Over the weekend Scott Graham nominated me for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by dumping a bucket of water on his head and calling me out in his online video. The rules for this viral campaign are simple: Accept a nomination by filming your own dousing and nominating up to three others to do a same, or donate $100 to ALS related causes in your area. This campaign has been so popular that celebrities and sports stars are nominating each other and we now have videos of Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, and even Bill Gates getting soaked for the cause.
One might ask, does ALS get support even if the ice bucket challenge is completed? Yes, it does. While the campaign has been called “Slacktivism” meaning you’re supporting a cause pretty much by clicking “Like” button or dumping water over your head (and not actually donating to the cause), according to the CBC: “The ALS Association said Monday it has received $15.6 million in donations since July 29, an eight-fold spike over the $1.8 million donated during the same period last year. The association said this summer’s donations have come from existing donors as well as more than 300,000 new donors.”
You may have grown tired of watching people get dumped with buckets of ice cube-filled water but it’s actually really great to see a cause get so much attention and support.
Last week I was locked in a kennel at the SPCA, last November I spent the night in an alley in support of Covenant House, and I have also rappelled down the side of a downtown skyscraper for Easter Seals.
I am normally up for doing something kooky in support of a great cause. However, I only have 24 hours to accept Scott’s challenge and I’m tied to my desk writing and transcribing audio. That being said, I accepted Scott’s challenge and while I won’t be dumping a bucket of ice over my head, I have donated $100 to the ALS Society of BC.
The ALS Society of BC raises funds for both research and to provide direct services and support to those currently living with ALS.
Until a cure is found, the Society provides patient services to improve the quality of life of those diagnosed with this disease by offering an extensive equipment loan program, support groups, and educational materials.
Patients are referred to the Society by neurologists and other healthcare professionals, particularly those at the ALS Centre at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre. Working together as partners, G.F. Strong team and the Society are dedicated to enhancing each patient’s quality of life. There is no cost for ALS patients to register or to access our services.
For more information, follow ALS BC on Twitter, Facebook and consider participating in some ALS BC events next year like the Peoples Drug Mart Walks for ALS in BC & Yukon.
Sharing Farm is proud to present its 6th Annual Garlic Festival, the largest in Metro Vancouver. Taking place August 24th, this free event will have fun for the whole family along with cooking demos, great food, exhibitors, live entertainment and more – including garlic ice cream.
Photo credit: The Sharing Farm
New this year is the addition of Graphic Illustrator Sam Bradd. Through the magic of art, draw two important questions: What does a healthy and well-fed community look like? What does garlic mean in your home?
Over 1,000 pounds of fresh garlic will be available for sale with farm fresh produce, Steveston Pizza will have a special creation cooking up in the cob oven, Earnest Ice Cream will supply the garlic ice cream, 4Cats Art Studio will have a garlic-theme community painting, there will be an expanded area for kids, music, and farm tours.
Stop by the Garlic Festival at Terra Nova Park (2631 Westminster Hwy, Richmond) between 10:00am and 3:00pm on Sunday, August 24, 2014. Parking and bike valet are free. Admission is by donation to Sharing Farm.
The Sharing Farm grows food to feed Richmond families in need. The Farm is run by community members for community members, and is dedicated to providing fresh, healthy, local produce to our less fortunate neighbours. The Sharing Farm operates on a tiny budget, but thanks to the generosity of our over 1,000 yearly volunteers and the devotion of a small core of part-time staff, the Farm is able to provide thousands of pounds of fruits and vegetables every year to community meals throughout the city and the Richmond Food Bank.
Find out more about the festival and The Sharing Farm by following along on Twitter and Facebook.
I Love Transit Week is coming up August 25th to 29th. Allen Tung of The Buzzer Blog has contributed the following post to promote this year’s campaign. You can find out more by following Translink on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and The Buzzer Blog.
One week each year, we celebrate what we love about transit and I Love Transit Week is back August 25th to 29th! For this year’s celebrations, we’ll be sending ten kids, aged 8 to 12, and their parent or guardian to I Love Transit Camp for a special behind-the-scenes tour of SkyTrain, SeaBus, and much more on Tuesday, August 26th.
We will visit the SkyTrain Operations and Maintenance Centre (OMC) where we’ll see where the vehicles are maintained and cleaned as well as SkyTrain Control. We’ll also visit the SeaBus maintenance docks by Waterfront Station and we’ll have the chance to head up to the bridge and speak to the captain of the SeaBus!
Inside the SkyTrain OMC and the SeaBus docks.
Afterwards, we’ll have some fun on a 40-foot bus and talk to an operator instructor to find out what it’s like to drive a bus. Finally, we’ll meet up with Transit Police and maybe even Transit Security to learn more about everything they do. I’m told they’ll be bringing their vehicles and a special guest if we are lucky.
I Love Transit Camp
If you and your child are interested in this fun day on transit, get your application in now in two easy steps:
- 1. We’ll need the kids to tell us in 50 words or less what that they love about transit.
- 2. Email that to [email protected] with “I Love Transit Camp” in the subject by August 19, 2014.
If you like, you can also include a photo and/or video as part of your entry. Be sure to include the name, age, and phone number of the participant and parent or guardian.
What about those who are no longer kids but who are still young at heart? They can join in the fun too. We are going to have a vintage bus in downtown Vancouver from the Transit Museum Society (TRAMS). Take pictures, explore our transit past, free pins, bus and SkyTrain cutouts and more. This will take place Monday, August 25th at the EasyPark lot at Cambie Street and Georgia Street from 11:00am to 2:00pm.
And as usual, The Buzzer blog will be packed with contests, interviews, essays, submissions from Buzzer readers sharing just why they love transit!
Have you shared your transit love with us? Tweet it with the hashtag #ILoveTransit or email it to [email protected]. We’ll feature as many as we can on the Buzzer blog! See staff doing a great job? Let us know by going to translink.ca/feedback and filling out a commendation form.
White Spot’s Celebrate BC summer menu features local ingredients, seasonal dishes, and BC wine features to round out your inspired dining experience. Perfect pairing suggestions include the Lois Lake Steelhead with Warm Crispy BC Potato Salad alongside a glass of Red Rooster Pinot Gris. How about the Prawn & BC Brie Flatbread with Inniskillin Riesling or the Gala Apple & BC Brie Chicken Burger with Jackon-Triggs Rosé?
For a limited time you can also enjoy a Legendary Burger, Caesar Salad & Fresh BC Blueberry Pie for only $12.99.
Until September 7th, the Celebrate BC menu offer six seasonally-inspired creations including my favourite, the Candied Salmon Spinach Salad. White Spot uses more local ingredients than any other full service restaurant chain in the province and proudly offers a 100% BC VQA wine list. Cheese from Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, blueberries from Silver Valley Farms in Maple Ridge, heirloom tomatoes from Windset Farms in Delta, and more.
Celebrate BC at White Spot
To help you Celebrate BC at your local White Spot, I have a $50 gift card to give away along with a trio of featured BC wine from Red Rooster, Inniskillin, and Jackson-Triggs. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
The bottles of wine will be delivered to the winner along with the gift card. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, August 21, 2014. Must be 19+. Please enjoy responsibly. Follow White Spot on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date on their latest menu offerings and promotions.
Update The winner is Steve!
There are some great Vancouver entertainers but to me, it’s tough to beat the legendary Dal Richards. Richards is a big band leader, radio host, performer, lyricist, and much more to the many who he has touched with his music and spirit for the better part of the last century. This year marks his 75th consecutive annual performance at The Fair at the PNE, where he has delighted fairgoers with his jazz, rock, and pop every summer. It’s an honour to feature Dal Richard in today’s archive photo collection:
1944: Dal Richards and his orchestra at the Burrard United Service Centre. Archives# CVA 586-3125. Photographer: Donn B.A. Williams.
1946: Dal Richards and his band playing the Lady Luck Revue at The Orpheum. Archives# CVA 1184-2313.
1960: Dal Richards leading his band in the PNE Parade down Hastings. Archives# 2008-022.137. Photographer: Leslie F. Sheraton.
1976: Dal Richards at the PNE. Archives# 2010-006.283. Photographer: Ernie H. Reksten.
1976: Dal Richards at the PNE. Archives# 2010-006.282. Photographer: Ernie H. Reksten.
Upcoming Event Info
The Fair at the PNE’s Music Mosaic Series on the Chevrolet Performance Stage:
Dal Richards with Featured Guest Michael Kaeshammer
Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 7:30pm & 9:00pm
Dal Richards with Featured Guest Bria Skonberg
Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 7:30pm & 9:00pm
