As noted last month, today is World Diabetes Day. In order to bring awareness and support of this cause to people around our very own region, events and activities will be taking place throughout the day.
Yesterday, Surrey mayor Dianne Watts unveiled a World Diabetes Day flag, that is now waving above 152nd at Flag Chev-Olds (it’s where the world’s largest freestanding flag pole ended up after Expo 86).
From the Surrey Leader: The prevalence of diabetes has reached epidemic levels in Canada, with over 2.4 million people living with the disease. That number is expected to double over the next two decades.
• One in three people with diabetes have diabetes and don’t know it.
• One-third of the children born in North America in the year 2000 will have diabetes in their lifetime.
• Diabetes and its complications cost the Canadian health care system an estimated $13.2 billion every year in physician care, medication, long-term disability and early death.
• The toll on people’s lives is devastating, with deaths of more than 40,000 Canadians each year.
• Only one in five people with diabetes survives heart disease. If you have diabetes, you have more than double the likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke.
There is hope: Early diagnosis and/or lifestyle management can considerably reduce risk.
I had the chance to speak with someone at the Canadian Diabetes Association when I attended a Vancouver Board of Trade talk and I think that it’s fantastic that they are getting a lot of support and coverage for this global event and cause (especially with Team Diabetes runs).
On November 14th communities across Canada are encouraged to host events and “join the Hoopla“. You can view a Google map of events here that include:
– In Victoria: “I am creating a World Diabetes Day display at my school, Sprott-Shaw Community College. I am encouraging my fellow students to wear blue, and those who do will be given a prize by the school.”
– In Victoria: “WDD Blue Lighting of Johnson Street Bridge (Johnson Street and Pandora Ave. at Wharf St.), and Hoopla Victoria, BC 4:30-5:30pm Friday November 14 info 250 661-6880.”
– In Vancouver: “Canada Place proudly supports World Diabetes Day on November 14. Watch the sails shine blue to raise awareness of diabetes.”
– In Vancouver: “Granville Island Hotel Blue-La Hoop challenge with the BC Pediatric Diabetes workshop.”
– In Vancouver: “Community and corporate challenge at the Vancouver Art Gallery, 11:00am-1:00pm – Show your Hoopla spirit!”
This month I won’t be organizing a large-scale food drive, and I may not even have time to provide a live blog of the event. That’s because this month’s Third Tuesday speaker is, well, me.
I’ve been asked countless times about blogging and how I’ve been able to grow Miss604.com while turning this knowledge and know-how into a company as well. On Tuesday I’ll share some thoughts about creating an online presence and building your audience.
The event will take place this coming Tuesday (Nov 18) at the Granville Room at 7:00pm. I tend to talk really fast when I’m nervous so I’ll try to slow things down and at least provide some notes on my blog afterwards.
The following was contributed by Jennifer who attended Cornucopia on behalf of Miss604.com
Wind and heavy rain weren’t enough to put a damper on this year’s Cornucopia food and wine fest. From wine tastings and food seminars to amazing parties there was much to take in over this past weekend in Whistler.
November is one of the slowest times for the resort and we were surprised at how few people were actually around in the village. This of course means exceptional deals at local hotels who are trying to fill rooms before the busy ski season. We always book through Whistler Accommodation up to as little as a few hours before we arrive in order to get the ‘last minute’ bargains. You don’t actually know until you’ve booked (credit card and all) where you will be staying but are told room size and rating. Both times we’ve done this we’ve ended up at a 5 star hotel, steps from the village at a seriously discounted rate.
Friday after checking in we headed over to the Telus Conference Center (which is conveniently located right in the village) to pick up our media passes and received a lovely bag filled with goodies from some of the festival sponsors.
That evening we walked back to the conference center to take part in CRUSH. The opening Gala, wine tasting event. I was thoroughly impressed with how friendly the staff and volunteers all were and felt very welcomed. Not only were there dozens of wineries represented but many tasty treats, everything from the delicious Rogers Chocolates and Tim Tams to Terra Breads, Natural Pastures (cheeses) and Red Leaf premium water. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
After my weekly spot on Talk1410am’s Afternoon Buzz I arrived home to find my review copy of the Vancouver Book of Everything sitting in my mailbox. It’s taken me a few hours to flip through the thorough guide to our city and I have to say, it’s pretty good.
The book combines tourist elements ie. where to get cheap eats, with facts that even seasoned Vancouverites may not know. It gives a pretty basic “Vancouver 101” rundown and has statistics and demographics peppered throughout various chapters such as: Urban Geography, Weather, People, Culture, Economy, Then and Now, Politics, Crime and Punishment.
Things I didn’t quite “get”
- The chapter entitled Slang is reminiscent of Douglas Coupland’s City of Glass, which is fine although I’m not sure Vander Zalm‘s defunct “Fantasy Garden World” counts as slang any everyday Vancouverite would utter. It’s also not-so-lovely to see “Slurrey” in there as a derogatory term for Surrey alongside “Surrey Girl”.
- Under “Urban Geography” I was pretty much unaware of the “Great White Way”. The area in question is, as the book states, “What the locals call Granville Street.” I’m pretty sure I’ve never uttered those words in relation to Vancouver, let alone Granville Street (downtown’s entertainment district, not South Granville or South Vancouver). However I grew up in Slurrey so maybe I just hadn’t heard of that before.
- Also under “Urban Geography” it says that PoCo is “Port Coquitlam, one of three cities in Greater Vancouver that includes Coquitlam and Port Moody.” As PoCo is actually its own city (same with Port Moody and Coquitlam) I think they meant to mention something here about the “TriCities” instead.
Things I loved
- Throughout the book they have “Top 5” lists compiled by local leaders in their fields. Hal Wake contributed a list of Top 5 Influential BC Writers and I’m more than pleased to see Pauline Johnson on the list (I won’t tell you where, I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise).
- “On April 24, 1872 when Gassy climbed to the roof of Deighton House and hoisted the first Canadian flag to fly in Burrard Inlet.” I didn’t know that, but Chuck Davis did.
- Jen Sookfong Lee’s Top 5 Best Things About Living in Vancouver including “history” is awesome because well, I am known to love a little bit of Vancouver history myself.
- Everything else is top notch info, from Gassy Jack to the Malahat.
I was very pleased to see input from Chuck Davis, whom I look up to the most when it comes to Vancouver history – well he comes in second place, right after my father anyway.
The book is comprehensive and the fact they they dedicated an entire chapter to the weather shows that they know what Vancouverites have on their mind every day. You might fight it, but it’s true; I write one post about an umbrella or a ray of sunshine and the comments go through the roof.
I encourage you to pick up your copy (or a copy of visitors/out-of-towners) for $14.95 at Chapters (as Raul noted), at other fine book stores, and online through Amazon
. It’s a small book, very handy, and might just fit perfectly in a stocking.
This is also a series so you can also pick up other volumes to learn “everything” about Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI, Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver Island.
Thanks to my all-knowing husband and his Twitter stream, I discovered a short while ago that Vancouver crowd-favourite ex-Canucks GM, Brian Burke will be leaving the Anaheim Ducks.
There is a press conference today at 12:00/12:30pm Pacific where the Ducks will make the announcement regarding Executive Vice President and General Manager, Brian Burke. [CBC]. There is also much speculation about where he will end up and the rumour mill is looking at Toronto so far.
Brian Burke is also a co-owner of the Chilliwack Bruins, and brought the Stanley Cup to Cottonwood Mall when the Ducks were on top of the NHL. He is also married to Vancouver radio and TV personality, Jennifer Mathers.
It will be interesting to see where he ends up especially since the Canucks take on the Leafs this Saturday at GM Place.
Update: The press conference is live on the Ducks website. Brian Burke was not fired, but he declined the contract that was offered him. “What Brian Burke has done for this franchise is remarkable,” Michael Schulman, CEO. Burke will be staying on as a special consultant while Bob Murray slips into the GM role.
