Tourism Abbotsford’s Sun & Soil Concert Series returns for its second year, showcasing a diverse mix of genres and local musicians. Enjoy live music in beautiful bucolic settings on select Friday evenings throughout the summer.
Abbotsford Sun & Soil Concert Series. Photo by Robyn Bessenger
Abbotsford’s Sun & Soil Concert Series
Abbotsford’s Sun & Soil Concert Series unites farm-fresh food, diverse music, and beautiful country views. Tickets are available online now for $65/person, sold in packages for two or four people, and include local wine, beer, or cider, and charcuterie and picnic boxes with ingredients sourced from local farms. Concert attendees are invited to bring a picnic blanket but chairs will also be provided.
Friday, July 23, 2021 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm Location: Campbell’s Gold Honey Farm & Meadery, with orchard views Musical Artist: Nelson Padilla
Friday, August 6, 2021 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm Location: Eco Dairy with views of Mt. Baker Musical Artist: K.C. Roces
Friday, August 13, 2021 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm Location: Maan Farms with views of Mt. Baker Musical Artist: Chelsea Amber
Friday, August 20, 2021 from from 6:00pm to 9:00pm Location: Mt. Lehman Winery with views of the vineyard Musical Artist: Ryan McAllister
Friday, August 27, 2021 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm Location: Ripples Winery and New Wave Distilling, in the gardens Musical Artist: Kyler Pierce
Although gathering sizes for outdoor events have been greatly increased as of July 1st, attendance for each concert will be limited to under 70 people to maintain an intimate experience.
More events not to miss: August 6-8 the Abbotsford International Airshow returns and then there’s the Taste of Abby running September 17-25. Plans include launching with a food and entertainment night festival and ending with a long table dinner. Details will be announced throughout the summer. Follow Tourism Abbotsford on Facebook for more info and updates.
The #CHVCatchUp is a monthly series featuring the latest updates and news from Covenant House Vancouver. Miss604 is proud to be the Official Blog Partner of CHV to share and tell their stories.
Homelessness and LGBTQ2S+ Youth
“All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential” – Harvey Milk.
Covenant House Vancouver strives to be a safe and inclusive space for all youth
Covenant House Vancouver strives to ensure all young people can achieve their potential and provide a safe space for all to do so regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Covenant House takes a trauma-informed, resilience-focused approach to accompanying the youth in their care. CHV program staff participate in specialized training to ensure they have the necessary knowledge and awareness to create a welcoming space for LGBTQ2S+ youth.
Delia Giandeini on Unsplash
Did you know?
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, gender non-binary and two-spirited youth are overrepresented in the homeless community. Covenant House strongly believes all youth deserve unconditional love, absolute respect and to be supported relentlessly.
25-40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ2S+
Family rejection is the most common cause of LGBTQ2S+ youth homelessness
LGBTQ2S+ youth are much more likely to struggle with mental health concerns, including suicide
This summer, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation has given the green light to enjoying a drink with friends or family in select parks across the city, with the new Alcohol in Parks Pilot.
From July 12 to October 11, 2021, drinking alcohol will be permitted between the hours of 11:00am and 9:00pm, within designated sites at the following 22 Vancouver parks:
Collingwood Park
Memorial West Park
David Lam Park
New Brighton Park
Fraser River Park
Pandora Park
Granville Park
Queen Elizabeth Park
Harbour Green Park
Quilchena Park
John Hendry (Trout Lake) Park
Riverfront Park
Kitsilano Beach Park / Hadden Park
Robson Park
Langara Park
Rupert Park
Locarno Beach Park
Stanley Park
Maple Grove Park
Vanier Park
Memorial South Park
Volunteer Park
Until the pilot ends, alcohol can only be legally consumed in these parks, within the permitted sites and times, as indicated on on-site signage. Each site was selected based on the following set of criteria:
Equitable city-wide access
Proximity to public washrooms and waste disposal facilities
To eliminate overlap with essential park spaces
The Stanley Park location, for one, is conveniently located near the Stanley Park Brewery (which has a great take-out window with food and beer options).
The pilot also marks an opportunity for staff to test and monitor the impacts of permitting alcohol consumption in parks, seek feedback from users, and provide continued support to local businesses and communities, following lengthy COVID-19 restrictions. While the pilot is in effect, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation will work with Park Rangers, Park Operations teams, local police, and the regional health authority to ensure each site is safe, properly managed, and well-maintained.
Alcohol can also be consumed at select public plazas across the city including Cambie St and 17th Ave; 800 Robson St (Robson Square); Fraser St and 27th Ave; Granville St and 13th Ave; Granville St and 14th Ave; Maple St and 4th Ave.
The city urges all those who imbibe to do so responsibly, be respectful of other park users, and dispose of waste correctly.
The Arts Council of New Westminster is hosting Expressions of Reclamation, an Indigenous artists talks series on now until August 12th. Join Indigenous Artists as they share their art, their stories and celebrate their journey of reclamation through art.
Expressions of Reclamation
When: June 29 to August 12, 2021
Where: Queen’s Park, Centennial Lodge, New Westminster
Events will also be live-streamed on the Art’s Council’s Facebook page, and archived there for viewing anytime after that.
Tickets: Free. All in-person events take place in Queen’s Park with limited capacity. Registration is required for in-person events.
These free artist talks provide a safe and welcoming space for the community to learn from and be inspired by diverse Indigenous practices and creative expressions. A short Q&A session will follow each showcase presentation.
Artist Lineup
June 21st, Medicine Wheel making with S^yowah (Timothy Elijah) (Archived on Facebook)
June 29th, Coffee Story, Theatre with Cameron Peal (Archived on Facebook) Cameron Peal is a Vancouver-based artist hailing proudly from the Nisga’a Nation. He acts, writes, directs, paints and writes poetry. His one-man show, The Coffee Story, is a humorous reflection on family, the effects of colonialism, and coffee. Contains mild swearing.
July 24, 12:00pm – Lady’s Fancy Shawl dancing demonstration with Fawnda Bullshields RSVP on Eventbrite to attend Fawnda Bullshields is from the Blood reserve in Southern Alberta. She works for Squamish Nation as a social justice social worker and teaches powwow lessons and beading. Watch Fawnda teach her students the beautiful, athletic, Lady’s Fancy Shawl Dance, where graceful dancers wear colourful fringed shawls that sway with each movement.
July 29, 12:00pm – Ribbon Skirt Making with Elder Christy David RSVP on Eventbrite to attend Elder Christy David grew up in British Columbia and is a survivor of the Sixties Scoop. An esteemed keeper of knowledge and traditions, she will be sewing an orange ribbon skirt to honour the children and lives lost in Residential Schools. Come listen to the stories and meanings in the fabrics.
July 30, 6:30 pm – Stand-Up Comedy, Poetry and Storytelling with Mitchell Saddleback RSVP on Eventbrite to attend Mitchell Saddleback is a Vancouver-based actor, writer, comedian and storyteller from the Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, Alberta. He co-wrote and starred in The Bannocking, a horror web series featuring an all-Indigenous cast on CBC Gem, and has featured in films and theatre shows including Cold Pursuit, Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish, and Pawâkan Macbeth. Mitchell’s stand-up comedy and poetry night offers brand new poems with insights on pursuing the arts while Indigenous. Join us for a delightful night of wit, empathy, and reflection.
August 12, 12:00pm – Fabric Designs with Kaija Heitland (Online only) Kaija Heitland is a Vancouver-based tattooer, beadworker and fabric artist from the Cowichan Valley Métis Nation. Her designs showcase the unique patterns, arts, culture, and history of her people. Her company, Indigenous Nouveau, brings greater visibility for her people in British Columbia. Join Kaija online as she shares her design process and watch her incorporate Indigenous values into all aspects of her fabric production.
Follow the Arts Council of New Westminster on Facebook for more information and to watch the videos from this series.
Now in its fourth year, the Chilliwack Sunflower Festival is opening up and organizers are excited to offer an expanded experience for visitors starting at the end of July and running until Labour Day.
Chilliwack Sunflower Festival 2021
When: July 26 to September 6, 2021
July 26 – August 15: Thurs-Mon: 8am to 7pm; Tues & Wed 10am to 7pm
August 16 – September 6 (Labour Day): Thurs- Mon: 8am to 6pm; Tues & Wed: 10am to 6pm
Where: 41310 Yale Road (entrance off Royalwood Drive), Chilliwack
Tickets: Available for one-hour time slots and go on sale Friday, July 16. Prices vary; children 2 and under are admitted free. Purchase online.
The Chilliwack Sunflower Festival boasts more than three kilometres of pathways throughout the fields, bursting with 42 varieties of sunflowers planted in each of the three display gardens, plus more than 50 varieties of dahlias, eight varieties of gladiolas, and a large bed of wildflowers. The fields are planted in stages so that all of the flowers can be enjoyed throughout the season, just in different locations around the fields. There will always be between 5 and 8 acres of flowers in full bloom throughout the season.
In addition to the flowers themselves, capture lasting memories of the day at a variety of onsite photo opportunities, including: a windmill; three vintage bicycles; a 1950s Morris convertible; a horse carriage; seven swing sets; a three-wheeled Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and much more. Guests can also enjoy the many outdoor lawn games available to play.
This year also sees the return of “U-pick sunflowers” as well as a field-side store with fresh-cut and potted sunflowers, sunflower seeds and bulbs (tulips, daffodils and hyacinths) for planting, souvenirs, ice cream, snacks, cold drinks, fresh Chilliwack corn, and local garlic. A local food truck will be also onsite daily, and two on weekends.
In order to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests, there will be limited hourly capacity, as well as hand-sanitizing stations positioned throughout the premises, and staff will frequently sanitize high-touch areas. Keep an eye on Facebook for updates.
