The Canuck Place Gift of Time Gala, presented by Nicola Wealth, is coming up in September with an inspiring evening in support of children and their families around BC and the Yukon.
Canuck Place Gift of Time Gala 2023
When: Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 5:30pm
Where: JW Marriott Parq Vancouver (39 Smithe St, Vancouver)
This past year alone, over 871 children and families across BC and the Yukon were supported by Canuck Place through inpatient and community-based care. But there are more children and families who need complex pediatric palliative care, and Canuck Place needs to reach them.
As a non-profit organization, Canuck Place raises 60% of its operating funds, which is why events like this are so important. Through your ticket purchase, auction participation, or your donation, you can help create a home away from home, where kids get to be kids.
Now in its 19th year, the Gift of Time has raised over $17.7 million to support care at Canuck Place.
When children and their families come to Canuck Place, they already know the end of the story. But how they get there hasn’t been written. Canuck Place aspires to make their story the very best it can be— because while they can’t add days to the life of a child, they can add life to their days.
If you are unable to attend, consider a donation, buy an auction item (auction opens to the public on September 17th), or purchase a raffle ticket (raffle opens on September 12th). Follow Canuck Place on Facebook for more information.
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the Gift of Time since 2013
TransLink is boosting bus service, hosting an interactive transit exhibit, and offering discounted admission on Fridays to support the PNE Fair running August 19 to September 4, 2023. The 016 PNE Special express bus has been added in addition to regular bus service and runs every 15 minutes to and from the PNE between 29th Avenue SkyTrain Station and Renfrew SkyTrain Station.
SkyTrain – TransLink Photo
Taking Transit to the PNE, Special Offers, and More
From Renfrew Station to the PNE Fair and PlayLand Find your way to the PNE Fair beginning at Renfrew Station. From the SkyTrain Station locate the Renfrew Station @ Bay 3 platform 3 (ID 51082). Wait for the 016 PNE Special express bus which runs every 15 minutes to and from the PNE starting 9:30am until midnight every day the fair is open. The bus ride is short 10 minutes and drops off (as well as picks up) outside the Pacific Coliseum. Disembark at NB Refrenew St @ E Pender St. From here, the PNE is less than a 5 minute walk.
PNE Sweepstakes Exhibit TransLink’s exhibit at the PNE this year will be spread out at three different locations by the PNE entrances, and includes:
The TransLink Pride Bus, featuring art from local artist Joe Average
A historic bus preserved by the Transit Museum Society
TransLink’s Ride & Shine Engagement Bus
A Car Free Pledge Wall with a chance to win daily concert tickets
As part of the Ride & Shine Campaign, TransLink is partnering with the PNE for a special offer on Friday August 25 and September 1, 2023 where the first 5,000 customers to show their Compass Cards at the gate receive 2-for-1 admission to the fairgrounds.
Light Up Chinatown returns as a free two-day community festival hosted in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown. Enjoy live music, cultural performances, inventive food collaborations, tours, and colourful lights and lanterns.
Light Up Chinatown – Photo Submitted
Light Up Chinatown 2023
When: September 9 (11:00am to 9:00pm & September 10 (11:00am to 6:00pm)
Where: 500-block Columbia St (between East Pender and Keefer Street & neighbouring streets)
Admission: Free!
Families can enjoy the dedicated kid’s fun zone and for the first time, the event will be fully licensed so adults 19+ can enjoy beer, wine, and spirits inside the festival grounds. Visitors can collect stamps from vendors for a chance to win prizes and indulge in exclusive discounts across the neighbourhood from local merchants.
Bob Sung of A Wok Around Chinatown will be offering 35 minute walking tours of the neighbourhood ($15 per person) and will include a special tasting. Bob’s popular tours have been featured on National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, Global TV, and more, don’t miss your chance to explore Chinatown with Bob. Purchase your walking tour tickets online now. Proceeds from the walking tours will go towards the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation.
Be on the look out for food collaborations between Bao Bei and The Boss, DD Mau and Boba Run, Kam Wai and Treasure Green Tea, and Chinatown BBQ and Beaucoup Bakery. There will also be a ticketed pop-up event that will bring together local restauranteurs including Michelin star Chef Peter Ho. Look for more details about that very soon.
Everyone is welcome to come to celebrate the history, culture, and culinary creations of this vibrant community with Light Up Chinatown! Follow the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation on Facebook to stay updated.
The Taste of Abbotsford Fall Food Festival is a ten day celebration of Abbotsford’s agriculture and culinary scene. The festival kicks off with a night market followed by a week of unique farm experiences, seasonal bites, spirit, cider, and beer releases, a guided Circle Farm Tour, a foraging workshop, the art and wine walk in Historic Downtown Abbotsford, grape stomping, and more.
Taste of Abbotsford Fall Food Festival
Taste of Abbotsford Fall Food Festival
The September 15th evening Night Market will be held at Jubilee Park in Historic Downtown Abbotsford bringing live music from local musicians, artisan shopping, and fall flavours from Abbotsford’s makers including farmers, chefs, and winery, brewery and cidery owners. More events include:
Taste of Abby Guided Circle Farm Tour Saturday, September 16th from 10:30am to 4:00pm
19th annual Arty Awards Sunday, September 17th from 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Fraser Valley Artisans Food Hub Showcase Monday, September 18th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Pickleball and Pints Tuesday, September 19th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Grape Stomping at Singletree Winery Wednesday, September 20th from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Abbotsford Farm & Country Market Saturdays, September 16th & 23rd 2023
HarvestFest Thursday, September 21st from 4:00pm to 8:00pm
Downtown Abbotsford Art & Wine Walk Thursday, September 21st from 4:00pm to 8:00pm
Foraging Workshop Saturday, September 23rd from 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Sponsored by the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, the week ends with the Food and Farm Excellence Awards, recognizing Abbotsford’s best culinary talents and agricultural producers with awards presented at Eco Dairy on September 24th.
Want to find the best of the season, locally? Shop the Taste of Abby shelf at these locations: Abbotsford Downtown Business Association; Fruiticana; Howard Wongs Farm; Kin’s Farm Market; Lepp’s Daily Market; Maan Farms; Nature’s Pickin’s; Yes Chef.
Healthy Food Systems
The healthy food systems video series will run throughout Taste of Abby. Facilitated by Aaron Pete, host of the Bigger Than Me podcast, four people were chosen to discuss sustainable and heathy food systems in three-to-five-minute videos.
Co-owner and Chef, Jeff Massey, of Restaurant 62 will speak to collaborating with local food growers, Amir Maan from Maan Farms will be discussing ag tech integration and vertical strawberry farming, Paul Sweeting, owner of Raven’s Brewing will share his Indigenous-owned business plans, and MLA Pam Alexis, the Minister of of Agriculture, will talk about the government’s efforts to enable and protect healthy food systems.
Follow the Taste of Abby Fall Food Festival on Facebook for updates.
The 8th Annual Monsoon Festival of the Performing Arts is back bigger and better than ever! Presented by theSouth Asian Arts Society the festival attracts generations of families and friends who gather each year to celebrate South Asian culture through diverse and exciting programming.
Monsoon Festival of the Arts
The welcoming of the captivating and spiritual force of the monsoon in India dates back thousands of years. The heavy monsoon rains take over the country on an annual basis, but amidst the damage and destruction, the monsoon season is also filled with celebration, including dance, music, theatre, film and festivals. Vancouver is also known for its heavy rainfall. With the intersection of these two natural phenomena, Monsoon Festival’s goal each year is to celebrate the monsoon in the Lower Mainland by welcoming the storm.
Enjoy a month filled with theatre, music and dance performances, thought-provoking discussions, a marketplace of visual art, dance classes, development workshops and more. Nurture the creative power within the community by attending our events, learning more about artists’ processes, and experiencing creative practices, as we invest in and support the next generation of aspiring local artists.
Event Lineup
Opening Night Reception The Clutch Historic Theatre, 1895 Venables St, Vancouver August 17, 2023 from 7:00pm – 11:30pm Celebrate the opening of Monsoon Festival, including sneak peeks of the performances being presented, followed by an opportunity to mix n mingle with food & drinks. Tickets available for purchase online »
Chai with T: Live Podcast Recording Surrey Arts Centre Studio Theater, 13750 88 Ave, Surrey August 19, 2023 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm Be a guest in the audience for a live recording of the popular podcast, Chai with T, hosted by Tarannum Thind. With guest Amreen Gill (aka Bhangralicious) and Swarndeep Gill. Tickets available for purchase online »
Sunday Funday Bahangra Dance Lesson (16+) KPU Conference Centre (Cedar 1205), 12666 72 Ave, Surrey August 20, 2023 from 10:00am – 11:30am Make your Sunday more fun and get your week started right by learning some Bhangra dance moves with Raja Singh, aka Bhangre Da Raja. Register online »
Sunday Funday Semi-Classical Dance Lesson KPU Conference Centre (Cedar 1205), 12666 72 Ave, Surrey August 20, 2023 from 11:30am – 1:00pm Make your Sunday more fun and get your week started right by learning some Semi-Classical Kathak dance moves with Krystal Kiran. Register online »
Momentum The Clutch Founders Lounge, 1895 Venables St, Vancouver August 20, 2023 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm Join and listen to excerpts of three published plays from three groups of South Asian artists. Chai/Snacks and conversation to follow the readings. Hosted by Adele Noronha. Tickets available for purchase online »
Workshop Wednesday Progress Lab, 1422 William St, Vancouver August 23, 2023 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm This workshop uses improv and in-class exercises to explore the question: What makes dialogue interesting? Participants will have a chance to write new scenes or apply tools to existing works-in-progress. Register online »
Is Democracy Dead: An Interactive Theatrical Game Progress Lab, 1422 William St, Vancouver August 26, 2023 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm Why be an audience member when you can be a participant? Part interactive game, part social discussion, part theatrical performance, Is Democracy Dead? is a workshop that invites you to care and connect. Tickets available for purchase online »
Punjabi Market LIVE Punjabi Market (main stage at corner of Main St. & 49th Ave.) August 27, 2023 from 12:00pm – 6:00pm An outdoor street celebration in Vancouver’s historic Punjabi Market featuring dance, music, poetry, cuisine, family activities, and more! In partnership with the Punjabi Market Collective. Free admission.
