The annual Scotiabank & BC SPCA Paws for a Cause walk is coming up on Sunday, September 8, 2013 in 35 communities throughout BC. It’s lovingly referred to as the biggest doggy party of the year and it helps to raise much-needed funds which stay right in local communities.
The goal for this year’s Scotiabank & BC SPCA Paws for a Cause is to raise $1 million to fight animal cruelty in BC. You can sign up to participate in the walk or donate to a participant to support the cause.
My friend Keira has done the walk for several years and she is participating with her rescued pal Jordy once again this year in Comox:
“Last year my then three-year-old niece joined me in the Comox Valley for her first-ever Paws for a Cause walk and was absolutely delighted! She constantly shrieked with joy at being surrounded by dogs of all shapes, sizes, colours and breeds. My participation in Paws for a Cause will always primarily be for the sake of the animals but I know now that I’m also setting an example of love and compassion for all creatures – whether furry, scaly, sweet or stinky.”
To get the word out about Paws for the Cause walks around BC – whether you would like to participate or support a participant – Pile of Pillows has supplied the BC SPCA with NOVOpets® pet beds and I get to give away three of them.
The pet bed is cozy, scratch-proof and easy care. The removable, washable cover makes care easy. A water resistant cover on the inner bed cushion offers added protection from drool, wet paws and accidents. All NOVOpets® Pet Pillows are filled with GeoBlend®, a fill that lowers your carbon footprint. GeoBlend® is a soft, synthetic fill that is eco and pet friendly. All pet beds are made in Canada.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw three winners at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, August 29, 2013. Each winner will receive one gift certificate code that they can use online at Pile of Pillows. The prize is valued at $60 for a large pet bed (pictured above). Follow the BC SPCA on Facebook and Twitter for more information about their work and special events.
Update The winners are Kelly, Riley, and Nicole!
Celebrate! Stanley Park is coming up this weekend in honour of the 125th anniversary of the iconic public park on the edge of the city.
“Lord Stanley threw his arms to the heavens, as though embracing within them the whole of one thousand acres of primeval forest, and dedicated it ‘to the use and enjoyment of peoples of all colours, creeds, and customs, for all time. I name thee, Stanley Park’.”
It was officially opened as a public park on September 27, 1888 by Mayor David Oppenheimer and named after Lord Stanley of Preston (the same Lord Stanley who donated a championship cup to the National Hockey League).
Stanley was not in town when the park was officially opened that year but he visited in October of 1889 to officially dedicated the park, in his name. A statue depicting this moment was installed in 1960.
Over the years I have published over 150 posts about the park and I have recently partnered exclusively with the Stanley Park Ecology Society for a monthly series. It’s no secret that it’s my favourite place in the city to explore.
With its milestone birthday and festival in mind, I figured that the best subject for this week’s archive photo post would be Stanley Park:
The Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC’s Klahowya Village is also open until September 2nd. There you can explore beyond the park’s 125-year history and learn about the First Nations who inhabited the area, their traditions, culture, and legacy.
Thanks to the Vancouver Public Library and City of Vancouver Archives for their collections. Be sure to check out Celebrate! Stanley Park on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25, 2013.
There are various San Francisco activities and landmarks that make a trip to the City by the Bay complete such as a tour of Alcatraz, dinner at the legendary Tonga Room, family fun at Pier 39, photo ops at the Golden Gate Bridge, riding a cable car or navigating Lombard Street. For families, fans of film and old Hollywood, and those who celebrate the work of Walt Disney, there’s also the Walt Disney Family Museum located at the Presidio.
Established in 2009 at the Presidio, a park and former military base at on the northern tip of the San Francisco peninsula, the Walt Disney Family Museum is a super high-tech and interactive learning experience that details the life of Walter Elias Disney and his legacy. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
One place I have always wanted to visit when in San Francisco is Alcatraz, which is as notorious as some of its former prisoners. The 9 hectare island sits about 2.4kms from San Francisco and has had many lives. First as a lighthouse, military fort and military prison in the 1860s, then as a federal prison from 1933 until 1963.
“Break the rules and go to prison, break the prison rules and you go to Alcatraz.”
It was then occupied by Aboriginal peoples from San Francisco throughout the 1970s, and finally it became a National Historic Landmark in 1986. Commonly referred to as “The Rock”, it’s known most for being a federal prison that housed the worst of the worst offenders from across America.
Our group (of Canadian journalists who are touring California with Disney Canada this week) was booked on Alcatraz Cruises, thanks to San Francisco Travel, so we made our way down to San Francisco’s Pier 33 to board at 9:30am on a sunny Sunday morning. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Based in Vancouver, Turning Point Ensemble is a dynamic group of some of Canada’s most exceptional musicians. They are a large chamber ensemble dedicated to increasing the understanding and appreciation of music composed during the past hundred years, linking the music of earlier times to the music of today through innovative programming and outstanding musicianship. With a commitment to Canadian music, the Ensemble also has an impressive repertoire of new commissioned work.
Photo: Turning Point Ensemble
The upcoming season includes four shows and I have the exclusive opportunity to give away two season passes to a lucky reader to enjoy this impressive contemporary music throughout the year.
Forbidden Music
Presented with SFU Woodwards
When: October 27th, 2013 at 2:30pm and 8:00pm
Where: SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts
Entartene Kunst! Degenerate Music! The Turning Point Ensemble plays composers and music banned by the Third Reich including Kurt Weill’s ‘classic’ Little Threepenny Music and the virtuosic Kammermusik No. 1 by Paul Hindemith. The concert includes music of Erwin Schulhoff and Pavel Haas, who both died in concentration camps during the Second World War.
Grace Symmetry
Presented with Ballet BC
When: February 20th, 21st and 22nd, 2014 at 8:00pm
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Ballet BC and the Turning Point Ensemble reunite in an exciting collaboration of live music and dance featuring a new work from the internationally acclaimed choreographer Kevin O’Day (Ballet Mannheim) with music written for the Ensemble by New York’s John King, and the reprise of the elegant and playful In Motion (choreographer Wen Wei Wang, composer Owen Underhill).
Thirst
Presented with Chan Centre
When: March 29th at 7:30pm and March 30th, 2014 at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
Where: Telus Studio Theatre
The captivating vocal world of musica intima meets the rich instrumental textures of Turning Point Ensemble and Nu:BC Collective in a powerful concert featuring three of North America’s most inventive and in-demand composers. The program will unveil premieres by Ana Sokolovic and Michael Oesterle, and include New York composer Julia Wolfe’s meditation on the poetry of water, Thirst.
TPE HyperEnsemble
Presented with SFU Woodwards
When: May 2nd and 4th, 2014 at 8:00pm
Where: SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts
Robots! Metacreation! Live interaction of computers and large ensemble! In this groundbreaking concert, the TPE is transformed into a technology expanded ensemble with the assistance of leading composers and researchers Arne Eigenfeldt, Keith Hamel and David Eagle. The program will include the sophisticated and magical Les Cloches by Keith Hamel and a new work by Arne Eigenfeldt in which the ensemble plays from IPADS computer generated music in real time.
Season subscriptions are on sale now. Here’s how you can enter to win a pair of passes (two tickets to each of these four shows) to enjoy contemporary music and a fabulous night out in downtown Vancouver throughout the season:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on August 31st. Follow Turning Point Ensemble on Facebook and Twitter for more information about performances.
Update The winner is Luc!
