I was born at the turn of a decade so I always find extra special meaning, and nostalgia, when the calendar flips over to another era in my life. One of the most impactful partnerships I made in the 2010s was signing on with Seekers Media who produce ZenSeekers, FestivalSeekers, and SnowSeekers. Through my partnership with them, as a freelancer and content distributor at Miss604, I have explored parts of my province I thought I would never see – and now I can’t wait to go back!
Some of the amazing people I’ve met all across BC on my Seekers adventures
Top 10 Seekers Travel Posts of the 2010s
Here are my Top 10 Seekers Travel Posts that I got to experience, research, write and produce over the last decade:
January is a time for enjoying winter fun around Metro Vancouver, through light displays and attractions, visiting our local mountains, and enjoying some delicious food festivals. This month Miss604 is also proud to be a media partner of Burnaby Village Museum’s Heritage Christmas (on until January 3, 2020) and Lights at Lafarge in Coquitlam (on until January 19, 2020). Find these and more Vancouver events for January 2020 below:
The reindeer have done their job, presents have been opened, and perhaps you’ve done a Polar Bear Plunge. That means the new year is here and you may be looking for Christmas tree chipping and recycling around Vancouver.
Christmas Tree Chipping and Recycling Around Vancouver
Bring your live cut trees to one of these Lower Mainland locations for chipping, and support a great local cause while you’re at it! Remember to remove all the tinsel and decorations from your tree.
Surrey
Central City Tree Chip for Charity Where: Central City Shopping Centre (East lot off King George Blvd) When: Sunday, January 5, 2020 from 9:00am to 4:00pm Details: Drop off your Christmas tree at Central City (east parking lot) and the Surrey Central Lions Club will chip it! Minimum $5 donation per tree and proceeds go to the Surrey Food Bank.
Christmas Tree Chipping and Bottle Drive For Youth Where: Emmanuel Covenant Church (17029 16 Ave) When: Saturday, January 4 & Sunday, January 5, 2020 9:00am to 4:00pm Details: Bring your bottles and your Christmas tree. This is a fundraiser for our youth as they prepare to head to a conference in 2021 that will encourage them and help deepen their faith and identity.
Christmas Tree Chipping by Knights of Columbus Where: 16079 88 Avenue, Surrey When: Saturday, January 4 & Sunday, January 5, 2020 10:00am to 4:00pm Details: Get your Christmas tree chipped by donation. Proceeds go to local charities and youth. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus 9534, St. Matthew’s Council.
Surrey Fire Fighters’ Annual Tree Chip Where: Guildford Town Centre (105 Ave & 150 St) and Newton Athletic Park (7395 128 St) When: Saturday, January 4, 2020 from 9:00am to 4:00pm Details: Each year, more than 40 fire fighters volunteer at the event to remove the trees from your vehicle, and toss them into the chipper. Trees are accepted with a small cash donation.
Langley
Christmas Tree Chipping Where: Willowbrook Shopping Centre (19705 Fraser Hwy, Langley) When: Saturday, January 4 & Sunday, January 5, 2020 9:00am to 4:30pm Details: Christmas Tree Chipping By Donation. Proceeds to Brian Thornburn and Ride2Survive. The Ride2Survive is a one day bike ride from Kelowna to Delta.
Abbotsford
1st Annual Treecycle Where: Klassen Landscape Supply (4491 Gladwin Rd, Abbotsford) When: January 2-3 & 6-10, 2020 from 8:00am to 4:00pm Details: All Donations go directly to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice & Klassen Foundation.
Tri-Cities
Port Moody Fire Rescue 2020 Christmas Tree Chip Where: Inlet Centre Fire Hall (150 Newport Drive, Port Moody) when: Saturday, January 4 & Sunday, January 5, 2020 9:00am to 4:00pm Details: Help your local firefighters raise money for the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund while disposing of your Christmas tree. Members of Port Moody Firefighters Local 2399 are once again chipping trees, with all decorations removed of course! Can’t bring your tree to the Fire Hall? Email burnfund23999(at)gmail(dot)com to ask about their tree pick-up service.
City of Coquitlam Christmas Tree Chip Where: Canadian Tire Parking Lot, 1200 Seguin Drive when: Saturday, January 4, 2020 9:00am to 3:00pm Details: Hosted by Scouts francophones de Maillardville.
City of Coquitlam Christmas Tree Chip Where: Mundy Park, Parking Lot off Hillcrest Street when: Saturday, January 4 & Sunday, January 5, 2020 10:00am to 4:00pm Details: Hosted by Friends of Mundy Park Heritage Society.
City of Coquitlam Christmas Tree Chip Where: Town Centre Park, Parking Lot A when: Saturday, January 4 & Sunday, January 5, 2020 8:00am to 4:00pm Details: Hosted by Kinsmen Club of Coquitlam.
Whole or cut trees can also be dropped off at the Coquitlam Transfer Station, 1200 United Boulevard.
Vancouver
Christmas Tree Recycling at UBC Botanical Garden Where: UBC Botanical Garden (6804 SW Marine Drive) When: December 26, 2019 to January 8, 2020, 10:00am to 4:30pm Details: A suggested donation of $5 is appreciated. Drop off your tree at UBC Botanical Garden. Follow the signs and place your tree behind the orange posts. They will be chipped into mulch and used on garden trails. Proceeds support Thunderbird Elementary, a school with a high percentage of vulnerable students. Garden lessons, provided by SPEC (Society Promoting Environmental Conservation), give students the opportunity to explore, observe and connect to their natural world through engaging hands-on activities in their school garden.
Lion’s Club Christmas Tree Recycling Where: Kerrisdale Community Ice Rink parking lot (5670 East Blvd, north of West 41st) When: Saturday, January 4 & Sunday, January 5, 2020 10:00am to 4:00pm Details: Donations of cash and non-perishable goods will be accepted and distributed to local charities.
Lion’s Club Christmas Tree Recycling Where: Kitsilano Beach parking lot (Cornwall Ave & Arbutus) When: Saturday, January 4 & Sunday, January 5, 2020 10:00am to 4:00pm Details: Donations of cash and non-perishable goods will be accepted and distributed to local charities.
Lion’s Club Christmas Tree Recycling Where: Sunset Beach upper parking lot (Beach Ave & Broughton) When: Saturday, January 4 & Sunday, January 5, 2020 10:00am to 4:00pm Details: Donations of cash and non-perishable goods will be accepted and distributed to local charities.
Lion’s Club Christmas Tree Recycling Where: Trout Lake Community Centre parking lot (3360 Victoria Drive) When: Saturday, January 4 & Sunday, January 5, 2020 10:00am to 4:00pm Details: Donations of cash and non-perishable goods will be accepted and distributed to local charities.
Live, cut Christmas trees will be collected from households with City Green Bin service during the weekend of January 11 to 12, 2020. To ensure pickup, residents should set out their tree by 7am on Saturday, January 11, 2020.
Bring your tree to the Vancouver South Transfer Station or Vancouver Landfill for free until January 31, 2020. Remove all decorations and tinsel beforehand.
Burnaby
City of Burnaby Christmas Tree Recycling Where: City Hall parking lot (4949 Canada Way, Burnaby) When: Saturday, January 4 & Sunday, January 5, 2020 10:00am to 4:00pm Details: The event is for real trees only (no artificial), and please ensure all ornaments, screws and other metal has been removed. The event is hosted by the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society and CUPE Local 23 (Burnaby Civic Employees Union).
Tree chipping is by donation, with proceeds supporting Burnaby’s warming centre programs. They will also be collecting donations of new, unused items such as travel-size shampoo, body wash, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Warm clothing such as socks, toques, gloves and towels are also welcome.
Burnaby’s Eco-Centre (4855 Still Creek Drive) also accepts Christmas trees free of charge from Burnaby residents (proof of residency required).
North Vancouver
Upper Lonsdale Preschool Tree Chip Where: DNV East Parking Lot (355 W Queens Road) When: Saturday, January 4 & Sunday, January 5, 2020 10:00am to 4:00pm Details: Bring your Christmas tree for chipping (by cash donation). You can also have your tree picked up, for a minimum $30 donation.
Tree Chip and Bottle Drive Where: Larson Elementary (2605 Larson Road, North Vancouver) When: Saturday, January 5, 2020 10:00am to 2:00pm Details: Minimum $5 donation for the chip-up. Bottles/cans can also be dropped off for recycling. All funds raised will benefit the Grade 7 graduation activities and legacy gift.
Know of any more events? Please leave a comment below and I’ll add it to the list!
It was in 1920 that Peter Pantages, founder of Vancouver’s Polar Bear Swim Club, led a hardy group of swimmers who all plunged into English Bay on New Year’s Day. There were 10 participants back then and now, 99 years later, over 2,000 people participate in this local tradition each year.
The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim takes place at 2:30pm on the first day of each new year. Costumes and the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race are the highlights of this event. To be a club member you must register before the swim, it’s free. Prizes are drawn from all registrations. Festivities will run from 12:00pm to 4:00pm at English Bay.
Vancouver Polar Bear Swim – New Year’s Day 1939 – Archives# CVA 371-836
Polar Bear Swim North Vancouver
Deep Cove Panorama Park hosts the annual Penguin Plunge on January 1st from 12:30pm to 3:00pm, with the plunge promptly taking place at 2:00pm. Enjoy live music, food and refreshments. Participants can collect pledges for their plunge, with proceeds going to the Royal Canada Marine Search & Rescue Stn 2.
Delta
Join the 40th Annual Polar Bear Swim at Centennial Beach (Boundary Bay Regional Park) on Sunday, January 1, 2020. Registration starts at 12:00pm and the Polar Bear Swim is at 1:00pm.
Port Moody
Take the Penguin Plunge in Port Moody at 1:00pm on January 1st at the Rocky Point Pier (2800 block of Murray Street). Registration opens at 11:00am and costs $5/individual and $10/family. There will be prizes for best costume (team and individual). This event, hosted annually by the Pleasantside Community Association, is a New Year’s Day tradition in Port Moody.
White Rock
It’s back after taking the year off last year due to storm damage at the White Rock Pier. Celebrate 50 years of White Rock’s Polar Bear Plunge with a chilly dip into Semiahmoo Bay on January 1st at noon. Join other plungers and 1,000+ enthusiastic onlookers for this New Year’s Day tradition. Costumes are “mandatory” and prizes will be awarded. Registration at 10:30am and the official plunge takes place at 12:00pm. Meet at the WHITE ROCK east of the Pier.
White Rock Polar Bear Swim. Photo by Tyler Ingram.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary, there will T-shirts and commemorative toques for sale, and there will be coffee and hot chocolate available by donation. Free parking available along the White Rock Waterfront until January 31, 2020.
Langley
Take a wintry dip in an unheated outdoor pool! The Polar Bear Plunge will take place on New Year’s Day (12:00pm to 12:30pm) at the Otter Co-op Outdoor Experience at the Aldergrove Credit Union Community Centre (27032 Fraser Hwy, Aldergrove). The first 150 people to register will receive a 2020 Polar Bear Plunge crest.
Of course the Olympics started off the entire decade with such a bang, it took a while to recover from such adventures of epic proportions.
For the purpose of this traditional roundup, I’ll simply attempt to list each year with some highlights which include personal accomplishments from my thirties, milestones and travel.
