Over the last year, we have found ourselves retreating to the comforts of home and taking solace in the books that we love, and new titles we can discover. The Vancouver Writers Fest asked Canadian authors and media personalities to recommend and donate a book that helps them find solace and inspiration.
2021 Book Auction: Reading in the Time of Covid is comprised of books donated by Festival authors and Vancouver media personalities. All donated books include a personal message for the winning bidder about how this book offers support and warmth as we all continue to navigate the impact of the global pandemic. All proceeds from this auction support the Vancouver Writers Fest’s programs.
Highlighted donations include a much-loved copy of Toni Morrison’s Beloved donated by Margaret Atwood, The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow from the collection of Giller Prize-winner David Bergen, There There by Tommy Orange donated by Waubgeshig Rice and A Visit to Don Octavio by Sybille Bedford, donated by Eleanor Wachtel along with a personal essay about her selection.
The Festival is also offering up some Granville Island mystery packages. Each bundle will include two books and two treats from the Granville Island Market. These packages have a value of over $80 and are available to purchase for $50.
Destination BC has launched the Share Your Love for BC Contest, encouraging British Columbia residents to re-ignite their pride of place, share their love for their province, and keep the magic of BC top of mind.
Share Your Love for BC Contest
Residents can write a brief story online saying what they love most about the province. Ten BC residents will be randomly drawn from the contest submissions to win $500 in gift cards or vouchers to spend at up to three local businesses in their own community.
Wild Pacific Trail Ucluelet
From the ability to access awe inspiring nature at our doorstep, to experiencing diverse cultures, our award-winning culinary scene, and the sense of calm that comes from the sound of a crashing coastal wave, there are countless reasons – big and small – why British Columbians feel grateful to call this province home.
Langley Staycation Inspiration
Winners will be selected by random draw at the end of the contest period and announced on social media. Throughout the contest, Destination BC will also share some of the submissions on its social media channels.
Enter online here by March 26, 2021, winners announced in April.
Since November 7, Destination BC has paused all marketing promoting travel in BC, to help support the Provincial Health Officer’s recommendation against all non-essential travel into, out of, and around the province, until further notice. During that time, efforts have shifted to encouraging BC residents to follow the current guidelines, stay in their own communities, and support local businesses.
Although it went fully virtual, it was an incredible Variety Show of Hearts Telethon 2021, raising $6,681,873 million for kids with special needs over the weekend!
Variety Show of Hearts Telethon 2021
Viewers tuned in to meet some of the kids Variety helps during the 55th Annual Variety Show of Hearts, which aired Saturday on Global BC. Last year’s Show of Hearts raised $5,515,238 to benefit children with special needs province-wide.
“This truly was the Show of Hearts with British Columbians once again opening their hearts to help make a difference in the lives of BC’s kids with special needs,” said Cally Wesson, Variety BC CEO. “And it’s because of their incredible generosity that we’ll be able to help even more kids. We’re just so extremely appreciative that we can now say ‘yes’ to every child needing our help and that no child will be turned away. Thank you BC.”
Global BC’s Chris Gailus, Sophie Lui, Kristi Gordon, Neetu Garcha, Paul Haysom & Kaitlyn Herbst returned as Telethon hosts along with 980 CKNW’s Jody Vance who was joined by Show of Hearts favourites Howard Blank, Alvin Law & Marco Pasqua and Variety Youth Ambassadors Esabella Strickland, Mihai Covaser & Janelle Milne. Making his Variety debut was Mo Amir, host of the popular podcast, This is VANCOLOUR.
Show Your Heart Contest
As the proud Social Media Sponsor of the Show of Hearts, Miss604 hosted a photo contest over the last few weeks, asking British Columbians to “show their heart” tagging a heart photo on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
These amazing volunteers, who usually help out in the Miss604 Social Lounge at telethon, continued their support virtually this year and also helped judge the photo contest:
In first place (winner of $100 gift card) is Chris Corson with a cheerful pup on the Seawall in Coal Harbour (left). The runners up (receiving $50 gift cards) are Shannon Gnocato with a snowy heart (top right) and Kristy with a natural heart-shape on a rock in Tofino (bottom right).
Congratulations to all and thank you for spreading the word about the Show of Hearts.
Donations can be made by calling toll-free at 310-KIDS as well as online or by texting “KIDS” to 45678 to make an automatic $20 contribution.
Variety – the Children’s Charity steps in where health care ends providing direct help to children with special needs in BC. For 55 years, Variety has ensured children have the support to reach their potential. Since 2010, Variety has distributed more than $33 million in funding to families and organizations in communities all across the province.
Miss604 is the proud Social Media Sponsor of the Show of Hearts
Downtown Vancouver just got much tastier with the opening of Hello Nori, a sushi-focused Japanese restaurant, at 1165 Robson Street. Hello Nori’s focus is on the experience of enjoying a hand roll: a combination of fresh seafood, meticulously selected seaweed, and signature warm rice, prepared to order in front of guests’ eyes at an inviting 24-seat U-shaped bar.
Hello Nori Opens on Robson Street
Hello Nori has taken every step to ensure its dining room is compliant with public health and safety protocols, including reduced occupancy, removable plexiglass dividers, and disposable menus for those who require them.
Hello Nori rolls: Truffle lobster, scallop, spicy salmon, shrimp
Wrapped around the likes of Hokkaido scallop, toro, yellowtail, and truffle lobster, there are 13 hand rolls in all, available à la carte or as part of set menus of four, five, and six rolls. Hello Nori offers a locally brewed sake (available on-tap), as well as premium matcha tea.
Vancouver-based Concrete Cashmere Designs has fashioned a dining room that perfectly complements Hello Nori’s food and drink offerings. Inspired by the Japanese notion of wabi-sabi (“appreciating the beauty of imperfection”) as well as Western modernism, the 1,500-square-foot space combines raw materials such as wood, metal and concrete with mountainscape scenery and a ceiling that evokes ocean waves — in short, an echo of Vancouver’s extraordinary fusion of urban architecture and rugged surroundings.
Hello Nori truffle lobster roll
Hello Nori is the brainchild of first-time restaurateur Jean-François Eap, whose foray into the hospitality industry comes after 15 successful years in retail and software. “The goal for me and my team is to deliver a new kind of Japanese dining experience that’s fast and casual without any compromise in food or environment,” he says. “To achieve this, I knew I needed talented, deeply experienced professionals around me.”
Eap’s hand-picked culinary team includes Chef Jay Pugong, who arrives at Hello Nori following his role as head chef at Minami Restaurant. “There is no cuisine I’m more passionate about than Japanese,” says Pugong. “Hello Nori gives me the opportunity to create and serve premium-quality sushi in a casual setting. Our food may be served quickly, but this isn’t fast food.”
There are two more locations already confirmed to open in Metro Vancouver later this year: One at Park Royal in West Vancouver and the other at Brentwood Town Centre in Burnaby.
Giveaway
To celebrate Hello Nori opening on Robson Street I have a $100 gift card to give away! Here’s how you can enter to win:
This weekend Miss604 is proud to be a sponsor of the Show of Hearts Telethon for Variety – the Children’s Charity of BC! Tune in to Global BC on Saturday from 1:00pm to 5:30pm to see stories from BC families, updates on Variety kids, and entertainment from David Foster, Pia Toscano, Loverboy, and much more! Find this and more things to do in Vancouver this weekend (online and beyond) below:
