Last night a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Haida Gwaii and led to tsunami warnings up and down the coast. Rolling aftershocks hit while everyone was looking for information about our coastal communities. Fortunately our warnings in our area were downgraded to ‘advisories’ however places like Hawaii were still on guard hours later in anticipation of a tsunami-like event, of whatever size.
It’s times like these that make us think about preparedness. If you grew up in the Lower Mainland like me you’ve probably participated in drills for the last few decade but during my recent trip to the Canadian Red Cross’ Emergency Response Unit (“ERU”) practice facility, the idea of being prepared for a disaster scenario really hit home. In an emergency situation you want to be sure to have enough supplies for you and your family for 72 hours, packed away in an easy-to-carry container like a suitcase with wheels or a backpack.
Here is a list of recommended emergency kit items from the Canadian Red Cross:
- Water: During an emergency, tap water can become polluted or supply may be cut off. Store two litres of drinking water and two litres of water for washing per person, per day, keeping a 72 hour supply on hand for your family and any pets. Listen to public announcements about treating the water in your area after a disaster. Once per year, make use of your water supply and add fresh water to your kit.
- Food: Store at least a 72 hour supply of non-perishable food for each person. Select foods that are compact and lightweight, non-perishable and require no refrigeration, cooking, preparation or added water. Once per year, check the expiration dates of your food items. Ensure that there is enough for each member of your family.
- Manual can opener
- Crank or battery-operated flashlight, with extra batteries
- Crank or battery-operated radio, with extra batteries
- Extra keys, for house and car
- First aid kit
- Cash in small bills
- Special needs items – medications, baby formula and diapers, and equipment for people with disabilities. Learn more about plans for people with disabilities.
- Copy of your emergency plan
There is much more information available on the Red Cross’ website and during an event like this in the future, you can follow @EmergencyInfoBC on Twitter, the Government of BC on Facebook, and Emergency Info BC online. The City of Vancouver has specific information here.
The popular Circle Craft Christmas Market returns November 7th to 11th this year, showcasing local artisans, crafters, designers, and DIY ideas for the holiday season.
Products on display at the exhibitor booths include children’s clothing, candles and soaps, clay, dolls and toys, fibre, fashion jewelry, home decor, leather, metal, wood, visual arts and much more. The main stage will host fashion shows with pieces from over 50 designers and the glass stage will feature demos each day while the DIY workshops and artist demonstrations entertain and educate.
Circle Craft Christmas Market wil be open daily from 10:00am at the Vancouver Convention Centre West and tickets are currently on sale for $12 ($10 in advance online). Seniors and students are $10 and children 12 and under are free. Get 2-for-1 admission after 5:00pm on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
I have a pair of tickets up for grabs, here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment naming your favourite craft or handmade item (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries next Thursday, November 1, 2012. Follow Circle Craft on Facebook and Twitter for market information, entertainment and exhibitors updates.
Update The winner is Caitlin!
Some of us eventually come to a point in our careers when we ask ourselves what’s next? Where will we go from here and what is it we want from our professional lives? Local fashion designer Malene Grotrian did just that a few years ago when she decided to venture out and start her own company.
Originally from Denmark, Malene’s designs have been described as versatile, timeless, and elegant. Since 2008 she’s operated a boutique studio out of Gastown’s iconic Dominion Building doing custom designs, client consultations, and creating her collections. The year following her launch she was invited to New York Fashion Week and since then she’s produced an annual large-scale fashion event for her fall/winter collections here in Vancouver such as this month’s New Heights fashion show on Granville Island. With this season’s collection she also revealed a new website and launched her custom Made to Measure brand.
Malene dressed me for the 2011 NHL Awards in Las Vegas and I figured that with all this momentum it was time to pay her another visit to catch up on her designs and learn more about her philosophy.
“I think overall there is a community in Vancouver that cares about buying local,” said Malene as we sat by the window in her studio, looking out on sunshine-soaked Gastown on a crisp fall day. “We’re used to it as a trend with food whereas with clothes it’s more of a consumer mentality. There is a shift toward buying local [clothing] happening now, it’s just been a bit slower to catch-on.” Being from Europe, Malene said it was a value that she was brought up with. “You save up for that piece, you take care of it, and it’s a part of you. It’s not just having five of that design in blue or red, then next season it’s out. It’s much more of a consciousness about what you buy and it’s definitely more quality over quantity.”
Malene’s passion is creating those quality pieces for women in Vancouver. “I think anyone that pretty much hates shopping is a great client for me because they can come in, I take an assessment, and there’s pretty much nothing I don’t have here.” Her ready-to-wear collection covers sizes 2 to 14 and she also has pieces in sizes 16 to 18. Anything else, she will create and offer something custom. She helps clients save time by determining what styles look good on them and being a one-stop-shop for finding the perfect pieces.
Women are really powerful when we feel great about who we are and what we do. We’re so nurturing so I feel like what I can do is set the frame around that.”
Those who love to get their retail therapy by going from shop to shop are more than welcome as well, and Malene said she is happy to be a part of that journey. “But I really feel that I can help those women that actually hate to shop. They can come up here, go into the change-room and say ‘give me something’.” Looking back, I believe that’s pretty much what I did when I first met Malene as well – I’m clueless when it comes to fashion and I love putting my trust (and style) in the hands of professionals.
By asking questions about what the clients do, what they have happening in their lives, if they travel, are going to an event, etc. Malene can offer suggestions and see what works for them. She has returning customers as well who have built up key pieces from previous collections and she can help create what she calls a capsule wardrobe using those pieces as building blocks.
Her clients are typically in their mid 30’s and up. “I love women in their 50’s and 60’s because a lot of women in that age have bodies that start to change and they are not necessarily happy with those changes. But, I feel there’s so much to celebrate and there’s such a profound confidence that they can have.” Malene said that it’s all about understanding that you can look and feel really great about yourself — and key pieces of clothing can make all the difference. “I love going through that process with them, it’s really empowering.”
From producing her own shows to partnering with local non-profits and organizations for events, Malene values connecting with the community through her fashion. “I love the collaborations, the people, the committees, and just the energy that comes from working with charities,” she said as I looked through the columns of non-profit partners she’s worked with that have been listed in her new magazine. “Every organization is different and you always learn something new — you walk away with knowledge each time.”
Coming up next month, Malene will be taking part in events with Vancouver CREW, the Vancouver Yacht Club supporting the Disabled Sailing Association, and her own studio event.
Follow Malene on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about her events, collections, and services. You can also book a shopping appointment or a Style Soiree for a private shopping experience for you and a handful of your closest friends.
In honor of the new Vancouver Inspiration Pass offered by the Vancouver Public Library, I decided that this week’s collection of photos from the archives should have a tourism and attractions theme:
1904 – Hollow Tree in Stanley Park. VPL Number: 5.
1900s – View from Grouse Mountain. VPL Number 8128. Photographer: Philip Timms.
1905 – Vancouver Tourist Association. VPL Number: 5204.
1913 – Orpheum Theatre billboard. VPL Number: 7580. Photographer: Philip Timms.
1890s – Entrance to Stanley Park. VPL Number: 19796.
1922 – Exhibit at the Vancouver Aquarium. VPL Number: 21349.
1930 – Capilano Canyon suspension bridge. VPL Number: 71351.
1931 – Vancouver Art Gallery. VPL Number: 10926. Photographer: Leonard Frank.
1960 – Parade in Chinatown. VPL Number: 79795B. Photographer: Don LeBlanc.
1965 & 1966 – Maritime Museum under construction. VPL Number: 40464A & 40459
1966 – Porpoise pool under construction at the aquarium. VPL Number: 42892.
View more photo collections from the Vancouver Archives and the Vancouver Public Library Archives online.
In recent years terms like Electronic Voice Phenomenon (“EVP”) have found a place in pop culture references thanks to television shows that hunt, chase, or debunk paranormal activity. Locally, the Vancouver Paranormal Society has been conducting investigations of their own for the last 19 years. The non-profit organization is the Lower Mainland’s longest-running paranormal research group and they have been keeping very busy.
“With the presence of TV shows and stuff like that it’s helped people sort of come out of the woodwork and contact us,” said Peter Renn, President and Lead Investigator at the Vancouver Paranormal Society (“VPS”). Peter got into this line of work — or hobby really, as all VPS members volunteer their time and have day jobs outside of the group — due to experiences he had growing up in a heritage home. It led him to want to explore just what might be out there.
“Our main priority as a group is helping people out. But taking a step back from that, the personal experiences you have with the things that you see just make you look at the world differently, with a different perspective.”
VPS Members volunteer their time to conduct two types of investigations: private residential cases and public buildings. Usually people get in touch with the group to find answers to things they cannot explain — and to see if there is a logical explanation out there.
Peter said that 95% of the time there’s a logical explanation for something that people might deem as paranormal but it’s that other 5% that drives them.
Members come from all walks of life and have varying belief systems but they have one thing in common, they hope to understand more than they do now by sharing their experiences with their clients. Each case is confidential and clients receive a report from the team once the investigation wraps up.
For public buildings, usually it’s the VPS team that contacts the manager or business owner so that they can go in and test new equipment or experiment with new methods. Local landmarks famous for otherworldly visitors include the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (with the “Lady in Red”), the Dominion Building (and its architect that is said to linger near the stairwell) and several others including theatres and museums.
You can catch up with some of the public adventures of the VPS on their blog, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also place a request for an investigation by visiting their website.
