This Thursday I will be sleeping outside in downtown Vancouver in support of Covenant House. The temperature will drop to near-freezing and I’ll have a piece of cardboard and a sleeping bag as comfort. That’s about it although that’s more than some people have in this city. Ahead of my sleep out, I am collecting donations online to support my campaign for Covenant House and I am reaching out to ask for your support.

Covenant House Vancouver opened its doors in September of 1997 in response to a study that revealed that there were over 10,000 (now around 8,500) runaways in BC annually. The study also revealed that street youth were in desperate need of short-term transitional shelter and long-term supportive housing.

Covenant House Vancouver provides food, shelter, clothing and counselling to the estimated 700 (believed to be an undercount but no other number is deemed more reliable) street youth living in Vancouver at any given time. Most of the young people we help have fled abuse at home or have aged out of the foster care system. Last year, over 1,500 young people accessed Covenant House’s services.

Covenant House Statistics

• 39% of Covenant House’s youth present with a mental health diagnosis
• 70% have witnessed family violence
• 50% of Covenant House’s youth present with an addiction problem
• 95% of Covenant House’s youth report that Covenant House has helped them
• 75% of youth feel more confident about their future after staying at Covenant House
• Average length of stay has increased 83% in past five years (Covenant House knows that a young person’s success rate increases significantly with longer stays)

Please consider supporting my campaign this week. You can also follow Covenant House on Twitter and Facebook to learn more about their work in Vancouver. Thank you!

Covenant House Sleep Out

On November 21st, executives, public figures and well connected leaders in our community will sleep outside for one night in solidarity with those youth who may face many more cold, lonely nights until they find their way through the doors of Covenant House Vancouver. From Los Angeles to New York, Toronto to New Orleans and in other major cities across North America, participants will raise funds from their companies, colleagues, friends and family to support the life-changing work that is being done to help young people leave the streets and begin new lives. These leaders will draw the attention of the larger business community and our nation to the problem of homelessness among young people.

Science World launched a new speaker series last night with two special guests: a rockstar astronaut and a social media giant. Colonel Chris Hadfield (first Canadian to do a space walk, first to operate the Canadarm in orbit, first Canadian Commander of the International Space Station, and much more) was joined by BC’s own Ryan Holmes, CEO and founder of HootSuite (a social media management tool used by over 7 million people worldwide) to launch the “Innovators Speaker Series”.

The event was hosted by Riaz Meghji of Breakfast Television in the OMNIMAX® Theatre and the two guests, Hadfield and Holmes, asked each other questions about inspiration, motivation, and included a few oddball inquires such as what happens if you pass gas in space or do you every just crave a Slurpee? The talk was casual, with both speakers standing up to address the audience, humorous and genuine. Audience members were given the chance to ask questions as well, such as what would happen if you attempted a water fight in space?

Ryan Holmes was able to talk a bit about his new initiative, The Next Big Thing (“#TNBT”), which gives Canadians aged 18 to 22 the chance to participate in a kind of entrepreneurial boot camp based out of Vancouver’s HootSuite headquarters. Successful applications will receive a $10,000 bursary and a six-month sojourn at HootSuite’s Vancouver headquarters with its meeting rooms, yoga space and other workplace perks, plus mentorship and guidance from entrepreneurs and leaders in the digital space.

“We are just not passengers on the planet, we are all crew.”

Colonel Hadfield shared eloquent insights starting with where he first began pursuing his dream of becoming an astronaut — “There were two guys named Buzz and Neil.” He explained the harrowing process they had landing on the moon, something he watched from afar as a child. These men, with their lives hanging in the balance and 16 seconds of fuel remaining, were able to “have a rapid fire, professional, and informed conversation,” to get things in order, safely touch down, and declare: “The Eagle has landed.”

He followed up by listing three pieces of advice for future astronauts out there:
1) Keep a healthy body. “Don’t eat stupid food” and lead an active lifestyle.
2) Get an advanced education, be informed, and be able to think on your feet.
3) Practice making good decisions. “Decision making is a perishable skill.” Also have “tenacious patience.”

Holmes asked “The Colonel” (as his children call him) about space tourism, which he says he is all for and talked about the experience Guy Laliberté (founder of Cirque du Soleil) had, which did cost several million dollars to visit the ISS. Another form of space tourism is taking “Virgin Galactic”, which he said was the “best name ever” for such a venture.

He was asked what he missed about space, and what he missed about earth but Colonel Hadfield said that missing something is a state of mind. However he did say that weightlessness feels like a magical power and it feels “so unfair that everyone is stuck to the floor” down here on earth.

Leaving Science World, mixing in with those in hockey jerseys walking around False Creek from the rink, I overheard audience members raving about the talk, how articulate Colonel Hadfield was and how moving it was to see him in person. I’m certain that he provides more humble humour and insights in his new book: An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth.

The event was a fantastic way to kick off Science World’s Innovators Speaker Series, which is a new fundraising initiative of Science World’s Chair’s Council. This Series will showcase BC’s world-class, science and technology-minded leaders in the iconic facility. All proceeds from these events will go to support the science programs at Science World and around the province.

On a drizzly Saturday afternoon I became re-acquainted with one of the most interesting and diverse neighbourhoods in Vancouver thanks to the Taste Vancouver Food Tours: Little Italy tour. Having enjoyed the Gastown food tour operated by Jewel Taylor back in December of 2011, I knew that I was in for a treat with the Commercial Drive version.

I met up with Jewel and the rest of the group at Il Mercato on the corner of Commercial Drive and First Avenue where our host offered pertinent details about the 2.5 hour tour upon which we were about to embark.

Jewel said that she and her partner walked up and down Commercial Drive one day and counted 39 countries that were represented through the businesses along the way. Italian families and businesses have a strong representation in this area known as Little Italy, which tied into an underlying theme of family-owned and operated establishments. One of the best examples of this harmony was at our first stop at Lombardo’s.

At Lombardo’s we met with Patti Lombardo who opened Lombardo’s in 1986, serving up crisp Napolateana style wood-oven pizza. Going strong for 25 years, Patti’s daughters are involved in the business, like Julia who was preparing the day’s 2go pizzas for their new take-out shop just a few feet away in Il Mercato where her sisters also work. Our sample at this stop was a slice of capricciosa pizza with prosciutto, artichoke hearts, and black olives.

With the delicate ring of a bell, Jewel signaled to the group that it was time to move on and off we went to La Grotta Del Formaggio Cheese Shop. This is where I realized a second (or third) theme of the tour: places that have amazing aromas. We samples three cheeses, including Applewood Smoked Cheddar and one of my favourites, Manchego.

Moving across the street we were served some signature sangria and some world famous sausages at Falconetti’s, which you might recognize from an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. It was hard not to fill up already on an order of Falc’s Fries, tossed with garlic and kissed with a hint of lime, but we exercised some impressive will power and set out for our next location.

Down the block at Liberty Wine Merchants we sampled a lovely chianti that was available in the shop for under $20 to compliment your home-cooked meal, inspired by Little Italy.

Three more pizzas were served up just for our group, fresh out of the authentic bell oven at Famoso. The Neapolitan-certified slices were samples of their Margherita (fior-di-latte, fresh basil, pecorino romano, extra virgin olive oil), Funghi (parmesan crema, fior-di-latte, roasted white mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, caramelized onions, white truffle oil, pecorino romano), and Cavoletti (oven-roasted Brussels sprouts, prosciutto crisps, gorgonzola cheese, dates, walnuts, drizzle of honey) pizzas. Once our tummies were full of the soft dough and crisp toppings we left the warmth of the pizzeria and received an education in local grocery shopping over at Santa Barbara Market.

At the market we sampled cheese and meat platters, juicy grapes and savoury stuffed olives as we learned about the incredibly low prices and the incomparable selection of over 100 olive oil varieties available behind the deli counter. Apparently the market gets so busy around the holidays that there’s a lineup out the door with a number system for shoppers so be sure to check it out before then.

Over half-way through the tour we stopped at Dolce Amore for some hazelnut gelato to reset our palettes. It was creamy, dreamy, and stuffed with hazelnut flavour. I looked longingly at the other goodies in the freezer case like the ice cream sandwiches that I will return to sample someday soon. We heard all about this family business, run by the fourth generation of the Grippo family, continuing the theme on the tour as we moved onto one of the city’s best dinner + live music venues at the Libra Room.

Next to the stage with a drum kit, piano, and garage door that opens up onto The Drive, we enjoyed a rich ravioli with mushrooms, parmesan, and pesto. It was a very generous portion packed with the compliment of warm flavours you would expect from the heart of Little Italy.

(Left to Right) Jewel of Taste Vancouver Food Tours with Anita of Continental Coffee.

Following the pasta, we walked back up to Continental Coffee where we met owner Anita Allan, who is actually a part of the Grippo family that runs Dolce Amore. Anita quickly became the star of the entire tour in my eyes, sharing her family history, entrepreneurial spirit, and stories of growing up mere blocks away.

I loved hearing about how she would shop for shoes at Copp’s on Commercial as a little girl and how she built up her own business over the last 34 years. Her two sons work for the coffee company, as does her grandson, and we sampled the fruits of their labour in a beautifully brewed cappuccino. The pastries at Fratelli across the road were the perfect compliment and a delightful way to end our tour.

The Taste Vancouver food Tours: Little Italy edition runs every Saturday from 2:00pm to 4:30pm for $49, which includes all of the food and beverage tastings. Vegetarian options are available.

Food brings everyone together and what better way to discover more venues in our hometown than by sampling a handful at once. The outing makes for a fun date day, family bonding (I brought my mother along), and team-building with a work group or team. You’ll enjoy the generous tasting samples, the pace of a walking tour, and you’ll definitely find yourself making a grocery list to fulfill on a return trip or planning a date night with live music and good eats.

Learn more about these businesses, the people who run them, and the history of this eclectic neighbourhood by winning a spot for you and a guest on an upcoming tour. Here’s how:

• Leave a comment naming your favourite Italian food item (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 5:00pm on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 who will be able to enjoy a complimentary spot (with a guest) on an upcoming tour. Must be 19+. Follow Taste Vancouver Food Tours on Twitter and Facebook for more information about their various activities and tours around town.

Update The winner is Connie!

This post has been contributed by Rebecca Eames, Fundraising and Communications Specialist with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”). I have been following SPES since I moved into the West End almost eight years ago and I recently became a member. I wanted to offer the team an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I have created “SPES Saturday” where they will be contributing stories with my audience once a month.

It’s Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Winter

Almost all of the leaves have now fallen from the trees and you might think that all the wildlife has disappeared too. But each winter Stanley Park is abundant with wildlife, in fact a whole range of different critters rely on the Park more than ever at this time of year, making the winter one of the best times for wildlife.

Look Out For Birds on the Water

The bays and inlets around the park are an essential winter stop over for a range of bird species. Ducks, geese and seabirds come in from the open ocean to enjoy the warmer water around the park over the winter.

When you’re taking a walk around the seawall keep an eye out for Black Scoters, (look for their black glossy plumage), goldeneye, common loon and if you’re really lucky the beautiful harlequin duck, which likes to hang out on areas of exposed rocky coastline.

A Varied Thrush and Surf Scoters. Photo credit: Don Enright.

Four Winter Birds You Can Find in Stanley Park

1. Surf scoter (melanitta perspicillata)
A black duck that visits the waters around the park (and elsewhere in Vancouver) in large numbers. Stanley Park is a great place to see these birds that dive to the sea bed to catch crustaceans and molluscs.

2. Pine siskin (carduelis pinus)
Although they live in the park all year, winter is the best time to see these smart yellow and brown finches, as they group up to feed on seeds.

3. Varied thrush (ixoreus naevius)
Another winter visitor to our park and a very pretty one, the varied thrush moves down from the mountains to lower elevations to escape the winter weather before heading back to breed in the spring

4. Harlequin duck (histrionicus histrionicus)
One of the most beautiful ducks in North America and a rare sight around the coast of Stanley Park. These ducks love the rocky coastline and are quite happy in the rough, fast flowing water. Their feathers trap lots of air so they bob up and down on the sea like a cork.

Be Observant When Walking Through the Forest

Some of our animals do disappear to escape the winter chill. Most of our bat species hibernate, although they occasionally wake up and hunt if it gets warm enough for the insects they eat to be active.

Others move south over the winter. The swallows and hummingbirds, which live in the park over the summer, will be spending Christmas sunning themselves in South and Central America.

But that doesn’t mean the forest is not bursting with life. Some birds like the Pine siskin are easiest to see in the winter when they form large groups to make the most of the food on offer. Look out for trees and bushes with berries as these are often popular with flocks of feeding birds.

Winter can also be a good time to spot mammals in the park. Keep your eyes open for raccoons, Douglas squirrels, coyotes and the beavers at Beaver Lake. There’s less vegetation blocking the view and the long nights mean they need to pack all their feeding into fewer hours of daylight. Prints in the damp soil can often be a great way to work out what has been around.

Festive Fun!

What better place to enjoy the holiday season than in the glorious setting of Stanley Park. Park visitors can enjoy over three million twinkling lights, festive displays and holiday music at the Bright Nights display and magical train ride through the forest. If you’re a SPES member you can ride for FREE from Monday, December 9th until Wednesday, December 11th between 7:00-9:00pm (must show a valid membership card).

Support SPES’s conservation and education work in Stanley Park by enjoying a bag of delicious organic popcorn made with real butter from our Cob House in the Miniature Train Plaza. This popular event, hosted by the Vancouver Park Board and the firefighters’ Burn Fund, runs from December 5th to January 5th. For more information about hours and tickets, please visit the Bright Nights in Stanley Park website.

For more info visit the Stanley Park Ecology Society website or call (604) 718-6523 to inquire about membership.

Although it was announced earlier this year, it’s only recently sunk in that the Red Robinson Show Theatre at the Boulevard Casino will get a new name when the casino changes over to the Hard Rock Casino brand this December. The theatre, named after local rock and roll radio legend Red Robinson — inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 — will then be called “The Joint”.

Red Robinson in the PNE Parade. Photo credit: tomarra on Flickr.

Michael Bublé seeing red over Red Robinson Show Theatre name change: The singer was sitting in a production truck with an assistant when he noticed the Red Robinson sign was down. A new sign said: “Coming soon: The Joint.”

“They can’t do that,” Bublé said he told his assistant, who had confirmed the name change. “It was disbelief. I couldn’t believe that the same people who’d honoured him could dishonour him.”

Robinson is credited with bringing rock and roll to Vancouver in the 1950s. As a teenage disc jockey, he was an early believer in the music and sowed the seeds of what has become an important music industry city. [The Province]

An online petition to keep Red’s name on the venue is gaining momentum and the following note has appeared on the Boulevard Casino website this afternoon:

We would like take this opportunity to address our community’s feedback regarding the name change of the Red Robinson Show Theatre. As we announced in October, Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam will officially become the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver on December 20, 2013. Our venue is undergoing a transformation that impacts every part of the property, and this includes rebranding all facets of our operations under the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver name.

We truly respect and admire Red and the legacy he has created over the last 60 years. We have enjoyed a great relationship with him and will continue to honour that relationship with a collection of some of his vast memorabilia that will be displayed throughout the new facility once Hard Rock Casino Vancouver opens.

We look forward to creating new memories and experiences for the community at the new Hard Rock Casino Vancouver. This globally recognized brand is known for providing world-class entertainment, dining and gaming options and we’re excited for what this will bring to our community.

On Friday, November 15th at 2:40pm, Chuck Keeling, Executive Director Stakeholder Relations at Great Canadian Gaming Corporation will be speaking with Simi Sara on CKNW to discuss the changes happening at the Boulevard Casino, future home of the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver. We anticipate many of the community’s questions will be addressed at that time.

Sincerely,
Peter Goudron

Senior Vice President, Operations – West
Great Canadian Gaming Corp.

It is the end of an era at the casino but perhaps a new door is opening somewhere else. It’s exciting to have a Hard Rock franchise in Vancouver (again) and the theatre is a really great venue. Hopefully Red will continue to be honoured and regardless of the theatre’s name, everyone should familiarize themselves with Red Robinson and his legacy.

Red Robinson was the first Vancouver disc jockey to play that “rock and roll” music and was the emcee for Elvis’ Vancouver tour stop at Empire Stadium in 1957 — among many of the other groundbreaking moments in his career. Read more about Red on his blog, including his latest post about his 60-year career in radio. It is truly a privilege to share a hometown with him.