Nominations are now open for the 2012 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards. I am pleased to return, for the third year, as exclusive Social Media Sponsor of this event that honors amazing local women who excel and inspire in various fields.
Connecting the Community 2011: Saleema Noon, iGirl Empowerment Workshops. Photo credit:
John Bollwitt.
This year YWCA Metro Vancouver has added a new category: “Environmental Sustainability, which highlights women who are dedicated to promoting the factors and
creating the practices that contribute to a sustainable community while generating opportunities that minimize the physical, ecological, human and economic impact on our planet.”
Visit the YWCA Metro Vancouver website to submit your nomination in the following categories: Arts, Culture & Design, Business & the Professions, Community Building, Education, Training & Development, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Health, Wellness & Active Living, Non-Profit & Public Service, Science, Research & Innovation, and Young Woman of Distinction.
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr
Nominees must live and work (individuals) or operate (businesses or organizations) within the Metro Vancouver region bounded by and including Hope, Pemberton, Sunshine Coast and the United States border. Deadline for submissions is Monday, March 5, 2012 at 5:00pm.
The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards ceremony will take place May 24, 2012 and I will once again be providing a live blog with photos by John Bollwitt. Follow YWCA Metro Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter for news and information. Follow the awards @YWVanWODA.
Dine Out Vancouver reservations have been open for about a week now and the city is hopping with anticipation. This prix-fixe, multi-course, festival of food at over 200 participating restaurants will run from January 20 to February 5, 2012. The Sequoia Company of Restaurants is hosting their own promotion, in tandem with Dine Out Vancouver, called the Sequoia Dine Out Passport.
Visit any of their 4 restaurant locations (The Sandbar, The Teahouse in Stanley Park, Seasons in the Park, or Cardero’s) to pick up a passport and get a stamp when you partake in their Dine Out meal.
You could enjoy Steelhead Salmon with grainy mustard butter & roasted squash risotto at Cardero’s, Hoshi’s California Roll with dungeness crab & fresh cucumber at The Sandbar, vegetable lasagne with roast pepper & eggplant caponata at Seasons, or a slow-cooked, port-roasted lamb shank with roasted garlic demi-glace from The Teahouse.
Each location is offering a $18 Dine Out lunch menu and a $28 Dine Out dinner menu (until February 9th). When you reach 3 stamps or 4 stamps in your passport you will be entered to win prizes. Get all 4 stamps and you could win 1 of 3 grand prizes (such as a trip to San Francisco).
Seasons in the Park
To promote the Sequoia Dine Out Passport, they have offered up a $100 gift card for one of their restaurants. Here’s how you can enter to win it:
- Leave a comment on this post naming which of the 4 Sequoia Dine Out Menus you would like to try: Cardero’s, The Sandbar, Seasons, or The Teahouse (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, January 20, 2012. You must be 19+ to participate and win. Please enjoy Dine Out Vancouver responsibly and be sure to plan a safe ride home if you partake in one of their fabulous wine or beer pairing options.
Update The winner is Peter H!
In the last 6 months we’ve had a Vancouver Cupcake Challenge, Bake for the Quake, Vancouver Cupcake Bike Ride, and now the city will see the return of the Vancouver Cupcake Throwdown.
Photo credit:
Mandy_Jansen on Flickr – Submitted to the Miss604 Flickr Pool.
This annual event will take place February 16, 2012 at The Chapel and will benefit H.A.V.E. Culinary Training Society in the Downtown Eastside. H.A.V.E. “has been changing lives by training and placing employment barriered individuals in BC Restaurant and Food Association sanctioned kitchens since 2007.” This non-profit hosts a cafe that serves breakfast and lunch, and they do catering as well.
I received an email from the event’s organizer, Stephanie, who said she’s having a hard time recruiting bakers. I’d love to help her get more challengers for this event that supports such a worth cause. If you’re a cupcake baker (just at home or as part of your business) consider contacting Stephanie. There’s room for 20 competitors.
You can witness this cupcake baking challenge from 7:00pm to 10:00pm on February 16th. The $10 admission (donation) gets you 5 tastings and additional tasting tickets are available for $1 each. Each audience member will receive a ballot on which to rate the cupcakes. A fan-favourite winner will be crowned in several categories and prizes will be awarded.
Update My friend Keira-Anne has thrown her hat into the ring. Read her post here.
A few weeks ago, arctic-dwelling Snowy Owls migrated to Boundary Bay (bordered by Surrey to the East and Delta to the West). These birds are on BC’s Endangered Species list under a code “blue” which means they are “considered to be of Special Concern (formerly Vulnerable) in British Columbia. Blue-listed taxa are at risk, but are not Extirpated, Endangered or Threatened.”
As expected, many photographers have setup their tri-pods at Boundary Bay to catch these beautiful creatures in action. Our friend John Biehler went out to document the snowy owls yesterday.
According to the Vancouver Sun: “They feed largely on lemmings on the tundra. The population fluctuations of these rodents dictate when we see owls. In most years, lemmings are numerous and the owls stay in the north feasting on the rodents. However, every few years the lemmings numbers crash and the owls need to go in search of food. When food is particularly scarce, the owls will appear far south of the arctic in places like Boundary Bay.”
The City of Vancouver had their snow and ice removal information posted weeks ago, in anticipation of the white blanket that was bound to fall this season.
Aside from having a winter-ready vehicle, it’s also your responsibility to make sure the sidewalks are clear for pedestrians in your neighbourhood. No matter how long the snow sticks before turning into a muddied slush, there are a few things you should know:
- All Vancouver property owners and occupants (tenants) are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the full width of sidewalks that surround their property (shown in blue) by 10 am on the morning following a snowfall, seven days a week. Property owners and occupants who fail to remove snow and ice may be fined. Please make arrangements for someone to clear your sidewalk of snow and ice if you are away or are unable to clear it yourself.
If you are unable to clear the walk yourself or if you are an able-bodied person who can assist someone who cannot clear their sidewalk, you can get on the Snow Angel list. You can call 3-1-1 in the city to be listed for assistance or to be a snow-shoveling volunteer. You can sign up through the Britannia Secondary School Streetfront Program, the Grandview- Woodlands Community Policing Centre, Templeton Secondary School, or the West-End Coal Harbour Community Policing Centre.
A few more tips from the city when it comes to removing snow:
- Choose a snow shovel that is right for you. Push the snow instead of lifting.
- Speak to your doctor if you have a heart condition or you’re unsure if you’re physically able to shovel snow. If you experience pain, stop immediately and seek help.
- Warm-up and stretch before shoveling.
- If the storm is over, the City has plowed, and snow begins to melt, please clear the snow around the catch basin in the gutter fronting your property. This will help the melt water runoff into the storm sewer system, and reduce flooding problems.
- Avoid shovelling snow onto sidewalks or the roadway as it can be hazardous to pedestrians and vehicles.
Read the complete list online and find out more about the Snow Angels program.
