Last year, fifty women (myself included) came together to fundraise for a new affordable housing build south of the Fraser in honour of the 50th anniversary of Options Community Services. The Women of Optionscampaign began in February, and in November it reached its $1.5 million goal. The group’s efforts had such an impact that the organization has once again assembled a mix of senior executives, volunteers, celebrities, and leaders in their communities to raise funds for youth in the community with this year’s campaign: Women of Options Gamechangers!
Women of Options Gamechangers for Youth Services
Fifty local women are coming together and committing to raise $25,000 each for a youth discretionary fund at Options, to help create vital change and opportunity for youth-at risk.
As one of BC’s largest, and most respected non-profit community organizations, Options Community Services is seeing a variety of unique and critical needs amongst local youth in the South Fraser area.
Optionsis primarily funded by various levels of government yet are constrained in using funds to support these needs due to the number of youth who require unique support, and the variety of situations that cannot be met within a program or designated funding’s parameters.
Urgent youth needs that Options team members are seeing include paying for clothing or dental work so youth can attend a job interview with pride, covering daycare or tuition costs for a young mother to complete an educational program, getting endangered youth to a safe place, and addressing urgent issues faced by youth who have aged out of the child welfare system and lost their supports.
“We see youth needing our help to purchase clothing for a mother’s funeral or a young person who needs immediate re-location and support to escape the threat of a gang,” says Christine Mohr, CEO of Options Community Services. “Our government funding is vital but youth needs are increasing and require immediate action and financial resources. This new fund will help to support at-risk youth with what they need, when they need it.”
The Women of Options 2022: Gamechangers fund will remove barriers by providing critical funding to work with youth from a wide range of backgrounds, including newcomers, unemployed, street entrenched, pregnant and parenting, those affiliated with gangs, those seeking their high school diplomas, and others.
Surrey has the largest youth population in BC. Options Community Services supported approximately 3,500 youth in their last fiscal year, although this number does not include all of the youth as some fall under programs not included in this data collection.
In addition to these impressive women, and as Options strives to reach the $1.5 million goal, three Langley Tim Hortons restaurants will also be supporting the cause as part of the Tim Horton’s annual Smile Cookie campaign. Local corporate partners Fifth Avenue Marketing and Bullets an’ Beads will also be donating to the cause.
The 2022 Hot Chefs, Cool Jazz Gala brings together top culinary talent from the Vancouver and Kelowna areas for a night to remember in support of Junior Culinary Team Canada and Culinary Team BC.
Hot Chefs Cool Jazz at Fairmont Pacific Rim
When: Friday, April 22, 2022 at 7:15pm
Where: Fairmont Pacific Rim (1038 Canada Place, Vancouver)
19+. This is a cocktail style reception and limited tables and chairs will be available.
BC’s top chefs come together for a special fundraising event offering guests live chef cooking stations featuring each chefs’ dish designed exclusively for the event, paired with award winning Mission Hill wines, all accompanied with live jazz music from Jennifer Hayes and her band. The evening’s MC will be Dawn Chubai, TSC Canada Host, accomplished jazz vocalist and award-winning recording artist.
Featured chefs include:
Chef Damon Campbell – Fairmont Pacific Rim (VIP Access Only) Chef Rod Butters – RauDZ Creative Concepts Ltd. Chef Robert Clark – Chief Culinary Officer – Organic Ocean Seafood Inc. Chef Roger Ma – Executive Chef Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar Chef Scott Jaeger – 2007 Bocuse D’or Canada – Peartree Provisions Chef Dawn Doucette – Douce Diner Chef Patrick Gayler – Mission Hill Winery Chef Meeru Dhalwala – Vij’s Restaurant Chef Hamid Salimian – The Good Flour Co Chef Angus An – Chef / Owner Maenam Restaurant Chef Evan Elman – Vancouver Private Dining Malindi Taylor – Fanny Bay Oysters
All proceeds from the event will support Junior Culinary Team Canada and Culinary Team BC as they prepare to compete in Luxembourg in 2022 for the World Culinary Competition, followed by the Culinary World Olympics in 2024 – the largest, oldest, and most colourful, international exhibition of culinary arts with chefs from all over the world competing.
The Gala’s chef host, Chef Damon Campbell, was team captain for Culinary Team Canada in 2005 and 2006, leading them to gold medal victories at the World Culinary Olympics in Germany. In 2003 and 2004, he was also a silver medal winner as a member of Team British Columbia with numerous gold and silver wins across Canada.
Historically, cooks who become members of Junior Culinary Team Canada or Culinary Team BC often continue to compete on the world stage as members of Culinary Team Canada, as well as, representing Canada as Competitors at the coveted Bocuse D’or Competitions proving the opportunity to be a part of these teams is invaluable. The competitors then go on to lead incredible restaurants.
With support from the fundraising efforts of their Chef Mentors and Heroes, Junior Culinary Team Canada and Culinary Team BC will be able to concentrate on training and honing skills to further Canada’s Culinary standings on a world stage, as well as advancing the food scene for years to come.
Coast Mental Health Foundation (“CMHF”) is hosting its second annual 50/50, on now until Friday, May 27, 2022. The estimated jackpot, split between the winner and the organization, is $240,000!
Order your tickets online today Single Ticket for $10; 3-Ticket Pack for $25; 10-Ticket Pack for $50; 25-Ticket Pack for $100
With your purchase, you will help fund urgently needed support for people living with mental illness right here in BC, including affordable meals, peer support, Cognitive Remediation, art therapy, outreach, employment opportunities and much more.
As a non-profit organization, Coast Mental Health is BC’s largest provider of community-based services for people living with mental illness. They provide the critical link between hospital services and our communities. Each year, they provide essential services to nearly 6,000 people 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.
Cities and organizations all across the province are busy planning for BC Youth Week with free events organized by youth, for youth. Select a region below to view over a hundred events happening May 1-7, 2022.
Since its inception in 1995, BC Youth Week has grown to include over 30 municipalities and non-profit organizations across the province. Check out what’s happening in your community here and follow BC Youth Week on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with the tag #AreYouReady.
Science World and BC Hydro have announced a free day will be hosted this Saturday, April 23, 2022.
Science World – Image Supplied
Free Day at Science World 2022
When: 10:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday, April 23, 2022
Where: Science World (1455 Quebec St, Vancouver)
Tickets: Available online starting at 12:00pm today (April 19) and pre-booking is encouraged as it is expected to fill up.
Visitors will delight in the current feature exhibition, T. rex: The Ultimate Predator presented by RBC and White Spot Restaurants and other exhibition favourites throughout the globally adored dome.
“We have a rewarding, longstanding partnership with BC Hydro and we’re thrilled that they chose to support this day so that all are able to attend,” said Tracy Redies, President & CEO of Science World. “Their team understands and embraces the importance of barrier-free accessibility to STEAM learning. We look forward to welcoming past and new guests.”
On now at Science World: Encounter the prehistoric wonders of the late Cretaceous Period and come face-to-face with a 66-million-year-old marvel. In T. rex: The Ultimate Predator you can walk through the world millions of years ago where this gigantic creature roamed the earth with a hunter’s keen senses. Explore Birdly Virtual Reality, the BodyWorks Gallery, puzzles and illusions, the Tinkering Space, the Living Lab, and much more.
Current art exhibitions include: 30 Days of Ramadan, and Inside CERN which is part of Innovation Fest, on display in the Atrium from April 21–July 24.
Science World is a BC-based charitable organization that engages the people of British Columbia in STEAM literacy. Their mission is to ignite wonder and empower dreams through science and nature. Their vision is that within a generation, Canada will be a country of thriving, sustainable communities rooted in science, innovation and a deep connection to nature.
