Adopt-a-Family at the Surrey Christmas Bureau

Comments 4 by Rebecca Bollwitt

A post on Twitter yesterday asked: “Interested in volunteering or adopting a family this Christmas?” If so, the Surrey Christmas Bureau wants to hear from you.

Home for the Holidays at Sutton Place Hotel - for Canuck Place

The Surrey Christmas Bureau assists hundreds of low-income families with children under the age of 16. Through the Hamper and Adopt-A-Family programs these families receive food certificates, toys, gifts, warm clothing and household items. In addition, the Bureau matches sponsors with nearly 250 families who have children with unique challenges and considerations.

Halloween hasn’t even passed but with less than two months until December 25th, but this is worth considering right now. You can help by being a volunteer or signing up for the Adopt-a-Family program. Sponsors are asked to provide a Christmas breakfast, lunch, and dinner for their adopted families as well as gifts. It’s also recommended that sponsors include a stocking with a small or medium sized gift inside as well.

If you participate as a family, your kids might find the most interest in making up a stocking for another child. If “giving” is your favourite part of Christmas or holiday traditions, this is a perfect activity for you, and it will make a difference.

All resources for becoming a sponsor are available online (by way of PDF downloads) or you can call (604) 585-9670. Follow @SurreyChristmas on Twitter for news and updates.

The Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver

Comments 3 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Chuck Davis' History of VancouverChecking in on my favourite website this morning I saw a small announcement at the top of the page: “The Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver goes to press! Chuck Davis’s final gift to the people of Greater Vancouver, his History of Metropolitan Vancouver, has been completed and will appear in bookstores November 15, 2011.”

I’ve never been as excited to see a book go to press. Not even when my own book was being published did I have this feeling of anticipation and relief. Chuck Davis was and will always be a local hero of mine along with Major Matthews (who founded the Vancouver Archives), Author E. Pauline Johnson, and photographers like Leornard Frank.

Chuck put out city’s history online, year by year. He poured through newspaper archives, he wrote columns, and he published books like Vancouver Then & Now.

Our city lost Chuck Davis last November. I emailed back and forth with Chuck a few times over the last few years and our last exchange was about a month before his passing. I never got to meet him.

I also regret not having the funds to sponsor a chapter in his forthcoming book but I hope that over the years, through blogging about his research, I have helped out in some way. Chuck was always gracious enough to let me know he read my blog posts about him and his material. I wrote, and continue to write them, out of admiration and respect for the tremendous amount of work he has put into documenting our history.

In the weeks prior to his death, numerous newspaper and TV reporters phoned, hundreds of emails arrived, Chuck Davis Day was declared by Vancouver City Council, and he received the George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award — with a plaque on the Vancouver Public Library plaza. Davis, the author of 11 books on Vancouver, was surprised by this public outpouring of affection, and said to his wife of his impending death: “I should have done this sooner!” It was typical Davis. He was a man without pretension. He hated the idea that anyone call him “Mr. Vancouver.” He told me then that he hopes, maybe, there’ll be a place in the Vancouver Archives for his enormous collection of historic material — scores of boxes and 16 file drawers — that he had gathered on the city. If he had his way, he said, it would be called: “The Chuck Davis Memorial Junk Heap. And he laughed.” – Daniel Wood for The Tyee

The Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver will be the Vancouver history book of history books. This is the book to have on the coffee table, keep on your shelf, and reference in your library. I’ll flat out say it: Buy this book. Get two of them. Make it your Christmas and birthday present to everyone this year.

Look for it on store shelves November 15, 2011. Order it now online from Chapters Indigo, get it on Amazon, and go pick it up at Book Warehouse.

World Kindness Concert 2011

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.” – Amelia Earheart.

World Kindness Concert
Photo credit: Robert Darwoon

Musicians and artists come together for many great causes and in Vancouver next week, they’ll be promoting and celebrating one simple thing: kindness. The 11th annual World Kindness Concert, happening November 4, 2011 at the Centre for Performing Arts will bring together over a dozen local and international acts as they promote this message.

From the organizers: “Why kindness? In a world where bullying, depression, suicide and violence has reached epidemic proportions, ‘Kindness’ is not just a nice idea or notion… it is critical to the well-being of our world.”

The line-up so far includes ABRA Cadabra, Bill Sample (Musical Director & Piano), Brian Newcombe (Bass), Brock Tully (MC &Founder), Dirty Radio, Jane Mortifee, Leora Cashe, Metropolis Glee Club, Michaela Slinger, Michael Vincent, Ranj Singh & The Descriminators, Robbie Steininger (Lead Guitar), Shari Ulrich, Shawn Soucy (Drums), Sibel Thrasher, and Veronica Iza.

Tickets are now on sale and proceeds support Kindness Rocks, a bullying prevention program for youth. You can follow the World Kindness Concert on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

Disney On Ice Toy Story 3 in Vancouver

Comments 204 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Disney On Ice presents Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 3 in Vancouver next month in Vancouver. This finale in the Academy Award-winning Toy Story film series will have everyone’s favourite characters like Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the rest of the toy box crew from Andy’s room taking to the ice. A few new lovable (and not-so-lovable) characters from Sunnyside Daycare will be a part of the action as well.

Disney on Ice presents Disney Pixar's Toy Story 3
Photo © Disney on Ice presents Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 3

Running in Vancouver at the Pacific Coliseum from November 23rd until November 27th, the production will also take place in Abbotsford November 18th to November 20th with tickets starting at $24.50 (plus taxes and fees).

I have been offered a 4 tickets to give away for opening night in Vancouver coming up Wednesday, November 23, 2011. I’ll be awarding all 4 tickets to one winner so they can take family and friends. Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post naming your favourite Toy Story character (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I entered to win 4 tickets to Disney On Ice presents Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 3 in Vancouver from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/78LeK

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 10:00am on Friday, November 4, 2011.

Update The winner is Anahita!

Todd Hancock Talks Indie Night in Canada

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Host of CFOX’s afternoon show and Indie Night in Canada, Indie Music Director Todd Hancock has a lot of advice to give up-and-coming acts in BC. We had a coffee chat recently to talk about the program and the state of the scene for independent acts in Vancouver.

Todd Hancock - 2009.10.15
Photo credit: Stephen Dyrgas on Flickr

“I think that there are a lot of good indie bands in Vancouver that haven’t been given the recognition, the notoriety – whatever you want to call it – and I’m going to do that with Indie Night in Canada,” says Todd. During the show he plays up to 90% Vancouver music, which comes out to about 10 songs from local bands on air every week. “I think that there’s enough talent — not only rock wise but alternative and stuff that would fit the rock format — there’s enough to go around and then some.”

Many of Todd’s discoveries come from bands that have submitted their music or show listing to the station. “It’s my job to find the best stuff that’s out there and see who’s actually playing locally, do they have a buzz, is there label interest…” he adds that there is so much that bands need to do to elevate themselves to the next level and social media now plays a huge part in that.

“Why would somebody want to help a band if they’re not trying to help themselves?” Luckily, Todd has plenty of tips to share and it all starts with working hard. “Social network to the nines, that’s what the labels are looking at, that’s what the reps are looking at. What do you post? How active are you? How do you engage?”

Surrey Fusion Fest 2011: Dirty Radio
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

He says that the times of people searching out music as gone. You need to work hard and get yourself on people’s radar by being proactive.

Supporting local music is paramount for artists and audiences alike. Todd suggests heading out to shows whenever you can, even if it’s a Tuesday or Thursday night and the band is playing somewhere across town. It’s all for the greater good of Vancouver music.

For those just starting out or not quite ready for lengthy road trips Todd’s number one piece of advice is to get on Facebook. Plain and simple. It’s free, you can engage immediately with everyone from your mother and brother, to your friends, your audience, and especially your fans.

It’s easy to tell someone to “work hard” but through his radio program Todd is taking the time to spell out the steps for local artists.

Click to listen to more advice from Todd that he shared during our chat:

Artists wishing to get some radio play or show promotion can contact Todd at CFOX and follow @FoxHancock on Twitter. Todd says that he wants Vancouver bands to know that he’s there for them but doesn’t want them to kill him with questions. “Hit me and I’ll answer you back, I’ll be straight with you.”

Tune into Indie Night in Canada every Tuesday night at midnight at 99.3 on your FM dial to hear the latest from independent acts, hop into the wayback machine for the “when they were indie” feature, and hear who’s on tour.