Continuing the latest tradition in my family, the holiday shopping season starts with our first visit to The Christmas Store at Potters in Surrey. We get cards, ornaments, decor, soup and barbecue sauce (yep!) all from the largest store of its kind in Western Canada. Potters is 28,000 sq ft of holiday cheer making it much more than a store, it’s an attraction all on its own.
The Christmas Store at Potters
Where: 19158 48th Ave, Surrey
When: Open daily through December 24. Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday from 9:00am to 6:00pm and open until 7:00pm Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
As in years past, Potters Nursery has been transformed from a full-service garden centre into a 28,000-square-foot festive wonderland. It boasts an impressive inventory of thousands of unique hand-picked ornaments, designer trees and collectibles, stocking stuffers, food items and much more.
You’ll recognize how special the store is from the moment you walk through the door. From floor to ceiling and around every corner, there’s something magical to be seen. It all starts with the Merry & Bright, Red & White front entrance display, which greets guests with thousands of glimmering red and white ornaments.
Stunning themed trees include the brand-new Paris Tree, all in black and white, adorned with sparkling Eiffel Tower ornaments. This year, there are more than 30 decorated trees throughout the store, decked out in various themes, including candy, gingerbread characters, and even gnomes!
Venture into the 3,000-square-foot Dark Room, illuminated by more than 75 different Christmas-themed canvas paintings and over 60 different Christmas-themed water lanterns.
MouseTown, an automated village run by tiny mice, was introduced last year and proved such a big hit that the Potters team has completely redesigned and rebuilt it even larger this year. It’s now action-packed with ski lifts, cable cars and all sorts of moving components that kids of all ages are sure to love.
Enter to Win
Once again, this year I have a $100 gift card up for grabs! Here’s how you can enter to win, and amp up your holiday shopping:
Also new this year, Potters is offering a huge selection of beautiful Christmas ornaments from Mexico. The design team flew to Mexico City, then drove for hours to meet a talented family that produces tree ornaments available in an array of colours and textures.
Check off your gift-giving list as you peruse Potters’ incredible inventory of toys, jigsaw puzzles, games, Coca-Cola collectibles, over 50 styles of Christmas stockings, and unique items for those hard-to-buy-for adults. Looking for ways to spoil your furry friend? Be sure to stop by Petland, an area filled with pet-themed tree ornaments, cushions and stockings.
Plus, there’s the Gourmet Food area, offering thousands of specialty products, including hot chocolate from Montreal’s Gourmet Village (available in 41 different colours and flavours); locally-made jellies, syrups, and sauces from Krause Berry Farms, The Preservatory, and Cranberries Naturally; as well as Potters’ own Peach and Kentucky Bourbon Sauce.
More more information and inspiration, follow Potters on Instagram.
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Employ to Empower is hosting the Vancouver Street Store 9.0 — a free, outdoor pop-up clothing store that provides a dignified shopping experience for DTES residents and community. With more than 600 guests anticipated for the annual Downtown Eastside event, they are calling for additional donations and volunteers at this time.
Employ to Empower’s annual DTES Street Store
Volunteer with the Vancouver Street Store
Held at Oppenheimer Park for the second straight year, the internationally recognized event, which is sponsored by BC Housing, will take place on Saturday, December 10, 2022, from 10:00am to 4:00pm at 400 Powell Street.
“Ahead of this year’s big day, the Street Store is expecting the largest turnout yet as the need for increased connection and basic resources continues,” said Christina Wong, Executive Director of Employ To Empower. “We hope that every guest that comes through the Street Store will be wrapped in warmth in their new jacket or items of clothing, and also be filled with warmth and love from the community.”
Over the last two years, the Street Store saw a significant increase in donations, collecting 853 bags of items. Heading into the 2022 event, the community has expressed a need for warm winter jackets, men’s and women’s clothing (specifically pants), men’s winter boots, backpacks, blankets, sleeping bags, winter accessories (hats, gloves, scarves), and toiletries in good condition. Summer clothes, children’s clothes, used undergarments, hotel-sized toiletries, books, and household items will not be accepted.
Donors are asked to drop off their new or gently used items on Friday, November 25th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm; and Saturdays, November 26th and December 3rd from 10:00am to 6:00pm at 41 East Hastings. There’s also a need for individual and corporate monetary donations to support Employ to Empower and its programs.
UPDATE: New donation drop-off date Thursday, December 8, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at 41 East Hastings — with drop-off in the back entrance.
Volunteer opportunities include Clothing Sorter on November 26th and December 3rd, or at the Street Store on December 10th; with multiple time shifts to select from, as listed when registering through this form. Other ways to get involved include becoming a Donation Champion. As well, the Street Store is asking for fund donations to help cover expenses for venue, event equipment, operation costs, and ETE programming.
Since 2014, the Street Store has made an impact in the community by working with more than 600 volunteers, sharing 72,770 donations, and spreading holiday cheer to more than 6,850 residents. In addition to the shopping experience where guests have the opportunity to choose 10 gently-used items, the Street Store also offers free food, drinks, and haircuts.
About Employ to Empower
Employ to Empower (ETE) is a registered charity, launched in 2018, that provides residents in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside with access to development and entrepreneurial resources, such as affordable microloans and business mentorship, to have long-term positive impact on their personal and economic well being. ETE also actively advocates for positive social change in the DTES community. ETE’s mission is to empower individuals who face at least one of the three following barriers: physical and/or mental health challenges, poor credit, or are currently accessing social services with entrepreneurial opportunities.
Canyon Lights transforms Capilano Suspension Bridge Park into an unforgettable holiday light experience November 19th to January 22nd.
Photo submitted
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park (3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver)
When: Saturday, November 19, 2022 – Sunday, January 22, 2023
11:00am to 9:00pm daily (closed December 25th)
Admission: Purchase online in advance. Visits are scheduled in 30-minute arrival increments. BC Annual Passholders are also required to reserve their time online prior to their visit. Book early to avoid missing out!
Walk across the world-famous bridge, lit end-to-end above an illuminated Capilano River. Journey into a magical glowing rainforest and gain a new perspective high above the forest floor on Treetops Adventure, twinkling from treetop to forest floor. Wind your way along Cliffwalk and its “Arc de Lumina” light tunnel.
Find the perfect gift in the Trading Post Gift Store, enjoy a decadent hot chocolate while enjoying festive tunes, and take part in the Snowy Owl Prowl scavenger hunt.
Photo submitted
Canyon Lights continues its support of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund with partial proceeds from admissions donated to fire and burn education in schools throughout British Columbia. To date, Canyon Lights has donated over $410,000 to this worthy program. Admissions also help Capilano continue to host the Twelve Nights of Christmas, offering passes to local charities.
Enter to Win
I have a family pack of tickets (admission for 2 adults/2 kids) to give away! Here’s how you can enter to win:
The lights at St Paul’s are being switched on, the Vancouver Christmas Market is open, the holiday event calendar is packed with fun and festive activities (including this big list of free attractions). Find all of these and more things to do in Vancouver this weekend listed below:
Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend November 18-20, 2022
The CP Holiday Train will once again set out across the continent to entertain hundreds of thousands of people, collecting food and raising funds for food banks while also raising awareness for food insecurity issues.
Photo submitted
CP Holiday Train
The CP Holiday Train program has two trains, one that travels exclusively in Canada and another with stops in both Canada and the United States.
The U.S. Holiday Train departs Montreal on November 22 and features performers Brittany Kennell and Don Amero performing in communities in Maine and eastern townships of Quebec. Lindsey Ell and JoJo Mason will perform for communities in New York, southern Ontario, and down through Chicago to Kansas City. Alan Doyle and Kelly Prescott will pick up the tour in Iowa and finish the train’s journey back to Canada with the final show in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, on December 18th.
The Canadian Holiday Train departs Montreal on November 27th and follows CP tracks west to Vancouver. Performing free concerts in support of food banks from Montreal to Calgary are performers Tenille Townes and Aysanabee, while first-time Holiday Train artists McKenzie Porter and Virginia to Vegas will finish out the tour departing out of Calgary and wrapping up in the greater Vancouver area on December 18th.
How the Events Work
When the train arrives it will pull to a safe stop in front of the crowd in attendance. The stage door lowers and the band opens with its first song. After that, a brief presentation takes place with local food bank officials and other dignitaries.
Once complete, the band resumes performing a mix of traditional and modern holiday-themed songs. The whole event lasts about 30 minutes, and once the band plays its farewell show, the boxcar door closes, and the train slips off into the night on its way to the next stop.
Fraser Valley & Metro Vancouver Stops
MacKenzie Porter and Virginia to Vegas will roll up to play Agassiz on December 17th at 5:30pm, Maple Ridge at 7:50pm, and Pitt Meadows at 8:55pm. On December 18th the CP Holiday Train will finish its journey in Canada by reaching Port Moody at 4:45pm, and Port Coquitlam at 6:15pm.
City
Location
Dec 17th
Agassiz
Across from Agra Centre on Pioneer Ave West of Hwy 9
5:30pm
Maple Ridge (Haney)
Across from Billy Miner pub 22355 River Rd
7:50pm
Pitt Meadows
Railway crossing corner of Harris Rd & Advent Rd
8:55pm
City
Location
Dec 18th
Port Moody
300 Ioco Road behind Rec Center
4:45pm
Port Coquitlam
KingsWay between Mary Hill & Wilson Ave
6:15pm
The spectacular event is free to attend, but you are encouraged to bring a cash or non-perishable food donation if you’re able. Local organizations will set up collection stations at each event, with all donations made staying with the local food bank to help people in need in the community. Tip: Because local food shelves buy food at a discount, cash donations can go further than food donations to help those in need.
Since the Holiday Train program launched in 1999, it’s raised more than $21 million and collected 5 million pounds of food for community food banks across North America. Follow the #CPHolidayTrain on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more information.
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