This weekend you can take part in a virtual games night, for a great cause! Make-A-Wish® Canada and Honda Canada Foundation have partnered for the first-ever Make-A-Wish Play for Wishes.
Make-A-Wish Play for Wishes
When: Friday, March 5 to Saturday, March 7, 2021
How to Play: Register online
Honda Canada Foundation is matching up to $25,000 of funds raised, doubling the impact for #PlayForWishes! Featuring wish kid Xander and television sportscaster Kate Beirness as ambassadors, Play for Wishes is a virtual games night event to help raise funds that will grant life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses.
Registered participants can enjoy the many games provided, like bingo, trivia, or they can play their favourite board games, video games or team challenges. Participants get to choose how and when to have fun with friends and family, in the safety of their homes, all while making a difference in the lives of wish children who need the hope of a wish during a difficult time.
“Over the past ten years, Honda Canada Foundation has raised close to $1.4 million to support our mission,” says Sheila Rees, Make-A-Wish Canada’s Vice President of Development. “The national virtual Play for Wishes is just another incredible initiative of how Honda Canada Foundation is committed to ensuring that life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses continue, especially during these extraordinary times.”
In 2019, the organization granted over 1,600 life changing wishes. But as we all know, 2020 was different and as a result of COVID-19, more than 4,000 wishes were delayed. While Make-A-Wish Canada’s ability to grant wishes that involve travel and gatherings has been impacted, the life-changing work continues. Make-A-Wish Canada remains focused on their mission and continues to grant memorable wishes while keeping wish families safe.
For a child fighting a critical illness, every day of waiting for a wish is one too many. By participating in Play for Wishes, you can help give a kid a piece of their childhood back.
Since 1983, Make-A-Wish Canada has granted over 35,000 wishes across the country, over 1,000 last year alone.
In celebration of International Women’s Day this coming March 8th, 2021, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport has teamed up with local Musqueam artist Debra Sparrow.
Debra Sparrow Mask Giveaway at McArthurGlen for International Women’s Day
Where: McArthurGlen (1000-7899 Templeton Station Rd, Richmond)
McArthurGlen will be gifting a one-of-a-kind limited edition mask, designed by Debra Sparrow, to shoppers at the centre while quantities last. Visit Guest Services at the main entrance to get yours.
This is the latest activity in the centre’s wider initiative to support the local community during this unprecedented time, following last summer’s Made in Vancouver market – which featured female-run artisan businesses Sisters Sage, Hooray Truffles and Seven Eye Designs – and the centre’s ongoing partnership with Chali-Rosso’s female-run gallery.
About the Mask’s Artwork
Debra Sparrow’s inspiration for the pattern on the face mask was its representation of the Musqueam peoples who have thrived on this land since the beginning of time.
The patterns reflect the textiles used for wearing, for gifting, and most importantly, ceremony. The swirl designers were traditionally carved into mountain goat horn bracelets and jewelry adorning regalia.
Sparrow is also well known for using traditional Indigenous designs in a contemporary form, notably in her design of the logo for the Canadian Men’s Hockey Team for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
McArthurGlen Vancouver is home to over 80 of the most sought-after designer brands, ranging from Burberry, Tory Burch and Michael Kors to Adidas, Nike and Calvin Klein. This vibrant outdoor shopping destination offers fashion-loving customers year-round savings up to 70% less.
Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the centre and face masks or face coverings are mandatory.
CelticFest Vancouver, the City’s annual celebration of all things Celtic Culture, celebrates its 16th annual festival with a special virtual edition. Enjoy a range of entertaining and educational events, classes, and concerts for all ages.
CelticFest Vancouver 2021
When: March 11 to March 20, 2021
Where: Online
Tickets: Free!
As Western Canada’s largest annual Celtic festival, year after year the event has delivered a rich cultural celebration of the Celtic nations’ kinship and community, and this year’s virtual festival will be no different.
The festival will showcase a range of events including an online family day with art, music, storytelling and Irish language, a virtual game show, baking and cocktail classes, a live concert and online traditional session as well as a Puc and Kick Fada competition between local Gaelic sporting clubs.
Sarah Elliott Gannon, founder of Loved & Kneaded bakery in North Vancouver will be hosting an online baking class where she’ll reveal the secret behind the infamous Irish Soda Bread. Michael Viens, lead singer of Blackthorn Celtic band, will perform several times throughout the Festival.
Hearts Beat: Indigenous and Irish Drumming is a collaboration between UBC and the Carnegie Community Centre. It’s a celebration of the shared traditions of Indigenous and Irish drumming, dancing and storytelling. The session will feature Indigenous drummer Sam McKay and Bodhran player Blake Williams as they share songs and exchange stories of the drums.
In addition to the online programming, there will be limited seating live music events at Donnellan’s Irish Bar and Shamrock Bar & Grill.
“We’re excited to bring the CelticFest back for another year. Last year was disappointing for everyone when we were cancelled days before due to COVID-19, but we’ve dusted ourselves off and will bring the festival back to our audience despite the ongoing pandemic,” shares Harry Cussen, Chairman of the CelticFest Vancouver Board.
“It looks a bit different this year, but the virtual festival has a great line up of local Celtic talent including, storytellers, bakers and musicians. The additional benefit of going virtual is that it allows us to reach a much wider audience across British Columbia and beyond, and we’re thrilled that this year’s festival will be inclusive of so many more people”.
Join CelticFest Vancouver for a wide range of all-ages entertainment including Vancouver’s top trad musicians in a St Patrick’s Day concert. The festival promises to be 10 days of fun, laughter and all-round entertainment, free of charge and from the comfort of your home.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC revealed the club’s new 2021 Hoop jersey this morning, carrying on the iconic design that first emerged during the ‘Caps 1979 North American Soccer League (NASL) Soccer Bowl championship season.
Whitecaps FC Reveal New 2021 Hoop Jersey
Hoop jerseys were gifted to frontline staff from the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and Whole Way House Society who have worked tirelessly to serve those in need throughout this challenging period.
“Tradition is very important,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC chief executive officer and sporting director. “Our community is the heart of our club, and they have identified strongly with the Hoop throughout our history as the longest running professional soccer club in Canada and the United States. We are all looking forward to new memories in this edition when we start our season next month.”
The 2021 Hoop jersey features a blue hoop cut and sewn on to the front of the jersey. Additional details include hoops around the sleeves, “The Village of Vancouver” on the back of the neck, jock tag with the Village logo, and a round neck as opposed to the collar from the previous Hoop kit.
Jerseys will also have two-colour cresting, inspired by the blue names and red numbers from the early 80s Hoop jerseys.
Fans can purchase the jersey now at the Official Store in Gastown, or arrange curbside pick-up.
Online orders are also available.
Whitecaps FC kicked off their 2021 Training Camp, presented by Enerex, on Monday. Major League Soccer’s 26th season begins the weekend of April 17, 2021.
Related: Whitecaps It Takes a Village Artwork in Support of the Food Bank, New Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2020 Wave Jersey.
The 16th Annual Vancouver International Women in Film Festival (“VIWFF”) will screen 32 films from 16 countries, including 14 Canadian films—with 10 from local BC filmmakers, and 8 Vancouver digital premieres.
Produced by Women in Film and Television Vancouver (“WIFTV’) and themed “Resilience. Challenge. Change.”, this year’s virtual VIWFF showcases an international lineup of short- and feature-length films, from narrative and documentary to experimental and animation.
Vancouver International Women In Film Festival 2021
- When: March 4 -14, 2021
- Where: All film programs are on demand on festival partner platform, VIFF Connect, through the festival dates March 4-14, 2021 inclusive.
- Tickets: Individual $5-$10; Festival Passes $27-$40. Purchase via VIFF online here.
VIWFF 2021 is proud to showcase a majority of women filmmakers and creatives, including the stories and voices of Canadian and international Black, Indigenous and Women of Colour, non-binary, and trans women, in an official selection of 6 feature films and 26 shorts. Each film program includes a Virtual Artist Talk with the filmmakers.
The features slate includes three Canadian films, with two from BC: Brother, I Cry from Indigenous director Jessie Anthony and award-winning The Curse of Willow Song from established horror genre director Karen Lam, as well as Passages from Quebec-based director Florence Pelletier; and two Vancouver premieres of international films—Holy Rights (India) from director Farha Khatun, and the Kyrgyzstan-filmed, award-winning drama Ala Kachuu—Take And Run (Switzerland) from director Maria Brendle.
The shorts programs include films from 8 local BC filmmakers including Camille Hollett-French, Josephine Anderson, Andy Hodgson, Tara-Lee Novak, Inder Nirwan, Maud Pugliese, Sepideh Yadegar, and Hannah Smith. Six shorts will have their Vancouver premiere at VIWFF 2021, including The Bath (Tunisia/France); The Death of Winter (Canada); Doll (Iran); Ivo (Norway); and Synthetic Love (France).
Special Events
VIWFF 2021 is also proud to present a slate of select live streamed events, for free:
March 8, 2021: International Women’s Day Panel #ChoosetoChallenge
With government and industry organizations, this year with representatives from the Black Screen Office, Canada Media Fund, CBC, Creative BC, Hire BIPOC, the National Film Board, Telefilm Canada
March 9, 2021: From Our Dark Side Keynote + Finalists
A keynote from Diana Williams, Founder, Kinetic Energy Entertainment, followed by a panel with the five Finalist creative teams of this year’s From Our Dark Side genre development incubator. Moderated by Lindsay Peters, From Our Dark Side program director.
March 10, 2021: Screenplay Competition Finalists
A conversation with the ten finalists of this year’s VIWFF Screenplay Competition. Moderated by Joan Macbeth, Screenplay Competition program coordinator.
March 12-13, 2021: Tricksters and Writers
Actor table reads of scripts/script excerpts from WIFTV’s Tricksters and Writers film writing program for Indigenous women. Facilitated by Renae Morriseau.
March 13, 2021: Digital Marketing with Annelise Larson
A digital marketing for media workshop, “How to build a basic digital strategy for your film,” with Annelise Larson, digital strategist
March 7 & 14, 2021: Best of the Fest
Awards announcements for Official Selection Features and Shorts, and the International Screenplay Competition. Hosted by Sabrina Furminger, YVR Screen Scene.
Now in its 16th year, VIWFF continues to provide a platform for challenging gender imbalance and the lack of equity and diversity in the screen-based media industry.
