The Burnaby Hospital Foundation is engaging the public with a festival holiday game in their latest fundraising effort. When you try your hand at the Rudolph Road Challenge online video game, funds will be donated to help get the hospital some critical equipment.

It’s quick, fun, and at the end you can enter to win an iPad 2 for yourself and the Game Day Giveaway from Electronic Arts. Take a few minutes for a coffee break and give it a try. You can even select which piece of equipment you would like to play for on behalf of the hospital.

We Day is one of my favourite annual events. Their line-up of international guests is always impressive and the campaign not only raises millions of dollars for Free the Children, it also raises millions of volunteer hours. The event educates children and youth across Canada about global causes while also inspiring them to do what they can for their own communities. There’s nothing like hearing 18,000 children at Rogers Arena shout “We Are!” – as in we are the change.

One school that was in attendance was Gleneagles Elementary from West Vancouver, located just off Marine Drive near Horseshoe Bay. Their principal, Mr. Wallace, contacted me to see if I would come and talk to the students about blogging. The school recently started a weBlog initiative that has students in grades 6 and 7 honing their skills while writing about social issues on an internal blogging network. I had previously spoken at a few high schools in Vancouver and really enjoyed the experience so I happily took on this challenge.

I put together a 45-minute presentation for the students in Mrs. Crowdis, Mr. Parslow, and Ms. McLachlan’s classes complete with information about my own blogging journey that began in 2004. I covered Twestival, Blogathon, and years of blogging about local and international causes. From sitting down at my computer in the morning and writing about a fundraiser or toy drive, to serving meals in the Downtown Eastside, or traveling thousands of miles to deliver bikes to school children in Ghana, blogging has taken me on many amazing journeys.

Photo credit: Nordica Photography

Aside from stories about rapelling down a building for a cause, I shared a few very basic blogging tips with the students to get them going. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

Every now and then someone turns on their camera and captures a spectacular side of Vancouver in a new way. Everyday scenes become vibrant with music, time lapse effects, and even tilt-shift filters that make the city seem so small. It’s been a while since I flipped through Vimeo looking for local videos but I was able to find a few new gems:

Feel free to click the links from each videographer to find out more about their video-making process, their music of choice, or their locations. Previous video collections that I have posted include: Best Vancouver Videos of 2010, Vancouver Time Lapse Videos, Vancouver Time Lapse Videos Part Two, and a Vancouver 125 Video Roundup.

The historic Sapperton neighbourhood of New Westminster has undergone some dramatic changes over the last few years. From the addition of the Millenium Line SkyTrain, the successful Sapperton Days Festival, to the demolition of the Labbatt Brewery. Some businesses along East Columbia Street have closed their doors and many have opened, including Sapperton’s first Starbucks that came in just a few years ago.

Photo credit: jmv on Flickr

Now The Brewery District, on the site of old Labbatt’s, is revitalizing the community even more. You should have heard my mother rave about the new 24-hour Thrifty’s grocery store last weekend. The Sapperton Business Association would like to invite everyone to come out this Saturday, December 10, 2011 from 11:00am to 3:00pm to enjoy local shops and community spirit.

The day’s festivities include music, Christmas lights, hot chocolate, popcorn, face painting, and balloon artistry. The Grinch is said to be stopping by along with Santa Claus himself. The main event will be the Christmas tree sale. All trees are BC-grown and freshly cut. The first 100 sold will include a free gift bag put together by the Sapperton Business Association.

All proceeds raised on Saturday will be donated to the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation.

Photo credit: Kardboard604 on Flickr. Submitted to the Miss604 Flickr Pool.

Stop by Sapperton Christmas this weekend if you can. Have a cup of hot chocolate, take home a tree if you need one, and wear a hat made of balloons with your kids while supporting this neighbourhood.

Take the Brunette Exit from Highway 1, SkyTrain to Columbia and bus over, or get off at the Sapperton SkyTrain station and walk over to Nelson Crescent right in the Brewery District.

De Dutch Pannekoek House wants to know if you prefer your pannekoek sweet or savoury.

Photo credit: VentureVancouver on Flickr

Over the last month or so, and until December 24, 2011, they’re hosting a battle royale on their Facebook page to see if you are a fan of De Bakon vs Hashbrowns, Apples vs Blueberries, Hollandaise vs Mushrooms, and more.

The polls are posted every few days but in the meantime you can claim a 25% off coupon for January 2012 and enter to win $500 to spend at any De Dutch — now that’s a lot of pannekoek.

To spread the word about their sweet and savoury battle, De Dutch has offered up a $50 gift card for one lucky reader of mine. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment naming your favourite topping for pannekoek (or pancakes) (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

De Dutch was founded by John Dys of the Netherlands who emigrated to Canada and made his home on Vancouver Island. He started up the legendary “Frying Dutchman” in 1970 and the first De Dutch opened its doors in 1975 at the corner of Knight and 25th in Vancouver.

I will draw one winner at 10:00am next Wednesday, December 14, 2011.

Update The winner is Brent!