The Surrey Arts Centre and Bear Creek Park will once again be home to the Surrey Children’s Festival this year, from May 23rd until May 25th. Rain or shine, there are indoor and outdoor stages and performances for children of all ages.

Line-Up

Festival hours are 9:00am to 2:30pm Thursday and Friday, and 10:30am to 7:30pm on Saturday. Programming at this year’s festival includes films, workshops, arts activities, roving performers, and much more. Artists and events on the schedule so far include: Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

I love seeing Vancouver and the region from the skies, and with a week of sunshine and unobstructed views it’s a great time to consider scenic tours from Saltspring Air. Flying in a floatplane — to me — is one of those truly “West Coast” experiences. You walk out onto the dock, hop into the aircraft on the water, take off over the waves, and soar just high enough to clear the tips of the tallest evergreens in Stanley Park.

Saltspring Air offers 7 different scenic tours that include: Alpine Lake and Glaciers (1 Hour flight time, optional 15 mins hold time); Princess Louisa Inlet (2 Hour flight time, 30 minutes hold time); My personal favourite Salt Spring Island (1 Hour flight time, up to 7 hours hold time); Whale Watching (1 hour air time); and Butchart Gardens (1 Hour flight time, up to 90 mins hold time).

The West Coast tour (1 Hour 30 mins flight time, up to 7 hours hold time) flies over to Tofino and Ucluelet with stop-overs in Tofino where you can explore the village, browse galleries, and stroll through the forest at Hotsprings Cove. Spot Pacific Rim National Park, the Clayoquot Mountain Range, and more.

For the quickest trip, check out the Local Mountain tour (30 mins airtime). Climb from sea level to 4500 feet toward Howe Sound, over the Lions mountain peaks and old growth forest and back down to the city.

Saltspring Air is now located in the new Seaplane base at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Call ahead to inquire about scenic tours and follow them on Facebook and Twitter for seasonal specials and packages.

It’s the Canadian Red Cross’ Emergency Preparedness Week (May 6th to May 12th) which is an annual awareness campaign to encourage Canadians to be better prepared to deal with disasters in their communities.

Did you know that in a large-scale emergency it could take emergency responders 72 hours to reach you? Would you and your family have enough supplies to get you through 72 hours? Most Canadians admit that they aren’t prepared, even though every province and territory experienced a disaster within the past year. The Canadian Red Cross responded to over 2,300 disasters last year, including everything from house fires to wildfires, landslides, severe flooding, power outages, and hurricanes. Do you know the risks in your area?

To get you thinking about emergency preparedness, the Canadian Red Cross and I have teamed up to offer two unique prizes, thanks to ETON:

1) ETON MicroLink FR 170 Weather Radio – Stay connected in an emergency with this AM/FM Weather Radio with USB cell phone charger that receives audio broadcasts issued by Environment Canada for weather warnings and alerts. Includes built-in LED flashlight and USB cell phone charger. Powered by solar panel and dynamo crank. (Retail value: $36.95)

2) ETON SolarLink FR 370 Weather Radio – Enhanced weather radio that receives audio broadcasts from Environment Canada filtering only broadcasts that affect your area. Also includes an alarm clock. (Retail value: $67.95)

Here’s how you can enter to win one of these two prizes:

• Leave a comment naming the known disaster risks in your home or neighbourhood and/or a step that you have taken to prepare your family in case of emergency
  (1 entry)
• Re-Pin this post on Pinterest or pin a link/image on Pinterest that pertains to emergency preparedness. Be sure to tag @Miss604 and #CanadianRedCross
  (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw two winners (one for each prize) at random from all entries on Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 12:0pm. I also have two Red Cross Canada first aid fanny packs that I will award to two other random winners at that time. These products and more are available in the Red Cross Canada’s online shop.

I am a proud member of the Canadian Red Cross Social Media Team and had the honour of being a part of their Emergency Response Unit training last fall. The Canadian Red Cross has many helpful resources to help you and your family plan for an emergency. To learn more about how to make an emergency plan, what to pack in an emergency kit, and about the risks in your area, check out their online resources.

Update The winners are Jessica (ETON MicroLink FR 170 Weather Radio) and @TanyaJoyT (ETON SolarLink FR 370 Weather Radio). First aid kits go to Zaelia & Brenda A.

The Nanaimo Bar, famous for its layers of chocolate, custard, and coconut, is the inspiration for the Nanaimo Bar Trail throughout downtown Nanaimo. This tour, envisioned by Tourism Nanaimo’s Chelsea Barr three years ago, engages local businesses to remix the famous bar into drinks, cakes, and various other concoctions. Their innovative creations are featured on a self-guided walking tour.

Original Nanaimo Bars – Photo credit: edwardkimuk on Flickr

Back in 2010, Keira-Anne and I were treated to a Nanaimo Bar Cupcake, a Nanaimo Bar Martini, and a Deep-Fried Nanaimo Bar. Just recently, I visited the trail again with Chelsea and a media group to see what new creations have been added to the tour.

Real Food Fast
Feature: Nanaimo Bar Cake
Location: #3 321 Wesley Street
Link: Facebook

Dallas Collis said the goal was to get you past those first two bites of a traditional Nanaimo Bar that usually have you putting it down because it’s too sweet. The cake was much more soft in terms of sweetness and the creamy custard filling was a great fit with the moist layers of cake. The generous serving you see in the image above is also just a half order of the dish.

Mon Petit Choux
Feature: Gluten Free Nanaimo Bar
Location: 120 Commercial Street
Link: Website

Nanaimo’s “little taste of Paris” offers up a gluten free bar made with crisped rice on the bottom layer, buttercream in the centre, and a simple chocolate ganache on top.

Pirate Chips
Feature: Deep Fried Nanaimo Bar
Location: 1 Commercial Street
Link: Website

The novelty of deep frying a Nanaimo Bar makes it one of those “must try” dishes. Battered up with cinnamon sugar and beer, the bar on the inside melts enough to become soft and chewy, staying true to the original flavours.

ACMe Food Co
Feature: Nanaimo Bar-tini
Location: 14 Commercial St Street
Link: Website

This decadent drink is milky, nutty, and rimmed with chocolate and coconut. In 2010 I enjoyed Modern Cafe’s Nanaimo Bar Martini as well, which was a bit more chocolatey and contained espresso for that extra punch.

The Nanaimo Bar creations are getting more inventive while still celebrating the delicious flavours and textures of the original treat. New this year, Chelsea will be adding a new “non-edible” category to the list that will have inspired spa treatments, soaps, and other indulgences for the senses. The Nanaimo Bar Trail list is nearing 25 locations which are all within walking distance. Learn more by following Tourism Nanaimo on Facebook and Twitter.

Playland is now open for the season on Saturday, Sundays and holidays, and on this coming Sunday they’re hosting Community Day benefitting Hastings Community Little League.

Photo credit: Stv. on Flickr

On Saturday, May 11, 2013 $10 from every Playland ticket purchased will go to support Hastings Community Little League in hosting the 2016 Little League Canadian National Tournament.

“Hastings Community Little League provides safe, fun and family orientated baseball and softball programs for children,” said PNE President and CEO Mike McDaniel. “We are pleased to be able work together with the community to support this organization and help bring the Little League Canadian National Tournament to Vancouver.” [Source: Press Release]

There are two new rides at Playland this year that you can check out on Community Day: The Teacups and Balloon Explorers. Spin the teacups or soar 42 feet above the park in a hot air balloon ride. These are just two of the over thirty rides and attractions at Playland that include the iconic 1958 wooden roller coaster.

Playland is currently open 10:00am to 6:00pm on weekends and will be open Mondays to Fridays starting June 14th (from 10:00am to 3:00pm). Extended hours (10:00am to 7:00pm) begin July 1st.

This is the third year Playland has raised funds to benefit the Hastings Community Little League and Playland is hoping to pitch in more that $20,000 thanks to Community Day. Stop by on Saturday — the weather is set to be another gorgeously sunny day — and support the team.

For more information about Playland’s season, the PNE, ride passes, etc. follow the amusement park on Facebook and Twitter.