Mother’s Day is coming up Sunday, May 8, 2011 and if you would like to treat that mom in your life to something special, there’s no shortage of activities and events around town.

Tourism Vancouver has a great “Top 10” list on their blog including deals from their Tourist in Your Own Town campaign and their top picks for spa treatments.

Here are just a few more suggestions for Sunday:

Moms are precious and even if time, travel, or life prevents you from meeting up this Sunday, sometimes just touching base with a note, a call, even an email, can let them know you care – any day of the year. A very happy early Mother’s Day to all of the wonderful moms in my life.

The following is a guest post contributed by Amber Strocel from TheV3H.com and Strocel.com.

The Coquitlam Farmers Market is kicking off its 15th season this Sunday, May 8 from 9:00am-1:00pm. It’s the second oldest market in the region, opening just one year after the Vancouver market at Trout Lake. It happens every Sunday, rain or shine, until October 30 in the Dogwood Pavilion parking lot at Winslow and Poirier in Coquitlam [map].

This year the market is also opening a new Friday market at Coquitlam’s Spirit Square [map]. It will run weekly from July 8-September 16, from 4:00-8:00pm. The market also runs a pocket market on Wednesdays from 11:00am-5:00pm at SFU starting May 11 and continuing until the end of October.

While I am a long-time market patron, I decided I wanted to learn a little more, so I got in touch with the market’s Executive Director Tabitha McLoughlin. She told me it all started in 1996 when current market Chair Terri Evans created a proposal as part of a class project at SFU. Once the class was over she decided to present the proposal to the City of Coquitlam, and received their approval. At first there were only a few food vendors, and the market only ran for 12 weeks in the summer. But over time it grew, and today the market operates year-round with its winter market, and more than 40 vendors attend each week.

McLoughlin said that the farmers market society has become part of a regional food system, focused on local and sustainable food. It’s also part of the larger community of farmers markets as part of the BC Association of Farmers Markets. The growth of the Coquitlam market reflects a larger trend across the province – over the past four years the association has grown from 60-70 markets to almost 100, with more starting all the time.

So, what’s all the fuss about? Locally produced food has a lower carbon footprint than food shipped halfway around the world. Buying local also contributes to the province’s economy, by supporting farmers, food producers and artisans right in our own backyard. When you shop at the market you are supporting a secure and sustainable local food system. You’re also able to talk to the people who grow or prepare your food, and ask them questions about how your food was handled.

McLoughlin told me that during the recession the market performed very well. As people started cooking more at home, she feels they naturally became more interested in where their food comes from. There’s also a growing consumer awareness, thanks to programs like the 100 Mile Challenge and books like The 100 Mile Diet. As local eating pervades our cultural consciousness, farmers markets gain traction.

The Coquitlam market’s tagline is “Make, Bake or Grow”, and that’s reflected in the vendors. Everyone is selling something that they have grown, produced, or crafted themselves. There are approximately equal numbers of farmers and prepared food vendors each week, and a smaller numbers of artisans selling handcrafts. This is definitely not a craft fair, but you can find some fabulous soaps, hand-dyed yarn or jewelry.

When you go to the market bring cash, because most vendors don’t accept other forms of payment. Bring your reusable bags and give yourself some time to explore. Shopping at a farmers market isn’t about getting in and out as quickly as possible, it’s about experiencing local food, chatting with farmers and meeting your neighbours. There’s live music, children’s activities and special events throughout the season.

McLoughlin told me that they’re cooking up something special to celebrate the 15th season, but they’re not ready to make any announcements yet, so you’ll just have to stay tuned. In the meantime, head down to the market and see what our region is producing!

This post was written by Amber Strocel, who contributes to TheV3H.com, a blog that highlights news and events in and around Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. You can also catch up with Amber’s musings on life and parenting at Strocel.com, or find out about her online class on living with intention at Crafting my Life.

On this day in 1989 SFU opened a downtown campus in the old David Spencer’s Department Store building on West Hastings between Seymour and Richards.

1930’s – Spencer’s Department Store. Archives item# CVA 1495-32

Built in 1908 and restructured by 1925, the Spencer’s stores in BC were bought up by Eatons in 1948 and most were re-branded.

1926 – Spencer’s Department Store. Archives item# CVA 1495-5. Photographer: Leonard Frank

In 1973 the adjacent buildings were demolished to make room for the Harbour Centre development and Sears moved into the Spencer’s space for the next dozen years or so.

SFU Public Affairs & Media Relations

From VancouverHistory.ca on the 1989 opening of SFU Harbour Centre: “It was clear there was need for a downtown university centre…”

“…This unique campus was originally financed through private sector funding and designed to meet another major challenge: mid-career education in the emerging global, knowledge-based economy.

I have given many talks in classrooms within this building and today I’m attending the WordCamp Developers conference.

With auditoriums, workspaces, computer labs and more, you’d hardly know that cans of biscuits, Lux soap, neck-ties and lingerie were once sold in this space.

The history that was in this space is continues to be made through education and dialogue in the heart of the city.

The 15th annual explorASIAN Festival is happening around Vancouver in celebration of May being Asian Heritage Month. There are dozens of activities and event happening around Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, and various communities around the province over the next few weeks.

Walk-a-thon for Japan Relief
When: Saturday, May 7, 2011 starting at 10:00am
Where: Burnaby Lake Sports Complex East Clubhouse (3760 Sperling Ave)
Fee: $10 individual, $20 family
Event website Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

Though I decided to publish fewer personal (family-related) posts on this site a few years ago, every now and then there’s just something that impacts me, my writing, and the online community as a whole that is worth sharing and worth discussing. That being said, it’s been a rough 2011 so far, that’s for sure. I have attended a wake, a living wake, and delivered a eulogy at a funeral all within the last two months. These things not only affect our daily lives and our work process, but they deeply impact our state of being.

Bollwitts & Millers. Photo: Derek K Miller

This morning I read the news that our friend, local blogger and podcaster, Derek Miller had lost his battle with cancer (that he had been fighting since 2007) and everyone been sharing his story on Facebook and Twitter – as he wanted it to be shared throughout his entire struggle.

I was debating whether or not I should write a tribute to my grandmother (my Oma) as this was a recent family tragedy that is still sinking in for me. I continue to struggle with it. I keep thinking that she can’t read it so why should I share? However looking at Derek’s writing over the years, including his own farewell post, sometimes things need to be said – not for public display and presentation, but for the healing process to begin. Getting the words out there, letting thoughts flow, and preserving memories are worth the effort – even if the words flowing from your fingers to the keyboard only reach a mass of people you have never met.

Oma & one of her great-grandchildren

I don’t want to share what I said in my eulogy for my Oma but I will say that I saw her several times a month, throughout my entire 31-year existence. We were very close. I was with her in the hospital on and off for the last three months, and near here bedside when she came home for palliative care. There is a void in my heart that will never again be filled by the love of my Oma, however I know that she gave me enough in the years I knew her to last me a lifetime.

There are people you meet in life that inspire you. Whether that inspiration is to step into your flip flops and enjoy the sun on a warm spring afternoon, to reach out donate your time to help educate others in any capacity, or to be a better person and commit to doing what you love each and every day. I’m thankful that I know who those people are to me.

There is no lost value or sentiment when an email, Facebook message or Tweet offers consolation. Even if I sit at the computer and allow tears to stream down my cheeks as I type, it helps. It helps to read a sympathy card you receive in the mail as much as it helps to write a farewell message or thank-you note, regardless of the medium.

If you are looking for some worthy causes to support this year, please consider the following (in memory of Oma, David M Kane, Derek K Miller, or someone in your life):

Update Derek recorded an interview with Stephen Quinn from CBC’s On the Coast back in November. They just aired the audio and it is archived here. Very worthy of a listen.