Nominations are now open for Coast Mental Health’s 24th Courage To Come Back Awards, which recognize those who have not only overcome tremendous illness or adversity, but whose own challenges have inspired them to selflessly give back to others.
Nominations Open for the Courage To Come Back Awards
If you need some ideas about what to say or how to say it, check out the 2021 recipient stories.
Nomination Deadline: Friday, January 7th, 2022
Categories Include: Addiction, Medical, Mental Health, Physical Rehabilitation, and Youth.
The awards will honour five recipients and raise funds for critical community mental health services and programming. Their moving stories will be celebrated on May 5th 2022 in support of Coast Mental Health Foundation.
Each award recipient shares their own courageous story of triumph over adversity, making it clear that it is not the challenge itself but the way one responds to it that defines success.
Since 1999, over 2,500 British Columbians have been honoured by their friends and family through a nomination, 134 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.
Coast Mental Health is the largest provider of community-based services for people living with mental illness in British Columbia. We are an established leader in our field, known for high quality, innovative programs and research. As a critical link between hospital services and our communities, Coast Mental Health provides housing, support, and employment programs and services for individuals affected by mental illness making lasting recovery possible. Each year, we provide essential services to over 6,000 clients living with mental illness so they can find their meaningful place in our communities – a place to live, a place to connect, and a place to work. Coast Mental Health Foundation raises funds exclusively for Coast Mental Health.
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the 2022 Courage To Come Back Awards
This season you can visit Santa at Mt Seymour in Enquist Lodge. Stroll through a winter wonderland and light tunnel to experience the magic of the North Pole on the North Shore.
Visit Santa at Mt Seymour This Season. Photo submitted.
Visit Santa at Mt Seymour This Season
When: Friday to Sunday weekly until December 19 then daily December 21-24, 2021
Kids will be able to visit Santa Claus in his traditional nomadic yurt tent, specially decorated for the season, while adults can enjoy a special menu of Christmas treats, desserts, and decadent hot drinks from Harold’s Café (open 12:00pm to 6:00pm) to warm up the insides no matter the weather.
Enquist Lodge will host a magical Christmas store selling tree decorations, cabin decor, Mt Seymour merchandise, and an array of Christmas gifts to help you find unique presents for everyone who has made this year’s “nice” list. Digital photos will be emailed, and a printed photo set is also included along with a redeemable tobogganing ticket to make the most of your visit to the mountain. Christmas at Enquist Lodge includes free access to the Mt Seymour Shuttle Bus when it is in operation, and free parking. Full details and safety protocol info can be found online and you can follow Mt Seymour on Facebook for the latest updates.
Harold’s café will be offering a takeout menu of warm seasonal delights headed by a selection of holiday hot chocolates, Liège Belgian Waffles and Beignets. Snow tubing and tobogganing will be available when the Mt Seymour season officially opens and you can check out the snowshoe network and access updates here.
Follow Miss604Holidays this season for the latest arts and culture activities, attraction and event news »
It’s a new month with a new lineup of festive events and activities for all ages around the Metro Vancouver region. This weekend Miss604 is proud to be a sponsor of Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum and the Family Services of the North Shore’s Christmas Bureau Toy Drive at the Northshore Auto Mall on Sunday. Find these events and more things to do in Vancouver this weekend listed below:
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by Kal Tire Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
As a driver, I think back to my childhood and road trips with my family and the absolute trust and comfort I had in my parents driving our family van. How I would drift off counting highway lines as mountains, forests or coastlines sailed on by until we reached our destination. It’s the comfort and trust I hope to instil for all of my passengers, anytime John gets into the car to do an IKEA run with me or I head out on a getaway with my friends. Thanks to Kal Tire, I know of a few simple steps I can take to ensure a smooth and safe ride for all:
Safety Tips from Kal Tire
Inspect your tires regularly. They are literally your vehicle’s point of contact with the road so they play a crucial part in your safety. Do a tire pressure check or even a visual inspection of a tread.
All Season tires are not All Weather tires. In many provinces (BC included) you are required to have winter tires for major highways from October to April. Make sure you have the right tires on your vehicle.
All season tires are designed for warm, dry and mild wet conditions in temperatures above +7C. Winter tires are needed for traction in cold temperatures, once it starts to dip below +7C, as well as snow, ice and slush. All weather tires are winter designated, bearing the mountain snowflake symbol, but can also be driven year-round without wearing prematurely in the summer — eliminating the need for tire changeovers or storage.
Something I learned last summer from Mike Butcher, regional director for urban retail stores for Kal Tire, is to always make sure your spare tire is ready to go at any time. Make sure it’s there (that’s the more important step), then check that it’s inflated and can be used if needed.
Another important tip right now: During wet weather, slow down. Avoid driving through big puddles and flooding roads as you don’t know how deep the water might be. If you’re going to fast you could also hydroplane. Hydroplaning happens when a sheet of water comes between your tires and the pavement, causing your vehicle to lose traction and sometimes even spin out of control.
Check DriveBC for the latest road conditions and events before you head out – no matter what time of year but especially right now in BC.
Transport Canada warns drivers that even if tires “look fine, they could be underinflated by as much as 20 per cent.” And it turns out a lot of Canadians could be experiencing that safety risk: In a study referenced by Transport Canada, “50 per cent of vehicles on the road in Canada have at least one tire that is either over or under-inflated by more than 10 per cent. In fact, 10 per cent of all vehicles surveyed had at least one tire under-inflated by 20 per cent.”
The best course of action is to monitor tire pressure throughout the year – not just ahead of the next road trip or when your monitoring system blinks. Kal Tire recommends checking at the outset of every trip, but it’s also good to get in the habit of checking once a month or even every time you fill up with gas.
This season I was able to get a head start on my holiday shopping when I visited Port Alberni to profile women-led small businesses. I was so inspired by each leader’s story, and their selection of amazing products – from coffee and tea, to home decor, to the jewelry, beauty, and fashion items.
You can read all about these enterprising women in my ZenSeekers story and if you’re looking for a gift, here are my five picks featuring one selection from each spot I visited:
Holiday Shopping in Port Alberni
Where:Wildflower Bakeshop Cafe (5047 Argyle St, Port Alberni) What to Get: Start your day of shopping off right with an Americano, brewed with Drumroaster Coffee beans from Cobble Hill, and a brioche donut. While you’re fuelling up, shop their wall of local products, preserves, and books.
Wildflower Cafe Port Alberni
Where:Flandangles and Gibson’s Fine Linens (3036 3rd Ave, Port Alberni). What to Get: I bought my mom a new teapot and I was eyeing the Bed Scrunchie – a unique tool that helps keep your sheets in place. There were so many goodies (from pillows to bakeware) I could have spent all day in those adjoining shops. No need to shop the big box stores when these local shops have everything you could need!
Flandangles & GIbson’s Port Alberni
Where: The Funk Trunk (4920 Cherry Creek rd, Port Alberni) What to Get: I’ve followed Smash + Tess on Instagram for a while now and I’ve never seen their rompers in store. That’s my top pick at the Funk Trunk (they’re always on trend) and they also now carry decor items and accessories including the super popular Tofino Towel.
The Funk Trunk Port Alberni
Where:Gayle’s Fashions (5262 Argyle St, Port Alberni) What to Get: Graphic sweatshirts, I am all about comfy items with a bit of a unique twist with artwork. Shackets and coatigans are also the hot items this season, and Gayle’s got the goods! You can also shop online.
Where:Finishing Touches (4558 Elizabeth St, Port Alberni) What to Get: I bought some adorable minimalist earrings made by Glee Jewelry in Victoria. I mean I could have also stayed awhile and booked some (much needed) brow shaping too. There are so many beauty and comfort items and I love that Louise also features her daughter’s glass jewelry in the shop.
Finishing Touches Port Alberni
When You Go
From the lower mainland, take BC Ferries to Nanaimo and it’s about a 1h drive from there to Port Alberni, or 2h 40m from Victoria.
While you’re in the Alberni Valley, pop by the McLean Mill National Historic Site. They have a beautiful path through the forest, a cafe and the upcoming Holiday Light Up.
