In BC we’re known for our creative runs and races, and there’s nothing quite like the Half Corked Marathon hosted by the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association. This 18km race through the vineyards of the Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country (“OOWC”) was inspired by the legendary Medoc Marathon in Bordeaux. Participants of the Half Corked Marathon are encouraged to sample wines along the route, paired with celebrated regional cuisine from local chefs, restaurateurs and café owners, as they run or jog the course on May 23, 2015.
2014 Half Corked Marathon. Photo courtesy of OOWC.
Half Corked Marathon
Now in its 5th year, the Half Corked Marathon has a full weekend of events and festivities, starting with registration on Friday, May 22nd that includes a welcome bag of goodies.
On Saturday May 23rd, groups of 250-300 runners will set off in 4 waves; running or jogging the 18km route. The race trail leads through the incredible surrounds of Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country and brings together the region’s winemakers, chefs and producers, all of whom whole-heartedly embrace the event with 10-12 refreshment and wine tasting stations along the route. After the race, the Finish Line celebration includes a picnic lunch, live music, more wine tasting and an awards ceremony.
While tickets to the race are sold out, there are tickets available to the Primavera Dinner on May 22nd, the ultimate pre-race pasta dinner. Enjoy rustic pastas, salads, and your favourite wines from Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country as you dine family-style at a long table amongst rows of budding grapevines.
Tinhorn Creek Concert Series
Photo courtesy of Tinhorn Creek
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards’ Canadian Concert Series is returning for 2015 with a stellar line-up of musical artists gracing the picturesque amphitheatre stage, including Yukon Blonde, Rich Hope & his Evil Doers, John Welsh and Reuben & The Dark.
The much-anticipated annual event is a rare opportunity to see some of Canada’s top musical talent while enjoying award-winning wines and taking in the spectacular views of the South Okanagan Valley. The Grand Finale is planned for September 12 with the headliner of the summer to be announced in April. For those wanting to get in on the fun, tickets go on sale April 1st and can be purchased via Tinhorn Creek’s online store, Facebook store, or by telephone: 250.498.3743 or 888.484.6467
Win a Half Corked Marathon Getaway
Like last year, Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country has offered up an incredible weekend experience to one lucky Miss604 reader who loves good wine and a scenic run in the beautiful South Okanagan. The giveaway includes:
2 tickets to the Half Corked Marathon (May 23) – tickets include race registration, goodie bag, shuttle from Osoyoos, Finish Line lunch and wine tasting
2 tickets to Tinhorn Creek Vineyards’ Canadian Concert Series (May 23) where Rich Hope and his Evil Doers will take the stage at 7:30pm
Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment naming an Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country member (1 entry)
RT to enter to win an @UncorktheSun #HalfCorkedMarathon getaway from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/KH0aR
Follow Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country on Facebook and Twitter for more information about this event and the region’s many other attractions.
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, March 31, 2015. Prize cannot be exchanged for cash or different travel dates. Must be 19+ to enter.
During March and April I will be featuring a Cherry Blossom Photo of the Day, sourced from the Miss604 Flickr Pool and/or the #Photos604 tag on Instagram. You can barely walk a full block in the city without encountering a photographer capturing this pink blooms — or stopping yourself — so it’s the perfect time to start this series. Enjoy!
This post has been contributed by Robyn Worcester, Biologist and former Conservation Programs Manager 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.
Stanley Park Herons
The approximately 200 adult herons that nest in Stanley Park represent an important part of Canada’s total Pacific Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias fannini) population of approximately 4,000, mainly inhabiting the Salish Sea. Many people living in this region believe the herons are common, but unfortunately this special subspecies of non-migratory herons are in decline.
Photo credit: Martin Passchier
Great blue herons have been nesting in Stanley Park since at least 1921 and have been entertaining park visitors ever since. Although these herons are quite tolerant of people, most herons in the region are vulnerable to disturbances from human activities as well as bald eagle attacks. The herons moved to their current nesting location in 2001, starting out with only 6 nests. The results of SPES’s ongoing monitoring program showed that in 2014 the colony had a total of 116 nests (94 active) and produced approximately 131 chicks that fledged (left) the nests. This year, herons returned in mid-February to begin their nest selection and mating rituals. The first eggs were laid on March 9 and so we hope to see the first chicks about 28 days later in April.
Heron Webcam
The proximity of the Stanley Park colony to the Vancouver Park Board offices at 2099 Beach Ave gives visitors a wonderful “window” on the life cycle of these birds, but this year the Park Board decided to broadcast the story of the herons to a larger audience using a webcam. The preparations began last fall, and a remotely controlled wireless camera was mounted on the roof of a nearby building earlier this month. The heron cam officially launched on Wednesday March 18th and you can now see it live here: Heron Cam.
Photo credit: Martin Passchier
The camera will be on 24/7 until the breeding season ends in August. The web page allows viewers to sign up to control the camera for short periods of time to scroll through different pre-defined views. The views were set by SPES heron monitors and are aimed at the most visible nests, hopefully even after the trees leaf out.
More information about the herons, and the Adopt a Nest program, are available through Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) online.
Back in the early days of the Vancouver online media and tech scene, before social media was even a word and “Web 2.0” dominated conversations between open MacBooks covered in stickers at local coffee shops, there were unconferences. These events were open to everyone, they cost nothing, anyone could be a speaker, and ideas flowed like the donated Jones Soda pop that was stacked in the back corner of the meeting venue.
The unconference (which also led to the name “camp” being added to the end of a theme or title word) are where ideas blossomed, friendships were formed, and inspiration spread. Unconferences are a rarity these days but we’re lucky to have BIL arrive this weekend to fix that.
BIL Conference in Vancouver This Weekend
TED is getting a lot of attention in Vancouver again this year but BIL is also in town, bringing together anyone and everyone who wants to share stories and ideas to interested audiences. Unlike TED, BIL has no price tag and the cost of admission is being an active audience member, volunteer, or hopping on stage to present a topic.
“Open to the public and fully participant driven, our yearly gathering features a wild mix of technologists, scientists, artists, hackers, and those with a passion for community awareness, social entrepreneurship, and innovation. Our attendees are our speakers and our speakers are our attendees and in true unconference style, attendees are responsible for shaping the conference itself through their participation.”
Where: The Imperial (319 Main Street, Vancouver BC) Register:Sign up here to attend, speak, or volunteer When: Saturday, March 21st and Sunday, March 22nd, 2015. Doors open at 8:00am, opening remarks at 9:30am.
This post has been contributed by Robyn Worcester, Biologist and former Conservation Programs Manager with the 
