This morning I woke up to see a new Twitter update from @MtSeymourRoad:

Ski and snowboard season is just around the corner and as Metro Vancouver prepares for another blustery winter, the local hills are getting ready to welcome the Olympic-sized crowds that will be flocking to the hills. Here’s how many of them are using social media to keep the public informed about events, activities, and conditions.

Local Mountains on social media

Cypress Mountain
Home of the 2010 Olympic Games snowboarding events

Mount Seymour
Not involved in the 2010 Games so they’ll have lots of room for riders this season

Grouse Mountain
Will be open 24 hours a day during the Olympics, even hosting NBC’s Today Show for a few weeks — can you say 4am Tweetup on the slopes?

Just outside of Metro Vancouver

Whistler Blackcomb
Host of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. 90% of their runs will be open to the public during that time.

Hemlock Valley Resort
Closer than you think, just outside the Fraser Valley

Mount Washington
Your ultimate ski/board destination on Vancouver Island. Check out Keira’s posts for everything you need to know about Mount Washington.

Quick Okanagan Getaways

Sun Peaks
Located near Kamloops, BC

Apex Mountain

Big White
Awesome ski-in, ski-out resort near Kelowna, BC

Silver Star Mountain
Just north of Big White, outside of Vernon, BC

I’m celebrating my 16th year as a snowboarder so I can’t wait to get in as much riding as possible. With the local mountains getting snow this morning opening day isn’t too far down the road.

Should you have any listings you would like to add to my directory above, please feel free to leave a comment or email me through my contact form.

The Night of New Beginnings at Covenant House is a fundraising gala that will kick off their “30 days for 30 nights” campaign. This initiative aims to raise enough to fund the shelter’s operations for the entire month of December.

Photo credit: portablematthew on Flickr

Covenant House Vancouver exists for those young people for whom there is often no one else — young people aged 16 – 24 who have either willingly fled physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse or those who have been forced from their homes.

In order to run Covenant House’s shelter for their single busiest month of the year they’re looking to raise $200,000. This will cover day to day operations for their 54 bed crisis centre.

Primarily privately funded, Covenant House relies on the generosity of over 50,000 individuals and organizations to provide shelter, food, clothing and counselling to over 2,000 young people each year.

Tickets for the Night of New Beginnings gala on November 26th are $75 and the event will take place at Birks downtown from 5:00pm – 8:00pm. Elaine Lui (LaineyGossip) will be the master of ceremonies as you enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails while bidding on silent auction items.

Contact Shelley Holmes by phone (604) 482-5131 or email Shelly.Holmes[at]td.com for more information and to purchase your tickets.

The Horrific Home of Beatrice Stainsbury is a truly unique theatrical Halloween experience in the form of a house party tour taking place on October 31st.

Although calmly nestled in a quiet, unsuspecting Commercial Dr. neighborhood, no one has dared set foot in the Horrific Home of Beatrice Stainsbury since the early 1900s… until now. On one night only, this house of ill-repute will open its doors to worlds previously unheard of and unexperienced in any haunted house you may have visited. Your senses will tingle with fear, laughter, repulsion, sadness and curiosity, as the macabre, the terrifying and the outrageous join up with moments of heart-wrenching beauty, soul-stirring sadness and unavoidable mirth.

From 6:40pm until 9:40pm a tour will leave the rendez-vous point every 20 minutes and you will be guided throughout the horrific house. “The Stray Cats” cast will entertain as you make stops throughout the household to hear the performers’ stories. There are only a few slots left as each tour group must only be a maximum of 11 people. Tickets can be purchased online in advance for $28. Thanks to @ChrisWalts for the heads up about this event.

My History Tidbits series has contained everything from Fountains, Trails, and Mansions but today I thought I would play the Name Game once again.

Every day I wonder where a street, building, or bridge in Metro Vancouver got its name. I’d have to say my favourite so far is the history of Mr Duff Pattullo but there are others I wanted to discover and share.

Alfred Graham Ferguson
He was the first chair of the Vancouver Parks Board and Ferguson Point, near the Tea Hour, between Second and Third beaches, is named after him. He also built Ferguson Block in the Downtown Eastside although the wooden buildings burnt in the Great Fire of 1886. He then rebuilt the block with brick as it stands today on Powell Street. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

Tourism Vancouver and BC Hydro have teamed up for a special dining opportunity happening tomorrow around Vancouver.

On Wednesday October 28th the Candlelight Conservation Dinner will see over 30 restaurants around town dimming their dining room lights to promote saving energy during the last week of Power Smart Month.

The Candlelight Conservation Dinner is designed to bring attention to electricity conservation. The BC Energy Plan calls for B.C. electricity self-sufficiency by 2016 and for conservation to reduce, by 50%, the expected growth in overall electricity demand in the province by 2020.

If you go to BC Hydro’s website and sign up for Team Power Smart they also have some deals* that you can redeem at some of these participating restaurants:

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This is your chance to check out places from the Prospect Point Cafe over to West or (the rumoured to be haunted) Old Spaghetti Factory as it should be a unique dining experience with plenty of ambiance.