is no cure for autism, research has shown that early intervention treatments can improve a child’s development. Early and encouraging results suggest that one treatment in particular, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), can improve communication and behavior in children with autism. Further research, however, is needed to conclusively establish if HBOT is an effective treatment for autism.
The autism HBOT-MEG study at SFU is the first in Canada that specifically studies the effectiveness of using hyperbaric oxygen therapy on children with autism. Included in the research is the use of MEG neuroimaging to evaluate whether HBOT can positively impact brain activity underlying cognition and behaviour in children with autism.
The team of SFU researchers includes Dr. Ryan D’Arcy, one of the world’s foremost neuroscientists, and Sherri Ferguson, Director of SFU’s Environmental Medicine and Physiology Unit (EMPU), home to Canada’s only civilian research hyper/hypobaric chamber.
On top of the IPA for Autism campaign, Central City Brewers + Distillers and Simon Fraser University will soon announce a black-tie evening with both live and silent auctions in support of the program. Follow along on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more information.
The Spartan Race is returning to Vancouver this summer as thousands of participants conquer a muddy 5km trail with outrageous obstacles designed to test resilience, strength, stamina, and ability to laugh in the face of adversity.
The race, happening on Saturday, June 6, 2015, is for all fitness levels and even has events for kids. Run, jump, and climb your way to a personal victory of tackling a challenging course in a beautiful setting on Mount Seymour.
The Spartan Race uses timing chips for accuracy and starting at 8:00am on the day of the event, waves of athletes will be released every 30 minutes across 2 groups (Elite and Open Heats). Registration is currently open for $80 (until May 14th), $90 (until June 5th), or $100 (on site, day of event). Spectator tickets sold at the race are $10 each or a family group of 4 for $20 (cash only).
Spartan Race Vancouver Win Your Way In
I have 2 registrations to give away for any Open Heat on June 6th in Vancouver. Here’s how you can enter to win:
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RT to enter to win @SpartanCanada #SpartanRace registration this summer from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/LBzVJ
I will draw one winner at 12:00pm on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. Follow Spartan Race Canada on Facebook and Twitter for more information about their events in Vancouver, Sun Peaks, Red Deer, Calgary, Edmonton, and Manitoba.
The Surrey Vaisakhi Parade/Khalsa Day Parade takes place Saturday, April 18, 2015 bringing together local businesses, residents, visitors and people of all cultures. Now in its 17th year, the Surrey Vaisakhi Parade is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators for a rich cultural celebration with performances, live music, decorated floats, and food and drink compliments of local residents and businesses.
For many thousands of years, Vaisakhi has been the time when farmers have put their sickles to harvest and celebrated the coming of a new year. Since 1699, the Sikhs have had a further reason to celebrate at this time of the year. Now Vaisakhi is celebrated with even more energy, pomp and fanfare. It has become a holy day to mark the birth of the Khalsa fraternity. And so 300+ years on, this tradition continues with much gaiety, vigour and enthusiasm. Sikhs worldwide will spend much time remembering this most important day – the day the Khalsa was created.
Surrey will once again host a lively and celebratory event to commemorate one of the most important days in the Sikh calendar. Over the years, Surrey’s event has become one of the largest Vaisakhi celebration outside of India.
The Surrey Vaisakhi Parade/Khalsa Day Parade is scheduled to begin at 9:30am at the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, located at 12885 85th Ave in and it will conclude there at approximately 4:00pm.
Main Stage Timeline:
11:00am to 12:30pm Kirtan/Dhadis (devotional & inspirational Sikh music)
12:30pm to 1:30pm Ceremony honouring community volunteers
1:30pm to 2:30pm Speaker series
Road closures will be in place from 7:30am until 5:00pm. Access to 128th St and road sections along the parade route will be impacted most significantly. Increased delays may be expected for travel through and within the area between 72nd Avenue to 88th Avenue, and Scott Road to King George Highway. More event day information can be found online.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for fans of local brews as the 6th annual Vancouver Craft Beer Week (“VCBW”) kicks off May 29th and runs until June 7th. Festivities include the first annual Vancouver Magazine International Craft Beer Awards Gala presented by CRAFT Beer Market on May 29th 2015 at the Roundhouse Community Centre.
Vancouver Craft Beer Week 2015
This year’s festival has a lumberjack theme, which is reflected in the official beer, the “Campfire Kolsch” collaboration beer. This was brewed by 30 BC breweries at Red Truck Beer Co’s new brewery located in the historic Brewery Creek district with proceeds going to VCBW’s official 2015 charity, The Vancouver Firefighters Charitable Society.
Rare Brews & BBQ, where guests will get a taste of limited release or never before tasted beers from multiple BC and International breweries.
What the Hop? Beer Trivia! guests can test their beer knowledge with other craft beer enthusiasts.
The VCBW signature Battle of the Bartenders: Beer Cocktail Competition V, where eight of Vancouver’s top bartenders will square off at The Blackbird Public House & Oyster Bar, using only bar tools and creativity to create the perfect beer cocktail.
Biercraft Belgian Showcase, Hyper Local: Sour Session, Cicerone vs. Sommelier, This Sandwich That Beer Throwdown, Stihl Timbersports, Vancouver Magazine’s first annual International Craft Beer Awards, and much more at Canada’s largest craft-only beer festival.
VCBW runs from May 29th to June 7th 2015, and will bring together more than 100 craft breweries for 10 days of the finest in craft beer tastings, food and beer pairings, music and entertainment, and unique beer events at over 50 different venues across the city. This year’s closing festival will be at the PNE Fair Grounds on June 6th and 7th.
