Blogathon is returning to Vancouver this year as I will once again be hosting an on-location event August 21st.
Kristi Ferguson from Fraser Valley Pulse will be heading up Blogathon Fraser Valley on the same day with another on-location event so we’ll have the region well-covered. Raul will also be helping me with the Vancouver event as we’ll be celebrating our 5th year of Blogathon’ing together.
How it works
Bloggers sign up to blog for 24 hours straight, publishing an original post every 30 minutes (think walk-a-thon or spell-a-thon etc.) They do this marathon blogging in order to raise funds for the charity of their choice. The collect donations online to help keep them going.
We will be arranging CanadaHelps donation pages for all registered Blogathon Vancouver & Blogathon Fraser Valley participants so that all donations go directly to the charities of choice automatically, online. The campaigns are a challenge but it’s absolutely worth the time to support a cause in which you truly believe — using your blog for social good.
History
Since 2000, Blogathon has been run during the month of July through an online community and pledge system on Blogathon.org. We’ve taken this model and customized it, creating the first on-location events (in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley) in 2009.
In 2006 I participated after seeing Alanah and Barbara (the only two participants in BC I knew of at the time). In 2007 I had my own campaign up and running alongside Raul’s. In 2008 we then had 11 local bloggers sign on for Blogathon and along with my friends Duane and Raul we raised $10,000 for our causes.
In 2009, the numbers grew to over 30 local participants and close to $20,000 raised by bloggers collectively for each of their causes.
I’m so excited to see how it’s caught on across the province over the years. In my first year I raised about $500 for the Surrey Food Bank and with my last 3 campaigns my generous readers have helped me raise about $15,000 for the Union Gospel Mission.
For 2010
This year we’re bumping Blogathon to August in order to hopefully have more participants (who won’t be on vacation) and more of an audience to help keep us going for 24 straight hours of blogging.
Our on-location events will have wifi, food (for sponsorship please contact us), and a community of bloggers all going through the same campaign — which helps when you start losing steam at 3:00am after blogging for 17 hours straight. Last year we were at Workspace and we enjoyed treats from various sponsors, visits from non-profits that were being supported, and even a private lightning-lit concert from Mojave.
This post is to serve as a “Save the Date” for August 21st so please stay tuned to BlogathonVancouver.com for updates and information. We will be posting information on how to sign up, how to get your donation page, and the venues for the on-location events (in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley) shortly.
The tag for the event will be #Blogathon10 (on Twitter or Flickr).
We hope you’ll join us and use your blog to help support the cause of your choice.
Update Please note Blogathon.org (the global event run by other bloggers) is NOT running this year. Blogathon Vancouver and Blogathon Fraser Valley ARE happening this year per this announcement. We’ll have a sign-up site available soon but please stay tuned to BlogathonVancouver.com for updates.
Yesterday I experienced my first Fourth of July in Iowa. The skies teased with raindrops every few minutes but luckily by noon, when the parade began, the sun had peeked its way through the grey blanket of clouds above.
We sat along the side of the road in John‘s hometown as other families with tarps, canopies, blankets, and lawn chairs lined the same route. Children ran outside with plastic bags that puffed up and danced in the wind. I was unclear of their purpose until the parade began to pass our way.
The Color Guard marched through first, firing off rounds of blanks as the crowd stood at attention. “These were hot items when I was little,” said John as he scooped up a bullet casing and presented it to me proudly as a souvenir.
Tractors, classic cars, ATVs, dirtbikes, and rollerblades carried proud business owners, sports teams, and elected officials in a loop around town that began and ended at the fairgrounds.
Every cub scout troupe, farmer, and “little miss” tossed out candy as they passed (except for the local dentist’s office that lofted toothbrushes into the crowd). Children scurried to pick up the Tootsie Rolls, bubble gum, licorice, mints, lollipops and chocolate coins from the road, loading up the bags which had been waiting anxiously in the breeze.
One farmer tossed out whole kernels of corn, while another handed out foil-wrapped pork sandwiches.
Restored tractors with placards announced the make, model, year and owner of the machines as they chugged by. Farmall, John Deere, New Holland, Ford. My brother-in-law asked me not to blog about the tractors but, how could I not?
Over in Bellevue, Iowa their parade was far less scenic as tragedy struck when two horses with a carriage went on a rampage. The news has since reached far an wide, prompting several people to message John and I to see if we’re okay.
Our parade lasted about an hour and on the tail end came the horses, which all seemed well-behaved. Braided tails, flag-covered saddles, and saddlebags stocked with chilled canned beverages.
Once the parade wrapped up it was time for food. John’s parents had visitors in from all over, from Iowa City to just down the block. Their house was a hub of activity with pot luck dishes, BBQ, margaritas and good cheer.
The rain decided to pick and festivities moved indoors. The evening fireworks were canceled due to the weather as we all hung out around the dining room table playing cards and catching up.
I know that we could have selected pretty much anywhere as our summertime vacation destination however we’ve always meant to come back either for the Fourth or for the county fair (which takes place at the end of July).
No matter how often he now says “eh” or quotes hockey scores, John’s an Iowan through and through. Spending time here, in the place where he grew up, only brings me closer to him and the proud and loving family whose name I am so lucky to bear.
Update Here are some of John’s photos from the Fourth of July.
The following is a guest post contributed by Amber Strocel from TheV3H.com and Strocel.com.
Every year on the first weekend in July the Port Moody community throws a big party. The annual Golden Spike Days Festival has been in Rocky Point Park for 34 years now, commemorating the arrival of the first cross-country train in Port Moody on July 4, 1886. At the time, Port Moody was the Western terminus of the CPR, the great railroad uniting Canada. By celebrating on the first weekend in July, the event marks both Canada Day and the anniversary of a pivotal event in local history.
As history would have it, Port Moody did not end up being the Western terminus for long. Within a year the line was extended to Vancouver and Port Moody faded in regional and national prominence. But there is still a cairn in Port Moody commemorating the ‘Completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway’, and that brief period when Port Moody was the last link on a great chain lives on in the community’s consciousness.
Today’s Golden Spike Days Festival retains some historical flavour. The ever-popular Golden Spike Can Can Dancers (motto: For chicks who like to kick it!) perform shows every day of the festival and spike-driving competitions let festival-goers try their own hand at railroad building. Yukon Dan teaches gold panning to anyone who wants to give it a try. And right next door Port Moody Station Museum operates special programs throughout the event, commemorating local history and celebrating all things ‘train’.
Beyond the history, Golden Spike is mostly about family fun. Our family attends every year for the petting zoo, paper hat-making, children’s rides, boat-building from Port Metro Vancouver, balloons, mascots, face-painting and children’s entertainment. Local politicians and businesses set up tents, and you can pay $2 for a chance to dunk one of Port Moody Secondary’s cheerleaders. Just outside the gates there are bike trials and bike jumping demos, and we stop on our way out to watch and have a cone from Rocky Point Ice Cream. There’s lots of classic fair food to choose from, including Rocky Point Park’s permanent food vendor Pajo’s. It’s no PNE, but there are mini donuts and cotton candy all the same.
This year there were some new events at Golden Spike. We weren’t able to check them out, because we are rolling with a 23-month-old who is cute but not so good at sitting still. On July 1 and 3 festival attendees had a chance to cruise Burrard Inlet on an ecological boat tour, learning about our local sea life and watching seal pups. And in honour of Canadian Naval Centennial an Open House tour of the facilities at Pacific Coast Terminals was available for families on July 3 along with an option to visit HMCS Nanaimo 702 and Patrol Craft Training Caribou to learn what it is like to be a sailor.
I may be biased, as a local resident, but I think that the Golden Spike Days Festival is one of the best local events going. We haven’t missed one since 2005. The free activities and the admission by donation make it affordable, and the kid-friendly feel is fun for everyone. It’s definitely worth checking out if you happen to be nearby on the first weekend in July. Watch the video my husband Jon made and see for yourself:
This post was written by Amber Strocel, who contributes to TheV3H.com, a blog that highlights news and events in and around Port Moody and the Tri-Cities. You can also catch up with Amber’s musings on life and parenting at Strocel.com.
With the Fourth of July coming up, I figured what’s more American than baseball. Today’s Archives Photo of the Day features two players at the Athletic Park in Vancouver, which used to be near 5th and Hemlock.
Description: Baseball opening season at Athletic Park, 1930
Photographer: Stuart Thomson Archives item#: CVA 99-2415
In a recent public appearance Ian Campbell, the Chief of the Squamish First Nation, suggested that Stanley Park return to its original name, Xwayxway (pronounced “kwhy-kway”). This has caused quite a stir locally with the thought of the international impact among other concerns.
A Squamish elder raised the idea at the opening Wednesday of Klahowya Village and the Spirit Catcher Train in Stanley Park. Xwayxway was the name of a permanent aboriginal village located where Lumberman’s Arch is today. The name refers to a ceremonial mask. [The Province]
Campbell made the suggestion at the opening of a native exhibit at the park, which includes a First Nations village. B.C. Tourism Minister Kevin Kreuger, who attended the ceremonial opening of the village, said he “would happily carry forth a proposal to change the name of the park. Vancouver Coun. Ellen Woodsworth said she thought the change to Xwayxway was an “excellent suggestion” and said First Nations should make a formal proposal. [CBC]
Originally named by the City of Vancouver in 1888 after Lord Stanley (the same man for which the NHL trophy is named), it has been Vancouver’s crown jewel for over a hundred years.
Stanley Park is near and dear to my heart and I believe that its magic would be the same no matter what the signs on Georgia Street or Google Maps read. That being said this is a fairly sticky subject… where do the traditions and history begin and end? There could also be a combination of the two, perhaps a certain area or section called “Xwayxway at Stanley Park” or vice versa.
I’d love to know what you think about the talk of a name change (please keep in mind that this is not a formal proposal yet by any means).
[poll id=”56″]
Update According to News1130 B.C.’s tourism minister says name of Vancouver’s Stanley Park won’t be changed, but a second name might be added.
However the Vancouver Sun is now reporting that Tourism Vancouver is all for the name change:
While public reaction to changing the name of the city’s iconic park has been mostly negative, Tourism Vancouver president Rick Antonson said he’s in favour of the idea.
“I think it is a wonderful name, and the opportunity to be a part of taking that name internationally to help introduce it would be just a wonderful, though challenging, opportunity,†he said. “There is nothing to lose by doing this and much to be gained.”
Update The Globe and Mail reports that according to the Federal Government, a name change is out of the question (while an addition isn’t).
“Stanley Park is a park that’s rich in history, and rich in heritage,†said Mr. Day, adding that the park was known and loved to people from B.C. and around the world.
“It was designated as a park well over a hundred years ago by the governor-general of the day, Lord Stanley. And it is our intention to maintain the name as Stanley Park, respecting and reflecting on a wonderful heritage going back for hundreds and hundreds of years – our aboriginal peoples and those immigrants who settled here later and have continued to enjoy the park.â€
