SPARK Animation Festival: Win Tickets

Comments 4 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The SPARK CG Society is where CG pros & students collaborate on and evolve with the technologies that create and inspire generations of film and TV lovers. Their annual SPARK Animation Festival starts today, with a diverse lineup of screenings and events.

SPARK Animation Festival

When: Thursday, October 26, 2017 to Sunday, October 29, 2017
Where: Scotiabank Theatre (900 Burrard) and VIFF Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour)
Tickets: Reserve online now, rush tickets available at the door for Thursday

All charity proceeds from the festival will go to Covenant House Vancouver.

Each year SPARK CG hosts the SPARK ANIMATION, SPARK FWD and SPARK FX conferences, inviting international animation and VFX leaders to network about the rapid changes in the conception, production, and distribution of media content. By providing highly focused conference programming, presentations, recruiting and networking, SPARK CG plays a significant role connecting industry leaders from across the globe.

Thursday, October 26, 2017
7:00pm Feature Film
The Breadwinner (PG)
Introduction By Nora Twomey

9:30pm Award-winning Short Films
Spark Animation Celebration! (PG)
Special Guest: Glen Keane

Day 2 Friday, October 27, 2017
7:30pm Short Films:
Mothers Of A Medium (19+)
9:30pm Short Films:
Revolting Rhymes & Other Tales (19+)
11:15pm Short Films After Dark (19+)

Day 3 Saturday, October 28, 2017
2:30pm Feature Film:
Mune: Guardian Of The Moon (PG)

Introduction By Rémi Salmon
5:00pm Short Films:
Spotlight On France (PG)
7:30pm Feature Film:
Big Bad Fox & Other Tales (G)
9:30pm Feature Film:
Mutafukaz (19+)

Day 4 Sunday, October 29, 2017
3:00pm Short Films:
Find Me Unafraid
5:00pm Short Films:
Made In Canada
7:30pm Feature Film:
Mary & The Witch’s Flower (19+)
9:30pm Feature Film:
Big Fish & Begonia

Win Tickets

I have a pair tickets to give away to “Mothers of a Medium” which showcases animation from female animators.

Proof that female filmmakers are a creative force to be reckoned with, this year’s collection of international shorts from female creators highlights the diversity of female animators. These brilliant self-contained creative feats beautifully capture all the fun and foibles of human nature.

Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Click below to get another entry by posting on Twitter:

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to #SPARK2017 ANIMATION @SparkCGS http://ow.ly/hTIq30g9eue” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

QUICK contest! I will draw the winner tomorrow morning (Friday, October 27, 2017 at 9:00am).

Since the inaugural SPARK FX in January 2008 and SPARK ANIMATION in September 2008, the Spark CG Society has continued to bring the best of the international community to Vancouver and over the years has played host to a number of luminaries.

Follow SPARK on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more information.

Update The winner is Narceli!

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Move On to Western Conference Semifinals

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

With a resounding 5-0 win, Vancouver Whitecaps FC have advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals for the second time in three years and will face arch-rivals Seattle Sounders FC in a tantalizing two-leg aggregate series.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Move On to Western Conference Semifinals
Where: BC Place in Vancouver
When: 1st leg @ 5:30pm on Sunday, October 29, 2017
Tickets: Available now on Ticketmaster

Vancouver earned their place in the Conference Semifinals by winning their first playoff match in the MLS era, defeating San Jose Earthquakes 5-0 at BC Place on Wednesday night.

The second leg of the Conference Semifinal series against Sounders FC will take place on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

All Whitecaps FC matches in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs are broadcast live on TSN and on TSN Radio Vancouver.

The last time that Whitecaps FC made it to the Conference Semifinals was in 2015, as they fell 2-0 on aggregate to Portland Timbers. A crowd of 27,837 packed the lower bowl for the second leg at BC Place.

The other Western Conference semifinal series will see top seed Portland Timbers face the winner of Thursday’s Knockout Round match between Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City.

Should the ‘Caps win their Conference Semifinal series against Seattle, they will advance to the Western Conference Championship series, which will also take place over two legs. The first leg will be on Tuesday, November 21, 2017, with the return leg on Thursday, November 30, 2017.

MLS Cup will be played on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at the home venue of the finalist with the best regular season record.

Follow Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Surrey Tree Lighting Festival 2017

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

The City of Surrey is set to kick off the Christmas season with the return of the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival on November 25th with free family fun, a new holiday market, holiday fun zone, and of course the lighting of a 55-foot Christmas tree – one of the tallest Christmas trees in Canada.

Surrey Tree Lighting Festival

Where: City Hall Plaza (13450 104 Ave, Surrey)
When: Saturday, November 25, 2017 12:00pm to 7:00pm
Admission: Free!

Entertainment Headliner Ruth B.

Juno award-winning singer-songwriter Ruth B. will headline the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival. An emerging Canadian star, Ruth B.’s track “Lost Boy” has amassed over 240,700,000 streams on Spotify, 670 million streams on YouTube and won her a 2017 Juno Award for “Breakthrough Artist of the Year”.

Presented by Coast Capital Savings, this year’s Surrey Tree Lighting Festival will feature several new attractions. An expanded holiday market will offer an abundance of locally-made goods within the plaza.

Attendees can also experience the Holiday Fun Zone presented by Z95.3 on University Drive that will include a free zip line, amusement rides, road hockey, a Canada 150 zone and a DJ. Festival entertainment throughout the day will include Vernon five-piece alternative rock band ‘Daysormay’, jazz-soul singer Krystle Dos Santos plus over 20 additional performers, choirs and children’s entertainers.

“Attending the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival has become one of my favourite holiday traditions,” said Mayor Linda Hepner. “The beautiful Christmas tree, arrival of Santa, and great entertainment create a truly festive atmosphere. I encourage everyone to come catch the holiday spirit and join us at this family friendly celebration.”

The Surrey Food Bank, Surrey Christmas Bureau, Sophie’s Place and the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society will be on site collecting donations. For more information and performance schedules, including Santa’s arrival time, visit the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival website.

Follow the City of Surrey’s events team on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

Miss604 is a Proud Sponsor of the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival

Craft Beer and Wine in Coquitlam: Win Event Tickets

Comments 63 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Coquitlam has its own craft brewery, its own SkyTrain stops, great shopping and outdoor adventure, now it has an international wine festival. Pair that with its successful craft beer festival, and a great cause, and you’ve got your November plans sorted!

Coquitlam Craft Beer Festival

When: November 3-4, 2017
Where: Westwood Plateau Golf Club
Tickets: Available online now

Sample craft beer from more than 40 breweries and taste fare from 8-10 local restaurants and caterers at the spectacular setting of Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club.

Partnered with Team Taylor of The Ride to Conquer Cancer, the Coquitlam Craft Beer Festival was created by West Coast Experiences as a way to support an amazing charity in the community and encourage local beer and food lovers to experience the best BC has to offer. Support the cause through the silent auction and purchase a ticket for the grand prize draw.

TriCity International Food and Wine Festival


Bailward Photography

When: November 4-5, 2017
Where: Westwood Plateau Golf Club
Tickets: Available online now

Coquitlam pops a cork on a brand new wine event. The TriCity International Food and Wine Festival is the perfect pairing of wine, food and scenery at Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club.

The inaugural TriCity International Food & Wine Festival is being hosted in partnership with West Coast Experiences, the EU Chamber of Commerce, the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Marquis Wine Cellars. There has never been a festival of this kind in the TriCities!

The three tasting rooms, located throughout the Country Club, will feature 15 Italian Wineries and 35 International Wineries collectively showcasing over 200 wines paired with intriguing foods provided by 10 Restaurants, Caterers and Food Companies.

Marquis Wine Cellars is pleased to host an online wine store for the festival allowing guests to purchase mixed cases of all of their favourite wines enjoyed during the event.

The TriCity International Food and Wine Festival also supports Team Taylor of The Ride to Conquer Cancer.

Enter to Win

I have a pair of tickets to give away to each of these fantastic events. The first prize is two tickets for the Coquitlam Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, November 4th and the second prize is tickets to the TriCity International Food & Wine Festival on Sunday, November 5th.

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Click below to post an entry on Twitter (choose both or 1)

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to the @coqbeerfestival #ExploreCoquitlam http://ow.ly/pU9H30g7tw9″ quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to the @tricitywinefest #ExploreCoquitlam http://ow.ly/pU9H30g7tw9″ quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw two winners at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.

Explore and Share

Pick up your copy of the Coquitlam 2017 Travel & Adventure Guide at any City facility, or read it online, and share your photos online using #explorecoquitlam.

Follow the City of Coquitlam on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

Update The winners are Kelly (beer) and Rosine (wine)!

Vancouver Photos of the Week: Fall Inspiration

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Vibrant fall colours are popping all over Metro Vancouver, with leaves are brilliantly turning and tumbling for the season. There are some great parks to capture autumn colours, and perhaps you’ll be inspired by some of these photos which have been shared with the Miss604 Flickr Group and #Photos604 on Instagram this week:

Vancouver Photos of the Week

All Good Things

A post shared by Clayton Perry (@vanclayton) on

Fall Rolls In

Stanley Park Autumn Morning

Coal Harbour autumn colours

A post shared by Syd (@sydvancouver) on

Fall colors Vancouver

I Saw Red ?❤ Vancouver, BC

A post shared by Peter So Photography (@psphoto604) on

Ahead by a Century ?? Vancouver, BC

Downtown Vancouver at sunset

A post shared by Ann (@annbadjura) on

As always, please click through on these images to view more work from the photographers and feel free to share your own photos with the Miss604 Flickr Pool or with the tag #Photos604 on Instagram. View all photo collections here and follow Miss604 on Instagram.