The finalists have been chosen for our Petcurean’s Uplift the Underdog!
Earlier this season, local rescue centres in BC were encouraged to nominate a deserving pup and now between June 11 & 17, 2018, you can vote for which deserving rescue dog you want to win a lifetime supply of Petcurean dog food. The winner will also receive a 500lb donation of pet food to the shelter or rescue group and the opportunity to be included in a future marketing campaign.
Petcurean’s Uplift the Underdog
Voting is now open via Petcurean’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. You also have the chance to win simply by voting! Three randomly-selected voters will each win a 25lb bag of any Petcurean recipe of their choice (open to Canadian and US residents only).
Finalists:
- Lulu:
10 yrs old going on 2, she’s a massive bundle of energy who’s been waiting 4 years to find her forever home.
- Cranston:
An old dog that still has a few tricks, a love bug who’ll be an amazing, fun companion if you look past his age.
- Floyd:
This gentle giant has overcome a mountain of hurt and has a mountain of love to give to you.
- Clutch:
Don’t let the wheelchair fool you! He’ll race in and grab your heart if you let him.
- Ali Larter:
Blind – yes. Does it stop her – NO! Energetic and full of love – heck yes!
- Mia:
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Mia knows her forever family will see the true beauty inside her.
- Buckley:
He’s overcome digestive challenges, now his only challenge is to find his forever home.
- Asher:
His sweet and gentle nature triumphs over his allergies and signs of an abusive past.
All eight finalists will receive a year’s supply of Petcurean dog food, free doggie grooming, 500lb donation of pet food and a Petcurean gift basket filled with supplies, toys and more.
The dog that receives the most comments and likes over one week will be awarded the grand prize of a lifetime supply of Petcurean dog food.
You can participate and help raise awareness of the need to adopt “underdogs” who are traditionally less likely to get chosen due to age, appearance, or other issues. Let’s look beyond these so-called imperfections and focus on the amazing heart and spirit of the dogs, so they can find the loving homes they deserve.
Follow Petcurean on Facebook and Instagram for more info and to cast your vote.
The Mission Hill Summer Concert Series, a hallmark of summer in the Okanagan, returns with world-class musical talent to their spectacular outdoor Amphitheatre. In addition to the concerts, they offer experiential packages to enable guests to enjoy an unforgettable evening of food, wine and song.
Mission Hill Summer Concert Series 2018
For artists who command much larger venues the small capacity Amphitheatre provides a rare treat for those eager to engage with their fans on a more intimate level. Brilliant sound, glorious music, the taste of Mission Hill wines and the flavour of the food, combine to make the evening unforgettable.
The 2018 concerts include:
- Chris Isaak on Saturday, June 23rd SOLD OUT
- A special performance by Sheryl Crow on Friday, July 20th for members of Mission Hill’s Privilege Wine Club SOLD OUT
- Multiple Grammy Award-winning American jazz instrumentalist Chris Botti on Wednesday, August 8th — a new block of tickets has just been released!
- The Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes and Tonino Baliardo on Saturday, August 11th SOLD OUT
Mission Hill is also offering a range of Experiential Packages including several new 4-course dinner options and Concert + Reception experiences.
With the creation of the Amphitheatre, Proprietor Anthony von Mandl, O.C., O.B.C., a strong proponent of the arts, created a unique opportunity for guests to enjoy a spectacular evening of music, wine and cuisine at one of Canada’s premiere outdoor concert venues.
“A performance under the open sky at our outdoor Amphitheatre is a truly unforgettable experience,” states von Mandl. “There is something extraordinarily special about this intimate hilltop location. We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional musical performers to the winery this summer.”
Win Tickets
I have a pair of tickets to give away to see Chris Botti live in concert at Mission Hill.
An Evening with Chris Botti – Wednesday, August 8, 2018:
Chris Botti has had four #1 jazz albums, as well as multiple Gold, Platinum and Grammy Awards, and has collaborated with such fellow luminaries as Sting, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Josh Groban, Michael Bublé, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, John Mayer, and Andrea Bocelli. In 2013, Botti’s album, Impressions, won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Click below to post the entry text on Twitter (1 entry)
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win 2 tickets to see @ChrisBotti live in concert at the @MissionHill Summer Concert Series http://ow.ly/t8zx30krpQ9″ quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, June 18, 2018.
Follow Mission Hill on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more information.
Update The winner is Tony!
Since 1984, YWCA Metro Vancouver has paid tribute to more than 300 award recipients and more than 1,800 nominees, and on June 7th they celebrated their 35th annual Women of Distinction Awards at the JW Parq Marriott Vancouver. More than 1,300 guests and volunteers gathered to honour inspiring women and organizations for their achievements.
YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Winners 2018
Arts, Culture & Design
Mary-Jo Dionne – Principal, Mary-Jo Dionne Productions
Mary-Jo Dionne, an award-winning writer, performer, podcaster and Principal of Mary-Jo Dionne Productions, has done everything from copywriting to keynote speaking, while giving generously to the community.
Business & the Professions
Kirsten Sutton – Vice President and Managing Director, SAP Labs Canada
As Vice President and Managing Director of SAP Labs Canada, Kirsten Sutton facilitated SAP’s adoption of the Autism@Work initiative and advocates for girls in tech by supporting initiatives like Templeton STEM and GIRLsmart4tech. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
The South Granville ArtWalk returns the 7th year, organized by the galleries of the South Granville Gallery Association (“SGGA”). Everyone is welcome to be part of this art-filled, interactive event on Vancouver’s original Gallery Row in the vibrant neighbourhood of South Granville.
South Granville ArtWalk
Where: Saturday, June 16, 2018 10:00am to 5:00pm
When: Gallery Row in South Granville (between 6th & 16th Ave)
Admission: FREE
Experience Artwalk 2018 by strolling along Granville Street between 6th and 16th avenue to find your perfect style of art. Enjoy artist talks, demos, refreshments, tastings, prize draws, pop-up shops, over 10 different art exhibitions and much more. Explore a wide diversity of art, from historical to contemporary with local artists in attendance to showcase their new works.
This year, participating galleries include:
Uno Langmann Limited
Kimoto Gallery
Elissa Cristall Gallery
Petley Jones Gallery
Heffel Fine Art Auction House
Ian Tan Gallery
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Douglas Reynolds Gallery
Marion Scott Gallery
Kurbatoff Gallery
Bau-Xi Gallery
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Enjoy artist receptions, collaborations with local shops (like L’Occitane, Small Victory Bakery), painting demos, wine tastings and more.
South Granville has the highest concentration of fine art galleries in Vancouver, its legacy as gallery row is cemented as it continues to thrive a half-century since its founding.
Several new galleries have moved into the area since the first ArtWalk, adding to SGGA’s reputation as the only area in the city where one can tour the full breadth of artwork available in Vancouver.
You’ll find a diverse range of art including Canadian and International conceptual, European modernism and old masters, historical and emerging Canadian art including photography as well as two galleries devoted to First Nations and Inuit work.
The special events organized for this one-day-only affair draw art enthusiasts and collectors alike out to admire works by seasoned masters and to discover emerging young talents.
Follow the South Granville BIA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information.
Heard But Not Seen: The Colourful Songbirds of Summer
This post has been contributed by Don Enright, Communications Volunteer (and Past President) with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”).
Vancouver is full of beautiful, brightly-coloured birds right now—they’re just a bit hard to spot.
As a kid growing up, I was captivated by images of tropical birds, with their impossibly bright feathers. It wasn’t until I got a little older that I realized we have some outrageously bright birds right around us—and while they’re not always easy to spot, they’re right over our heads, singing their hearts out.
For me, the absolute winner in the colourful department is the western tanager.
Western Tanager. Photo: Jerry McFarland
The tanagers are, in fact, a tropical bunch of birds—most of this guy’s relatives live in Central and South America. But a few tanager species spend their summers up north, and the western tanager is our local rep. They arrive as if on schedule around the first week of May, and in Stanley Park the broadleaf trees around the Dining Pavilion are a good place to look for them.
A word of warning: you’d think that their bright yellow and red plumage would make them stand out against a green tree; it doesn’t. First, you’ll need to listen to their prr-drr-DIK call, and their beautiful robin-like song. Once you tune into their vocalizations, you’ll realize how surprisingly common this bird is in summer (they spend their winters far to the south.) And if you invest a little time staring up in the trees, you’ll eventually be rewarded with the sight of one of these beauties perching in plain view.
Black-headed Grosbeak. Photo: Mick Thompson
Not far away from those tanagers, there’s another bright and beautiful songbird lurking high in the trees: the black-headed grosbeak. Another summer visitor, this handsome creature sings with the most beautiful rich, resonant tones—from waaaaay up in the trees. Right now, they’re busy tending to their nests. They’re good parents, by human standards—as with most songbirds, both male and female care for and feed the young. And like the western tanager, the black-headed grosbeak is easily heard, once you tune in to their call. I’d be willing to bet you’ve heard one already, but assumed it was a robin. The songs are similar.
The third colourful songbird on my list is the red crossbill, and this is one hardy bird. Unlike the other two who fly south early in the fall, the red crossbill is a year-round resident, specializing in the seeds of our conifer trees. In fact, it has a crazy beak that is tailored just to that purpose.
Red Crossbill. Photo: Tom Ediger
Red crossbills are cone specialists. In fact, in years where we’ve got a spectacular cone crop, these birds will set up a nest and raise their young in the dead of winter. And while that beak looks like a breeding experiment gone wrong, it’s actually pretty smart: birds have much stronger muscles for closing their mouths than for opening them—so those curved ends to the beak allow them to pry a cone open with a closing action.
While they’re a bit hard to spot way up in the cedar trees, I have seen them down along the rocks near Second Beach during winter. They were probably gathering grit to store in their gizzards—most birds can’t really chew their food, so they pass their seed meals through a stone grinder attached to their stomachs.
All three of these birds can be attracted to bird baths during dry weather. If you choose to keep a bird bath, please make sure to keep it clean and fresh.
And ultimately, the best way to do these birds a favour is to ensure they have lots of room to breed and to feed. Keeping a little bit of your property wild is a great gesture for our urban wildlife, and ensuring a healthy future for places like Stanley Park will help us keep exotic, colourful songbirds around us in the years to come.
About SPES Saturday
As a member of the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”), I wanted to offer the organization an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I created the “SPES Series” years ago. This is where SPES can contribute and share stories with my audience once a month. Follow SPES on Facebook for more information.
