The cherry blossoms are in full bloom here in Vancouver, and now the calendar is finally catching up. With the official start of spring just around the corner, we’re getting ready to shed our winter layers and embrace the warmer temperatures. One layer that you may want to hang on to during this transition period is the scarf. Walnutte is a new line of luxury scarves based in Vancouver and the company collaborates with artists from around the world to design vibrant scarves for women, produced in fine fabrics such as silk and cashmere.
Walnutte launched in 2014 with its limited edition Reflections collection, a series of photographic images by Manhattan-based architect, Justin Huang. The collection is printed on 100% silk in a versatile oversized square, with delicately hand-rolled edges. Only 500 of each design in the collection are produced, and each scarf is accompanied by a serial number and certificate of authenticity.
Walnutte’s colourful Tropical Illusion scarf can be seen in this month’s issue of InStyle magazine (March 2015), featuring Walnutte creative director, Roshena Minnes. Due to the positive response, the company recently released this video to demonstrate how to recreate the look by tying two scarves into a beautiful maxi dress.
Roshena Minnes told me that the brand’s mission is to create joy through beauty and colour. “The name Walnutte represents the idea that there’s more to life than what we see on the surface, just like the strong walnut shell hides a delicate treasure.” Recognizing that fashion is a powerful tool to communicate how we feel on the inside, she set out to make people happy and bring a smile to their face every time they wear a Walnutte scarf.
Follow Walnutte on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to learn more about this rising star on Vancouver’s fashion scene. For more scarf tying inspiration, check out their tutorial on 8 ways to tie a square scarf.
Win a Walnutte Luxury Scarf from the Reflections Collection
To celebrate the start of spring, Walnutte is excited to offer one lucky Miss604 reader their choice of one of the four designs in their limited edition Reflections collection, valued at US$225. Here’s how you can enter to win your favourite Walnutte luxury scarf:
Leave a comment naming your favourite design from the Reflections collection
(1 entry)
RT to enter to win a beautiful @walnutte luxury silk scarf from @Miss604 http://bit.ly/1NT6xp1
Walnutte scarves are available on the company’s website with complimentary shipping to customers in Canada and the US. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, March 19, 2015.
Update The winner is Stephanie La Plante! (Facebook)
Those out early on the Sea Wall this morning were treated to quite the sight as four orcas were spotted in Burrard Inlet. Swimming as far up as Belcarra at the entrance to Indian Arm, and passing back through the inlet under Lions Gate Bridge, the whales made a rare appearance in the waters off English Bay.
Thanks to the VPD Marine Unit, Tessa Danelesko and her colleague Bailey Eagan with the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre were able to get on the water today to gather data on the group of orcas. They first got word of the sighting thanks to a member of the public and Tessa told me that it’s important to reach out to the BC Cetacean Sightings Network (“BCCSN”) if you do spot a whale, dolphin, porpoise, or sea turtle in nearby waters.
What to do When You Spot a Whale or Dolphin
It’s easy to report to the BCCSN and it only takes a few minutes. Once you’ve had a sighting, call 1.866.I.SAW.ONE or visit wildwhales.org to report what was spotted. Helpful information to provide includes the date, time, and location of where the sighting occurred, as well as how many individuals were seen, what type of vessel (land or boat) the animal(s) were seen from, and about how far away they animal(s) were when they were spotted. You can also report any interesting behaviour or activity. It’s helpful to pass along photos and video of the activity as well.
According to Tessa, the BCCSN has collected over 82,000 sightings over a 15 year period. “This data can tell us a lot about where and when cetaceans and sea turtles are spending time along the BC coast. Each year this data is shared with a number of conservation-based research projects and initiatives, and it has helped with critical habitat and recovery strategy planning for species listed as “at-risk” under the Species at Risk Act.
One of the best things about the BCCSN is that anyone can participate and directly contribute to meaningful cetacean and sea turtle research. By reporting what you see you are helping to conserve the 23 species and populations of cetaceans and sea turtles that can be found in BC waters.”
Spring has sprung early in Vancouver and the tree branches outside my window in the West End are a hive of activity. Birds in nests, green buds ready to create summer’s canopy, and squirrels leaping from limb to limb, excitedly foraging for the season. One of the creatures I see most often is the fluffy grey squirrel, a creature that’s only been in Vancouver since 1914.
The most common squirrel in the province’s urban centres, the Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) was released into Stanley Park in 1914 and introduced to Vancouver Island in 1966, where it causes a particular threat to Garry Oak trees. According to the BC SPCA:
“Eastern Grey Squirrels are much larger than native squirrels, are either grey or black in colour, and flourish in urban environments. The increasing number of Eastern Grey Squirrels is often blamed for the decrease in native squirrel populations, however given that these squirrels have different food and shelter preferences, its more likely that urban development and the loss of coniferous forests is responsible.”
So how did this squirrel get here just over 100 years ago? Some reports say that the squirrels were a gift from the Mayor of New York City in 1909 but Jolene from Stanley Park History found that in 1909 Vancouver Park Boar Chair, Charles Tisdall, wrote to various American cities in search of purchasing “grey squirrels” for Stanley Park.
“The City of Vancouver Archives holds numerous other letters over several years relating to this quest. There is also a receipt made out to Chas. Tisdall which reads, “2 doz grey squirrels to be shipped as soon as possible – $40″. The receipt is from Wenz & Mackensen, Naturalists, Yardley, Pennsylvania and dated January 3, 1910 […] According to other documents at Archives, it appears there was a problem securing those 2 dozen and the search for replacements promptly continued.”
However it came to be in Stanley Park, the Eastern Grey Squirrel has learned to live (and thrive) alongside two other park squirrels. The Vancouver Park Board says that the Douglas Squirrel, which is reddish brown and half the size of the Eastern Grey, is much less likely to approach people for food, and tends to live in more forested areas. The nocturnal Northern Flying Squirrel is very rare and has the amazing ability to glide from the tree tops with the use of loose skin flaps.
The Eastern Grey Squirrel, while cute, fuzzy, and fun to watch bounce around, is actually listed in by the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) as one of the Top 100 Invasive Species in the world.
The nominees for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards have been announced, with a near record-setting number of remarkable women recognized for their contributions to their workplace, industry, and community.
Business & the Professions
Kathy Butler
Wendy Chu
Lawrie Ferguson
Lianna Mah
Kristi Miller
Michelle Osry
Michelle Pockey
Katie Schaeffers
Laurie Schultz
Jennifer Traub
Sheila Tucker
Community Champion
Kristal Barrett-stuart
Michaela Davies
Tarah Ferguson
Barbara Fitzgerald
Heather Mackenzie
Claire Robson
Laura Saimoto
Barb Snelgrove
Cheryl Young
Outstanding Workplace
Aritzia
Clio
Goldcorp Inc.
Environmental Sustainability
Tzeporah Berman
Maureen Cureton
Marcia Smith
Victoria Smith
Health & Wellness
Paola Ardiles
Jan Christilaw
Vivian Eliopoulos
Sally Thorne
Technology, Science & Research
Alma Barranco-mendoza
Liisa Galea
Meredith Powell
Dominique Weis
Education, Training & Development
Natacha Beim
Wendy Gilmour
Jennifer Kirkey
Joanne Melville
Sandra Singh
Corey Zylstra
Entrepreneurship
Alexandra Greenhill
Judi Hess
Debra Saimoto
Parise Siegel
Lisa Tuningley
Young Woman of Distinction
Selin Jessa
Zoya Jiwa
Patricia Louie
Suneet Maan
Jenna Reed-cote
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.
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards for the 6th year!
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.
