Today’s historic photo collection comes from the Surrey Archives and features early scenes of our province’s largest city (by area), largest school district, and second largest city (by population). Although Surrey didn’t receive “city” status until 1993, the municipality was formed in 1879.
Healthy Families BC, an initiative from the Province of British Columbia, has launched a campaign recently to promote health and wellness in BC families.
With the kids heading back to school and the rain inevitably moving in, their website hopes to provide resources and education when it comes to staying active and eating right at work, at school, and in the community.
Healthy Families is a readily accessible resource to help families eat healthy and live well. They host online communities on Twitter @healthyfamilybc, YouTube, and on Facebook to help BC citizens make informed and positive lifestyle choices.
Growing up, our summertime activities came after breakfast when we’d wave goodbye to our mother and “go out and play” in the yard until the streetlights came on at dusk. Biking, rollerblading, yard games (like ‘Kick the Can’), badminton, frisbee, tag (especially of the ‘freeze’ or ‘cartoon’ variety), and more kept us going for hours. We’d also go camping as a family and that always included long hikes (although my mother always stayed behind in the car, on the lookout for bears).
To help raise awareness for this initiative, Healthy Families BC has offered up a $250 Lululemon gift card to one of my readers so they can get active, in style. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post about how you (and/or the kids) keep active once the school year starts. Organized sports, family outings, etc. (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I entered to win a $250 Lululemon gift card from @HealthyFamilyBC & @Miss604 http://bit.ly/healthy604
I will draw one winner at random from all entries received (with the Twitter text and comments on this post) next Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 11:00am. The contest is open to all residents of BC.
Update The winner is Ginger Gervais (@mumofthreebc)!
Future Shop is helping students gear up for Back to School with the latest computers, calculators, and educational gadgets. Returning to classrooms also means that as students work harder, they’ll also want to play harder. Future Shop has offered up a Student Athlete Bundle that I can give away to one lucky reader.
John’s model shown with LCD screen mounted. Photo credit: John Biehler on Flickr
The small, rectangular, box-shaped camera — about half the size of a Rubik’s Cube — captures the most amazing HD photos and videos. Strap it to your chest, your helmet, your handlebars, your snowboard, skateboard, or your wrist to capture stunning imagery during your latest adventures.
Advisory: There’s a little bit of adult language toward the end of this video.
As with most camera-related technology, I first learned about the GoPro from our friend John Biehler. Here’s just a small sampling of what he’s been able to capture with the GoPro camera (with mounts and the LCD).
We’re lucky to live in Vancouver and have so many outdoor activities available to us, from hiking and biking trails to coves for kayaking and roads from Sea to Sky. Here’s how you can enter to win this Student Athlete Bundle from Future Shop:
Leave a comment on this post about where you’d try out the camera (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I entered to win a #GoPro Student Athlete Bundle from @FutureShopNews & @Miss604 http://ow.ly/6h3U4
I will draw one winner at random from all entries next Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 11:00am. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter and win. Enjoy your adventures responsibly.
On this day in history, August 30, 1975, VanDusen Botanical Garden opened to the public. Last fall I went to the garden for the first time, and I was by myself. Armed with a trail map and my camera, I captured the splashes of green, yellow, and fiery red that hung on branches all around and floated to the ground, crunching under my boots. It was a quiet, refreshing walk as the crisp fall air filled my lungs — and I can’t believe I haven’t been back since.
A great time to visit again would be for the garden’s Bloom Gala, taking place September 15, 2011 in the brand new visitor centre. Honorary Chair, CTV New Anchor Tamara Taggart will join guests of the gala as they become the first to experience the new petal-shaped ‘living building’.
There will be entertainment by Cool Jazz, the “floral creativity” of Thomas Hobbs, local cuisine from Edible Canada, Mark Anthony wines from BC, and unique auction items.
The new visitor centre joins the restaurant and garden shop on the 55 acre grounds. According to organizers, the event is geared toward botanists, builders, gardeners, artists, birdwatchers, epicureans, golfers, landscapers, and more. Learn about sustainable gardening practices, conservation, and more while you support this urban oasis.
VanDusen is located at 5251 Oak Street at West 37th in Vancouver. Find them on Facebook for additional and seasonal event information, and join them for their popular Festival of Lights this winter.
Located across from historic St. Ann’s Academy on Humbolt Street, I’ve stayed at Parkside Victoria twice in the last year and realized that I haven’t written a word about it. The hotel, that also has residences, is one of the capital city’s newest accommodations and has LEED® Platinum Certification on top of its designer touches and amenities.
My first stay was in a 2-bedroom suite with my sister, my niece, and her friend. The girls loved the pool and went down every evening for a swim. My second stay was during a conference and I was on the harbour side of the hotel in a 1-bedroom suite.
The common areas are peaceful and warm with playful koi swimming through indoor and outdoor streams, plenty of plant-life, and a lounge area where residents and hotel guests can use courtesy iPads. There’s also a theatre room with nightly movie features.
The statues and some of the rare tropical plants you’ll find in the atrium were scooped up from Victoria’s now defunct Crystal Gardens so they tell an interesting story about one of the city’s legendary landmarks.
A common rooftop garden area and a penthouse amenities room for residents look out over the city and upon the building’s green roofs.
Each suite has a balcony with patio furniture, WIFI, a living room space with a fireplace, dining room table, and two bathrooms.
The only thing that I didn’t quite grasp was the lack of a door on the ensuite bathroom, attached to the main bedroom. There was a frosted half-wall so you couldn’t see the bathtub from the bed however the toilet wasn’t behind a door at all. If you’re in town for a romantic getaway, I’m sure you wouldn’t want to sit on the bed, warm by the fireplace, and look over to see your partner… right there.
Options or work-arounds would be to use the sink and tub in that bathroom, then use the other bathroom in the suite (with a shower and a full-length door) for anything else. The resort is impressive in all other areas. From the large indoor swimming pool and spa, to granite, slate, and natural limestone counter tops, and textiles made from low or non-emitting, non-toxic recycled materials.
I believe the Parkside is best-suited for travelers that would like all of the touches of home and who don’t mind missing some regular hotel staples (like room service or a full-service restaurant although there is a cafe downstairs). Full kitchens are available in the suites and it is within walking distance of dozens of restaurants — from The Old Spaghetti Factory to the Sticky Wicket, Brown’s, or Vista 18.
Other than the no-door issue in the master bathroom, I think the suites are comfortable, modern, and very spacious. Parkside is definitely another great hotel option in Victoria if you’d like a low-maintenance, high tech, no-fuss stay where you can cook your own meals in a home away from home.
Follow @Parkside_Vic on Twitter for updates, Victoria event information, and events they host themselves such as “Yoga on the Roof”.
Disclosure: cmp.ly/2 My first stay was on a media visit and my second was during Social Media Camp. As a speaker, my room was covered by the conference.