The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards are coming up on Tuesday, May 26th, 2015 at the Vancouver Convention Centre and voting is now open for the 6th annual Connecting the Community Award, presented by Scotiabank.

Vote Now for Connecting the Community Award

In addition to the category in which she was nominated, all individual finalists are eligible for a 12th category called Connecting the Community. This award provides an opportunity for Women of Distinction finalists to gain recognition through social media, as well as raises awareness for YWCA Metro Vancouver’s programs. The recipient of this award will be determined via on-line vote. Each finalist selects a YWCA program area that she identifies the most with and submits a quote as to why. Click here to read about the finalists, the YWCA programs they have chosen, and to vote.

Voting ends on May 15th at noon. The nominee with the most votes will receive the Connecting the Community Award. The recipient will be announced at the Awards event on May 26th and Scotiabank will donate $10,000 to her chosen YWCA program area in her honour.

YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Nominees

Congratulations to all of the nominees in the following categories:

Get Your Tickets

The 32nd Annual Women of Distinction Awards is 75% sold out! Join YWCA Metro Vancouver on May 26th to pay tribute to the inspiring finalists and to celebrate our Women of Distinction Awards recipients.

Early Bird/Until April 26: $225 per person
As of April 27: $250 per person (10 seats per table)
Order online or call (604) 895-5768

Follow the YWCA of Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter for more information along with the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards @YWVanWODA on Twitter. And be sure to VOTE for the women you would like to see receive the Connecting the Community Award.

YWCA Metro Vancouver is dedicated to achieving women’s equality. Their mission is to touch lives and build better futures for women and their families through advocacy and integrated services that foster economic independence, wellness and equal opportunities.

Vancity Member Day is coming up at Science World, where members can get great deals on admission and enjoy Green Month programming.

Vancity Member Day at Science World

In celebration of Earth Day (on April 22nd) the first 422 Vancity members to visit Science World on Vancity Member Day on Saturday, May 2 will get in for free. Additional members and their guests will receive 50% off admission (savings of $11.25 for adults).

Where Science World (1455 Quebec St, Vancouver)
When Saturday, May 2, 2015 from 9:30 am to 6:00pm
Admission Simply present your Vancity MEMBER CARD® debit card or Vancity enviro™ Visa (your guest does not have to be a member).

Vancity Member Day is part of Green Month at Science World from April 22, 2015 to May 22, 2015, featuring exhibits and activities that celebrate environmental awareness in a fun and interactive way.

Green Month at Science World (presented by Vancity) is an opportunity for everyone to learn more about creating a sustainable future in a fun and interactive way. Vancity’s community partners will also be sharing their work and commitment to sustainability initiatives on May 2nd outside Science World including:

• Free bike tune-ups provided by Pedal Energy Development Alternative
• Free bike valet provided by BEST Bicycle Valet
• Free recycling drop-off stations for hard-to-recycle items (ex. Batteries, cell phones, light bulbs and electronic toys) provided by Green Chair Recycling.

RSVP for the event on Facebook and make a plan to take the family to Science World on May 2nd to join in the fun.

Win a Prize Pack

To celebrate Vancity Member Day at Science World, I have prize pack (valued at $300) to give away that includes:

EXPLORE: 1 Family Day pass to Science World – 2 adults, 2 children
ENJOY: Vancity swag pack (travel mug, lunch tote, glass water bottle, Just Potters mug)
EAT: Choice of one Salad Box (Summer Box) from Fresh Roots ($150 value) or one Beasty Box from Urban Digs Farm ($175 value)

Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Follow Vancity on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Update The winner is Marisa P!

Every day the Vancouver skyline seems to change, with new glass walls rising above the rooftops of previous generations. It’s not often that a whole tower is taken down though, and entirely replaced with another. That’s what happened to the Georgia Medical-Dental Building in 1989, when the 17-storey tower was razed and the 23-storey Cathedral Place tower popped up in its place.

View from the Vancouver Art Gallery – Sequence from the demolition video on YouTube

Built in 1927-29, the Medical-Dental Building was the first art deco skyscraper built in Vancouver and was designed by the same architects who did the Marine Building, McCarter and Nairne. “Like the Marine Building it rose in tiers, topped by pale terra cotta that dripped off the brick facade like ice cream,” reported the Vancouver Sun.

January 9, 1929 VPL#: 12145; March 4, 1929 VPL#: 12148; June 15, 1929 VPL#: 12154 by Leonard Frank

Chuck Davis wrote about the features of the building in his History of Metropolitan Vancouver: “[The Medical-Dental Building] was richly embellished with whimsical ornaments like plump little terra cotta owls and other birds, lions and horses. The building was adorned with medical, religious and mythological symbols around the main door. Most of its tenants were doctors, dentists and the like. Easily the most famous distinguishing features on the building were three 11-foot-high terra cotta statues of nursing sisters in First World War uniforms, one perched on each of the building’s three visible corners.”

1950s: Georgia Medical-Dental Building viewed from the Vancouver Art Gallery steps. Archives# 2008-022.040.

At about the 10th-storey level, the building was graced with 11-foot-high, terra cotta statues depicting a Nursing Sister of World War I, one on each of the building’s three visible corners. Architects John Young McCarter (1886-1981) and George Colvil Nairne (1884-1953) had both served overseas during World War I. McCarter was seriously wounded and credited the Nursing Sisters with saving his life. They founded their architectural firm in 1921, and when they obtained the contract for the Medical Dental Building, they decided to honor the Nursing Sisters. The sculptures were designed by Joseph Francis Watson. A local joke among the medical users of the building was that the statues represented the Rhea Sisters – Gono, Dia, and Pyo. [Source: Vancouver’s Monuments To Nurses by Nina Rumen, RN, BScN / RNABC History of Nursing Group]

1969: Looking down West Georgia Street. Hotel Vancouver on the left, Medical-Dental Building on the right. Archives# CVA 780-17.

As a young girl, out on one of our many family Sunday drives, I distinctly recall looking up at the “Nursing Sisters”. In fact, it’s the only building I remember admiring when I was a child, through the window of our van. This memory must have been before I was even 10 years old as the building was imploded in 1989.

Following the public outcry that surrounded the dramatic demolition of the Georgia Medical Dental Building, City Council introduced a policy to prevent the future demolition of “A”-listed heritage buildings.

“Council has instructed that prior to consideration of a proposal that includes demolition of an “A” listed building, a formal independent consultant’s report on the physical condition and economic viability of retaining the building be reviewed by the Director of Planning. The report is at the expense of the applicant.” Council reaffirmed this policy on April 18, 1991. [Heritage Vancouver]

2011-2014: Cathedral Place on Google Maps

The Shaw Tower at Cathedral Place is a dramatic postmodern structure designed by Vancouver architect Paul Merrick. Cathedral Place was developed through a joint venture with Sir Run Run Shaw of Hong Kong to realize a long-time dream of Charles Shon to redevelop the Georgia Medical-Dental Building site creating an enduring architectural landmark.

Photo credit: Michael & Philip Tong on Flickr

A public campaign was raised to save the original statues for the new building. However, as these proved both extremely heavy and difficult to remove from the original building, replicas had to be made. When the new tower opened in 1991, the replicas were mounted at about the 3rd-storey level, easily visible from the streets. [Source: Vancouver’s Monuments To Nurses by Nina Rumen, RN, BScN / RNABC History of Nursing Group]

Photo credit: Swire on Flickr

In 1992, the Museum of Vancouver took the least-damaged head from one of the broken statues for safe-keeping; this was also patched and repaired and is held for display by the Museum. A fibre-glass replica of the head also is on display in the lobby of Cathedral Place.

“I quite like Cathedral Place,” writes Eve Lazarus. “It’s nicely tiered, the roof fits in with the Hotel Vancouver across the street, and it even has a few nurses, gargoyles and lions pasted about as a reminder of the former building. Everyone over 35 likely remembers the three nurses in their starchy World War 1 uniforms looking down from their 11th storey parapets.”

While walking back from the Whitecaps FC 2 match at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium last Sunday I looked up at the corner of the Technology Enterprise Facility III building on campus and spotted some familiar faces. Looking down from fifth floor there they were, the Nursing Sisters! It felt as though I spotted an Expo86 bench in White Rock or a repurposed Vancouver 2010 sign — but I felt 10 times the excitement.

“A Vancouver landmark, [the Medical-Dental Building] was the focus of an intense public preservation campaign. Although the battle to save the building was lost, Discovery Parks purchased and restored the salvaged terra cotta, with proceeds used to benefit the Vancouver Heritage Foundation.”

I have yet to confirm whether these are another set of replicas (according the several sources they are) but the plaque on the building seems to imply that they are in fact the original, restored terra-cotta pieces. Either way, if we look close enough, there are pieces of local history all around us, and we just have to keep telling their story.

Got Craft? is Vancouver’s largest indie craft fair returns to the Maritime Labour Centre on May 2nd and May 3rd for their 17th show. Find the perfect mother’s day gift, a unique locally-made piece for your home, and get inspired. On top of an impressive lineup of local artisans, artists, designers, crafters Got Craft? is also bringing back some of their most popular workshops such as hand lettering with legendary sign painter, John Lennig of Big Top Sign Arts.

Dates: Saturday, May 2nd to Sunday, May 3rd, 2015 from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Venue: Maritime Labour Centre at 1880 Triumph Street, Vancouver, BC V5L 4C3
Tickets: $3 at the door and free for children 10 & under

The first 50 people through the door each day will receive a swag bag full of goods from vendors and sponsors. Also, D.I.Y. lovers will have a great time making their own craft projects at the workshops on site.

Got Craft Spring Fair Giveaway

I have an incredibly generous and fully loaded prize pack to give away, thanks to Got Craft? and its partners, valued at over $600! Here’s what is included:

The Uncommon Good – Province of BC Reclaimed Wood Art
East Van Light – 5.5 x 5.5″ block lamp
Jason Blower Illustration – Print of Granville Island
LanaBetty Designs – 3D printed nylon necklace with sterling silver chain
Locomotive Clothing – Life is Rad Baseball hand printed t-shirt
Anonum Design – Handmade iPad mini sleeve made from recycled rubber
RK Designs – Pyrite Cube Necklace Set on Matte Gold Fine Chain
Bueno Style – Classy glass vintage earrings
London Fields Shoppe – Handmade fabric eReader sleeve
The Beautiful Project – A package of assorted greeting cards
C Yarn Hut – Clarissa Amigurumi Keychain
fancypop – Double-sided glitter cube and faux pearl earrings
Green With Envy – Terrarium
Fable Naturals – Set of 3 organic soaps
G & T Design – Screen printed linen tea towel
Light & Lines Studio by Sarah Clement – Set of 4 greeting cards
The Salt Dispensary – Savoury salt sample packs: Toasted onion, spanish rosemary, roasted garlic, smashed peppercorn, and sun ripened tomato.
Strathcona 1890 Urban Seed Collections – Plant Tonic + Easy Peasy flower seeds
Paperbacknote – Up-cycled handcrafted Archie comic notebook
1UP Caramels – Salted butter caramels

Of course tickets are also included in the prize! Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Share, like, or comment on this Facebook post (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

Bringing together a community that fosters handmade and DIY culture, Got Craft? was founded in 2007 and is held twice a year in May and December, becoming Vancouver’s largest indie craft fair. Follow Got Craft? on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information and inspiration.

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, April 27, 2015. Update The winner is Lorrie Helliar!

It may often be overlooked but Delta, BC is home to some amazing scenery. There’s Boundary Bay Regional Park, Westham Island, Burns Bog, Watershed Park, Tsawwassen, and the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, along with big skies over farm land and Fraser River sunsets. Delta is today’s 604 Corners photo feature:

12 Dreamy Photos of Delta

Photo credit: Gemy on Flickr

 

Photo credit: TOTORORO.RORO on Flickr

Photo credit: Ann Hung on Flickr

Photo credit: Eric Flexyourhead on Flickr

Photo credit: Chris C on Flickr

Photo credit: TOTORORO.RORO on Flickr

Photo credit: TOTORORO.RORO on Flickr

Photo credit: John Biehler on Flickr

Photo credit: TOTORORO.RORO on Flickr

Photo credit: Ann Hung on Flickr

Photo credit: Robert W. White on Flickr

Photo credit: Winson Tang on Flickr

#604Corners

• 12 Photos of Delta
• 12 Photos of Steveston
• Photos of Langley

• 10 Photos of Burnaby
• 12 Photos of Maple Ridge
• 12 Photos of Squamish
• 12 Photos of Port Moody
• 10 Photos of Lynn Canyon
• 12 Photos of New Westminster
• 10 Photos of Porteau Cove
• 10 Photos of Burnaby
• 10 Photos of Coquitlam