Tickets are now on sale for the YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards, coming up on Tuesday, May 26th, 2015 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Earlier this month the nominees were announced with a near record-setting number of remarkable women recognized for their contributions to their workplace, industry, and community.

YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Nominees

Congratulations to all of the nominees in the following categories:

Tickets on Sale Now

Individual tickets
Early bird tickets are on sale until Sunday, April 26 for $225 per person / $2,250 per table. As of Monday, April 27, tickets are $250 per person /$2,500 per table.

Purchase a corporate table or ticket for the annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards and your support for women’s leadership and make a positive impact in your community. Whether you are connected to a nominee or not, as someone who has attended many of these events, I can tell you that you’ll find the evening to be inspirational and rewarding.

Community Partner $3,500 (10 tickets):

• 10 tickets to the Announcing the Nominees’ Reception (200 people, invite-only reception for nominees, dignitaries and sponsors on March 11)
• 10 tickets to the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Dinner (1,250 people at the Vancouver Convention Centre on May 26)
• A listing in the event program book (1,300 distributed)
• A tax receipt for the maximum allowable amount as per CRA regulations

Distinguished Partner $3,000 (10 tickets):

• 10 tickets to the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Dinner (1,250 people at the Vancouver Convention Centre on May 26)
• A listing in the event program book (1,300 distributed)
• A tax receipt for the maximum allowable amount as per CRA regulations

The 2015 awards ceremony will take place Tuesday, May 26th at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Follow the YWCA of Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter for more information along with the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards @YWVanWODA on Twitter.

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.

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!

View more photography posts on Miss604 along with the Vancouver Photos of the Week – and be sure to tag your photos with #Photos604!

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 nights accommodation at Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa in Osoyoos (May 22 and 23, 2015)
• 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)
• Share/Like/or comment on this post on Facebook (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

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.

Update The winner is Benita Crombie!

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!

Photo credit: Patricia Meyer on Flickr

View more photography posts on Miss604 along with the Vancouver Photos of the Week – and be sure to tag your photos with #Photos604!

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.