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YWCA Women of Distinction Awards 2014: Nominations Open

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Nominations are now open for the 2014 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards in Vancouver. This is the 31st anniversary of the awards which celebrate women in various fields who have inspired, educated, and paved the way for future generations.

YWCA Women of Distinction Awards 2011 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards 2011

YWCA Women of Distinction Awards 2011 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards 2011
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Since 1984, the awards have paid tribute to 374 outstanding women and organizations. You can nominate a deserving woman in any of the following categories: Arts, Culture & Design; Business & the Professions; Community Building; Education, Training & Development; Entrepreneurship; Environmental Sustainability; Health, Wellness & Active Living; Non-Profit & Public Service; Technology and Science Research; and Young Woman of Distinction.

The nomination period ends Friday, March 7, 2013 at 12:00pm. The 31st annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards ceremony will take place on June 3rd at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver. There is a reception, gala dinner, silent auction, and awards ceremony.

2013 YWCA Metro Vancouver Women of Distinction Awards
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Nomination Information Session

A free nomination information session will be held on Tuesday, 14 January, 2014 at the YWCA (535 Hornby Street 4th Floor, Welch Room).

Follow the YWCA of Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter for more information. Miss604 is a proud social media sponsor of this event for the 5th 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.

Book Week: White Spot Cookbook

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It’s Book Week this week on Miss604.com as I start a giveaway for a cool BC book each day. Today’s featured book is the White Spot Cookbook, which is available now at White Spot restaurant location.

White Spot Cookbook

This 160 page cookbook features 50-60 recipes along with the history of the restaurant for its 85th anniversary.

The White Spot Cookbook is a visually-rich collection of memories and recipes conveying the spirit of the legendary restaurant, and its evolution from a single drive-in location in 1928 to a modern family restaurant with more than 65 locations in B.C and Alberta.

Fully illustrated with beautiful food photography, the book features recipes for classic dishes like Chicken Pot Pie and Fish & Chips, as well as contemporary feature entrées like Salmon Prawn & Scallop Risotto – all tailored for the home cook. Experience White Spot’s rich heritage through historical photos and testimonials from long-time staff and celebrities, such as Michael Bublé, Red Robinson, Pat Quinn, and Wayne Cox.

The book covers favourites for each meal of the day however, if you’re looking for the coveted Triple “O” sauce recipe you won’t find it within these pages (I didn’t discover the Caramilk Secret when I visited the Cadbury chocolate factory in Toronto either).

White Spot Cookbook White Spot Cookbook

Book Week Giveaway

Here’s how you can enter to win the White Spot Cookbook:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win copy of the @White_Spot cookbook from @Miss604 http://bit.ly/1acSI2f

I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Tuesday, January 14, 2013 at 12:00pm. Follow White Spot on Twitter and Facebook to learn about their latest menu offerings.

Update The winner is Lori Bazan!

Dine Out Vancouver 2014

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Dine Out Vancouver 2014Dine out Vancouver returns January 17th to February 2nd, 2014.

This is Canada’s largest restaurant festival, produced by Tourism Vancouver and presented by American Express, where you can enjoy offerings from hundreds of restaurants, culinary events, and dozens of hotel options to make your Dine Out Vancouver experience last.

Dine Out Vancouver 2014

Search by restaurant, menu price, cuisine, neighbourhood, and narrow your options based on dietary needs such as vegetarian or gluten-free. Each participating restaurant is hosting a prix-fixe menu for Dine Out Vancouver that is either $18, $28, or $38. Be sure to make your reservations as soon as possible.

Dine Out Preview - Coast Dine Out Preview - Italian Kitchen

Culinary Events

ACT 1, EAT 1: Gob Squad’s Kitchen
Dates: January 16

Chef Soup Experiment
50 chefs, 50 ingredients, one massively delicious soup. That’s the plan anyway.
Dates: January 17

PLATED & PAIRED AT THE PUBLIC MARKET
A rare, after-hours opportunity to taste the best of Granville Island, Canadian dairy cheese, & the Wines of British Columbia.
Dates: January 17 SOLD OUT

NIGHT CIRCUS
Once in a while something outlandish happens when a group of visionaries get inspired to create something audacious.
Dates: Jan 17 -19, 24 -26, 31, Feb 1, 2

JAZZ OUT: GARY SMULYAN NONET
Jazz up your dinner with this New York City saxophonist.
Dates: January 17, 18, 19

SECRET SUPPER SOIRÉE
Vancouver’s most unique culinary road trip sells out every year. Hop on board this food filled adventure and enjoy a dining experience like no other.
Dates: Jan 17, 18, 24, 31, Feb 1

AFTER 5 TEA COCKTAIL SERVICE
High tea like you’ve never had it before. Seriously.
Dates: Jan 17, 18, 23, 24, 30, 31, Feb 1

Side Dishes – The Best of Hawksworth
Join other adventurous food lovers for “the Best of Hawksworth”
Dates: January 18, 21, 25, 28, Feb 1

EAST VAN CRAFT BREW & CULINARY TOUR
Celebrate all things craft beer & food in this tasty tour of Vancouver’s burgeoning brewery district.
Dates: Jan 18, 23, 24, 31

Brunch Crawl – West End
Vancouver’s West End is the focus of this unique “Vancouver Foodster” inspired Sunday morning adventure in brunch!
Dates: January 19

SIX COURSE DISCOURSE
Six Vancouver chefs discuss what’s on their mind in this ‘Follow Me Foodie’ curated experience.
Dates: January 20

Food For Thought – Urban Thai Bistro
Awaken the senses with an array of music, fashion and Thai tapas.
Dates: January 21

CRAFT PIZZA MEETS CRAFT BEER
Create your own flatbread craft pizza, and drink local craft beer. Need we say more?
Dates: January 21, 22

FOOD-TOGRAPHY: A Culinary Photography Tour
Who doesn’t love to take pictures of their food! Learn to do it like a pro!
Dates: Jan 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31

ACT 1, EAT 1: L.A. Party
William Shatner “speaks” about science and art via Star Trek video clips
Dates: January 22

MAIN STREET RESTO & COCKTAIL TOUR
Get the inside taste on one of Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhoods in this delicious journey.
Dates: Jan 23, 29, 30, 31

Film Feast – Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Join the Shangri-La Hotel on a culinary journey to Japan in this inspirational pairing of dinner and a movie.
Dates: January 22, 28 SOLD OUT

STREET FOOD CITY III
Take a midday break to sample from a collection of food trucks at Vancouver’s original Street Food Pod!
Dates: January 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

ACT 1, EAT 1: Measure for Measure
“Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall”. And we all love a Shakespeare play and dinner at Siena for all!
Dates: January 22, 29

Dinner at the Birdcage
“Dinner and a Show” goes glam in this re-interpretation of a cult classic drag cabaret.
Dates: January 23

Food For Thought – Soiree Lounge
Awaken the senses with this interesting combination of tapas, music and art.
Dates: January 23

The Snowshoe Fondue
What’s a winter food festival without a snowshoe trek and an ‘all you need is cheese’ fondue to follow?
Dates: January 24

Brunch Crawl – East Side
Vancouver’s East Side neighbourhood is the focus of this unique “Vancouver Foodster” inspired Sunday morning adventure in brunch!
Dates: January 26

All “YEW” Need is Cheese
Cheese…It’s all about the cheese…
Dates: January 27

ULTIMATE RAW CANVAS EXPERIENCE
Let your inner artiste shine through in this unique blending of food, wine, and colour.
Dates: January 27

DOUGH GOES LOCAL
Organic sprouted grains are the basis for this dough demo, talk, wine tasting and nibbling event.
Dates: January 28

Food For Thought – Thai House Kits
Awaken the senses with art, fashion and Thai tapas.
Dates: January 28

ACT 1, EAT 1: Have I No Mouth
An achingly intimate work that balances on a knife’s edge between comedy and trauma
Dates: January 30

JAZZ OUT: WEEDS / MINEMOTO QUARTET
Jazz up your dinner with the music of The Max Roach and Clifford Brown Quintet.
Dates: January 30, 31, February 1, 2

The Grape Debate
All bets are off in this head to head debate on a key issue facing the British Columbia wine industry. All is resolved with the wine tasting that follows!
Dates: January 31

PALATE PROMENADE – GRANVILLE ISLAND
Discover something new as you taste and tour your way around Granville Island.
Dates: February 1

Follow Dine Out Vancouver on Twitter and Facebook for the latest information and contest opportunities.

Book Week: Grant Lawrence

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Canadian broadcaster and author Grant Lawrence has returned from his recent book tour that included: “5,812 kilometres. 30 events. 25 musicians. 12 libraries. 10 flights. 8 bars. 5 arts centres. 4 theatres. 3 bookstores. 2 rental cars. 1 lost CBC Sweater.” His new book, The Lonely End of the Rink: Confessions of a Reluctant Goalie was released by Douglas & McIntyre in the fall and currently sits on their bestseller list.

lonleyendoftherinkIn this deeply personal, yet incredibly witty memoir about Grant’s relationship with hockey, the narrative passes back and forth between tales of Grant’s life and a fascinating history of hockey, complete with lively anecdotes about the many colourful characters of the NHL.

This is a side-splitting account of how hockey has played into various periods of his life, first as a knee-brace-wearing bully-magnet, then a rock star, and finally, a CBC broadcaster. Complete with Lawrence’s signature storytelling ability, this witty and personal book is a quintessentially Canadian story about our cultural lives, told through the grill of a goalie mask.

Not only does it contain colourful anecdotes about the history of the NHL, it is also chock full of stories about many Canadian celebrities—including comedians, musicians and actors—whose lives have been affected by the game.

The book delves deeply into hockey history, 1970s to 2000s, through the eyes of an on-again off-again Vancouver Canucks fan and as Andy Holloway writes for the National Post: “Despite its title and cover photo [Lawrence’s book] is actually less about being a goalie for the Vancouver Flying Vees, the team he cofounded along with other musicians, and more about finding where one fits in life.”

Book Week Giveaway

Every day this week I will give away a cool BC book. Here’s how to enter to win today’s featured title The Lonely End of the Rink: Confessions of a Reluctant Goalie by Grant Lawrence:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win copy of @GrantLawrence’s #thelonelyendoftherink from @DMPublishers + @Miss604 http://ow.ly/sqCMx

I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Monday, January 13, 2013 at 12:00pm. Follow Grant Lawrence’s everyday adventures on Twitter.

Update The winner is Anne Derkat!

14 Photos of Vancouver in 1914

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One hundred years ago, our fair city was 28 years old and already survived a Great Fire, erected the tallest building in the British Empire, built a courthouse that stands today as the city’s art gallery, had a thriving interurban transit system and a population well over 100,000 (a fifth of what it is today).

14 Photos of Vancouver in 1914

Taking a look back at Vancouver in 1914, here are some photos from that year courtesy of the City of Vancouver Archives:


Crowds outside the C.P.R. Station for the embarkation of the first overseas troops. Vancouver Archives# Mil P276.1.


72nd Seaforths marching over bridge to Stanley Park. Vancouver Archives# CVA 99-1172.


Coal Harbour (before Lost Lagoon was sectioned off) and Stanley Park. Vancouver Archives# CVA 789-124.


City of Vancouver street cleaning crew on Labour Day. Vancouver Archives# CVA 789-14.


Car crash at Granville Street at Connaught Drive. Vancouver Archives# Str P409.2.


A group at Prospect Point and a group descending Grouse Mountain both photos attributed to F.W. Hewton. Vancouver Archives# St Pk P145 and Mount P11.1.


Vancouver Cycle Club. Vancouver Archives# CVA 1376-254.


Passengers from the Komagata Maru. Vancouver Archives# CVA 7-127.


Construction on the upper floors of the (second) Hotel Vancouver. Vancouver Archives# Hot P55.3.


Smithe between Howe and Granville, and the third CPR station under construction. Vancouver Archives# LGN 986 and CVA 152-1.080.


Kitsilano Beach. Vancouver Archives# Be N3.


English Bay Beach. Vancouver Archives# Be P144.2.

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