The is monthly series features the latest updates and news from Covenant House Vancouver. Miss604 is proud to be their Official Blog Partner. This month’s post has been written by Jason Bosher of Covenant House Vancouver.

On Friday, July 10, Covenant House Vancouver hosted their first-ever Sleep Out: Home Edition. Through this virtual event, they challenged families and individuals to give up their bed for one night (choosing instead to sleep somewhere uncomfortable like their backyard, deck, or living room floor) as an act of awareness and solidarity for homeless and at-risk youth.

Covenant House Vancouver Sleep Out Home Edition A Success

Over 150 individuals, families, and businesses rose to the challenge and came together to show support for the hundreds of young people who experience homelessness on Vancouver’s streets, and to raise funds for Covenant House’s Street Outreach Program.

At the event, an online panel consisting of Covenant House youth and staff shared their knowledge and experience about youth homelessness, mental health care, and addictions support. They also shared how the organization is supporting youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, opioid crisis, and housing crisis.

Photos and article by ZenSeekers‘ Jaiden George. This adventure is powered by Tribal Parks Alliance, Destination BC, Destination Canada, and Tin Wis Resort, which is owned and operated by the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation.

Relax in Tofino

If one were to sum up Tofino in only a single sentence, the words raw, pristine, and boundless would, without a doubt, come to mind. Having lived here my whole life, I still find myself in awe of the intense beauty of it all every time I step out my front door.

Even in activities that I’ve repeated hundreds, if not thousands of times – biking along Mackenzie Beach, for example (pictured here) – I find that there are always new things to appreciate. No two trips are ever really the same, and simply existing on the land affords an unparalleled and wholly consuming sense of calmness.

Taking a moment to think about it, a great deal of my most cherished memories are of being on the land with friends – hiking, climbing trees, scaling rockfaces, taking out the canoe or the paddleboards – memories of the ilk are physically and spiritually impossible to create in the abrasive, fast-paced dissonance of cities.

Sure, there aren’t any large shopping hubs, and you’ll find virtually no chain stores (Tofino consists predominantly of local businesses – Chocolate Tofino pictured here) – but that’s not inherently a bad thing. We all have a tendency to build up clutter in our minds – to overcomplicate things – and it’s beneficial, necessary even, to scale things back. To remember what is essential – food, water, shelter, community and land – and what is supplementary – convenience, technology and material objects.

When it really comes down to it, the supplementary things in life are never what allow for long-lasting memories. There is no substitute for sitting around a fire and sharing a meal with friends. It’s at the intersection between the immaterial and the essentials that special moments are cultivated, and Tofino offers an abundance of both to those willing to look.

When You Go

• Book today at the Tla-o-qui-aht owned Tin Wis Resort.
• When staying in Tofino, stay indigenous and know that your support goes towards protecting these ancient sacred gardens where we can all go to get re-energized and soak up the beauty of the forests and ocean.
• Meanwhile, check out the new webcam from Tin Wis below: 

Live Beach Webcam

After a successful first event in May the Fighting COVID Together live BC charity auction event returns on July 22nd with seven well respected philanthropic organizations:

• Odd Squad Production Society
• Zajac Ranch for Children
• Pancreatic Cancer Canada
• Dr Peter AIDS Foundation
• Cerebral Palsy Association of BC
• BC Centre For Ability 
• Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation

After their gala events were cancelled this spring due to COVID-19, these charities are coming together in this exciting, fun, and unprecedented live online charity auction event hosted by AbleAuctions.ca.

Live BC Charity Auction Returns

When: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 6:00pm
Where: Online! Sign up as a bidder through AbleAuctions.ca by 4:00pm on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 in order to register for the live auction. You will also be able to preview the exciting  items up for auction in advance.

This exciting fundraising event brings seven important and diverse organizations under one umbrella for one night, united in one cause – to raise awareness and funding during this unprecedented pandemic.

John Tietz, Dr. Peter AIDS CEO said, “We are so delighted to be back for round II and look forward to another very successful auction.” Tietz continued “Working with these organizations, Able Auctions, and Point Blank Shows has been such an inspiring experience for me and our team.”

There is absolutely no cost to the charitable organizations and no buyer or credit card fees to the successful bidders. Jeremy Dodd and his team at Able Auctions have donated their time, talent and financial costs for these auctions. Howard Blank & Diana Zoppa, (Point Blank Shows) Rebecca Bollwitt (Miss604), Laura Balance, (LBMG Media Group), Tracey Wade and their teams have also donated all costs to ensure that this auction maximizes revenues for these important organizations.

This auction will be upbeat, fun and fast-paced with a live audio auction online supporting each of the seven charities involved and hosted by Howard Blank. Guests can bid in real time after viewing the pictures and descriptions of each lot. A special fund a need option for straight tax receipting will also be offered.

There is no registration fee for guests and no costs for the seven charities involved, and 100 per cent of proceeds go to directly to them. I’ll see you online on July 22nd for the event!

As they continue to navigate the challenges of scheduling touring productions during this unprecedented time, new dates have been set for Broadway Across Canada‘s Vancouver season which will pick up in 2021.

New Dates for Broadway Across Canada’s Vancouver Season

The 2021 season will now take centre stage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre beginning next January with the engagement of ANASTASIA, a dazzling show that will transport you from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s.

Next up is season option COME FROM AWAY, a Best Musical winner all across North America. The Summer of 2021 will include performances of HAMILTON, the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Ending the season will be JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, which has been rescheduled to October 2021.

BAC thanks all of their subscribers for their continued patience and understanding as they diligently worked to reschedule the season in order to ensure that they are following the guidance of the health officials to keep all artists, audiences and staff healthy and safe. 

All ticket holders will receive email communication from their point of purchase with follow up information on their tickets, which remain valid for the new engagement dates.

For the latest news, announcements and “backstage” access on all upcoming shows follow Broadway Across Canada on Twitter and Facebook #BACTouring #BACSub #BACSuperfan.

*Come From Away is not included as part of the Broadway Across Canada subscription package.

Summer in the city is here, and Vancouver is coming alive with the reopening of stores and restaurants. You can enjoy a staycation on Robson with some great perks this month, from discounts on bike rentals to enjoy nearby Stanley Park, to free treats and BOGO deals.

Enjoy a Staycation on Robson in July

The Robson Street BIA has partnered with the Blue Horizon Hotel and local Robson Street businesses to offer you a staycation package #onRobson.

Any bookings made after July 3rd for checkin before July 31st will unlock exclusive access to promotions/discounts for dining, shopping, pampering and exploring #onRobson. What’s more, you’ll also enjoy FREE parking at the hotel for your stay, and a $50 gift card to a restaurant or retailer #onRobson (while supplies last).

Staycation Perks

Blue Horizon guests enjoying a staycation on Robson can enjoy perks from the following retailers, restaurants and attractions:

• Couturist: receive $10 off a $50+ purchase.
• Muji: receive a free portable lint roller with a purchase of $30+. While quantities last.
• D’oro Gelato e Caffè: with the purchase of any regular croissant specialties receive a free 8 or 12 oz coffee.
• Earls Restaurant: enjoy 20% off food.
• Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House: Enjoy 20% off food.
• The Candyroom: 10% off all bulk candy.
• Uncle Tetsu: receive a free madeleine with a purchase of a cheesecake.
• Zefferelli’s: Enjoy 2 pasta dishes for the price of 1.
• Civello Salon: Enjoy $20 off your first Civello service, or is it time to try something new? Returning Civello guest? Experience a new service & receive $25 off or spend $50 or more on your Aveda favourites and receive a free Stress-Fix body lotion (50ml).
• Kiehl’s: participate in a complimentary ‘no touch’ consultation and receive a customized pampering kit, featuring 3 free mini sized samples.
• Spokes Bicycle Rentals: 15% off your bike rental.
• Vancouver Art Gallery: Enjoy 15% off a regular single ticket.

*Terms & Conditions: bookings must be made directly via https://bluehorizonhotel.com/ or by phone at (604) 688-1411, must be 19+ to book and have a valid credit card. Cannot be combined with other offers. In order to redeem offers at retailers/restaurants/attractions you must present your hotel key card, promotions are only valid during your stay. Offers are only valid at Robson Street locations. Offer can end at anytime.

Follow Robson Street on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news, offers, and inspiration for an exciting summer in the city.