Timeraiser Vancouver is just over a week away and the momentum has been building. The event pairs non-profit organizations with volunteers who pledge their time at a giant one-night event at the Roundhouse in Yaletown. Here’s a quick preview of some of the participating organizations that are looking for volunteers.
Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland
Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Hemochroamtosis Society
Canadian Mental Health Association
Canadian Paraplegic Association (BC)
Canucks Autism Network
Compassionate Eye Foundation
Evergreen
First United Church
Immigrant Services Society of BC
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
North Shore ConneXions Society
Out On Screen
Pacific Parklands Foundation
Peace it Together Society
Scouts Canada, Pacific Coast Council
Sustainability Television
Take a Hike Youth at Risk Foundation
The Canadian Youth Business Foundation
Theatre Terrific Society
TRAC Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre
Urban Native Youth Association
West End Seniors’ Network
Women Against Violence Against Women
Each one of these agencies and organizations is looking for volunteers in a variety of capacities. For example, the Canadian Cancer Society is looking for an Event Manager, and Women Against Violence Against Women is looking for IT and administrative support. Participants find the agency that they would like to support and then they bit on pieces of artwork from local artists in a silent auction. The winning bidder gets the artwork and the volunteer experience.
360 video of last year’s Timeraiser by Gus Fosarolli on Flickr
View the full agency listings on the Timeraiser site and click “Show Agency Details” to read up on each. Should any of these be of interest, make sure you attend the event next week. Tickets for Timeraiser are $20 online.
Just a reminder, my WestJet contest is in full swing until September 22nd. I have to send a HUGE “Thank You” to the Timeraiser organizers for choosing to partner with me for this giveaway. Not only is it a fantastic prize (2 round trip tickets to anywhere WestJet flies) but the event supports so many local causes. The winner’s name will be revealed on the contest post, on Twitter, and at the Timeraiser event September 23rd.
Follow Timeraiser Vancouver on Facebook or Twitter for news and updates.
Last week I was a guest speaker at the Nimbus School of Recording Arts in Vancouver. I had a great discussion with the business students (that ranged from managers, concert promoters and band members) at this school of rock and I also learned a bit about the Music Therapy Ride.
For nine years now the Music Therapy Ride, which is a motorcycle convoy from the Lower Mainland to Whistler, has raised over $350,000 for local causes. The funds then go toward music therapy programs and this year, the ride committee is aiming to build a recording studio at BC Childrens’ Hospital, as a part of the Band Wagon Legacy Project.
Music Therapy is the skillful and creative use of music to improve health, well-being and quality of life. Qualified therapists help people of all ages and abilities to help people reach their fullest potential through music. Music has helped an inspiring young woman, Megan McNeil, express herself and promote a cause that she holds dear.
Will to Survive, written & performed by Megan McNeil, produced by Garth Richardson of Nimbus.
You can register now for the 2010 Music Therapy Ride, which will depart from the River Rock Casino on September 18th at 9:30am.
Motorcycles, passengers, and cars are welcome although there is limited space for cars. Participants are also given a special group rate if they would like to stay overnight at the Fairmont in Whistler.
You can read more about the ride (and celebrity guests Raine Maida & Chantal Kreviazuk) on the Music Therapy Ride site or follow on Twitter @MTRBC.
I’ve been covering the VIFF for about three years now and each time I do, I start by mining Marina Antunes for information. She helps run the RowThree podcast and blog, which is in my opinion, the best movie site around. She has posted her top picks for this year’s festival and I sat down with her to find out how and why she made these selections.
“My list is really Canadian-heavy, this year is a really good year for Canadian film. I was really impressed,” says Marina.
City of Life
Director: Ali F. Mostafa
Notes: “This one isn’t Canadian but it’s the first feature film written, directed and produced in the United Arab Emirates. From what I can tell it looks like your basic city/life drama but it’s a great first look at the city of Dubai.” Program Link
Fathers & Sons
Director: Carl Bessai
Notes: “This is sort of a sequel to Mothers & Daughters from 2008,” says Marina, which starred the late Babz Chula. “Mothers and Daughters won the Canadian Images Audience Award and we knew [Bessai] was going to use the prize money to make this film.” She adds that Fathers & Sons looks very funny and should be just as touching, but from a male perspective. Program Link
Repeaters
Director: Carl Bessai
Marina’s notes: “It’s been on my radar for about a year and I didn’t know it would play here. I really want to see this because I’ve never seen Carl Bessai do a genre film, and here he’s doing a type of Groundhog Day time travel drama. The reception was sort of mixed at TIFF but his films do really well here – for good reason – so it must be a East versus West Coast thing.” As a side note, Marina is a huge Carl Bessai fan and through her recommendations over the years, I need to thank her introducing me to his work. Program Link
End of Animal
Director: Jo Sung-He
Notes: “This is a Koren film from a new director who has done one short film before. It’s a post-apocalyptic film that the British Film Institute has called a “pocket-sized” apocalyptic film. I think this will be the international premiere for the film and it was selected by the director of the Dragons & Tigers program at the VIFF.” Marina says that it might have been called “pocket-sized” simply based on the budget and anything “post-apocalyptic” is worth seeing for her. Program Link
MODRA
Director: Ingrid Veninger
Notes: “This is part of the Canadian Images line up and it’s a coming of age tale of two teenagers who sort of like each other. The girl is going on a trip to Slovakia and she invites the boy along with her family. The trailer looks beautiful.” Program Link
When talking about various genres Marina lights up, post-apocalyptic, coming of age, and even period pieces. However she started to beam when introducing the next film, which she simply describes as “EPIC!”
Mysteries of Lisbon
Director: Raul Ruiz
Notes: This is based on Castelo Branco’s novel which has never been translated to English (from Portugese). “It’s a story that Portuguese people are familiar with because it’s been everywhere, forever,” says Marina who is of Portuguese heritage herself. The film runs about 4.5 hours long. “It’s sort of a mystery, romance, period setting, it’s the biggest production ever out of Portugal and it’s both a mini-series and a film.” Program Link
You can read more from Marina on Row Three, which is currently providing team coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival.
The Vancouver International Film Festival runs September 30th until October 15th presenting films in the following series: Africa Today, Ecologies of Mind, Arts & Letters, Audience Award Winners, Canadian Images, Cinema of Our Time, Dragons & Tigers, Films for youth under 18, High School Program, Nonfiction Features (Docs), Galas, Spotlight on France, and Special Presentations.
Tickets for individual films and full festival passes are now on sale online, by phone, and in person at the Vancouver International Film Centre on Seymour at Davie.
Special Note Miss604.com is very proud to be an Official Media Sponsor for this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival. I will be providing coverage of the gala parties along with film reviews and maybe even a few giveaways. I am very excited about this sponsorship and am excited to spread the word about this year’s fantastic line up of films.
This morning I suited up and took an elevator to the top of the AXA Building on Hastings at Burrard. Along with over 50 people who will each have their turn on the ropes today, I repelled myself down 20 stories (200ft) in support of Easter Seals Canada.
Yesterday I posted a tweet about my participation and asked if anyone could come and take some photos. Turns out I had a bit of an entourage this morning as Bev Davies, Raul, Jakob and Cole from Nordica, and Keith along with my husband, my mother and Keira came by to take photos and cheer me on.
Although you’re safely strapped in (thanks to the amazing crew from Cliffhanger) it’s still quite scary to back onto a ledge, swing your legs over, and lower yourself down a building. My hands clamped and eyes focused on the rappelling device. I began my descent.
Half way down I thought about all of the extraordinary things I get to do. In the last 10 months alone I went ziplining, I swam in the Caribbean, I walked on the Swiss Alps, I covered the Olympics, I went sailing, I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, and I played baseball at the Field of Dreams. I am so thankful for these amazing opportunities. I then thought about the cause. Easter Seals gives amazing opportunities to those with disabilities across Canada and makes sure they lead a life full of self-esteem and self-determination (while having some fun along the way).
Thank you to everyone that came out this morning, the other participants for their fundraising and promotion, and to all of my readers who check in every now and then to see what I’ve gotten myself up to.
The Vancouver 2010 Olympics inspired many to take action in their daily lives. Whether it was to become a positive role model, striving to do their best each day, or living life to its fullest.
Kevin Jagger is one man who was inspired so much so that he decided to up and quit his cubicle job and strap on a pair of skates. I’ve known the Jagger family (well, two of the four brothers) for a few years now and had no idea what Kevin was up to until I got an email from Steven. Over the last few months Kevin’s been training (and learning how) to do long track speed skating.
He was an athlete in high school and college however to get in shape for speed skating, he has been doing everything from weight-lifting and running, to biking. Along with guidance from his coach Brock Miron, a 6 time member of Canada’s National Speed Skating team & Olympian in Turin, Jagger’s getting some solid support.
A big part of his training is inviting others to come out and join him so he started up the Hill Sprints Club, now with about 20 members, 3 of which are past Olympians.
Jagger’s met most of his supporters (and now training-buddies) through social media, using a his blog and video blog to get the word out. He has also just been accepted into Okanagan Spring’s “Sponsor Me Spring” contest where the most votes equals a sponsored beer party for you and your friends. He won’t be drinking of course but he would like to reward his supporters.
You can join Kevin and the Hill Sprints Club at Jericho Hill this Thursday at 3:30pm. Stay on top of other training events by following Long Track Long Shot on Facebook. This could be your chance to train with a future Olympian and be a part of supporting his journey from start to finish.
