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
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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)
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 – 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
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 August 12-14, 2022
Greendale Acres has announced that it will be opening the 24th Chilliwack Corn Maze this season on August 13th, in partnership with Science World’s T.Rex: The Ultimate Predator exhibition.
Chilliwack Corn Maze at Greendale Acres
The playful design of this year’s maze makes the connection between the prehistoric dinosaur and the chicken – who share characteristics in their bone structure, making chickens living members of the dinosaur group, Theropoda.
When: August 13 to September 30, 2022
Summer (until Labour day)
Tuesday to Saturday 10:00am to 9:00pm; Sunday & Labour Day 10:00am to 6:00pm
Fall (until the end of September)
Tuesday to Friday 2:00pm to 9:00pm; Saturday 10:00am to 9:00pm; Sunday 10:00am to 6:00pm
Check the website for hours beyond September and holiday hours
The maze is an interactive adventure where maze-goers must complete 12 T.rex themed questions curated by the Science World team in order to escape. Participants can choose the family-friendly short maze which takes approximately 15-20 minutes, or the longer more challenging maze which takes 30-40 minutes to complete.
Opening Day August 13th
The maze opens Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 10:00am with live music starting at 6:00pm followed by a concert by BC local country artist Tanner Olsen Band from 8:00pm to 10:00pm. Maze and attractions close at 7:00pm for the concert. NOTE: Special event tickets are required after 5:00pm if attending the opening day evening celebrations.
Greendale Acres, home of the Chilliwack Corn Maze, was established in 1999 in Chilliwack and was the first corn maze in all of Canada. They are a Fraser Valley experiential farm where community comes together and traditions are born. In addition to the corn maze, the farm features: lavender fields, seasonal flowers, pumpkin patch, jumping pillow, rope obstacle course, bubble bar, pedal kart track, hay bale maze, corn sandbox, farm animal displays, farm carousel, garden & picnic areas, seasonal farm food, misting stations, ball zone, sandbox/kids playground area, antique farm machinery, and more.
