Meet the Faces of the Fraser

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Fraser River Discovery Centre‘s Faces of the Fraser series is an informal opportunity for the community to engage with people on the river, and learn more about the role played by the mighty Fraser in our daily lives.

Speakers offer a presentation on their topic, followed by a casual Q&A session with the audience. Previous speakers have included local historian Archie Miller, Fraser River Pilot Mike Armstrong and representatives from the Floating Home Association of BC.

Faces of the Fraser - Lessa

Faces of the Fraser

Where: Online until further notice (Zoom)
When: Next event is Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 7:00pm
Tickets: Registration is by donation

Fernando Lessa combines his skills as a photographer with a passion for outdoor activities and the natural world to document the important relationships between humankind and nature. On April 7th, he will present a webinar on his documentary film “Urban Salmon“, a collaborative project created with the support of Take a Stand for Conservation and The Watershed Watch Salmon Society. The result of four years of photography and research, “Urban Salmon” highlights the existence and revival of wild pacific salmon in the Metro Vancouver Watershed. Fernando’s work encourages all of us to reconsider our place in the Fraser Watershed’s ecosystems, which may be far closer and more fragile than we realize.

Fraser River Discovery Centre

The Fraser River Discovery Centre (“FRDC”), at 788 Quayside Drive in New Westminster, is currently open Wednesdays to Saturdays, 10:00am to 4:00pm. Current exhibits include:

Journey Through the Working River – telling the economic story of the living, working Fraser River through the FRDC’s sustainability lens. It is a world-class educational exhibit that personalizes the Fraser for everyone.

My River My Home – The exhibit is a global exchange of children’s artwork, developed as part of a collaborative, scientific research project between Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the University of the Fraser Valley.

Experience The Fraser – A fun interactive mini riverine trail system that promotes the opportunities and experiences the Lower Fraser River corridor has to offer.

*click* Photos of the Fraser – From the Rocky Mountains to the Salish Sea, the 1375km stretch of the Fraser River is home to almost 3 million people, each with an unique view of the river. *click* photos of the fraser brings together a collection of these points of view in an annual display of photographs submitted by our visitors. This year’s theme is Life on the Fraser.

I Spy – This permanent interactive exhibit on the working river highlights economic activity along the Fraser River. A series of panels are combined with a lookout to observe the diverse range of vessels and industries that ply their trade up and down the Fraser.

Our Bones are Made of Salmon – This exhibit is designed around the memories and experiences of Musqueam Elder Larry Grant and Stó:lō Cultural Advisor Dr. Sonny McHalsie. Through their stories and replicas of Indigenous salmon fishing tools, visitors will learn about the different fishing and preservation techniques and why salmon fishing is vital to Aboriginal communities today.

Follow the FRDC on Facebook for more info about Faces of the Fraser and more programming.

Vancouver Brand Battle for Good: A Zero-Waste Challenge

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The Brand Battle for Good is a two-day virtual conference and competition, pitting twenty of Vancouver’s leading brands against one another to develop innovative and implementable solutions to the city’s waste problems. The competition is the first of its kind in Canada.

Brand Battle for Good 2021

Brand Battle for Good

When: April 28 and May 5, 2021
Register: Online by April 14th.

On Day One teams will have an educational and inspiring day of workshops aimed at arming teams with everything they need to know about why we should go zero waste. Featured speakers include:

  • Dr. Love-Ese Chile, PhD, principle consultant at Grey to Green Sustainable Solutions, has eight years of experience researching the creation and degradation of biodegradable plastics.
  • Adam Corneil, Unbuilders founder, is a builder and entrepreneur whose salvaging company practices deconstruction and remanufacturing instead of demolition and disposal.
  • Tesicca Truong, CityHive co-founder, is an activist at the vanguard of BC sustainability who is passionate about youth empowerment in civic processes.

They’ll regroup on Day Two to devise new solutions in hopes of winning the collateral support to launch their campaign. The diverse gathering of businesses participating in the event include Arc’teryx, LUSH, SOLE Footwear, ReCORK, Keela, Earth’s Own, Happy Planet Foods, Hootsuite, Deloitte and architectural firm HCMA.

“Local brands have stepped up to fight for the city where they live and work, and help Vancouver reach its goal of being a zero waste community by 2040,” said Karla Peckett, Creative Director at SOLE/ReCORK and founder of Brands for Better Foundation.

“Brands have power, they have influence, and audiences who are connected to them, not to mention, internal teams with existing synergy that can make great things happen.” She expects hosting this inaugural meeting of creative powerhouses will inspire fresh approaches to sustainability and inspirational campaigns to make them publicly viable.”

Each brand team will pitch their idea to a panel of judges and the top three ideas will move forward to the Brand Battle Award Night at the end of Day Two. The best proposal will then be crowd-voted by all participants and awarded an upcycled chopstick trophy, a digital marketing package and campaign support from local ad agency PS DDB to bring their winning concept to life.

Brands for Better Foundation is a volunteer-driven not-for-profit organization, based in Vancouver, that channels the power of brands to do good on a local level. The founding companies, eco-brands SOLE and ReCORK, digital marketing firms Digital Hot Sauce and Unbounce and franchiser O2E Brands, have also committed teams to the competition and volunteering in the event production.

More than a hundred people from local companies are working behind the scenes, and more than forty subject matter experts are speaking or presenting workshops, to power this event with 100% volunteer energy.

How to Get Involved

This Hack-a-thon is for anyone with an innovative mind: CEOs, business leaders, marketers, entrepreneurs and creative problem solvers. Each brand, company, agency or network has sent a team of 8-10 people.

Participate as a team, or apply as an individual
$1,500 per full team (seats 10)
$850 per 1/2 team (seats 5)
$200 per Individual Seat

Each table will also be injected with the recruitable talent of local masters (MBA and MDes) and Undergrad students, giving up and coming students the exposure to team-build alongside Vancouver’s best brands, and give the brands exposure to some of Vancouver’s top recruitable talent.

Support students to battle it out with top brand teams
$750 Support Package + $100/Student
$1,500 Support Package/10 Students
Individual Student Seats – $200/head

Teams, individuals, students and supporters can sign up here.

Although the winning idea will be expected to be both creative and original, and provide a compelling story for the launch and marketing takeover, it will primarily be chosen based on feasibility, impact and degree of behavioural change. Organizers assure that this is not an advertising contest. They are looking to spark real and measurable change in support of the City of Vancouver’s Zero Waste initiatives.

April Events in Metro Vancouver 2021

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April in Metro Vancouver means cherry blossoms, tulips, festive family fun, and well for 2021 more online entertainment and events! This month Miss604 is proud to sponsor two virtual trivia nights in support of BC & Alberta Guide Dogs, as well the #BuyBasin Festival which showcases BC businesses. If you have any events to add to the list, you can submit info anytime for a free listing, and check back often as this page is updated every day!

April Events in Metro Vancouver

April Events in Vancouver
Jump to: Thursday, April 1 to Sunday, April 4, 2021
Jump to: Monday, April 5 to Sunday, April 11, 2021
Jump to: Monday, April 12 to Sunday, April 18, 2021
Jump to: Monday, April 19 to Sunday, April 25, 2021
Jump to: Monday, April 26 to Friday, April 30, 2021

Month-Long Exhibitions

Thursday, April 1, 2021
The North Shore Art Crawl Online
Cooking Live with Chef Deniz – Chocolate
Easter Weekend Egg-citement in New Westminster
The Early Edition: Impact of the Pandemic on BC Musicians
Cultivating Connection SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
Trauma Clown – Vivek Shraya: Opening Reception
Friday, April 2, 2021

Drive-Thru Easter in the Fraser Valley
The North Shore Art Crawl Online
The Search for Earth 2.0 – Evening Family Programming
Easter Weekend Egg-citement in New Westminster
Easter Weekend at McArthurGlen
Trauma Clown – Vivek Shraya: Opening Reception
Virtual Easter Egg Hunt at Capilano Mall
Twilight Drive-In
Saturday, April 3, 2021

Brendan Fernandes in Conversation with Kiara Benn, Charles Gowin, Rachel Meyer
Drive Thru Food Truck Festival Easter
Vancouver Maritime Museum Storytime Saturdays
Drive-Thru Easter in the Fraser Valley
The North Shore Art Crawl Online
Easter Weekend Egg-citement in New Westminster
Easter Weekend at McArthurGlen
Mushroom and Art Walk – Renfrew Ravine Park
Virtual Easter Egg Hunt at Capilano Mall
Riley Park Farmers Market
Twilight Drive-In
Sunday, April 4, 2021

Drive Thru Food Truck Festival Easter
Drive-Thru Easter in the Fraser Valley
The North Shore Art Crawl Online
Easter Weekend Egg-citement in New Westminster
Easter Weekend at McArthurGlen
Virtual Easter Egg Hunt at Capilano Mall
Hastings Park Farmers Market
Twilight Drive-In

Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

Virtual Trivia Spring Series for BC & Alberta Guide Dogs

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

It’s the return of the BC & Alberta Guide Dogs Virtual Trivia Night series! Their spring series includes two themed games, in which you and your family and friends (distanced and from home of course) can participate in support of a wonderful cause. You’ll also have the chance to win some great prizes.

Virtual Trivia Spring Series for BC & Alberta Guide Dogs

Virtual Trivia Spring Series

  • When: At 6:00pm Pacific (tune in from wherever you are in Canada or the USA)
    • Friday, April 9, 2021: The theme is… 90s! Test your knowledge of music, TV, sports, pop culture, Canadiana and fashion from the iconic era
    • Friday, April 16, 2021: The theme is… Name That! Keep your eye on the animated GIFs that pop up to correctly Name That movie, TV show, album, dog breed, cartoon, or diva.
  • Register: $20 per game or purchase a combo pack for $30 that includes both games.
    • You will need to purchase a separate ticket for each person joining the game. Each player will need access to their own computer or mobile phone.

Tuning into the virtual trivia game is simple. The live game guide and game link(s) will be sent to your email on registration, so you’ll be able to just click and play. No app download is necessary!

You Could Win One of These Prizes

  • Grand Prize: Name a Puppy from an upcoming litter
    Includes a Puppy Scholarship (receive photos and ‘pup’dates from your sponsored pup)
  • 2nd Prize: Keurig K-Mini Bundle (K-Mini Coffee Maker, Travel Mug, K-Cup pods)
  • 3rd Prize: $100 Ultimate Dining eGift Card
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs

Register today for fun, for prizes, and perhaps for bragging rights, all for a cause! Follow BC & Alberta Guide Dogs on Facebook for all the latest news.

About BC & Alberta Guide Dogs

BC & Alberta Guide Dogs is a registered charity that breeds, raises and professionally trains Guide Dogs for individuals who are blind or visually-impaired, Autism Service Dogs for children ages 3-10 with autism and their families, and PTSD Service Dogs for Veterans and First Responders living with an Operational Stress Injury. It takes two years and upwards of $35,000 to produce one certified dog, provided free of charge to the recipient.

Miss604 is the proud Media Sponsor of this series

The Big 50/50 Raffle for Four BC Charities

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt
Disclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by The Big 50/50 Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.

The Big 50/50 jackpot is over $215,000 and it’s growing! Purchase your tickets today and help get the pot up to a million, all in support of four BC charities and of course, the winner takes home half.

The Big 50/50 Participants

The Big 50/50 Raffle

Purchase online here by April 15, 2021
Tickets: 4 for $20; 15 for $50; 75 for $100
Ticket Sales End:  Thursday, April 15 at 6:00pm PDT
Draw Date:  Friday, April 16 at 12:00pm PDT

Charities today are facing unprecedented fundraising obstacles due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Big 50/50 Raffle represents the unification of four important and diverse organizations joining forces to raise funds so they can continue to provide the community support BC residents count on. Here’s who you will be supporting with your ticket purchase:

The Big 50/50 Participants

Cerebral Palsy Association of BC
In March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced CPABC to stop running the in-person recreational and support programs. In order to continue to serve their members with respect to the social distancing guidelines, they transitioned the Adapted Yoga, Dance Without Limits, and Support Group programs to virtual delivery through Zoom. After transitioning to online delivery, they realized the potential to add new recreational and support programs through Zoom. Your support means CPABC can continue to offer an array of virtual support, from therapies and meditation.

Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation
This past year has required the FVHCF to find new and innovative ways to support health care in eastern Fraser Valley. The Big 50/50 Lottery is their unique and new way to raise much-needed funds for important programs and services that they provide day in and day out. They are so thrilled to have partnered with these other charities as they too see the need for innovative growth due to the pandemic and the difficulty in reaching out through annual galas, live events, and donor and partner events.

Variety – the Children’s Charity of BC
With proceeds from The Big 50/50, Variety BC will be able to bring more health care support that’s not covered by private or public health care to countless BC’s kids with special needs and their families. This means kids will get access to health care support like mental wellness counselling, speech therapy, custom orthotics, mobility equipment and more. Essential services and resources that make everyday life easier for these kids and their families.

Zajac Ranch for Children
In the summer months, Zajac Ranch for Children provides camps for children and young adults with chronic, life-threatening and/or debilitating conditions. These experiences give participants the opportunity to explore the outdoors while developing greater social and environmental awareness, increased self-confidence and positive growth in attitudes towards physical activity. Since 2004 over 5,600 children with long term medical conditions and disabilities have been to Zajac Ranch, with over $20 million invested in our fully inclusive facilities.

The Big 50/50 Raffle fundraising initiative is designed to help these important causes continue to provide a more equitable quality of life for all BC residents. Get your tickets today!