Back in 2009, before “Influencer Marketing” was even a thing, Jen from Cheeky Umbrellas reached out to me – a little local blog – to see if I would write about their product. Eleven years later and I am STILL using the same Cheeky Umbrella, which says a lot given the amount of rainfall we received, and my affinity for walks in said rainfall.
Cheeky Umbrellas
The product line sure has expanded since 2009, they now have a custom collection too with digital prints, even patio umbrellas and shade solutions. In the shop you’ll find their tried and true models, with fashionable designs (they sent me a “Canadian” recently to expand my collection) and a reflective trim option.
Features
Strong, rust-resistant frames: All the umbrellas in our retail collection use fiberglass for the ribs, making them superior in strength and wind-resistance, as well as completely rustproof.
Beautiful designs: Each umbrella has a unique style, design and/or fabric that makes it stand out in a crowd.
Generous warranty: Each product is backed with a one-year no-hassle warranty and a lifetime service guarantee, offering you repair services wherever possible, and when not repairable, offering a discount off a new umbrella.
Supporting mental health: 5% of each purchase is donated to local mental health initiatives, in hopes of helping others find a brighter perspective during the “rainy days” of their lives.
Shipping in Canada for orders under $75 is $9.95. Shipping for orders over $75 is free.
Our 2009 Cheeky has been so great but I love the improvements in design, including these caps on the tips of the frame aka “no eye poking”. Connect with the company on Facebook and Instagram for more info.
Giveaway
I have a Cheeky Umbrella to give away, which the winner can order from the shop for delivery. Here’s how you can enter to win:
In an incredible act of kindness and philanthropy, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are donating $250,000 to Covenant House Vancouver and $250,000 to Covenant House Toronto to support homeless, at risk, and trafficked youth across the nation.
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Match Campaign for Covenant House Vancouver
Ryan Reynolds has been a long-time friend to Covenant House and truly believes in supporting vulnerable young people. He has chosen to use his donation as a special matching gift to encourage others to donate to Covenant House.
“Covenant House provides love, hope and stability for at-risk youth who’ve fled physical, emotional and sexual abuse,” says Ryan.
“They do the work of heroes. For us, helping Covenant House this way isn’t a donation, but an investment in compassion and empathy. Something the world needs more of. The young people who pass through the doors of Covenant House more often than not have a story marked by extraordinary trauma. They are so much more than that trauma. They have so much to offer the world. Matching this gift is saying you believe in them. You believe in the power of compassion to transform the trajectory of a human being.”
The Georgia Straight just named Reynolds the “Darndest Vancouver-Bred Do-Gooder During the Pandemic” in their annual Best of Vancouver issue, for his and Blake’s many random acts of kindness this year: From donating 300 parkas and other gear to students at Inuujaq School in Arctic Bay, to providing a public-service message about COVID-19 to reach young adults in BC, to organizing a BIPOC trainee program for a Netflix film that he’s filming in Vancouver, and donating $10,000 to the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association. They also donated $1 million to food banks in Canada and the United States (and $5,000 to my own Food Bank Fundraiser in April).
What This Means to Covenant House
COVID-19 has presented Covenant House with new and evolving challenges, and the organization continues to provide essential services to youth experiencing homelessness.
The pandemic has impacted every youth in profound ways, but exactly how depends very much on their own individual circumstances. Job losses, increased anxiety, and the Opioid Crisis are just a few of the challenges youth are facing.
I have been meaning to put together an Indigenous Gift Guide for Shopping Local this season, inspired by the amazing artists and businesses I’ve been following on Instagram so I’m thankful that Indigenous Tourism BC has put it together for me! Thanks to their timely email, I present a list of gift-giving ideas that support local and Indigenous businesses. Shop incredible art at local galleries or browse a variety of other gift ideas from local retailers with the safety of secure online shopping.
Indigenous Gift Guide for Shopping Local
This gift guide supports Indigenous economies and communities, and ships from unceded Indigenous Lands across British Columbia. Add Indigenous art to your cart and strengthen a digital economy rooted in care for the land and each other.
Vancouver Area & Online
Bill Reid Gallery: Featuring traditional and contemporary artwork and accessories, including hand-painted sculptures, fine jewellery, and art prints. This charitable organization also has two street-level locations. Proceeds from all purchases support local Indigenous artists and artistic and educational programs.
Skwachays Gallery: The first Indigenous boutique hotel in Canada. Skwachays hosts an in-house gallery with online shopping services featuring Indigenous artwork, including original paintings, framed limited edition prints, jewelry, pottery, wood carvings, and giftware. A social enterprise owned and operated by Vancouver Native Housing Society.
Stó:lō Gift Shop: Located at Stó:lō Nation on the Coqualeetza grounds. Shop in-person from 9:30am to 4:30pm on weekdays or online anytime for local, one-of-a-kind, authentic Indigenous and Indigenous-inspired arts, crafts, paintings, prints, glassware, cards. Pick up your online order at the store in Chilliwack or have it shipped directly to your door.
Heaven N Earth Native Art Gallery and Cultural Studio: (340B Wallace St, Hope) Teresa Walker & Brook Tobacco are a mother/daughter team and company who make authentic hand made indigenous products featuring items such as mixed media bead work, pine needle, birch bark, cedar bark jewelry and baskets. Including an assortment of drums, rattles, leather work, bone, semi-precious stone and medicine products, from the Nlhazkampx, Okanogan, Lakota, and Cree nations.
Whistler & Online
Squamish Lil’ wat Cultural Centre: Authentic and exclusive handcrafted Northwest Coast First Nations art and merchandise. Shop online or visit the centre and choose from a selection of Indigenous handcrafted works of art, home accents, clothing and accessories, jewellery, pottery, baskets, and books. This is where I purchased my favourite face mask!
Okanagan & Online
Coyote’s Gifts at Nk’Mip Cultural Centre: Open weekdays for holiday shopping from 9:00am to 3:30pm in Osoyoos. Download a coupon from their website to receive a 10% in-store discount on handcrafted, locally made items and Indigenous-inspired jewellery, moccasins, housewares, blankets, clothing, and toys.
Syilx Trail Gift Store & Gallery: Located at Lake Okanagan Shopping Mall on Westbank First Nation Lands in the unceded territories of the Syilx People and currently open daily from 10:00am to 6:00pm.
Gourds by artist Janine Lott available at Syilx Trail
Vancouver Island & Online
Culture Shock Gallery: Indigenous owned and operated, rooted in the rich traditions of the ‘Namgis people of the west coast of Canada. Cedar, silver, and abalone are the mood in this Alert Bay gallery.
U’ mista Cultural Centre: Open weekdays from 12:00pm to 4:00pm in Alert Bay, Kwakwa’kaʼwakw Territory. Order one-of-a-kind hand-carved masks and prints by popular Indigenous artists online for pickup within four hours. Free shipping within Canada and the US for orders over $100 CAD.
I-Hos Gallery: Traditional and contemporary Indigenous art from the Northwest Coast, including masks, prints, gold and silver jewelry, and wood carvings. The physical gallery is located between Courtenay and Comox on Vancouver Island, on the original K’ómoks Village site.
Cedar House Gallery: Gallery, studio, and centre for community and conversation in Ucluelet. Owned by a Tla-o-qui-aht artist, the gallery is currently open by appointment. The art showcased is made by local Nuu-chah-nulth artists and Indigenous artists from around British Columbia.
Wildflowers & Co.: This new online shop based in the unceded traditional territory of the Ligwiłda’xw people (Campbell River) strives to stock its digital shelves with 75% local and 25% North American products. Wildflowers & Co. supports small shops, women in business, and Indigenous small business owners. Local and high-quality products, including apparel, jewelry, home decor, and artwork.
Totem Design House – Kwigwatsi Studio: Eco-friendly, locally made in Comox. Open Saturdays 10:00am to 4:00pm until Christmas. Primarily a production facility, the showroom in K’omoks First Nation territory is open by appointment. The Studio contributes to Indigenous youth programs and assists in fundraising efforts for Indigenous communities.
House of Himwitsa Native Art Gallery: Indigenous-owned, specializing in sharing the culture of the Nuu-chah-nulth People — the People who live “all along the mountains and the sea” on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Add artwork, carvings, jewellery, and weaving by local artists to your online shopping cart.
Ay Lelum–the Good House of Design: A second-generation Coast Salish design house in Nanaimo. The new 2020 Fall and Winter Season Yuxwule’ Sul’sul’tun Eagle Spindle Whorl Collection is available on their website and contains ready-to-wear and couture pieces.
Thanks to everyone for sending in their suggestions! Here are a few more local favourites:
Salish.Design: An Indigenous family run fashion company in the Cowichan Valley. Artists include Joe Wilson, Doug LaFortune, Dylan Thomas, Margaret August, and lessLIE. Artists receive royalties off of every sale.
Crowfoot Collective: Indigenous-owned boutique in the heart of Cowichan Bay carrying Local and global goods. All handmade, Fair Trade and ethically sourced. Featuring Jewelry by Claire Crowfoot Jewelry.
FINAWear: Shop online for unique articles of clothing or accessories produced on demand and custom made for you. From masks and shirts to leggings, dresses and scarves. Each product featured Indigenous art created by Gitxsan artist Shar Wilson.
Sisters Sage: Shop online for hand crafted beautiful modern self-care and wellness products using traditional Indigenous ingredients. Artisan soaps, bath bombs, salves and smokeless smudge honors ancestral teachings of sage, cedar, sweetgrass, lavender and more.
Scarlett J Designs: Shop online for 100% cotton face masks with beautiful Indigenous designs. Each mask is hand cut and hand sewn by Scarlett. Functional, fashionable.
And this listing is not local, but it’s a really cool story:
9-year-old entrepreneur Mya Beaudry won 3rd place at 2020 Pow Wow Pitch for her ‘kokom scrunchies‘. She says for her, scrunchies are a way to honour inspirational Indigenous women. She sells them online in a variety of beautiful, colourful designs.
If you have a business to add, please leave a comment on this post or reach me through my contact page and I’ll include it. Thanks!
Gateway Theatre presents Home for the Holidays this season, on demand, from the comfort of your home. For 35 years, Gateway has brought its own magic to the holiday season, and while we cannot all gather in front of the stage, you can grab your household bubble in front of the TV or computer.
The traditional year-end extravaganza has transformed into an intimate online tour through some of Gateway’s most successful and beloved musical theatre productions, transporting the viewer right into the homes of the artists themselves.
Gateway Theatre Presents Home for the Holidays
Opening Night Watch Party: December 18th at 8:00pm On Demand: December 19, 2020 – January 1, 2021 Where: Online Tickets: From $25, available online now
It all begins with Lauren Bowler’s masterful take on “Wouldn’t it Be Loverly”—revived from Gateway’s 2007 production of My Fair Lady. From there, director Barbara Tomasic has assembled a who’s who of Gateway alumni including Tom Pickett, Meghan Gardiner, David Adams, Chelsea Rose, Scotia Browner and many more, reprising timeless favourites from Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, Annie, The Music Man, The Wizard of Oz, and knockout Gateway classic Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat.
Think of it as a bespoke best-of package crossed with an intimate fireside toddy, bathed in the amber glow of nostalgia, tailored for an extraordinary time when warmth and togetherness is what we need and crave most.
During intermission, Home for the Holidays even pauses to present its Jingle Bell (Scotch on the) Rocks recipe for the adults and a Holiday Hot Chocolate for the kids. Comic asides, behind-the-scenes visits and so much more come to the variety show-style program. Best of all: you’re encouraged to sing along. Loudly.
If you miss the buzz and excitement of attending opening nights, be sure to tune in to the Opening Night Watch Party. Following the Watch Party, ticket holders will be able to view the show on demand with unlimited access until January 1. There will also be accessible viewing options available including audio description provided by Vocal Eye, ASL interpretation, and captioning in English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese.
Win Access
I am giving away On Demand access to Home for the Holidays, here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Click below to post an entry on Twitter
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win on demand access to @GatewayThtr #HomeForTheHolidays http://ow.ly/sFbY50CtXh8″ quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, December 1, 2020. The winner will have access for their whole home bubble for ton demand viewing throughout the season. UPDATE: The winner is Caitlin!
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by the West End BIA Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
With Lumiere Vancouver entering its last week of beautiful public art, the festival wants to celebrate with a fantastic staycation giveaway from a few of the amazing businesses in the neighbourhood.
Jim Deva Plaza. Photo by Christopher Edmonstone
Lumiere Vancouver Staycation Contest
Here’s what you can enter to win, to enjoy and experience the West End, valued at $400:
In the comments of that Instagram post, tag a friend you’ll be enjoying this staycation with (when safe!)
The contest is open for entries until Tuesday, December 1st at 11:59pm. Must be a resident of the Lower Mainland to win. The winner will be contacted directly via Instagram direct message.
Photo by Christopher Edmonstone
Now in its 7th year, Lumiere Vancouver is showcasing seven amazing interactive art installations adding sparkle and excitement to two iconic sites: English Bay and Jim Deva Plaza off Davie Street. The extension of the event dates this year has been put in place to ensure that visitors can enjoy the artwork without creating a crowd situation, therefore allowing for proper social-distancing and COVID-19 precautions.
