Canadian Tire, The Surrey Falcons and four-time Olympic Gold Medallist Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser are hosting the 13th annual Canadian Tire Wickenheiser Female World Hockey Festival tournament (Canadian Tire WickFest) in Surrey February 2-5, 2023.
Canadian Tire WickFest
- When: February 2-5, 2023
- Where: North Surrey Sport & Ice Complex and Surrey Sport & Leisure Complex
- Tickets: Watch any of the tournament games for free (schedule)
- 100% of event profits go to JumpStart and Right to Play
The tournament of over 80 teams will welcome around 1,500 female hockey players from around the world for a weekend of competition, empowerment, learning and camaraderie.
“We’re looking forward to the largest and most successful event to date,” says Dr. Wickenheiser. “We’re so thankful to the City of Surrey for providing support and space for our tournament to grow and aid in providing an opportunity for young girls to try a sport they may not otherwise have considered!”
A series of workshops hosted in parallel to the hockey games are intended to grow not just the player, but the young person – on and off the ice. All speakers at the events are esteemed professionals at the top of their fields including local resident Meghan Agosta, who herself is a four-time Olympic medalist in hockey and a former teammate of Dr. Wickenheiser.
Beyond the games and workshops, Canadian Tire WickFest will also host a special sold out “Fire and Ice” game on Saturday, February 4th – a game between the Canuck Alumni and the Surrey Firefighters Association, which will raise funds for the Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society.
Follow WickFest on Facebook for the latest tournament news.
Gung Haggis Fat Choy is back this year on February 19th, celebrating the deliciously fun mashup of the Scottish Robbie Burns Day with Chinese New Year cultures and traditions.
Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2023
- When: Sunday, February 19, 2023 reception 11:30am
- Where: Floata Seafood Restaurant (180 Keefer St, Vancouver)
- Tickets: Available now
Menu highlights previous years have included deep-fried haggis wonton and haggis pork dumpling (su-mei) along with appetizer courses. “Neeps” served Chinese style in the form of pan-fried turnip cake, dim sum style, and traditional haggis served with Chinese lettuce wrap. Toss in poetry, music, and sing-along tunes and you’ve got yourself a party!
Founded by Todd Wong (aka Toddish McWong) in 1998, it started out as a small fundraiser with 16 guests in a crowded living room. 25 years later, the dinner takes place at one of the largest Chinese restaurants in North America, and has spun off into a CBC television performance special and the SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Canadian Games.
The event is known worldwide for its unique fusion of food and cultures. It’s been covered by Smithsonian Magazine, BBC World News, the Burns Birthplace Museum, and more.
It started with an accident of timing, writes Sarah Hampson for The Globe and Mail. Or more accurately, it started in 1993, five years before the first “Gung Haggis Fat Choy” dinner was held, when Wong was a student at Simon Fraser University. He agreed to help out with that year’s Robert Burns dinner, telling Hampson, “I thought it was this weird ethnic tradition.”
Wong wore a kilt and carried traditional Scottish accessories. “There was a lonely piper. And the haggis tasted really weird,” he told Hampson. “So I decided I would have some fun with it. I called myself Toddish McWong and thought it would make a good statement about multiculturalism.”
The name stuck, and Wong, or McWong, a fifth-generation Canadian of Chinese heritage, saw an opportunity in 1998, when Robert Burns’s birthday was only two days away from Chinese New Year. Wong told Hampson that he went to the library and researched Robert Burns dinners, and invited friends of Scottish and Chinese descent.
Smithsonian Magazine
Watch the virtual 2022 event here, and stay tuned for updates on ticket purchases through the Gung Haggis Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Related
Kids can experience the joys of the great outdoors this spring break at Stanley Park EcoCamps. They’ll uncover mysteries of the natural world, engage in curious exploration, and have fun with other children with these fun nature-based adventures.
Stanley Park Spring Break EcoCamps
These week-long adventure day camps for campers aged 7 to 11 will explore the wetlands, beaches, and forests of Stanley Park.
Registration is now open! EcoCamp rates are $325 for a full week and $295 for member families. Stanley Park Ecology Society memberships can be purchased here.
March 13 to 17, 2023: Forest Explorers (ages 7 to 11)
Venture into the forests of Stanley Park during this week of exploration. Get to know the local trees, plants, and animals that live in our local forests. Where do birds nest? How do species work together? What lives on the forest floor? Play games and expand your knowledge under nature’s canopy.
March 20 to 24, 2023: Signs of Spring (ages 7 to 11)
Spring in Stanley Park means vibrant greens, fresh air, and an abundance of growth. We’ll hone our senses to unlock its seasonal secrets and changes. Which plants are blooming? Who has migrated back? Where are the frogs? What’s making that sound? The forest, wetlands, and beaches are a wondrous place with many exciting mysteries just waiting to be explored.
The Stanley Park Ecology Society is a registered non-profit that promotes awareness of and respect for the natural world through collaborative environmental education, research, and conservation in Stanley Park. Visit the Nature House at Lost Lagoon on weekends, 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Related: Adopt-An-Animal in Stanley Park
