You can book an appointment to release butterflies at Taves Farm orchard in Abbotsford – how delightful is that? At a time when virtual and online events dominate our calendars — with good reason — our local farmers are not only feeding us but coming up with really lovely events for families, which adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Release Butterflies at Taves Farm Orchard
When: During Summer Solstice, June 20-21, 2020 Where: Taves Farm (333 Gladwin Rd, Abbotsford, BC) What: Butterfly Release Packages including soft apple cider slushies, soft and hard apple cider and a donation to the Abbotsford Food Bank
Located in Abbotsford, Taves Family Farms is hosting a butterfly release to symbolize renewal. They created this social distancing style event due to COVID-19.
People can purchase their package of choice online and come to the farm at a designated time to release their butterflies or bring the butterflies back home and release elsewhere. The packages include their signature soft apple cider but also their new hard apple cider from Taves Estate Cidery. This cidery opened only a few weeks ago amidst the pandemic.
From Taves: “To say it’s been challenging is a gross understatement. We have created this special event to symbolize renewal. Just as the butterfly transforms from caterpillar to butterfly, so shall we. Whether you want to release a butterfly focusing on renewal, to set positive intentions for the future,to honour a loved one, or to provide an outdoor field trip experience for your children, we invite you to join us!”
All orders must be placed by May 19, 2020. All release times will be arranged on a one-by-one basis in the apple orchard.
Introducing the #CHVCatchUp, a new monthly series featuring the latest updates and news from Covenant House Vancouver. Miss604 is proud to be the Official Blog Partner of CHV.
How Covenant House is Adapting Services to Best Meet the Needs of Young People
At Covenant House Vancouver their Registered Social Workers and Registered Clinical Counsellors have adapted how they work to best support youth in these unprecedented times. CHV’s Case Management Team is comprised of both Social Workers and Clinical Counselors.
Social Workers provide youth-focused, coordinated, and integrated support to youth using a trauma informed approach. A large part of their work has been to support both youth directly and the frontline youth workers who are serving and caring for youth onsite during this health emergency. In addition to this, they are busy learning the new ways their community partners and resources are operating during this time, working to ensure that continued access to services is as seamless as possible.
Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) continue to provide one to one counselling to their clients, using the technology available to them to offer counselling virtually when appropriate. Many of the youth have expressed appreciation that their sessions with their counsellor can continue in some format. RCC’s are also providing teams with mindfulness and mental health resources which are very helpful right now, both for youth and staff. In addition, they are exploring the possibility and logistics of continuing with Art Therapy Groups in a social-distancing, COVID-19 compliant environment.
Activities and art are helping the youth at Covenant House
Covenant House’s Youth Workers have been working hard to ensure that they are engaging young people in creative activities, all while trying to remain physically distant but socially connected. A few of the youth and youth workers brainstormed some ideas and someone suggested that they have a tie-dye evening. A craft supply order later and they had everything that they needed to run “Camp Covey” featuring tie dye.
The youth were split into individual stations, a playlist of favourite music was put on and everyone got creative. The youth all enjoyed the evening and CHV shares it has been wonderful to see all of the young people sporting their colourful tee-shirts over the last few days.
Check out their creations:
Our community is supporting CHV and they wanted to thank you with a tool to support your mental health
Mindfulness is a technique taught to the young people at Covenant House Vancouver.
Dr. Keith Thurlow-Bishop, MA, MSc, PhD and Registered Clinical Counsellor & Expressive Arts Therapist at Covenant House Vancouver shares a mindfulness practice to support good mental health during these uncertain times.
Take a breath and bring awareness to the present moment by naming:
5 things I can see 4 things I can hear 3 things I can feel 2 things I can smell 1 thing I can taste
This practice can help anchor you in this present moment and remind you that you are okay. Dr. Keith hopes this mindfulness practice helps you during this difficult time.
Since 1997, Covenant House Vancouver has been providing love and hope to youth experiencing homelessness. They are the premiere service provider of residential and outreach services for homeless and at-risk youth ages 16 to 24 in Vancouver.
You can change the life of a young person today. You can give love and hope to someone in need. Every gift, no matter how small, goes towards providing food and shelter, counselling, and mental health support for homeless and at-risk youth in our community. « Make a donation to Covenant House Vancouver Today »
One month ago I reached out to some of my friends around the globe who are originally from the “604” area to see how they’re doing during the COVID-19 pandemic. I decided to do a follow up Q&A to see how they’re all doing several weeks after our chat…
Vancouverites in Isolation Elsewhere: Patricia on Salt Spring Island
Since we last spoke, how have restrictions changed in your city?
Safe-distancing has become more formalized with floor markings for safe distancing at store cashiers, and limited number of people in stores. The worst change was the closing of BC Parks (we have 4 big ones) and Salt Spring Conservancy lands. But so far CRD parks have stayed open, and we can still easily be in nature, which is a real comfort.
BC Ferries eliminated the route from the mainland to Salt Spring, which was a pretty big change! You can still travel to the mainland but need to make a connection at Swartz Bay. They had closed the golf course too, but happily for my husband (and thus me), it has opened again with a lot of precautions in place.
While many of us working from home might be tempted to stay in stretchy pants during COVID-19 isolation, the symbolism of putting on some jeans to face the wider world is that much greater when you think about kids at BC Children’s Hospital.
By wearing jeans this May, you can help kids get out of their hospital gowns and back into their jeans.
It’s Time to #JeanUp for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
Every year, over 93,000 kids count on the specialized care provided at BC Children’s Hospital. By wearing jeans and donating, your support will fund everything from innovative research and equipment to specialized care that’s tailored to the unique needs of kids.
As the only children’s hospital in the province, tens of thousands of kids who visit the hospital each year count on the care provided here to undergo highly specialized surgery, endure chemotherapy to treat a rare form of cancer, or receive physiotherapy to recover from an injury.
During these trying and uncertain times with COVID-19, health care providers at BC Children’s continue to do what they’ve always done—ensure kids and families get the expert care they need. But this pandemic has made their difficult jobs even harder.
By participating this May, you can make a difference. Your support will help health care providers respond to these rapidly evolving needs, while they continue to deliver the best possible care to kids so they can get back into their jeans sooner.
Whether you’re a company, school or individual, pick a day that works for you. Then, on that day, proudly wear your jeans and virtual sticker and tag @bcchf on social media to show your support.
Whitecaps It Takes a Village Artwork in Support of the Food Bank
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that they have joined forces with internationally-recognized local artist Carson Ting who has created It Takes A Village, a unique and inspirational piece commemorating Vancouver’s 7:00pm ovation for healthcare workers, emergency responders, city employees, store clerks, supply chain workers and all who have been working tirelessly on the frontlines of the pandemic.
100% of the proceeds from every print sold will be contributed to help address the Greater Vancouver Food Bank’s unprecedented demand.
The club will also be gifting a print to each of its #FrontlineHeroes, who are recognized nightly across Whitecaps FC social media channels.
The uplifting scene also features BC’s own provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and expert sign-language interpreter Nigel Howard, who have been guiding British Columbians through the uncertainty since the pandemic began. Local celebrities Ryan Reynolds, Seth Rogen and Steve Nash can also be spotted in the artwork.
I’m deeply inspired by our city’s collective energy, unity and positivity,” said Ting. “Before this project, I was thinking of ways that my skill-set could be used to support our courageous frontline workers during these difficult times. When I got the call from Whitecaps FC about this initiative, I was all in.”
Local production company Kindred & Scout donated their energy and creativity to create a video that features ‘Caps forward Tosaint Ricketts and community cheers across Vancouver. Hemlock Printers and Hemlock Harling also supported the food bank in a big way, donating their resources to print and distribute the artwork to donors.
Each of the 24” x 18” art pieces can be purchased online for a minimum of $30 plus tax and shipping. The Greater Vancouver Food Bank will issue tax receipts approximately six weeks after each donation.
“We are truly grateful to be included in this artistic tribute to COVID-19 frontline heroes,” said Greater Vancouver Food Bank chief operating officer Cynthia Boulter. “Our staff and volunteers are working continuously to ensure we can provide healthy food each week to those in need across the Lower Mainland.”
