The 25th Anniversary Courage To Come Back Awards, presented by Wheaton Precious Metals, raised over $2.7 million on Friday, June 9th at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Over 1,700 guests gathered to celebrate the five inspiring award recipients’ extraordinary stories of triumph over adversity. Funds raised will provide critical supports for people living with mental illness.
25th anniversary Courage To Come Back Awards recipients: Rachel Goldman (Medical), John Oakley (Addiction), Jodi Gray (Mental Health), Danielle Laviolette (Youth), Pat Henman (Physical Rehabilitation)
Courage To Come Back Awards Raise $2.7 Million for Mental Health Services
For the first time in person since 2019, Coast Mental Health Foundation held the coveted awards gala in person, recognizing five truly remarkable British Columbians. Funds raised will go to Coast Mental Health to support those living with mental illness. The event was chaired by Lorne R. Segal, O.B.C., D.Litt. (Hon.), LLD. (Hon.), President of Kingswood Properties Ltd., and Honourary Chair, Eric Carlson, Core-founder and CEO Anthem Properties.
It was attended by many of British Columbia’s most notable business leaders and philanthropists including B.C.’s Premier Hon. David Eby, KC. The evening also included a moving tribute to Joe Segal, and his 25-year commitment to Coast Mental Health and giving back to his community.
The five recipients each shared their stories of how they have ‘come back to give back’ in their communities and were honoured for their incredible journeys.
2023 Recipients
Rachel Goldman – Medical
John Oakley – Addiction
Patricia Henman – Physical Rehabilitation
Jodi Gray – Mental Health
Danielle Laviolette – Youth
Every donation to Coast Mental Health Foundation helps to provide people living with mental illness with a meaningful place in our community – a place to live, a place to connect, and a place to work. As a leader in community-based care, Coast Mental Health is a critical link between hospital services and our communities and the continuum of care.
For each of the recipients’ stories or to donate please visit the Courage To Come Back Awards online or follow on Instagram or Facebook.
About Coast Mental Health
Coast Mental Health – an independent registered charity – is the largest provider of community-based services for people living with mental illness in British Columbia. Each year, many crucial programs are made possible through donors’ generous support of Coast Mental Health Foundation at the annual Courage To Come Back Awards – which has raised $22 million to date.
Your generosity provides outreach services, housing support, food security, mental health support for youth and adults, peer support services, training and employment and many other programs that are vital to the long-term recovery of vulnerable people living with mental illness.
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the 2023 Courage To Come Back Awards
The Squamish Nation is hosting the 100th Amalgamation Day Festival at Ambleside Beach as part of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Days Festival 2023. The Nation will be celebrating 100 years since Sḵwx̱wú7mesh villages amalgamated in 1923, and all are welcome to join the festivities on July 23rd.
Squamish Nation 100th Amalgamation Day Festival
When: Sunday, July 23, 2023 from 12:00pm to 10:00pm
Admission: Free! This is one of two public events.
There will be live performances by Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Digging Roots, Bitterly Divine, Aysanabee, and more. Enjoy family activities, food trucks, an artisan market, traditional performances, and a kids zone.
More information about Amalgamation Day, marking the anniversary of when 16 Sḵwx̱wú7mesh villages amalgamated to form one political body:
All Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Members and community members are welcome to attend month of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Days Festival events as part of the lead up to Amalgamation Day. Public events include Ambleside Canoe Races July 1-2, and this 100th Amalgamation Day Festival on July 23rd.
The City of Burnaby is hosting a series of free celebrations for Canada Day on July 1st including StreetFest on Central (with headliners LIGHTS and Shawnee Kish), and community events at Burnaby Village Museum and Edmonds Plaza and Park.
City of Burnaby Photo
Burnaby Canada Day: StreetFest on Central
When: Saturday, July 1, 2023 from 6:30pm to 10:30pm
Fireworks at 10:15pm
Where: Central Boulevard outside Central Park, Burnaby
Road closures will be in effect along Patterson Avenue as well as Central Boulevard and Beresford street (between Patterson and Willingdon avenues)
Admission: Free!
In partnership with Concord Pacific, StreetFest on Central will be an unforgettable evening with a variety of food trucks, family-friendly activities, live performances and a spectacular fireworks display.
Headlining the mainstage at Central Park is five-time JUNO and Canadian Radio Music award winner LIGHTS who’s known for her electronic synth pop. Also performing is JUNO-nominee and international recording artist Shawnee Kish, a soulful Two-Spirit Mohawk who is an advocate for her Indigenous and LGBTQ2+ communities and was the winner of CBC Music’s Searchlight competition in 2020.
Enjoy family-friendly activity and entertainment area in Civic Square; community displays, games, music, dance and activities along Central Boulevard; food trucks and concert in Central Park and more!
With Metrotown and Patterson SkyTrain stations nearby, there are plenty of ways to get to the festival. Visitors are encouraged to take transit, cycle or walk, and please leave pets at home. A bike valet will be available at the corner of Patterson and Kingsway.
Burnaby Canada Day: Community Celebrations
While the StreetFest on Central is set for the evening, Canada Day festivities will be going all day in Burnaby:
Edmonds Plaza and Park
11:00am to 2:30pm at 7433 Edmonds Street
A fun filled day of entertainment, arts and crafts and activities for the kids, games and more.
Burnaby Village Museum
11:00am to 4:30pm at 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
Histories of Burnaby’s diverse communities are packed into a 10-acre open-air site. The free festivities include multicultural family entertainment, displays and demonstrations, children’s face-painting and activities and, of course cupcakes. Exhibits are open with staff to interact and learn from. Learn more about Summer at Burnaby Village Museum.
Follow the City of Burnaby on Facebook and Instagram for the latest information.
Miss604 is a sponsor of the City of Burnaby’s celebrations on July 1st
The award-winning Surrey Fusion Festival has announced the headliners their 16th annual event in Holland Park. The festival invites attendees to experience two days of free live entertainment, showcasing both local performers and national talent. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore over 50 cultural pavilions, which are operated by cultural organizations within the Lower Mainland.
Surrey Fusion Festival Lineup 2023
When: July 22 and 23, 2023 from 11:00am to 10:00pm
Where: Holland Park
Admission: FREE
Renowned as the ‘Godfather of PowWowStep’, DJ Shub (performing Saturday) has spearheaded the rise of this thriving electronic music genre. Gurnam Bhullar (performing Sunday) is an accomplished Indian artist best known for his single “Diamond” which has received over 645 million views on YouTube. Additional artists performing on Saturday, July 22 include JESSIA, a Ucluelet-raised indie pop artist known for her song “I’m Not Pretty”, as well as Ikky, who performs a fusion of hip hop, R&B, and Punjabi music. Haitian-Canadian and JUNO award-winning artist Wesli and Indigenous country artist Don Amero will perform on Sunday, July 23. The festival will also feature a variety of local performers across all stages.
The popular Cultural Cooking Arena will feature a Surrey youth cooking competition on Saturday as well as cooking demonstrations by cultural pavilion organizers on Sunday.
The two-day festival will also offer amusement rides, a kids zone, dance battles, dance workshops, an Indigenous Village, an Indigenous marketplace, and various amusement rides. You can explore all of the pavilions that will be in attendance here.
This family friendly event features tons of events for kids from a family fun stage, a story-telling tent, and Kids World – a tent with face painting and crafts.
Keep up to date with Surrey Fusion Festival 2023 by visiting their website. Follow the Surrey Fusion Festival Instagram and Facebook.
The Polygon Gallery presents Deckchair Cinema – an outdoor summer film series in North Vancouver showcasing movies every Thursday night at sunset from the end of June to the end of August, 2023.
Free Outdoor Movies in North Vancouver
When: Every Thursday from June 29 until August 31, 2023
Where: Cates Deck (The Shipyards), Spirit Trail, North Vancouver. In front of The Polygon Gallery.
Admission: Free! Donations are accepted and includes access to Polygon Gallery’s summer exhibition Jeremy Shaw: Phase Shifting Index.
Entering its second year, Deckchair Cinema treats audiences to a summer of al fresco film screenings. Spanning across 10 Thursdays, the screenings commence at sunset, and are complemented by music/entertainment leading up to showtime.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and make themselves comfortable by bringing their own blankets or low chairs.
An outdoor “Meet the Makers” market, curated by lifestyle brand OCIN, will feature local artisans and drinks from local wineries and breweries, which can be enjoyed on Cates Deck, a public space zoned for alcohol consumption.
Film Schedule
June 29 – Fantastic Planet, start time 9:30pm
July 6 – Interstella 5555, start time 9:30 pm
July 13 – What We Do In The Shadows, start time 9:15pm
July 20 – Whale Rider, start time 9:15pm Celebrating Squamish Amalgamation Day
July 27 – Big Trouble In Little China, start time 9:00pm
August 3 – Xanadu, start time 9:00pm Celebrating North Shore Pride Week
August 10 – Lovers Rock, start time 8:45pm
August 17 – Moonstruck, start time 8:45pm
August 24 – No Bears, start time 8:30pm
August 31 – Bullitt, start time 8:30pm
Follow the Summer Movies Nights Instagram account for updates.
