The finalists each have the chance to win a major donation of $100,000 to support a project in the areas of health, education or social services, or to get their activities back up and running in the context of the current crisis.
Covenant House Vancouver is in the Running to Win $100,000
Almost 250 charities from across Canada answered iA Financial Group’s call in September. A jury reviewed all projects received and chose the ten finalists, for which you can now vote.
These funds would help Covenant House ensure that their Crisis Program can help even more young people upon the completion of their expansion project in Spring 2022. All finalists are guaranteed a donation of $10,000 with the top 3 finalist winning $100,000.
Until November 30, 2020, the public is invited to vote for the two submissions they find the most inspiring from among the ten finalist submissions.
The 38th annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards presented by Scotiabank will take place on Monday, June 7, 2021, and this is your opportunity to recognize an outstanding woman or organization operating in the Lower Mainland.
2019 YWCA Women of Distinction Winners
YWCA Women of Distinction Awards 2021 Nominations
Do you know a woman whose outstanding achievements contribute to the well-being and future of Metro Vancouver? Do you know a business that supports the wellness and diverse needs of its employees?
Support the people and organizations that are making a difference across Metro Vancouver by nominating a woman or workplace for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award.
Nominating a woman or organization that you admire is easier than you think. View the FAQ page for answers to frequently asked questions.
The YWCA strongly encourages nominations that recognize the contributions of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, as well as LGBTQ2S+ individuals.
The award categories are:
Arts, Culture & Design; Business & the Professions; Community Champion; Education, Training & Development; Entrepreneurship & Innovation; Environmental Sustainability; Health & Wellness; Non-profit; Reconciliation in Action; Research, the Sciences & Technology; Young Woman of Distinction; Outstanding Workplace.
The Nominations Committee reviews all submissions for completeness, eligibility and ensures that each nomination fulfills ALL of the nomination criteria. Please note that every nomination submission is not accepted. All accepted nominations are forwarded to an independent Judging Panel. The Nominations Committee and Judging Panel reserve the right to withhold an award in any category.
Nominations will close on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 5:00pm.
YWCA Metro Vancouver is dedicated to achieving women’s equality. Their mission is to touch lives and build better futures for women and their families through advocacy and integrated services that foster economic independence, wellness and equal opportunities.
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, since 2010.
This week an exciting new shopping opportunity is coming online that will enable you to support local businesses and stock up on hyper-local handmade goods and gifts. The Fraser Valley Market‘s online winter market goes live November 12th and will feature vendors and artisans on a one-stop-shop website until December 7, 2020.
The Fraser Valley Online Winter Market
I had the chance to catch up with the online market’s founder, Mel Karlik, to get the rundown of this exciting new venture.
“There are a lot of reasons why supporting local helps your local community. However, this year, more than ever, local businesses are going through immense hardships so making that conscious effort of where you chose to spend your money has a far greater impact on people, families and your community as a whole.”
The Fraser Valley Market – Mel Karlik
What was your inspiration for starting the online market, and has something like this been done before for the Fraser Valley specifically? ‘Well, because of COVID, the large Holiday Markets aren’t happening this year but people still want to do their holiday shopping and there is an even stronger need to support local vendors so I thought creating an online market would be a perfect solution. Before this year, I haven’t seen much in online markets and I haven’t seen anything that specifically showcases makers and artisans from The Fraser Valley so it’s very exciting to come together in this way!”
What can shoppers expect from Fraser Valley vendors? “The amount of really cool and creative talent in the Fraser Valley blows me away. It’s really diverse too! When you shop the market, you’ll find everything from baby accessories to one of a kind art pieces to survival gear. I want visitors to sit in the comfort and safety of their own homes and enjoy the experience of discovering what our local makers and artisans have to offer.”
What do you love about the Fraser Valley? “I like how supportive people are in The Fraser Valley. There are a lot of local farmers, independent shops and physical markets all around The Fraser Valley so they definitely already believe in the doctrine of supporting the local community. I actually see a lot of young entrepreneurs trying new things (always to find a community behind them). I think that’s pretty cool.”
Even though it will look different this year, I’m happy to report there is a lineup of holiday theatre in Vancouver for 2020.
Holiday Theatre in Vancouver
My absolute favourite Vancouver date night is dinner followed by a Christmas show. Bundled up in the cool, crisp air, the twinkle of the marquee, the warmth of the lobby, curtains up, lights aglow and talented, moving performances on stage. I’ll be swapping Granville Island for my living room, and intermission in the lobby for a drink refill in my kitchen, but the talent and entertainment will be right there on my screen at home:
Home for the Holidays transforms the theatre’s traditional year-end extravaganza 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. 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—naturally—knockout Gateway classic Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat.
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.
Panto Come Home. Photo by Emily Cooper
The Cultch: Panto Come Home
When: December 17 to 27, 2020
Where: Streaming online at 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 7:00pm
In 2020’s Panto Come Home! Theatre Replacement’s Artistic Directors James Long and Maiko Yamamoto sneak into the York to find very sad pyjama clad Veda Hille parked at her piano. Seems she’s moved into the theatre and has been spending her days trying to relive Panto memories of old. In an attempt to cheer her up they call up a bunch of their Panto friends to sing and dance the greatest East Van Panto hits. Things go sideways fast when the Phanto of the Panto swoops in. He’s been watching these things ever since Jack and the Beanstalk opened the York 8 years ago and has a few choice ideas of his own. Physically-distanced antics ensue! Dig into the East Van Panto vault and enjoy the best of the last seven years remixed into a brand new holiday extravaganza.
Studio 58’s 55th season continues with the world premiere of Theatre: The Play, a comedic love letter to the art form, written and directed by Ryan Beil and Mark Chavez. The Nearlake Theatre Festival & Bar & Grill faces certain closure, unless it can produce a hit show. Dudley, the festival’s intrepid artistic director, throws out all the stops in an attempt to stage a masterpiece the likes of which the theatre world has never seen: Macbeth, War on Christmas. But, can the cast and crew deal with their personal demons before the punters show up? Theatre: The Play is both a love letter and a sly middle finger to the world of theatre, asking “why would anyone work in this unforgiving and unstable field of make believe?”. Students in their fourth term will perform the play for a live, in-house audience, while members of the public will have the chance to watch a free livestream from the comfort of their homes.
The Arts Club: Twelve Dates of Christmas
When: November 19, 2020 to January 3, 2021
Where: Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre or online
Tickets:Watch live (from $39) or watch online ($19)
Just a month after seeing her fiancé kiss another woman on national TV, Mary (Genevieve Fleming and Melissa Oei, in alternating performances) is ready to re-enter the dating world. Going on dates that range from comical to bad to comically bad, Mary grows increasingly pessimistic—until she meets someone who changes her outlook on life. This charming one-woman play puts a Sex and the City spin on the holiday season.
Since its Christmas Eve premiere in 1951, this story has warmed the hearts of audiences around the world. Three Kings, following the star to Bethlehem, stop for shelter at the home of Amahl, a poor, crippled shepherd boy and his widowed mother. Amahl offers his own simple gift to the Wondrous Child and then a miracle happens. Making this production extra special is the casting of Maestro Dala’s son Andreas.
Presentation House Theatre: Waiting for Garbo
When: December 4-6 at 7:00pm
Where:333 Chesterfield Ave., North Vancouver Online
Tickets:Live attendance tickets from $15. Livestream tickets for Dec 6 performance $10. Tickets are on sale now at (604) 990-3474 or online. Livestream tickets are available via Side Door Access.
Waiting for Garbo: a recycled musical vortex introduces you to two radically different groups: The Catadores are garbage pickers at the world’s largest dump, on the brink of losing their livelihood. In desperation they dream of saving the seas from plastic pollution as their salvation. The Garbo Seekers are three Magi intent on finding the lost films of their goddess Greta Garbo. Their worlds collide and what happens is in turn funny, irreverent, poignant, whimsical, clever and thought-provoking.
Little Women Audio Play
Far From the Tree Productions: Little Women
When: Debut November 14, 2020
New episodes every Saturday until December 19, 2020.
Where: Online (Spotify, YouTube, Apple or Google Podcasts)
An audio play adapted by Joelle Wyminga. Following the lives, loves, and losses of four sisters living during the American Civil War, Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel remains a relatable reflection on the grand adventure that is growing up. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy face trials, joys, embarrassments, and heartaches as they each wrestle for the freedom to carve out their own unique place within a world full of expectations.
Enjoy an evening of contemporary and signature Christmas music, along with stories creatively crafted by Tom Jackson. Famous for storytelling, and his love of Christmas, Jackson – and fellow musicians – perform seasonal favourites under the bright lights of a professional stage. For the audiophile and videophile enthusiast, show quality is exceptional.
Arts Umbrella Dance Company presents a modern and engaging twist on Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, bringing together a flavoursome assortment of dance styles for an extra-special holiday treat. This live holiday showcase is traditionally a landmark in the Arts Umbrella Dance calendar and AUDC dancers are so pleased to still have the chance to share the performance in a re-imagined digital setting. Enjoy the holidays from the comfort of your home and join them in celebrating the artistry and achievements of AUDC students.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is beautifully retold in this contemporary adaptation set within Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Scrooge preys upon his desperate clientele as a heartless pawnshop operator/hotel landlord who displaces people through renovictions, until one dark Christmas Eve he is challenged by three spirits.
Bah Humbug! is led by Juno award winner Jim Byrnes, and features Tom Pickett, Kevin McNulty, Savannah Walling, and Margo Kane of Full Circle: First Nations Performance and Talking Stick Festival. The performance also features Sam Bob, a local Indigenous actor and recent survivor of COVID-19. The St. James Music Academy Youth Choir adds their rich voices to this unique adaptation.
A Christmas Carol – The Radio Play
When: Thursday, December 3 to Sunday, January 3, 2021
Join Vancouver actor David Adams in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge as the Charles Dickens holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. The magic of live sound effects and musical underscoring sees a handful of actors bring dozens of characters to the stage. As the familiar story unfolds: Three ghosts take Ebenezer Scrooge on a thrilling journey to teach him the true meaning of Christmas. A charming take on a family favorite that will leave no one saying “Bah Humbug!”
The #CHVCatchUp is a monthly series featuring the latest updates and news from Covenant House Vancouver. Miss604 is proud to be the Official Blog Partner of CHV.
You Can Make an Even Bigger Impact for Young People in Crisis
These special donors will match any donation made but only until December 31st. This means when you make a gift to Covenant House Vancouver it will go three times as far in helping vulnerable young people in our community.
Your Support Means Youth Like Madison Find Safety and Support
Madison’s father left the family when she was young, and her mother suffered from mental health issues. Madison was the primary caregiver for her younger sister. When Madison was 18, her mother stopped taking her medication.
This made life at home unbearable. But Madison had nowhere to go and had to care for her sister. Then a few days later, Madison’s mother, who was prone to angry outbursts, kicked Madison out of the house and she was left to sleep on the streets. Sadly, this led to men preying on her and trying to recruit her into the sex trade.
This terrified Madison, so she searched for help and found Covenant House Vancouver.
