Miss604 is the proud Blog Sponsor of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation through the Miss604 Health Check Series. The following has been contributed by their team.
Thalia Otamendi: Concussion Patient Puts Her Mind to Enhancing Care
“I just couldn’t get better. I tried to go to work, but I couldn’t concentrate. Everything was too bright, too noisy, and it was all very overwhelming. I didn’t know what was wrong with me — I was scared.”
Thalia Otamendi loved soccer. Ever since she moved to Canada from Mexico when she was 10 years old she was always on the field, playing, practicing and competing. But over the years the sport took its toll on her body, and shortly after completing her undergrad she suffered a serious concussion while playing.
Modern problems require modern solutions
At first, Thalia thought the symptoms would go away on their own. But they only grew worse. After a few weeks she went to see local care providers for help, who told her to stay indoors in dark rooms until the symptoms subsided. This went on for months.
“I was feeling so overwhelmed, anxious and depressed,” says Thalia. Her mental and physical health was steadily declining. She felt increasingly isolated and had no idea how to recover. That is until she met clinician-scientist Dr. William Panenka, a leading traumatic brain injury and concussion expert at VGH and UBC Hospital.
From patient to researcher
Thalia was so grateful for Dr. Panenka’s care that she has since gone on to acquire a Master’s in Kinesiology from UBC. Thalia is now a PhD student studying psychological effects in concussion patients. “I don’t want other people to live through what I had to live through,” says Thalia. “That’s why my research is focused on the psychological component of concussion treatment. It’s a piece we’re missing right now, and I want to change that.”
Concussion Facts, Signs and Symptoms
Did you know?
An estimated 25% of mild traumatic brain injury patients develop a mental health condition within three months of their injury. These mental health factors triple the risk of long-term disability for these patients.
Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability for Canadians under the age of 40.
Sports and recreational activities are important risk factors for concussion. Cycling, playground activities and hockey are the greatest contributors.
If you experience these symptoms, seek help from a doctor immediately:
neck pain
double vision
loss of consciousness
seizure or convulsion
regular vomiting
headaches that grow more severe
weak, tingling or burning feeling in arms and legs
Brain Breakthroughs aims to solve difficult challenges in brain health, with a goal of raising $35 million to expand knowledge and enhance care in traumatic brain injuries, concussion, stroke, Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, neuromuscular diseases, MS and more.
Follow the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation on Facebook for more info and updates.
The Skoden Indigenous Film Festival returns for a two-day online event March 26-27, featuring Indigenous filmmakers and creatives from across Canada and British Columbia.
Skoden Indigenous Film Festival
When: Program March 26 & March 27, 2021, films available to watch until April 5th Where:Online Tickets: Pay what you can, book online here (suggested donation $10 per program)
The festival was created in 2019 by Simon Fraser University film students Carr Sappier (Wolastoqew) and Grace Mathisen from SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts.
The annual film festival is maintained through a semester-long interdisciplinary class taught by Sappier and Kathleen Mullen, a filmmaker and film festival consultant. SFU students from all faculties are invited to participate in building this festival. Read more about the Skoden Indigenous Film Festival course in SFU News.
Skoden is an Indigenous slang term meaning ‘Let’s go then!’. According to Sappier: “Skoden represents a sense of happiness, inclusion and a space where all filmmakers can feel like they are part of something that holds them up in respect.” Mullen adds: “We are sharing experiences and knowledge through this course and for me this is what SKODEN means—Let’s Go Then! with humour, dialogue, and respect.”
More than 100 films were submitted to the festival, and this year’s features include an eclectic selection of filmmakers including comedian Jay Cardinal Villeneuve (Is That One of Your Jokes), rising-star Asia Youngman (This Ink Runs Deep), and hip-hop artist Diana Hellson (The Foundation: Indigenous Hip Hop in Canada).
The festival will open with a welcome ceremony led by Elder Syexwaliya and will also include a series of Q&A sessions. Festival-goers can access five film programs that include: Program 1: Healing the Nation; Program 2: Back to Grassroots; Program 3: Future Generation; Program 4: Potpourri, a program ranging from Indigenous life to music videos; and Program 5, the feature filmShadow of Dumont by Métis director Trevor Cameron.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by Imagine Van Gogh Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival‘s biggest night of fundraising – the Sakura Night Gala – has been transformed into Sakura at Home. This culinary event will see seven all-star chefs create exclusive take-out meals that capture the beauty of the cherry blossom, paired with a local entertainment lineup.
Sakura at Home
When: Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 6:00pm Where: Your house! Register:Online here for $79.80 – $161.62
The Chefs
Paul Moran of Wild Origins (Winner, Top Chef Canada, 2019)
Andrea Carlson of Burdock & Co. (Vancouver Magazine’s 2020 Chef of the Year)
Will Lew of Nootka Marine Adventures resorts on Vancouver Island, with Clement Chan (Represented Canada at the World Culinary Olympics)
Salmon n’ BannockCulinary Team – (Vancouver’s only Indigenous restaurant)
All guests will receive a Sakura at Home gift from sponsor McMillan LLP, and tickets purchased by March 25th will have a chance to win an “Akebono” Cocktail Kit from The Keefer. As each restaurant has a limited number of meals for sale, it is advised to order now while you have the choice of all six distinctively unique menus.
Each tax-deductible ticket will entitle the buyer to an exclusive cherry blossom-themed meal from the restaurant of their choice on April 25, with the exception of Wild Origins, which will deliver a Cook-Along with Chef Paul Moran meal kit for four.
“These flowers feed our spirit and fill our heart with hope and promise…feed your spirit and body with the variety of the seasonal selection of flavors and textures being showcased at Sakura at Home.” – Darnell Stager of Salmon n’ Bannock
The Entertainment
The virtual portion of Sakura at Home will feature: a performance by Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra music director and conductor Ken Hsieh on Vancouver House’s flying Fazioli piano; Bard on the Beach Artistic Director Christopher Gaze reading winning poems from the 2020 Haiku Invitational; and the world premiere of In Full Bloom, a short film by Patrick Weir of Peacemaker Filmworks. Following the film, Patrick will describe how he used drones to capture Vancouver coming into bloom this Spring, bringing the calming beauty of the cherry blossoms into everyone’s homes to make spring even more memorable.
Follow the festival on Facebook for more information this season.
They were a hit last year when events and festivals were cancelled and Metro Vancouverites had a hankering for mini donuts and more fair food offerings. This season, food truck festivals have returned with the lineup of drive-thru events growing every day:
Food Truck Festivals Serving Drive-Thru Eats This Season
These events are physically distanced, please remain in your vehicles and follow all posted COVID safety protocols.
Drive Thru Food Truck Festival Easter Where: Tradex Abbotsford, 1190 Cornell, Abbotsford When: Saturday, April 3 & Sunday, April 4, 2021 11:00am to 6:00pm Lineup of Vendors: TBA
Chilliwack Coliseum Drive-Thru Food Truck Festival Where: 45323 Hodgins Ave, Chilliwack When: Saturday, March 27 & Sunday, March 28, 2021 11:00am to 6:00pm Lineup of Vendors: (Saturday) Hugs Donuts, Tacofino, Reel Mac & Cheese, Juicy Green & Fusion Icy – Juicy Green Express Inc., WINGS Restaurants & Pubs, Melt Town Grilled Cheese, Steve-O’s Fried Chicken, Guerilla Q. (Sunday) Big Reds Poutine, Mama’s Fish & Chips – Food Truck, Tin Lizzy Concessions – Donuts, G’s Donairs, Lostacoshermanos, Lenny’s Lemons, Salt Spring Noodle Bar, Next Gen. Concessions Inc. – Street Dogs & Burgers.
Maple Ridge Albion Fairgrounds Where: 23588 105 Ave, Maple Ridge When: Saturday, April 10 & Sunday, April 11, 2021 11:00am to 6:00pm Lineup of Vendors: TBA
Cloverdale Rodeo Grounds Where: Cloverdale Rodeo & Exhibition Grounds – 6050 176 Street, Surrey When: Saturday, April 24 & Sunday, April 25, 2021 11:00am to 6:00pm Lineup: TBA
There are more to come this season and beyond, and the Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival site will have all the details. I’ll be updating this post throughout the season when more events are announced, including sites around Metro Vancouver.
