It’s almost time for TEDxSurrey 2023! After Surrey’s speakers made waves in the TED universe last year the team has curated another stellar lineup. They also have a whole bunch of giveaways happening and as social media sponsor, I have a fun offering (total value $500) for my readers/followers as well:
TEDxSurrey 2023
When: Saturday, January 21, 2023 from 9:30am to 4:00pm
Where: Bell Performing Arts Centre (6250 – 144th St, Surrey)
TEDxSurrey will feature 12 brilliant speakers and a greater emphasis on the “E” in TED, which stands for entertainment. Attendees will be able to enjoy the music of Shale, Richard Tichelman and the Screaming Eagles along with dancers and energizers.
Your event ticket also includes lunch and refreshments, multiple prize draws (including the chance to win an ENVO Lynx 20 E-Bike), lobby activities and ample opportunities to interact and exchange ideas with the speakers.
Giveaway
Thanks to ATLAS Steak + Fish for supporting TEDxSurrey, I have five $100 gift cards to give away! You can enter to win by following our accounts and spreading the word about TEDxSurrey. Here are the details:
Miss604 is the Social Media Sponsor of TEDxSurrey 2023
Speakers
Dr. Stefanie Green: After 20 years working in maternity care, Dr. Stefanie Green is now a leader in the practice of assisted dying. A pioneering clinician, innovative educator, and author of a bestselling memoir, when Stefanie pulls back the curtain on assisted dying, it will leave you with a new perspective on life.
Carla Guerrera: As CEO of Purpose Driven Development, Carla is a globally recognized real estate developer and thought leader who has delivered over $1B in mixed-use real estate development. Combining urban planning, sustainability, and real estate development her team unlocks complex redevelopment to transform the way we live, work and thrive.
Finn Liu: Finn is an openly transgender high school student, award-winning public speaker, and neurodiversity advocate. While proud of his surrounding Asian community, he recognizes the negative cultural ties perpetuating stigma and discrimination against trans-identifying Asian individuals. Finn strongly believes in the importance of communication to address the root of queer issues.
Dr. Kai Chan: Kai is a sustainability scientist who studies the many and intimate relationships people have as components of nature. He is a Professor at UBC and Canada Research Chair committed to social and ecological justice, and to instigating bold changes to make our planet both better and wilder.
Kal Dosanjh: Kal is currently a Police Detective. He is also the CEO and Founder of KidsPlay Youth Foundation. The Foundation stretches across Canada, and internationally in Colombia and India. Over 100,000 youth have participated in free programs provided by the organization as a means of deterring youth from drugs and gangs.
Kelsey Carignan: As a wellness practitioner and yoga instructor, Kelsey Carignan is on a mission to promote mindfulness and movement as transformative tools for improving every facet of our lives. She is the founder of Vibrant Yogi, an online yoga and wellbeing community, and co-founder of the Yoga for Hockey app.
Linda Fawcus: Linda Fawcus is the founder of Gluu Society, a Canadian nonprofit that helps older adults use technology to stay happy, healthy, and connected. Linda has been a technology entrepreneur for over 28 years and is also the creator and host of the “How To Be Unscammable” TV show.
Marilyn Norry: Through her work as an actor, author, teacher, and editor of plays and screenplays, Marilyn has investigated the myriad of ways humans live and interact. Since 2004 she’s empowered people to write their family stories, so the stories of all people – especially women – are remembered and told.
Muhaddisa Sarwari: A Grade 12 student who is originally a Hazara refugee from Afghanistan. She has spent all of her life as a refugee with no access to formal education. As a young girl who was deprived of her basic human rights, she is passionate about advocating for the rights of refugees.
Dr. Tanya Gee: Dr. Tanya is a veteran Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine who values compassion, empathy and loving kindness. Living with her aging mother has taught her invaluable lessons on love and service and the many benefits of intergenerational cohabitation. Humour is their glue to learning to live harmoniously together.
Derek Strokon: Derek is an International Best-Selling Author, Leader and Business Consultant whose practice focuses on resilience development and process implementation. His award-winning approach to sales excellence is driven by a team-centered approach of ‘Strength Through Vulnerability’. His relentless passion for evangelizing the ‘Human Journey’, is both inspiring and contagious.
Kai Scott, MA: Kai is a social scientist whose 15-year career has focused on solving complex social issues, including those faced by transgender people. He has conducted research and delivered education on gender diversity to over 35,000 people across Canada. As such, he has deep insights into the state of gender in our society.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by ZenSeekers Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
Launching March 2023, naaʔuu is a ticketed cultural experience presented by Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, which will support Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks’ work in restoring and furthering the nation’s lands, language and culture. Join this unique event series for an evening of food, art, and cultural presentations.
Tim Masso & Hjalmer Wenstob – Photo by Melissa Renwick for ZenSeekers
Named after a Nuu-chah-nulth word that translates to “come together” and “feast,” naaʔuu includes a delicious dinner that celebrates traditional coastal cuisine prepared by Chef Ian Riddick, with support from his Heartwood Kitchen team and Tla-o-qui-aht food suppliers.
“I’m really delighted to get involved because I really think that it’s a story that has to be told. One of the reasons that I was drawn to this area, and friends and family are drawn to this area, is because of this deep sense of history that was here before us,” says Chef Riddick.
“The art and culture of Nuu-chah-nulth and Tla-o-qui-aht, where we reside, it’s incredible and kind of drives us every day. Living here, getting a chance to work with Tla-o-qui-aht fishers, gatherers, and chefs, it’s a huge opportunity. To me, this is a really special opportunity for us.”
Held at the Tla-o-qui-aht-owned Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort in Tofino, ticket-holders are invited to gather inside the resort’s conference centre, which has been transformed to look and feel like a traditional long house.
“We’ve been going back and forth about how the evening will look, but it’s really about bringing people together, almost in our house. Like inviting people into our house,” says Co-Producer Hjalmer Wenstob. “naaʔuu is really about sharing together and feasting together.”
“The evening itself is going to be culture and history, but told from the our perspective. Up until now we haven’t always been able to have the voice at the forefront of telling history so being able to tell our history is what we’re really excited about. We haven’t had this opportunity yet to really invite folks in to learn from Tla-o-qui-aht perspective, with their own voices.”
Wenstob says that naaʔuu will be done with Tla-o-qui-aht presenters, Tla-o-qui-aht hosts, Tla-o-qui-aht chefs and food will come from Tla-o-qui-aht.
“It’s really about inviting you in and being able to share a bit. I think the sharing element is what’s important, it’s not just us lecturing or even presenting. It’s about the cultural exchange and the experience in that way.”
naaʔuu events will also include an art show where local artists and makers will have their works for sale.
“I want folks to come in and have an experience that they’re proud of, that we’re proud of sharing, that they’re proud of hearing, and send folks off so they know a little bit more.”
Wenstob says that while he doesn’t expect anyone to learn everything in such a short amount of time at the events, it is an opportunity to ask questions then head out on their own adventure with Tla-o-qui-aht.
“With Truth and Reconciliation, we’re at the truth point still and this is an opportunity for us to share some truth, and for folks to ask questions and learn a little bit and just know where they are. Tla-o-qui-aht has been there from a scientific perspective for over 10,000 years, from our perspective, time immemorial. This is our opportunity to open the door a little tiny bit, let a little bit of light out, and then folks have to go and do some exploration themselves.”
In the last two years, Wenstob has seen an increase in interest in learning about local history, the local nations, the language and the art. “To see that desire from the outside community means that this is the time. This is the time to start coming together and sharing, and really learning together and growing together. Up until now it’s always been at a distance – ‘us and them’ – and we have to break that down so this is an opportunity to start that work.”
When You Go
When you purchase naaʔuu tickets know that you are supporting Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks with an experience that will leave anyone with a Tla-o-qui-aht perspective on life and the lands they call home.
The Future Arts Network is launching its inaugural mentorship workshop for emerging writers and artists of colour. The free, low-barrier, and accessible program will be held online this month and applications for the program are now open through January 9th. Open to all BIPOC women and other marginalized genders, the program will run January 23 to February 15, 2023, focusing on how to engage with the literary arts and publishing industry.
Future Arts Network Society Mentorship Workshop
Future Arts Network Society was established in 2022 by co-leads Kristin Cheung and Michelle Ha. The organization was built on the groundwork laid by “The Future is you and me”, the country’s first and only interdisciplinary arts mentorship program for women of colour that was co-founded by Cheung and Megan Lau.
Over five years, the initiative hosted annual professional development workshops, produced an online symposium in 2020, and co-developed a community research report in 2021 with Cineworks titled “A Seat at the Table: Black, Indigenous & Women of Colour in Metro Vancouver’s Film and TV Industry Speak”. The project was officially sunset in 2021, but the mission to support and develop women of colour leaders in the arts remained a priority, which is why the Future Arts Network Society was founded.
“Future Arts Network Society supports BIPOC, trans, and non-binary cultural workers to be creative, artistic, and innovative leaders,” says Cheung. “There is currently a lack of training that addresses the unique lived experiences of racialized women. Our programs serve as strategic interventions to reduce systemic barriers. We hope that by connecting emerging and industry professionals, we can build a meaningful community of future leaders that better reflect the make-up of Canada.”
The inaugural workshop will be focused on the literary arts, with mentorship sessions on pitching book proposals, grant writing, marketing, and more. Participants will also develop a collaborative book that will be published in spring 2023. Speakers currently include former Room magazine publisher and poet Molly Cross-Blanchard, co-creators of Hungry Zine Kathryn Gwun-Yeen and Kyla Pascal, award-winning author Jessica Johns, author and journalist Doretta Lau, Hugo Award-winning editor and writer Chimedum Ohaegbu, and more.
How to Apply for the Program
Applicants must be 18 years or older and while no experience is necessary, they must have a keen interest in writing and the arts. Each participant will receive an honorarium of $500 at the end of the program. Apply online until January 9, 2023.
The #CHVCatchUp is a monthly series featuring the latest updates and news from Covenant House Vancouver (“CHV”). Miss604 is proud to be the Official Blog Partner of CHV. This month’s post has been written by Jason Bosher.
Covenant House Vancouver 2022 Impact Wrap Up
Looking back on 2022 it was a year of change and growth for Covenant House Vancouver. They moved into a new 10-storey, purpose-built facility in downtown Vancouver, and their programs and services expanded.
At Covenant House Vancouver, young people are greeted without judgment — with unconditional love and with absolute respect — often for the first time in their lives. Community support makes it possible for their frontline staff to develop meaningful relationships built on trust with the youth who access their programs. They work to meet each young person’s unique needs by providing them with individualized programming, wraparound services, and relentless support.
Covenant House Vancouver
Covenant House thanks everyone who has stood behind and shown support for each of the resilient and inspiring young people who needed a helping hand last year.
Here are just a few ways that their community of supporters and volunteers made an impact on the youth at Covenant House Vancouver in 2022:
121
Every day an average of 121 youth found love and support at Covenant House Vancouver
154
154 youth successfully secured or maintained independent housing
510
510 youth accessed warm meals, a safe place to rest, and one-size-fits-one support in the Drop-in Centre
631
The outreach team connected with 631 individual youth
25
The 25 youth living in the Rights of Passage program stayed for an average of almost 20 months
258
258 individual youth stayed in the Crisis Program
93%
93% of youth said that they feel Covenant House Vancouver has helped them
85%
85% of youth maintained or improved their mental health
80%
80% of youth said they feel more confident about their future
As you head into a new year remind yourself of all the good you have accomplished. What have you been able to overcome? How far are you from where you started? What are you most proud of?
Because of the incredible support from the community, the youth who come to Covenant House Vancouver can have the same reflections. They can look back and be proud of where they are today.
Because supporters, donors, volunteers, and staff believe in them the young people start to believe in themselves. And when they start to believe in themselves, their futures are limitless.
Thank you for helping to make 2023 brighter for thousands of young people!
Since 1997, Covenant House Vancouver has been providing love and hope to youth experiencing homelessness. They are the premiere service provider of residential and outreach services for homeless and at-risk youth ages 16 to 24 in Vancouver. Follow Covenant House on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more info.
E-Comm, which handles 99 per cent of BC’s 9-1-1 call volume at its two emergency communications centres, has released its annual Top Ten list of calls that don’t belong on 9-1-1.
E-Comm Photo
E-Comm call taker Mark Kolomejac has responded to many nuisance calls during his time as a police call taker. He says that although general questions and complaints might not seem like a significant burden, their impact on public safety can be detrimental. The worst part? The problem is preventable.
“Nuisance calls never belong on emergency lines, but it’s extremely concerning how often callers know their non-urgent concerns aren’t an appropriate reason to call 9-1-1. We regularly get callers stating ‘I know this isn’t an emergency, but I didn’t know who else to call,’” explains Kolomejac. “If you have a flat tire or a broken windshield wiper for example, we can’t help you on 9-1-1, but a towing company or roadside assistance will be able to get you the support that you need.”
Top Ten 9-1-1 Nuisance Calls of 2022
The nozzle wasn’t working at the gas station
They had a flat tire
People were playing basketball on a public court at night time
Someone wasn’t picking up after their dog
Someone was using their garbage bin
Complaining about children drawing with chalk at a playground
Their phone was stuck in a bench
Looking for an update on a nationwide telco outage
Someone called 9-1-1 because they had a broken window wiper
Someone cut in line at the car wash
E-Comm answered a total of 2,109,440 calls on 9-1-1 in 2022, marking the busiest year in the organization’s history with a 1.8 per cent increase from 2021. Of these calls, 98 per cent were answered in five seconds or less – surpassing both E-Comm’s contracted service level and industry standards for 9-1-1 call answer. Despite a publicly recognized rise in demand for all emergency services, E-Comm call takers continue to field nuisance calls on 9-1-1, diverting critical resources from British Columbians in real emergency situations.
By making the right call, you can help ensure that your loved ones get the assistance that they need in an emergency. It can be confusing to know the right resource to reach out to, so E-Comm has a comprehensive list of alternative resources on its website.
E-Comm is encouraging British Columbians to commit to a resolution that they can keep—protecting the province’s critical emergency resources by keeping 9-1-1 lines free for police, fire and ambulance emergencies.
