TransLink and Shaw Communications Inc. are launching free WiFi for customers on six RapidBuses, on three SkyTrains, at Edmonds Station, and at Carvolth Exchange. This is the beginning of a system-wide rollout that will provide free WiFi for TransLink customers on all buses, SeaBuses, SkyTrains, transit stations, and major transit hubs. TransLink expects the rollout will complete in 2026. 

TransLink Rolls Out Free WiFi on Transit

• Free Shaw WiFi is already available on board SeaBuses and in SeaBus terminals for customers as part of a previous rollout from TransLink and Shaw.

Bringing WiFi to the transit system is part of their ongoing efforts to elevate the customer experience while we continue to welcome customers back to transit.

“We know that free WiFi is something our customers want, and I’m so excited to start delivering this important feature to elevate the customer experience,” says TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn. “Free WiFi means that our customers can use their transit time for leisure, work, or better connecting with family and friends without spending their money on data fees.”

This rollout will first prioritize activating WiFi on RapidBuses, SkyTrains, and 60-foot articulated buses to provide WiFi on the vehicles serving the most customers. TransLink and Shaw will then continue to install WiFi on vehicles until the whole fleet is equipped. 

“We are proud to partner with TransLink so its customers can stay connected when they are on buses, trains or in transit stations across the Lower Mainland,” said Katherine Emberly, President, Business, Shaw Communications. “Today’s announcement represents another milestone in our collective commitment to providing commuters with fast, seamless WiFi connectivity that they can enjoy for free across TransLink’s system.”

Posters and signage will be on display on vehicles and at transit hubs with WiFi to make customers aware of its availability and to provide clear instructions on how to connect to WiFi during their transit journey. To find out how to use WiFi and to see progress updates on the system’s WiFi installation over time, visit the TransLink WiFi info page.

Food Stash has opened its Pay-What-You-Feel Rescued Food Market, which will be available every Friday from 3:30pm to 6:00pm at 340 W 2nd Ave in Vancouver. The market will function as a ‘pay what you feel’ grocery store, an idea inspired by another food rescue organization in Ontario, Kindness Cafe.

Food Stash Pay-What-You-Can Rescued Food Market

• Food Waste is a huge issue in Canada with 58% of our food produced being lost or wasted while 15% of our population reported suffering from food insecurity. 
• In keeping with Food Stash’s passion for zero waste, guests are encouraged to bring their own clean bags to take away groceries, but free reusable tote bags will be available on site.

The phrase ‘pay what you feel’ rather than ‘pay what you can,’ eliminates the element of shame associated with not being able to afford the rising costs of food while also creating a greater sense of belonging. Those who shop at the market can choose whether or not to donate money to help keep the market going.

Along with campaigns that celebrate ‘rescued food’ as nutritious, delicious and good for everyone (and the planet), the market will serve as an educational opportunity for visitors to gain a sense of just how much food we waste in Canada.

The market will also complement the new community fridge that will sit in front of the building. The fridge was in collaboration with Vancouver Community Fridge Project, and is stocked with safe, healthy food by Food Stash Foundation and the general community in the area, for anyone to take as they please 24/7. By having more on-site food relief options in addition to their delivery programs, Food Stash is fulfilling their goal to expand their impact without increasing their reliance on fossil fuels.

About Food Stash

Food Stash Foundation is a registered charity that aims to reduce the environmental impact of food waste and address food insecurity within our community. The organization picks up fresh, healthy food from grocers, wholesalers and farms that would otherwise go to waste. Of the 70,000 lbs of food that is rescued per month, 85% is redistributed to charities while 15% is brought back to the Food Stash warehouse to sort into boxes that are delivered to 100 Vancouver households experiencing food insecurity.

Dress for Success Vancouver will host their 9th annual Success Luncheon on Wednesday, November 3rd at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, in partnership with Boughton Law. The theme of the Luncheon is ‘Uplift.’ After a successful virtual event last year, the 2021 event will be a hybrid in-person and virtual event, offering an at-home experience as well as welcoming guests at the Parq.

The Success Luncheon

• When: Wednesday November 3, 2021 from 11:00am to 1:30pm
• Where: JW Marriott Parq Vancouver (39 Smithe St, Vancouver)
• Tickets: Individual tickets available for $200 (virtual or in person); Tables of 10 available for $2,000

This annual Luncheon celebrates the Dress for Success Vancouver community of sponsors, supporters, ambassadors and champions. The event will feature Eileen Park Robertson, Dress for Success Vancouver Client Ambassador Vivian Liu, host Angela Sterritt and Dress for Success Vancouver Executive Director and Chair of the Dress for Success Canada Foundation, Amy Robichaud. Vivian will be awarded the Inspiration Award, acknowledging her journey and achievements with the support of Dress for Success Vancouver programs.

This year’s featured guest is Eileen Park Robertson, the founder of Anecdotia, a production agency focused exclusively on racial, social, and climate justice storytelling. As the daughter of Korean immigrants who overcame poverty, domestic violence, and racialized trauma, she is a proud ambassador and advocate for racial justice. She will share her experience standing in solidarity with marginalized communities, fighting for, educating, and calling for systemic change in culture, media, and government.

We will also hear from host Angela Sterritt, an award-winning CBC journalist from the Gitxsan Nation, whose column ‘Reconcile This‘ tackles the tensions between Indigenous people and institutions in BC. And, Inspiration Award Winner, Vivian Liu, will share her story of overcoming challenges to get to Canada and how Dress for Success Vancouver inspired her journey towards becoming a licensed social worker.

“The Success Luncheon is an exciting opportunity to bring together corporate and individual champions and feature the work of our staff and volunteers, while celebrating the women we have empowered into financial independence,” says Amy Robichaud, Dress for Success Vancouver Executive Director. “After the setbacks and strife that we and our clients have persevered through over the last 18 months, the ‘Uplift’ theme feels perfect. We are coming together, virtually and in-person, to make possible our continued support of resilient women who lift us up and allow us to lift others. On November 3, we celebrate our community.”

For the first time ever, the event will feature a Boutique Market shopping experience featuring jewelry, luxury fashion, home goods and gifts. In addition to the featured guest and award presentation, guests will be invited to try their luck with the wall of wine, take an updated headshot, and purchase raffle tickets.

Since March 2020, throughout the pandemic, Dress for Success Vancouver has served 1,758 women. The organization has changed the lives of thousands and contributed over $1 billion to the economic wellbeing of our city and province.

The Community Arts Council of Vancouver (“CAC”) presents the 5th annual Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival (“VOAF”) from October 15 to 17, 2021 at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre in Yaletown. To extend the event, an online festival will be available from October 27 to December 1, 2021.

Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival 2021

• Free admission, free workshops. A large portion of net sales goes directly to the artists

VOAF is Canada’s first and only Outsider Arts Festival offering visual and performing artists facing social exclusion and other barriers opportunities for art exhibition and sales; performance and participation; and connection and learning. The artists may be self-taught or trained, but they are all devoted to their creative practices, and come from a point of view that is outside the mainstream art world trends.

“We’re excited about showcasing the works by over 50+ outsider artists and performers at this point in our cultural landscape. With the ongoing pandemic, we’ve all felt a bit isolated and separated but this fall, as many arts and culture events are re-starting. This is the best time to come together safely and share creativity and expression through arts and culture with our local community” says Kristin Cheung, Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival Producer and Executive Director of the Community Arts Council of Vancouver which organizes the festival. 

Eligible artists self-identify as outsiders and have strong creative practices, with diverse aesthetics. Percentage of the art sales go directly to artists. All artists, performers, and workshop leaders are paid professional CARFAC fees.   

VOAF includes exhibiting visual and performing artists as well as organizational partners Alternative Creations Studio and John Howard Society and free public workshops.

The family-friendly festival is free to the public and the full event schedule and workshop pre-registration is available online.

Note: VOAF will be adhering to the Provincial Health Orders, as an indoor public event with 50+ or more and patrons, artists, volunteers and staff will be required to show proof of vaccination. 

Online Festival

Visual Artists: Alan Poon, Alex Lavrov, Althea Adams, Andrew Woods, Angel Strehlen, BeAndra Jacqueline, Beth Wilks, Cassie Yu, Chuck Heilman, Charlie Sandeman, Japhy Ryder, Jacqueline Primeau, Jason Young, Justin Erickson, Leef Evans, LeiGh Press, Linda Haftner, Miaad Eshraghi, Mohamed Foda, Olga Evseeva, Pax North, Rojina Farrokhnejad (RJ), Rose Poon, Sandra Yuen, Shamsah Mohamed, Stevie Broome, Tadafumi Tamura & Saori Hoshi, A.J. Stewart (Arwen Joy Stewart), Zac Cocciolo, Riser World

Performers: Anjalica Solomon, Bero Saker, Cheryl Hutchinson, Dalannah Gail Bowen, Elysse Cloma, Franz the Poet, In Fuse, Kids of the Frozen Coconut Collective, Jim Sands, JoeChow, Kiranjit Shoker, Krystal Garib, Madd Jazz Live, Michelle Heyoka, Robin & Wren, Sajia Sultana Kabir, Tomoyo Yamada & Xinyue Liu, Tze Liew

About the CACV

The Community Arts Council of Vancouver was the first arts council in North America and is an independent non-profit organization, unaffiliated with any government department. Their vision is of a socially-engaged, inclusive, and vibrant city alive with community arts. Community arts is made by, with, for, and because of people sharing a sense of community.  They currently advance their vision in Vancouver through community arts programs that address Indigenous and non-Indigenous relationships, social exclusion and stigma, sustainability in the arts sector, and our relationship to the environment.  

Embrace all that fall has to offer and take some time to explore Coquitlam in October. Get outside on a rainy day trail run in Mundy Park, explore our many parks in search of fall colours or watch salmon return to local streams. Stay inside and cheer on the Coquitlam Express, listen to live music, catch a performance or search out local comfort foods at one of our many restaurants. 

There will be candy, pumpkin pie, hearty cuisine and new art exhibitions. Here are 10 fun events and activities to get outdoors, spark creativity, reunite with friends and get those pulses racing. 

10 Fun Things to Do in Coquitlam This October

Bring Back the Noise

Calling all hockey fans! The Coquitlam Express are hosting three home games this month. Expect extra safety measures, including required proof of vaccination, mandatory face masks and 50% room capacity. They take on the Chilliwack Chiefs October 15, Powell River Kings October 27 and the Langley Rivermen October 31 at Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex. Get your tickets. Locals tip – head to nearby Austin Heights for a pre- or post-game meal at one of the many restaurants in the neighbourhood.  

Sing Your Heart Out

Have you checked out My Pub yet? Formerly known as the Frog and the Nightgown, My Pub on Falcon Drive near City Centre has a new menu, live bands, happy hour, plus Karaoke every Friday from 9:00pm to 1:00am. Sing your favourite tunes or just enjoy the show. Check out their website or Facebook page for details. 

Listen to Live Jazz and Blues

2021 marks the 25^th Anniversary of the Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam. Blue Moon Marquee, a swingin’ blues band born of the wild rose foothills of Alberta will take to the stage October 16. These performers carry the energy and sound of a full band with the swinging energy of jazz tinged blues.