Nominations are now open for the 2023 Courage To Come Back Awards. Coast Mental Health annually recognizes British Columbians who have overcome tremendous odds, yet selflessly give back to their communities. The awards will honour five recipients and raise funds for critical community mental health services and programming.
Courage To Come Back Awards 2023
This will be the 25th anniversary of the Courage To Come Back Awards presented by Wheaton Precious Metals, recognizing those who have not only overcome tremendous illness or adversity, but whose own challenges have inspired them to selflessly give back to others. Their inspirational stories deserve our recognition.
Categories: Addiction, Medical, Mental Health, Physical Rehabilitation, and Youth.
Since 1999, over 2,500 British Columbians have been honoured by their friends and family through a nomination, 139 of whom received these prestigious awards. They are our loved ones, our neighbours, and our friends, who have overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges with courage, strength, and a drive to inspire change and hope in the lives of others. Their moving stories will be celebrated in the Spring of 2023 in support of Coast Mental Health.
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the 2023 Courage To Come Back Awards
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by Early Music Vancouver Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
For many, the hallmark of any holiday season is joyful, nostalgic, and moving music. This season you can savour magnificent sounds and move your spirit with Early Music Vancouver’s Festive Cantatas: J.S. Bach Magnificat & Cantata BWV 110 (‘Let Our Mouth Be Full of Laughter’) December 17th and 18th.
Tickets: Single tickets available online now from $36. Select your show date above and purchase from the appropriate box office. For information on special single ticket offerings for youth, students and Indigenous peoples, please visit this page and scroll down to the bottom.
Bach’s Magnificatexplores a wide spectrum of human responses to the Christmas story, from humility to ecstasy, sober consideration to laughing astonishment, and extroverted declamation to introspective affirmation. In them, we hear Bach amplifying the voices of different people and exploring their personal perspectives, especially that of an ordinary young woman, Mary, as she responds to the astounding news that she would give birth to the Son of God. The musical result is polyphonic in every possible sense.
“Bach clearly intended to create something splendid, sparkling, and full of joy with his Magnificat and Cantata BWV 110,” says EMV’s Artistic & Executive Director Suzie LeBlanc, C.M. “The bringer of joy in Bach’s music is often the trumpet, and these works feature three trumpets as well as three oboes to multiply the effect. ‘Wake up’ sings the bass and the trumpet at the end of Bach’s Cantata 110 – a wake-up call akin to Handel’s ‘Sound the Trumpet’ in Messiah! I hope this sumptuous and festive concert reconnects us to our fundamental and inherent feelings of joy.”
Early Music Vancouver’s Festive Cantatas: J.S. Bach Magnificat & Cantata BWV 110 features JUNO Award-winning artist Hélène Brunet (soprano); Portland’s Arwen Myers (soprano); Hungarian-Canadian Krisztina Szabó (alto); winner of the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra’s Competition, Jacques-Olivier Chartier (tenor); and one of today’s most sought-after voices, Sumner Thompson (bass); along with The Pacific Baroque Orchestra, directed by Alexander Weimann.
There is a Pre-Concert Talk for the December 18th concert at The Chan only at 2:30pm with broadcaster/author Bill Richardson in conversation with Alexander Weimann.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by FestivalSeekers Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
When you create a collection of events that includes workshops, ice skating, live music, dances, markets, gallery shows, good eats, and a parade you get more than a festival – you get the Vernon Winter Carnival! Tickets for over 130 events, that will span ten days in February, go on sale this Friday, December 2nd and to celebrate the 62nd annual event, you can enter to win your own Vernon Winter Carnival Getaway:
Winter fun at Silverstar – Miss604
Vernon Winter Carnival
2023 brings not only a variety of new events, but the return of many beloved and popular events that haven’t been able to happen since the 2020 festival. Over 35 of those events are hosted by Vernon Winter Carnival Society directly and the remainder are third-party events, hosted by a variety of local businesses and organizations.
“The theme for 2023 is CarnivalTV,” Says Executive Director Vicki Proulx. “It’s been awesome to see so many events get on board with the theme, there’s so much that can be done with TV!”
New this year:
Reconnecting in the North Okanagan
Magic School Bus Gallery Shows
Live Music at Lake City Casino
Winter Carnival 1 Mile
Pop Culture Show & Sale
Queer Field Trip
Pokemon Habitats
Small Screen to the REALLY Big Screen
The Reverie
Mini Mandalorians
Bubble Tea Making Class
Lots of Tots Playgroup
Storytelling with Okanagan Indian Band
Biathlon Demo Night
Sweetheart Pairings with Lake Country Scenic Sip Wine Trail
Free Family Skate with MP Mel Arnold
Happy Days Sock Hop Seniors Event
Rookie Blue Behind the Scenes
TV Western Square Dance
TV Trivia & Costume Night
CSI Adult Crime Scene Investigation
Carnival Kickball Tournament
Polar Bear Market
Saturday Morning Cartoon Party
Outdoor Oval on Swan Lake
Coffee House at Halina
nyPD Blues Band
Queer Family Game Night
The Halina Presents a RRREEAALLLY Big variety show
Snowshoeing at Predator Ridge – Miss604 Photo
And some returning favourites:
Sip & Savour
Parka Party at Predator Ridge
BeerCan Beiner
Feather Fanciers Show
50th Annual Coca-Cola Classic PeeWee Hockey Tournament
Other returning events include the 62nd Annual Vernon Winter Carnival Parade, BC Snow Sculpture Competition at Silver Star and the Balloon Glow in Polson Park.
Vernon Winter Carnival is a continuing tradition that brings the community together and keeps everyone connected through shared and memorable experiences.
Nordic skiing at Sovereign Lakes Miss604 photo
Get Tickets Before They Sell Out
Those wishing to purchase tickets are encouraged to do so right away as many popular events sell out the morning tickets go on sale. Event tickets go on sale Friday, December 2, 2023 at 9:00am. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at 250-545-2236 or in person from the Vernon Winter Carnival Office at 3401 35 Ave in Vernon.
Win a Vernon Winter Carnival Getaway
To make sure you don’t miss out on this incredible winter-time tradition filled with fun and community spirit, I have partnered with SnowSeekers and the Vernon Winter Carnival to give away an amazing getaway to enjoy this festival that includes:
Two Night Stay at the Prestige Vernon Lodge
Tickets, rentals and lessons for two at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre
Carnival gear (including gloves, scarves and toques for two)
Two tickets to the event of your choice from the list above
$50 gift card to Italian Kitchen
$50 gift card to 1516 Pub & Grill
Here’s how you can enter to win:
Follow the Vernon Winter Carnival on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for information and inspiration.
There’s always a kind gesture behind a gift but imagine if the gift you give this holiday season could spread even more kindness your community? We have curated a comprehensive list of Gifts that Give Back in Greater Vancouver:
East Van Roasters Holiday Confection Box
Gifts That Give Back in Greater Vancouver
Gift: Holiday Confection Box ($38) Purchase From:East Van Roasters (319 Carrall St, Vancouver) Cause:East Van Roasters is a social enterprise of Atira Women’s Art Society so shoppers can feel good knowing their purchases are providing meaningful employment to women living in the Downtown Eastside who are facing challenges and barriers in their lives. Shop their collection of chocolates, treats, and roasted coffee.
Megaphone 2023 Calendar, photo via megaphone.com
Gift:2023 Hope in Shadows Calendar (suggested $20 donation) Purchase From: Your local Megaphone vendor (find them on the app) Cause: Hope in Shadows is a photography project that shares the stories of homeless and low-income people through their own lens, and in its 17-year history, it has put more than one million dollars directly into the pockets of people experiencing poverty in BC. Hope in Shadows is a project of Megaphone magazine, a non-profit that offers meaningful work to people experiencing poverty and homelessness.
Gift: Sunbird Scarf by Melissa Groo, inspired by nature ($77) Purchase From:InFocus Canada Cause: 10% of the sale price of each of Melissa’s ‘Sunbird’ scarves is donated to the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital. Each scarf is produced from a custom milled fabric made from 100% recycled plastic and diverts 3 bottles from the waste stream. Only 200 scarves have been produced in this print as part of a First Edition. All scarves are sustainably produced and are developed and manufactured (locally in Squamish) employing the highest ethical production standards.
Blue Ruby Cause We Care bracelet, photo via blueruby.com
Gift:Blue Ruby x Cause We Care Bracelets ($35 to $125) Purchase From: Blue Ruby stores, Hill’s of Kerrisdale, Hills Dry Goods Kitsilano, Hill’s Dry Goods South Granville, Hill’s Dry Goods Park Royal South, Hill’s Dry Goods – West 4th Cause: 100% of the proceeds from these beautiful bracelets go towards Cause We Care Foundation’s programs and initiatives in support of single mothers and their children in need in the Greater Vancouver area. These funds also support the ongoing needs of the families living at YWCA Cause We Care House in Vancouver. Since the program’s inception 9 years ago in 2013, Blue Ruby has successfully donated nearly one million dollars to Cause We Care’s initiatives.
Obakki Foundation Scarf 2022, photo via obbakifoundation.org
Gift: Scarves 4 Water ($49 to $89, bandana available for $39) Purchase From: Obakki online or Gastown (#400-341 Water St, Vancouver) Cause: The Obakki Foundation directly impacts the women of the Bidi Bidi refugee settlement in Uganda, with 100% of the proceeds going towards building a better future for the community. In addition to individual donations, they generate revenue through the sale of a thoughtfully curated collection of apparel and homewares. The Scarves 4 Water program assigns one scarf colour per community and, when Obakki sells 500 of them, they drill a well that brings clean water to thousands of people.
Angel Wish Snow Globe – Bowring
Gift:Angel Wish Snow Globe ($39) Purchase From: Shop for Wishes, dedicated Bowring e-store for a cause Cause: Make-A-Wish Foundation has a series of e-stores where all products purchased will help make wishes come true for a child with critical illness.
Gift:The Gift of Glow vegan holiday skincare set ($90) Purchase From: HBC in Vancouver or Three Ships online Cause: A portion of every sale of this sustainably sourced, cruelty-free skincare set is donated back to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which seeks to fulfill the dreams of terminally ill children between 2 and 18 years old. Three Ships’ goal is to grant 100 wishes to 100 kids by donating a portion of every sale to Make-A-Wish.
Outdoor Vancouver’s Be More Pacific Tee
Gift: “Be More Pacific” sweatshirts ($34.95 with $1 going to Take a Hike) Purchase From:Outdoor Vancouver Cause:Take a Hike Foundation engages youth in intensive and continuous clinical counselling, adventure, and community, Public School Districts engage youth in high quality education, and together they empower vulnerable youth to change the trajectory of their lives.
Symbolic, Nature-Focused Gift
Gift: Adopt-a-heron’s nest, Adopt-an-Acre, Adopt-a-Class ($54 to $3,000) Purchase From: Stanley Park Ecology Society Cause: Adopters join a twenty-five year tradition of collaborative research, innovation and ecological advice with the Stanley Park Ecology Society. Every adoption helps preserve Stanley Park as a location for recreational, aesthetic and educational activities, now and for future generations.
If you have any to add, feel free to leave a note in the comments or submit it here.
Follow Miss604Holidays this season for the latest arts and culture activities, attraction and event news »
This weekend Miss604 is proud to sponsor the Portobello West Holiday Market at the Roundhouse in Yaletown along with Heritage Christmas which is opening for the season at Burnaby Village Museum and the Giving Hearts Awards on Friday afternoon. Find these events and many more things to do in Vancouver this weekend listed below:
