The Miss604 Store is opening again this summer thanks to my friends at MAKE Vancouver. This year I am one of fifty women who are fundraising for Sunshine Coast Community Services Society, so this very special part of the “604” is the theme for the t-shirts, mugs, and totes in the Miss604 Sunshine Coast Collection:
SIZING: Jenny and I are wearing the Unisex Blue in Medium. The white v-neck shirt is a XL but I could have done a L.
Miss604 Sunshine Coast Collection
This stunning part of our province is known for its natural beauty, its artisans and festivals, and its community. With its lush green rainforest, Instagram-worthy waterfalls, and bountiful beaches, we thought a play on a raindrop/ocean spray would be a fun vessel for these designs by Rob Zylstra. Rob, whom I’ve known for over a decade through social media and past fundraising events I hosted, was wonderful to work with, and MAKE Vancouver helped our vision come alive. I’m so grateful for their support.
We have three main designs: The Persephone (the iconic boat from The Beachcombers series that used to sit at the five corners in Gibsons); The Places (Gibsons, Sechelt, and Roberts Creek); and The Seagull.
And yes, I absolutely know (and love) many more destinations on both the Lower and Upper Sunshine Coast but I kept it minimal with three places that helped shape me as a child, youth, and adult. As for the seagull? That’s just for fun!
This is all a pre-order. Items will only be printed/shipped at once in a single batch once the store closes August 31st. Everyone should receive their items within a week or two after that.
25% of proceeds from each item sold will be donated to SCCSS by MAKE Vancouver once our shop closes August 31st. If you would like to support the campaign without shopping in the Miss604 store, you can simply make a donation here. You will immediately receive a tax receipt from direct donations there. Anything you can contribute is greatly appreciated!
About the Cause
Sunshine Coast Community Services Society (SCCSS) is the largest community based nonprofit organization providing supportive programming and services to Sunshine Coast residents. As the organization celebrates fifty years of delivering critical community services, they need help closing the funding gap for a vital 6-storey development in the heart of Sechelt. This development will help create 35 safe and affordable homes for single women and women with children, who have experienced, or are vulnerable to experiencing, violence.
The two lower floors of the new building will introduce a community hub that provides flexible meeting spaces, food solutions, crisis response, and support and prevention programs—all in one place. Follow SCCSS on Facebook for updates on the development.
The Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival at Deer Lake Park is back on August 10th with an incredible lineup in a beautiful outdoor setting – with FREE admission! Enjoy Latin, country, jazz, Americana, R&B and a whole lot of soul and good times.
Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival
Burnaby Blues and Roots at Deer Lake Park – City of Burnaby Photo
When: Saturday, August 10, 2024 from 4:00pm to 10:00pm
Where: Deer Lake Park (5435 Sperling Ave, Burnaby)
Admission: Free!
The Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival offers an inclusive, family-friendly environment with some of the region’s most popular food trucks, a beer garden and more.
Festival Lineup
4:00pm 4:30pm the della kit 4:45pm to 5:25pm Crystal Shawanda 5:45pm to 6:35pm The Suffers 7:15pm to 8:20pm Calexico 8:45pm to 10:00pm Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples You won’t want to miss the chance to see this absolute legend! Staples is an iconic American singer and civil rights activist renowned for her rich, soulful voice and powerful presence. Born on July 10, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois, she rose to fame as a member of the Staples Singers, a family gospel group led by her father, “Pops” Staples. The group became a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement, blending gospel, soul, and R&B. Staples’ solo career has been equally impactful, earning Grammy Awards and critical acclaim for her work. Known for hits like “I’ll Take You There,” she continues to inspire with her music and commitment to social justice.
Calexico is an eclectic indie rock band formed in 1996 by Joey Burns and John Convertino in Tucson, Arizona. Renowned for their genre-blending sound, they weave together elements of Americana, Latin, and jazz, producing a distinctive blend often labeled as “desert noir.”
Known for energetic live performances, The Suffers are a dynamic Gulf Coast Soul band hailing from Houston, Texas, founded in 2011 by lead vocalist Kam Franklin and bassist Adam Castaneda. Combining elements of classic soul, rock, and Caribbean rhythms, their vibrant sound is both nostalgic and fresh.
Crystal Shawanda is a celebrated Canadian singer-songwriter known for her powerful blend of blues, country, and rock. Born in Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, in 1983, she launched her career in Nashville, gaining recognition with her debut album, Dawn of a New Day (2008), which became the highest-charting album by a Canadian First Nations artist.
The della kit is a Vancouver-based singer and songwriter whose music fuses jazz, soul, and R&B. Known for her ethereal voice and reflective lyrics, she debuted with moonbeams & frequencies in 2023.
Food and Beverage
Guests are welcome to bring their own food and beverages (non-alcoholic, and no knives if you pack a picnic), and there will be food trucks on site. Beer and wine service are available within the designated area with last call at 8:30pm.
Food trucks include:
Lemon Heaven (VEG/V/GF/DF) JJ’s Hot Cobs (VEG, V, GF, DF) Rocky Point Ice Cream (VEG/V/GF/DF) Green Coast Coffee (VEG, V, GF, DF) The Jerkshack (VEG, V, GF, DF) Shameless Buns (VEG, V, DF) Yo Bones BBQ (VEG, V, GF, DF)
Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival has been a highlight of the outdoor concert season since 2000 and celebrates the influence of roots and blues music in a unique venue. The festival encourages cultural awareness of musical talent and provides a platform for local and Canadian artists and ensuring that female and BIPOC artists are represented.
Over 30,000 fans are expected at BC Place on Saturday, July 27th when Wrexham AFC take on Vancouver Whitecaps FC on the final stop of their Wrex Coast Tour. The teams have just released details on how fans can meet players, and more for match day:
Space is limited, so arrive early! Fans will be able meet their favourite Whitecaps FC and Wrexham AFC players, take photos and get autographs. Arrive by 2:00pm at the West Entrance of BC Place off Expo Boulevard and look for Whitecaps staff who will guide them into the stadium. Whitecaps players will arrive between 2-2:45pm, and Wrexham players will arrive between 2:50-3:00pm at BC Place.
Note: It was already announced earlier this month that The Red Dragons’ star striker Paul Mullin would miss the tour due to injury.
Plaza Party
Terry Fox Plaza pre-match patio opens at 1:30pm on Saturday on the 100 block of Robson Street. Other stops on the Wrex Coast Tour have included pop-up merch tables, player signing opportunities, and more. We’ll see what Vancouver’s experience will be!
Fan Experience
BC Place has the full fan guide online, although it states the patio will open at 1:00pm and the official fan email sent on Thursday, July 25th says 1:30pm.
Fans are permitted to bring approved tifo, signs, flags, and/or banners into the stadium to exhibit their support for the club provided they do not obstruct the view of guests or block stadium signage.
The match will be broadcast live on TSN5 and on CKNW.
About Wrexham AFC
Founded in 1864, Wrexham is the oldest professional soccer club in Wales, and the third oldest in the world. The team shot to prominence globally since Ryan Reynolds and fellow Hollywood star Rob McElhenney purchased the club in 2020. The club has been featured in the award-winning Welcome to Wrexham docu-series on FX.
Wrexham have recently risen back up through the divisions and have just confirmed a second-successive promotion, which elevates them back to League One – the third tier of English football – as their season kicks off in August. The club has a supportive fanbase and has already played two matches on their Wrex Coast Tour, a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth and a 2-2 draw versus Chelsea.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC This Season
Whitecaps FC (11W-8L-5D) take a break from MLS action, as they stand firmly in playoff position in the Western Conference. The Caps have 10 matches remaining in the regular season starting on August 24 at home to Los Angeles FC. Prior to returning to league action, and after facing Wrexham, the ’Caps will play in the Leagues Cup, starting on the road against LAFC on July 30th, and then against Club Tijuana at BC Place on August 3rd.
Parksville has been one of my favourite local getaways for the last three decades and it’s always fun, refreshing, and relaxing, to visit the seaside region for good eats and good times. The Coast Parksville Hotel was our home base for our most recent getaway (specifically to visit the Fairy Houses at Milner Gardens), and they went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. We’re sharing all of this with you in a new giveaway!
This weekend around Vancouver the Olympic cauldron will be lit, Pride festivities begin, a fairytale team visits BC Place, an arts festival takes over the Eastside, and more! Miss604 sponsors the summer season at Burnaby Village Museum, and free Sounds Like Summer performances in Burnaby. Find these and many more events around Vancouver this weekend listed below:
