Last Thursday, 118 guests turned out in support of the Dan’s Legacy 4th annual Chef’s Charity Dinner at the Vancouver Club and raised $46,765. The funds will go towards the charity’s counselling and life-skills programs for youth affected by trauma-based mental health and addictions challenges.
Dan’s Legacy 4th Annual Chefs’ Charity Dinner
On Thursday, November 16, 118 guests turned out in support of the 4th Annual Chef’s Charity Dinner at the Vancouver Club and raised $46,765 for Dan’s Legacy. Photo credit: Kent Danielson
“We’re over the moon at the phenomenal outpouring of support from everyone who attended,” says Barbara Coates, Executive Director of Dan’s Legacy. “Our message of harm prevention, especially in the context of the ever-escalating opioid health crisis, found a receptive and responsive audience. We made a lot of new friends which will have a huge impact in helping us grow our counselling services, and extending our reach to some of the most vulnerable youth in Metro Vancouver.”
The inimitable Fred Lee was on hand once again to serve as the evening’s MC, which featured the delightful culinary creations of Chefs Sean Cousins (Vancouver Club), Dr. Theresa Nicassio (YUM), Dino Renaerts (Bon Vivant Group), Shay Kelly (The Caterer) and Saskia Nollen (Vancouver Club).
Special guests included: BC’s Representative for Children and Youth Bernard Richard; former BC Finance Minister Carole Taylor; Jan Grude, President and CEO of Pacific Blue Cross; and Brenden Graham from Coast Capital Savings.
The charity also launched its film “Passages”, which tells the stories of three young people whose lives were helped immeasurably thanks to Dan’s Legacy’s therapeutic counselling and life-skills programs.
If you missed the gala but would like to support Dan’s Legacy, or if you know someone battling mental health and addictions issues who is asking for help, please visit the website or call Tom Littlewood (Program Director) at 604-999-9136 or Barbara Coates (Executive Director) at 604-329-9186, or barb(at)danslegacy(dot)com.
About Dan’s Legacy
Dan’s Legacy provides therapeutic counselling and life-skills intervention programs to youth battling mental health and addictions issues resulting from childhood trauma and abuse. In the past three years Dan’s Legacy has helped over 150 youth meet their educational, housing and life-goals.
Follow Dan’s Legacy on Facebook and Twitter for more information about The Foundation.
Miss604 is the proud Social Media Sponsor of the Dan’s Legacy 4th Annual Chefs’ Charity Dinner
Big Rigs for Kids is a free event, that travels through several communities in Surrey, offering family fun while supporting a great cause. This lighted truck parade will illuminate Surrey, starting at the Surrey Santa Parade in Cloverdale, and will be followed by live entertainment, snacks, and more over at Surrey City Hall.
Santa Parade in Surrey
There will be several groups along the parade route selling food and novelties, with proceeds going to charity. Please consider bringing a non-perishable food donation or gift item for the Surrey Food Bank and the Surrey Christmas Bureau.
The Big Rigs for Kids begins at the front of the Surrey Santa Parade of Lights and then form a convoy and travel to the City Hall Plaza to form a display of lights. The North Surrey Lions Club will be there selling hot dogs and snacks along with playing Christmas music. The Surrey Food Bank and Surrey Christmas Bureau will also be taking donations of food, toys, and cash.
Big Rigs for Kids
- Where: City Hall Plaza (13450 104 Ave, Surrey) (click to view Big Rigs route)
- When: Sunday, December 3, 2017 5:20pm, with trucks arriving at City Hall at 6:30pm
There will be lots of ways to give back to your community at the event, as the Surrey Christmas Bureau and Surrey Food Bank will be on site collecting food, toy, and cash donations. The North Surrey Lions Club will also be on site selling hot dogs and hot chocolate, with all proceeds going to these charities.
Follow the Downtown Surrey BIA on Facebook and Twitter for more information about this event.
Visit the tallest living Christmas trees in the world during Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park this season! Enjoy hundreds of thousands of lights throughout the park including an illuminated Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk, rainforest and canyon which will be transformed into a world of festive lights and visual enchantment.
Image courtesy of Capilano Suspension Bridge
Canyon Lights
- Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
(3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver)
- When: November 23, 2017 to January 28, 2018 (closed Christmas Day)
11:00am to 9:00pm
- Admission: Purchase online in advance or at the park. Canyon Lights tickets are valid all day with holiday activities beginning at 4:00pm. Capilano operates a free shuttle to and from Canada Place.
Image courtesy of Capilano Suspension Bridge
This year the 30-ton Douglas firs of Treetops Adventure receive star treatment. Treetops Adventure is a series of seven suspension bridges attached to eight 250 years old Douglas-firs with viewing platforms, reaching up to 110 feet above the forest floor. These magnificent Douglas firs will be lit above and below the collars, making these trees the eight tallest Christmas trees in the world!
Back by popular demand, go on a Snowy Owl Prowl, decorate gingerbread cookies (by donation) and sing-along carols with the holiday band. Two new children’s activities this year include decorating wooden ornaments and make your own holiday badge (by donation) in the Winter Craft Tent.
Pro Tip: If it’s open, grab a hot chocolate or pumpkin spice latte (with locally roasted Moja Coffee) in the Bridge House and purchase your tickets right there too. It’s on the same side of the road as the parking lot. Then when you’re ready, head over to the entrance to the park.
Canyon Lights Giveaway
Canyon Lights is now in its 12th year and for the 9th year, I have an awesome prize package up for grabs! It includes a family pack of passes to Canyon Lights (2 adults and 2 kids 16 and under), vouchers for fudge at the Trading Post Gift Shop, and some hot chocolate to warm you up. Here’s how you can enter to win:
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a #CanyonLights family prize pack from @CapSuspBridge http://ow.ly/OEKh30gHw0T” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at 12:00pm on Monday, November 27, 2017. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is located at 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for more information about Canyon Lights and year-round activities.
Update The winner is Lisa Smith!
This post is sponsored by TD and the TD Common Ground Project.
Back in May I visited an empty lot in Surrey, tucked between an elementary school and a residential neighbourhood, that was filled with potential. As of October 28th, thanks to the TD Common Ground Project, Forsyth Park opened to the public.
Surrey’s Forsyth Park and New TD Nature Play Area
Forsyth Park featuring the TD Nature Play Area is located between 108 Ave and 104 Ave, 140th St and 139th St. The 7.5 acre park features an adventurous playground, picnic areas and a series of walking pathways, and an off leash area for four-legged friends (both big and small).
May 2017:
November 2017:
“Forsyth Park is the first of 10 new parks planned for Surrey City Centre,” said Mayor Linda Hepner. “The TD Nature Play Area at Forsyth Park is a wonderful legacy for Surrey’s newest park and it will be enjoyed by children for generations to come.”
When I visited the park to take my “after” photos, I was excited to play! It’s got all the traditional playground elements combined with a creekbed – complete with canoe – a mountain of boulders to climb, swings, and more. It was only 2C out during my visit and there were families everywhere enjoying the new space.
May 2017:
October 2017:
Forsyth Park Grand Opening, October 28, 2017. City of Surrey.
TD Bank Group provided a $500,000 grant to the City of Surrey to build the TD Nature Play Area in Forsyth Park as one of the seven major ‘TD Common Ground Projects’ across Canada. TD created the Common Ground Project in recognition of Canada 150 and has funded a legacy of more than 150 green spaces across Canada for communities to enjoy together for years to come.
“TD is committed to contributing to livable and healthy cities and to improve the quality of life for communities like Surrey in a lasting way,” said Mauro Manzi, Senior Vice President, TD Bank Group – Pacific Region. “Green spaces, like the TD Nature Play Area in Forsyth Park, are where communities come together to meet, talk and play or where people find common ground and connect.”
For more information, follow TD Canada on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and the tag #TDCommonGround to join the conversation.
Over 100 local talented crafters and makers give holiday shoppers unique gift options at the North Vancouver Holiday Bazaar. Spanning two weekends, visitors can step into the festively decorated rooms, listen to seasonal music, savour candy canes, buy poinsettias, watch kids have fun with Christmas-themed face painting and enjoy photos with Santa on Sundays.
North Vancouver Holiday Bazaar
Where: Carson Graham Secondary School at 2145 Jones Avenue
When: Saturday & Sunday (November 18 & 19; December 2 & 3) 10:00am to 4:00pm
Tickets: Admission is $3, and kids 12 and under get in free. The venue features plenty of free parking.
The first 100 visitors each day are admitted free and they are one of the only craft fairs with a charitable component. This year’s beneficiary is Backpack Buddies, a Metro Vancouver program that aims to fill the weekend hunger gap by providing backpacks of food on Fridays to children who rely on school meal programs weekdays. Partial proceeds from admission, together with poinsettia sales and photos with Santa, will go to the charity.
This year’s vendors include bath & body, candles, jewelry, baked goods & canned foods, fashion & accessories, glassworks, health & wellness, home & holiday décor, knitting/crochet, liquor – spirits & wine, paper crafts, pottery, textiles, visual arts and woodworks. Shoppers will find themselves tempted by luxurious hand knit cotton and linen throws, ocean inspired boho chic glass jewelry, environmentally responsible unique concrete products and sustainable eco-vegan-gluten-friendly white wines.
Win a Prize Pack
The North Vancouver Holiday Bazaar has put together an awesome prize pack filled with local goodies for one lucky Miss604 reader!
The $100 prize pack includes:
- Christmas Ornament from Deerly Crafts
- Jam Sampler from Honeyboons
- Coffee Mug from Free Reign
- 2 admission tickets for the Bazaar on December 2 or 3, 2017
- $20 in Bazaar Bucks to spend at the event
Here’s how you can enter to win:
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, November 22, 2017. Follow the North Vancouver Holiday Bazaar tag #NVHolidayBazaar on Facebook and Instagram for more information.
Update The winner is Odette Narissa!
