Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend August 19-21

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

One of the busiest weekends of summer! There’s a cat festival, a coffee festival, a festival by the sea – and it’s time for the PNE! Miss604 is proud to sponsor Salsa Cruises (August 20) and Summer at Burnaby Village Museum (all summer). Find all of these and more things to do in Vancouver this weekend listed below:

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend August 19-21, 2022

Friday, August 19, 2022
Sponsored by Miss604: Summer at Burnaby Village Museum
Fort Langley Night Markets
Fridays on Front in New Westminster
Historic Powell Street Walking Tours
McArthurGlen Summer Concert Series
TGIF South Granville
Coquitlam Summer Craft Mornings
POP! Summer Stroll at Darts Hill Garden Park
Little Women
Kaleidoscope Arts Festival
Shipyards Live in North Vancouver
sound_therapy.wav music fest 2022
Music in the Square with Blackthorn Blossoms
Indoor Roller Skating in Vancouver
Broadway Across Canada: Come From Away
Hidden Wonders Speakeasy Magic Experience
Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts
Art Downtown
Vancouver Queer Film Festival
TGIF South Granville
Chilliwack Corn Maze at Greendale Acres
Chilliwack Sunflower Festival
Bard on the Beach
Theatre Under the Stars

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Read for the Cure 2022 Vancouver

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

The 15th annual Read for the Cure, a fundraiser by the Cancer Research Society, presented in partnership with Penguin Random House Canada, has announced its fall lineup for events in Vancouver, Toronto, and online.

The fundraiser comprises a series of literary events with some of Canada’s bestselling authors, held in support of the Cancer Research Society’s Environment-Cancer Fund, which backs research dedicated to early detection, treatment, and prevention of the disease through the study of its environmental causes.

In 2021, the Cancer Research Society funded 80 new projects dedicated to cancer research, valued at $9.6 million—a record for the not-for-profit organization. These grants included projects investigating early detection for prostate cancer, innovations in treatment for ovarian and breast cancer, as well as biomarker and immunotherapy development for sarcomas and endocrine cancers.

Read for the Cure 2022 Vancouver

Read for the Cure 2022 Vancouver

The Vancouver event will take place Monday, October 24, 2022 from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at the Vancouver Club. Tickets are available online now for $135-$145.

The panel of authors includes 2021 Giller Prize-winner Omar El-Akkad (What Strange Paradise), Canadian artist Douglas Coupland (Binge), and singer-songwriter Jann Arden (If I Knew Then). The evening’s author panel will be moderated by CTV News Vancouver anchor Mi-Jung Lee.

Winner of the 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize and a finalist for this year’s Canada Reads, Omar El-Akkad’s What Strange Paradise has been praised as “extraordinary” by the New York Times and “visceral” by the Washington Post. This novel portrays the global refugee crisis through the eyes of a child in beautiful, unrelentingly dramatic prose.

Fans of Vancouver visual artist and designer Douglas Coupland will delight over his newest collection of short stories, his first release since 2013. This instant national bestseller includes 60 short stories featuring a plethora of everyday characters, from dad dancers to people in the grip of unconscionable urges, written with Coupland’s signature humour and profundity.

Multi-award winning Canadian singer and actress Jann Arden gets personal about her life, failure and aging in If I Knew Then, a memoir rich with hard-won truths, passion and pain. “Abundantly and humorously generous” (Toronto Star), Arden’s story is a liberating and astounding tour de force.

Local personality and CTV News Vancouver anchor Mi-Jung Lee will explore the powerful themes in each of these works and moderate for an intimate audience Q&A. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime conversation between three exceptional talents at Vancouver’s hottest social hub.

Proceeds from this event will support the Cancer Research Society’s Environment-Cancer Fund, which provides grants and seed money to various scientific research projects across Canada each year. A portion of the proceeds for the 2022 Vancouver event will also support the BC Cancer Foundation. Learn more and donate at the Cancer Research Society.

Since 2007, this inspiring annual event series has raised over $1.8 million for the Environment-Cancer Fund at the Cancer Research Society, which provides grants to researchers investigating the environmental causes of Cancer in Canadians and preventative measures.

Celebrate BC with White Spot Contest

Comments 124 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Seeing BC ingredients and the names of local farms you love on a menu at a chain restaurant is like randomly running into a dear friend while traveling. What a lovely surprise – you’re both so glad to be there together! But we all know that White Spot isn’t just any chain, they are BC’s restaurant so it’s absolutely no surprise that they would feature farmers, bakers, cheesemakers, and more on their Celebrate BC menu.

Celebrate BC White Spot

Celebrate BC with White Spot

“The variety, quality, and freshness of BC ingredients are at their peak this time of year,” said Executive Chef James Kennedy. “It made it such a joy for the Culinary team and I to create the food for this new menu.”

On the roster is the new BC Brie & Bacon BBQ Chicken Burger, made with fresh BC chicken breast and topped with brie from Golden Ears Cheesecrafters; while the Steelhead Florentine spotlights Ocean Wise steelhead caught in Lois Lake. The new BC Summer Salad features a cornucopia of locally grown produce, and back by popular demand, the famous fresh BC Blueberry Pie is made with blueberries sourced entirely through Silver Valley Farms in Maple Ridge, and grown throughout the Fraser Valley. And it’s not only the food — at White Spot, guests will find a bevy of locally-produced beverages, including a selection of exclusively featured 100% BC VQA wines as well as local craft beers and ice cream for their famous milkshakes.

More local ingredients on the menu:

  • 100% Fresh Canadian beef on White Spot burgers;
  • Fresh BC chicken breast for burgers, salads and pastas;
  • Locally baked artisan style buns made with real ingredients: eggs, butter, milk, locally milled wheat;
  • Naturally smoked Canadian bacon on burgers and Canadian back bacon at breakfast;
  • Coleslaw made with local cabbage;
  • Enough locally grown zucchini for zoo sticks to stretch longer than 27,000 football fields; 
  • BC dairy for hand-scooped milkshakes, milk, butter and more;
  • Canadian cheese including aged Cheddar;
  • Tomatoes ripened on the vine in BC ;
  • BC mushrooms and cucumbers;
  • 100% B.C. VQA Wine and local craft beer on the beverage menu;
  • Ocean Wise Steelhead sustainably raised and caught from the deep, cold, clean waters of Lois Lake;
  • Fresh BC Blueberries sourced through Silver Valley Farms in Maple Ridge, and grown throughout the Fraser Valley;
  • Golden Ears Cheesecrafters Brie, Maple Ridge;
  • Locally grown butter lettuce.

The Celebrate BC menu showcasing local ingredients at all White Spot Restaurant locations across British Columbia until September 4.

Enter to Win

I’m thrilled to be able to offer a $100 White Spot gift card to give away, here’s how you can enter to win:

Win a $100 White Spot Gift Card

I also just have to mention that outside of the restaurant setting, I run into more White Spot team members at charity events than any other gathering – their heart and soul lies in BC communities and they really mean it when they say they want to Celebrate BC!

Dan’s Legacy Chefs’ Charity Dinner 2022

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Dan’s Legacy has announced that their 9th annual Chefs’ Charity Dinner is once again happening live and in person! Guests can sample the delights of four gourmet chefs, each of whom will prepare a signature dish only using recovered food. Funds raised will go directly towards Dan’s Legacy’s trauma-informed, no-barrier counselling programs for youth at risk in Metro Vancouver.

Dans Legacy Chefs Charity Dinner

Dan’s Legacy Chefs’ Charity Dinner 2022

  • When: Saturday, November 5, 2022
    • 6:00pm Reception & Silent Auction, 7:00pm Dinner & Program
  • Where: Shaughnessy Restaurant at VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak Street, Vancouver)
  • Tickets: Available online now starting at $100

The menu, including reception-style appetizers and a plated dinner, is created from surplus food and prepared by local top Chefs who each design a course. It’s a menu of culinary masterpieces guaranteed to delight the senses.

Enjoy an evening out with friends, family and colleagues and demonstrate your commitment to giving a hand up to marginalized young people in our community.

About the Cause

“The only time you should be looking down on someone is when you’re helping them back up…” – Destiny Newton, Dan’s Legacy youth client.

Dan’s Legacy is looking for leaders in the community who are eager to take a stand against the stigma of addiction, understanding that trauma is the root cause of this health crisis. Trauma knows no boundaries. Business professionals, academics, tradespeople and health professionals – we all know someone who is hiding an addiction because of the fear of stigma.

Youth aging out of foster care are one of the highest risk groups for homelessness, lifelong mental health issues, and entrenched addiction. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened mental health issues for many in our communities with a particularly devastating impact on youth at risk.

Over the past two years, the Dan’s Legacy team of therapists identified a 50% increase in hospitalizations for their youth clients due to psychosis, overdose and suicide attempts.

Their therapists are front-line health care workers who continued to meet directly with the youth throughout the pandemic, ensuring they had wrap-around support such as food, shelter, clothing, emergency phones and counselling.

Dan's Legacy Land-Based Therapy for Indigenous Youth
Dan’s Legacy Land-Based Therapy for Indigenous Youth – Photo Submitted

No other organization in Metro Vancouver does what Dan’s Legacy does and they have an over 50% success rate in helping youth to stabilize, and begin working towards their education, employment and recovery goals.

In the past year, they have helped over 450 youth overcome their mental health and addiction challenges and lead productive and fulfilling lives.

Get your tickets now for this unique (and delicious) event and support the work of Dan’s Legacy in our community.

Miss604’s Rebecca Bollwitt is a member of the Dan’s Legacy Board of Directors

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend August 12-14

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Back-to-school ads are ramping up but there’s still so much summer fun to enjoy around Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. The sunflower festival has started, it’s almost time for the corn mazes, there’s live music, street festivals, tours, and more. Here’s the big list of things to do in Vancouver this weekend:

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend Sunflowers

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend August 12-14, 2022

Friday, August 12, 2022
Sponsored by Miss604: Summer at Burnaby Village Museum
Fort Langley Night Markets
VMF 2022 | Razzle Dazzle Dance Party
Chilliwack Sunflower Festival
Music in the Square Drum Circle with Steve Sacky
Fridays on Front in New Westminster
Guide My Way: A celebration of the music from Sedna
McArthurGlen Summer Concert Series
Coquitlam Summer Craft Mornings
Dance Dance Dance – FREE Latin Dance Classes
Rose & Thorn: Where Fashion Meets Fun
TGIF South Granville
Storytelling & Hula at Bloedel Conservatory 
Summer Pop-Up Concerts with Music on Main
Richmond Night Market
Ambleside Festival
Indoor Roller Skating in Vancouver
Shipyards Live in North Vancouver
Hidden Wonders Speakeasy Magic Experience
Art Downtown
Small File Media Festival
Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts
Vancouver Queer Film Festival
Cinematheque’s Film Noir 2022

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