Biking to work could be a dream. Riding in the open air, avoiding bumper to bumper traffic, and arriving to work refreshed from morning exercise. In theory it’s ideal but in reality many businesses cannot accomodate cycling commuters on their workforce — and that’s where HUB comes in.
Formerly the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition, HUB is a non-profit society in Metro Vancouver that provides encouragement, education, and celebration of cycling for happier and healthier communities. They host Bikes to Work and Bike to School programs, lead workshops, and provide Streetwise Cycling Courses. According to HUB, 60% of the population are interested in using cycling to get around but hasn’t tried it yet. Their latest initiative is providing Bikeability Assessments for businesses.
“We’re kind of excited about it,” said Lisa Slakov, Local Committee Chair for Vancouver/UBC. “It came out of the fact that over time, when we’ve been doing education classes or working on different issues, periodically people would say ‘do you know of anything or do you guys have anything just to help us figure out what we need to do with our building in terms of making it more bike friendly?’.”
Over the last year or so HUB has been working with coming up with their assessment plan for businesses. “We not only do the buildings, we also do the workplace,” Lisa added. “What do you offer for your employees? Do you offer anything in your orientation package? Do you offer any kind of financial incentives for getting to work by bike or other forms of active transportation?”
“You may not think it’s important to have a shower or change area but that could be the critical tipping point that allows people to choose a different way of commuting to work.”
HUB also works with schools in more of an education capacity, hosting cycling celebrations and offering training for kids.
With businesses and building owners, it’s about education, problem solving, improving employee relationships, and promoting a healthy workplace. Lisa told me that there are many reasons why businesses should feel encouraged to promote cycling to work and HUB helps them get their head around how they’ll move in that direction.
When it comes to cycling being more widely adopted for commuting, and not just leisure, Lisa says the momentum exists in Vancouver. “It’s just a question of continuing to push it. [Cycling] isn’t weird, it’s mainstream and this is they way it’s going in so many parts of the world.” HUB offers memberships for individuals, families, and organizations that includes workshops, deals, and the added bonus of showing your support for cycling in your community.
You can find HUB on Twitter and Facebook to learn more about community events and bike-related happenings around town. HUB is also looking for more businesses to participate in their Bikeability Assessments, particularly in Surrey.
VanDusen Botanical Garden is turning 37 years old next week as it prepares to host two gala events in September. Rejuvenated with a new visitor centre, cafe and meeting space, the 55-acre garden is home to hydrangeas, rhododendrons, ferns, beeches, roses, oaks, giant redwoods, bamboos, magnolias, lakes, and much more. Aside from all the natural and cultivated beauty, VanDusen also hosts major events, two of which are coming up in September.
Luxury Supercar Weekend
The Luxury Supercar Weekend is a two day outdoor showing on September 8th and 9th on the Great Lawn at VanDusen. This garden party is one of the most anticipated automotive, lifestyle and fashion events on the Metro-Vancouver social calendar.
Aside from the Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bugattis, Aston Martins, and Alfa Romeros, there will also be a Mercedes Benz Fashion stage, Italian food pavilion, Great Gatsby picnic site, Sutton Place Hotel Chocolate buffet, Wines of Argentina pavilion, Flight Center luxury travel tent, Jet helicopter display, luxury boat display and the best of class Concours Awards. Tickets start at $50 with VIP options available.
Bloom Gala: Glitter n’ Green
The 2nd Annual Bloom Gala will take place at the VanDusen Visitor Centre (5151 Oak Street in Vancouver) on September 13th to raise funds for Education in the Garden.
The CBC’s Gloria Macarenko will MC the evening that will have West Coast Food prepared by Chef Eric Pateman, Edible Canada, entertainment from Public Dreams and RazzMaJazz, and VQA BC Wine from Ganton & Larsen Prospect Winery. The floral consultant for the gala is Brian Minter of Minter Gardens. Fine wines, a romantic getaway, a piece of art or a very special dining experience could be on the list of items up for grabs in the auction as well. The dress code is “glittery or green or both”. Individual tickets are $195, with group options available.
VanDusen is a great place to visit for seasonal events like the Festival of Lights or to see the cherry blossoms in the spring. I love to visit in the fall when leaves are turning and the air is crisp. Follow @VanDusenGdn on Twitter for more event information happenings in the garden.
The Kerrisdale Farmers Market is hosting a corn festival this weekend with freshly-popped kettle corn recipes, fresh corn, roasted corn, recipes, and corn-related activities for the kids.
I spent some time in Kerrisdale last week and it left me wondering I don’t get there more often. As a child our family took Sunday drives to Kerrisdale and Marpole from Surrey more often than we’d ever get downtown however I haven’t spent much time there as an adult. From ‘mom n’ pop’ shops to bakeries, diners, antique stores, cheese, wine, arts and crafts, and everything in between. There’s even an entire restaurant dedicated to macaroni and cheese.
The Kerrisdale Farmers Market, which happens every Saturday until October 6th, is the perfect opportunity to explore this community. It’s open from 10:00am to 2:00pm on East Boulevard between 37th and 41st Avenue, near the Kerrisdale Arena. The corn festival promises to have “BC corn by the truckload” on Saturday, August 25th.
The BC Travel Tuesday series has returned this summer as I partner up once again with Backyard BC to highlight properties and destinations around the province. We’re almost through our six week campaign with six different getaway packages for BC hotels this summer.
Featuring a variety of hotels and resorts located throughout the province, Backyard BC provides residents of British Columbia with free access to exclusive discounts on accommodation. If you live and travel in BC, we’ll make sure you pay less than the lowest rates available to anyone else. Travel local. Save big. Visit Backyard BC online, on Twitter, or Facebook and see more of BC!
The winner of the fourth giveaway of the 2012 BC Travel Tuesday campaign is Christian Johannssen/@FootSolutionsBC! If you haven’t already, you can still enter to win the grand prize which includes stays at every property we’re showcasing over the full six weeks.
The fifth giveaway of the series is back on Vancouver Island, tucked amongst twisting arbutus trees along sandy shores of the island’s eastern coast with both sunrise and sunset views.
Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort
Website, Twitter, Facebook, Backyard BC listing
Location: 1155 Resort Drive, Parksville
About: “Set in 22 acres of arbutus and fir forest nestled beside the ocean; our location offers direct access to three kilometers of sandy Rathtrevor Beach and the warmest ocean swimming in Canada. Our focus is to ensure that you have a unique and memorable Vancouver Island stay. The Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort is the #1 Spa in Western Canada, offering signature treatments and services. Featuring 18 treatment rooms, a nail room featuring European Pedicure Thrones and a full service hair salon.”
Prize: Two nights accommodation & Sunday brunch for two
Value: $500
To enter to win the weekly contest:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Weekly winners will be announced every Tuesday on the latest BC Travel Tuesday contest post until the six weeks are up. Gift certificates for hotel and resort stays will be sent directly to each weekly winner so they can arrange their visit personally with the property. Some restrictions apply, based on availability.
View all posts in the series by following or subscribing to my BCTravelTuesday tag. Open to residents of BC. Backyard BC’s grand prize draw for stays at all 6 properties will take place September 4, 2012.
Our fortunate geography lends itself to interesting adventures in dining, from open fields in Pemberton to picnics in the middle of Robson Street. Chefs Across the Water fits right in as top chefs from around the province gather on Salt Spring Island to prepare multi-course dinners at the Hastings House Dinning Room, perched above Ganges Harbour.
Only two Chefs Across the Water events remain this season with Chef Lee Parsons of The Wedgewood Hotel on September 17th and Chef Terry Pichor from Sonora Resort on October 16th. Each will prepare a five course dinner ($100) with wine pairings (+$45).
The meal will incorporate “the best of Salt Spring Island seafood and livestock and Hastings House Country House’s own garden’s freshest fruits and vegetables, carefully paired with wines and cocktails to perfectly compliment their courses, selected in cooperation of our Chefs and Milly Sinclair, Hastings House Dining Room Manager and Sommelier.”
John and I have had the pleasure of dining and staying at Hastings House — with Salt Spring Island being one of our truly happy places. We were enchanted by the island since we first visited together 4 years ago, in fact the title of my blog post about the trip was “Head Over Heels for Salt Spring“.
Salt Spring Island is a food-lover’s paradise, blessed with a mild Mediterranean-like climate and devoted growers and producers renowned for their organic fruits and vegetables, meats, and cheeses. Fresh-caught, wild seafood rounds out nature’s local pantry. In recent years, island wineries have further added to the diversity of the local harvest. Diners can look forward to amazing experiences as the celebrated guest chefs each put their own personal spin on Salt Spring Island flavours. [Chefs Across the Water]
Dinner guests for Chefs Across the Water can book a Salt Spring Air flight right into the harbour or take an early autumn sail over on a BC Ferry to Long Harbour.
