Bridal Veil Mountain Resort Proposed for Chilliwack

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

A new major all-season mountain resort — Bridal Veil Mountain Resort — with two sightseeing gondolas and approximately 11,500 acres of mountain recreation terrain has been proposed for Chilliwack through an Expression of Interest filed recently with the Mountain Resorts Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development.

Looking out over the Fraser Valley from Chipmunk Ridge in the proposed Bridal Veil Mountain Resort.

Bridal Veil Mountain Resort Proposed for Chilliwack

From this morning’s press release:

In addition to providing year-round recreation opportunities for Fraser Valley residents, British Columbians and destination tourists, the resort would strengthen BC’s already strong international reputation in the mountain resort market, elevate the region as a tourist destination, and become a major new, year-round economic and tourism driver for the Province.

Currently called Bridal Veil Mountain Resort (“BVMR”), the project is being led by BC residents Norm Gaukel and Robert Wilson, with the support of Whistler-based Brent Harley and Associates (“BHA”), one of the world’s most experienced and respected mountain resort planning and design firms. If approved, the resort would be located in the Upper Fraser Valley, on the highlands immediately south of the Fraser River, extending over Area D and Area E of the Fraser Valley Regional District and the City of Chilliwack.

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Punjabi Market Public Art Street Banner Project

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Vancouver’s Punjabi Market is hosting a new visual art project and collaboration featuring colourful street banners that line the area. Curated by the Indian Summer Festival, in partnership with the Punjabi Market Regenerative Collective, banners feature artwork from Debra Sparrow and Jag Nagra, artist and Collective member.

The project looked at the idea of place and placemaking in the context of the Punjabi Market being located on unceded, ancestral Musqueam territory and marking 51 years of existence as an important hub for the South Asian community.

Street Banners. Photo by Jag Nagra.
Street Banners. Photo by Jag Nagra.

Punjabi Market Public Art Street Banner Project

The Indian Summer Festival asked the two accomplished artists to respond to the Punjabi Market’s call for ideas to celebrate cultural traditions in the community. The resulting street banners are installed on Main Street between 48th and 52nd streets and will adorn the neighbourhood from April 12, 2021, until 2023. The Musqueam Nation’s banners are installed on the first and last poles on the street as an ‘embrace’ of this project and the Punjabi Market.

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Jarr is a New Package-Free Low-Waste Grocery Delivery Service

Comments 76 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Jarr offers package-free and low-waste groceries, personal care and household supplies, delivered to your door in returnable containers. Jarr (with two r’s for Reduce and Reuse) was founded in July 2020 by Emily Sproule, and operates in North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and Bowen Island. Their mission is to simplify zero waste living—together.

Jarr Sustainable Delivery

Jarr Grocery Delivery Service

Jarr’s products are locally sourced, organic and vegetarian. They use standard glass mason jars made for canning. Because of the intrinsic value they hold, people are less likely to throw them out, or send them into recycling streams, which can also be problematic. Jarr delivery drivers use MODO cars to keep their carbon footprint down and have just expanded to bike delivery as well.

Jarr Delivery

How it Works

  • Place your order online
  • Reusable, deposit based containers are filled with high quality, package-free pantry staples by the team at Jarr.
  • The items are then delivered to your door (delivery is free on orders of $40 or more)
  • When you place your next order, leave out the reusable containers on delivery day
  • The containers are picked up, counted and sanitized to be used again and again. You then gets your deposit back (ranging from $1-$2 per jar) and can apply that deposit to their next order

Since launching in July 2020 Jarr has filled 5,000 reusable jars, saving 5,000 pieces of single use packaging from ending up in the landfill. Jarr has seen a 25% increase in sales month-over-month since launching in July 2020.
85 pounds of plastic packaging saved from supplier Westpoint Naturals items alone (15% of Jarr Revenue).

Products

  • Pantry staples: pasta, rolled oats, popcorn, nuts, baking staples, baking mixes, lentils and beans, spices, tea & coffee, quinoa, dried fruit
  • Fresh & frozen groceries: bread, eggs, milk products, organic fruit and vegetables, burger mix, jam, milk alternatives Personal care: shampoo and conditioner bars, soaps, shower melts, cleansing powder, face oil, liquid body deodorant, solid deodorant, hand sanitizer
  • Household supplies: jars, funnels, beeswax wraps, laundry strips, bottle cleaners, all purpose cleaner, laundry soap, dish soap, toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, dish brush, lunch bag, aluminum bottle, mesh tea infuser.

Currently available for delivery in Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burnaby, New West and Bowen Island.

Enter to Win

I have a Jarr prize pack to give away that includes $150 of groceries AND a $100 gift card to shop again! Here’s how you can enter to win:

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, April 16, 2021. Winner must be within the delivery area. UPDATE: The winner is Liz K!

BC Youth Week 2021

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

It’s the return of BC Youth Week, with events and activities planned for youth, by youth, all across the province May 1-7. This is an internationally celebrated event that aims to recognize the positive contributions youth make in our communities, and to celebrate the valuable work youth do all year round.

BC Youth Week

BC Youth Week 2021

I had the pleasure of speaking to youth leaders last week and got a preview of what some of them are planning around Metro Vancouver. From yoga and trivia, to a Mario Kart challenge, art talent show, community cleanups, and mental health workshops, here are just a few of the events each community group is organizing and hosting:

Abbotsford

Celebrate Creativity
Activity:
3rd Annual Cake Decorating Challenge
Where: ARC Youth Centre
When: Thursday, May 6, 2021 from 2:30 to 4:00pm

Celebrate Resilience
Activity:
Youth Mental Health Awareness Day – Juggling
Where: ARC Youth Centre
When: Friday, May 7, 2021 from 2:30 to 4:00pm

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Chilliwack Tulips Open for Spring 2021

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The Chilliwack Tulip Festival, which was cancelled last year at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, is returning for one month starting today with Chilliwack Spring Blooms followed by the full Chilliwack Tulips attraction later in the month.

Chilliwack Tulips
2019 Chilliwack Tulip Festival

Chilliwack Tulips Open for Spring 2021

When: April 11 to May 2, 2021
Where:
41310 Yale Rd, Chilliwack
Tickets:
April 11 to April 15 $10 general admission (Chilliwack Spring Blooms), April 16 to May 2, $20 (Chilliwack Tulips). Purchase online in advance.

In terms of blooming times, the “Chilliwack Spring Blooms” (featuring full bloom Hyacinths and Double Daffodils, along with a 4-acre field of budding Tulips) will take place April 11 to 15. “Chilliwack Tulips” (the remaining acres of Tulips) will be in bloom from April 16 until at least May 2.

Due to the current provincial travel advisory (avoiding non-essential travel outside of your region), they are only encouraging only residents of the Fraser Valley to visit the fields at this time. Additional COVID protocols include:

  • The fields’ capacity will be limited to 25%
  • Tickets will be sold online only, in one-hour blocks
  • Masks are mandatory in all areas of the grounds at all times; however, they may be removed briefly for photos so long as social distancing can be maintained
  • Hand-sanitizing stations will be available in multiple locations
  • Staff will be sanitizing high-touch areas throughout the day
  • Directional pathways will be 3 to 5 metres wide

Guests can roam among more than 20 acres of 25-plus tulip varieties, and over 16 types of double daffodils, and almost a dozen types of hyacinths. There will be more than 6.5 million bulbs in all. There are numerous photo-op props throughout the grounds, including 7 sets of swings, and several raised platforms. The Farm Shop will be open daily, offering fresh cut and potted tulips, dahlia tubers, sunflower seeds for the garden, tulip-themed souvenirs, along with individually wrapped frozen treats and bottled refreshments.

Launched in 2006, Chilliwack Tulips was the first attraction of its kind in the Fraser Valley — and it’s still the largest in BC, with millions of tulips each year. It returns this year with health and safety protocols in place to celebrate 15 years of bright, beautiful blooms.