Canuck Place’s 13th Annual Gift of Time is taking place on October 14th at the Westin Bayshore and each year, a highlight of the evening is a speech from a Canuck Place family. This year, Maureen Laforge will be speaking about her daughter, Angela.
Angela was a recent high school graduate living in Campbell River. She was exploring her options: going to college, finding a decent job, falling in love. She was a young adult who was entering a new time in her life.
In January of 2015, her life turned an unexpected corner when she was diagnosed with Chordoma, an aggressive and rare cancer with few treatment options.
“The next six months saw us embark on an overwhelming journey of surgeries, specialized radiation treatments in the US, and numerous trips to doctors in Vancouver,” explained Maureen.
“We were home in Campbell River for only a few weeks at a time, with little time for anything else.”
By the end of 2015 tumors had taken the use of Angela’s hands, legs, and even her voice. After a year of battling the cancer, it was clear that this was not a battle they would win, and they were introduced to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.
“Being the parent of a critically ill child feels like being in the middle of a hurricane, and tornado, and a tsunami all at the same time and all the while your child looks to you to calm the winds, block the flying debris, and hold back the waves – they look to you to save them.
“It is a most helpless feeling I have ever felt,” said Maureen.
The staff at Canuck Place calmed the storm with love, compassion, and expertise.
“Time seemingly slowed down,” remembers Maureen. “Now our time was experienced in moments, moments we could savour together.”
The Canuck Place team diligently learned everything they could about Angela, not just her medical needs, but also how they could help her experience some of her favourite things.
Like a bubble bath. With help from nurses and a specialized tub, Angela was able to enjoy long, luxurious bubble baths while staying at Canuck Place, a simple pleasure that was no longer possible at home.
On April 16th, 2016 Angela passed peacefully, surrounded by friends and family in the Canuck Place gardens.
“It was truly a beautiful transition for our daughter,” said Maureen. “One that she too had hoped for. Angela did not want her final breaths to be in a hospital.
I remember Angela saying, ‘When this is all over don’t let it be a sad story to never speak of, let it be the beginning of a beautiful one.’ The team at Canuck Place had granted her this final wish and made it so.”
Maureen Laforge will be sharing her story at the Canuck Place Gift of Time Gala on October 14th. This is a sold-out event, but you can still support by donating to the Friends of Gift of Time Fund.
How to Give
Click here to donate to Canuck Place »
Canuck Place delivers care to over 715 newborns, teens and families across the province and through two locations: Vancouver and Abbotsford.
Dedicated, professional staff and over 300 volunteers provide a vital lifeline for children and families in their greatest time of need. Canuck Place relies on the generosity of individuals, corporations, and various organizations to raise operating funds, with a portion funded by the Province of BC.
Follow along on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Miss604 and The Wine Syndicate are pleased to present a new bi-weekly series to help you gear up for the weekend in style. Weekend Wine will showcase new-to-you wineries, familiar favourites, and perfect pairings that you can pick up at your local purveyor.
Weekend Wine Selection
Les Halos de Jupiter is the personal project of French master oenologist Philippe Cambie, who provides his expert touch to a number of famous Rhône labels.
Tasting & Pairing Notes
This red is a delicious blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre with aromas and flavours of dark juicy fruits, herbs, spice and light minerality.
It gets better with time, so you can savour it after cellaring for three to five years, or pop it open while you’re cooking a roasted meat supper and by the time you’ve sat down with your plate it will be ready to embrace.
It has a plush, full texture from its time in French oak, but it’s still plummey, pruney, and juicy with a long-lasting finish. Pair with roast lamb, steak, or a juicy burger.
Where to Buy
The Les Halos de Jupiter 2015 Côtes du Rhône is available widely at over 100 BC Liquor Stores for $22.99. Enjoy now or cellar three to five years.
Please enjoy responsibly. Must be 19+.
Cineplex Entertainment will host a morning of free movies on Saturday, October 14th at local Cineplex theatres across BC for its 7th annual Cineplex Community Day. All proceeds from donations and select concession sales will support its national charity partner WE – a movement that brings people together and gives them the tools to change the world.
Free Movies at Cineplex Community Day
This year’s line-up of free films includes Kung Fu Panda 3, Trolls, Ice Age: Collision Course, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, along with select concessions like popcorn, soft drinks and certain candy items priced at $2.50 each.
All proceeds from donations and select concession sales supporting the company’s national charitable partner, WE Charity, part of WE – a family of organizations that makes doing good, doable. In exchange for a $2.00 donation, theatres will also be selling a fun variety of ME to WE Cineplex ‘Change Bracelets’ which feature motivational statements to inspire youth to create positive change.
Cineplex theatres across Canada will open their doors at 9:00am on Saturday, October 14, 2017 with tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Movies will begin at 9:30am, and all locations will return to regular programming in the afternoon. Films will be shown in English and French, depending upon the market.
Participating Theatres in Metro Vancouver
Cineplex Cinemas Coquitlam and VIP
Cineplex Odeon Meadowtown Cinemas
SilverCity Riverport Cinemas
Cineplex Cinemas Metropolis
Follow Cineplex on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Fright Nights at Playland return October 6-31, 2017 with a new haunted house, The Bloodshed, bringing the total up to 8 this year. Featuring torture devices, 20 rides and a park full of murderous ghouls, Fright Nights is bloodier and spookier than ever and is the perfect event for every Halloween lover.
Fright Nights at Playland
Home to a family of ruthless mutant backwoods yokels, The Bloodshed, a dilapidated summer cabin that no one would ever want to vacation in, promises to be the goriest Halloween scene yet with rooms that capture such nightmarish and grisly detail, returning fans may be shocked they still can be scared out of their wits. Even the most cynical and seasoned Halloween fans will be on their phobic guards when they encounter the newest haunted house.
Canada’s most extreme pendulum ride, The Beast, will be returning this Halloween, alongside favourites like Pirate Ship, Hell’s Gate and Atmosfear.
For those looking for a paranormal experience, Haunted Mansion is geared to terrify even the bravest souls, and guests can attempt to overcome their fear of clowns in Car-N-Evil haunted house, and face their deepest terrors in darkness. Favourite haunted houses, The Asylum, Fear, Hollywood Horrors, and Keepers Doll Factory are also back.
Returning favourites and Guinness World Record holders Monsters of Schlock will be terrifying guests with three nightly shows from October 13th to 31st. Guests can expect to be horrified with shows that feature meat hooks, and other cringe worthy entertainment. Playland’s favourite freak, Singe the Clown, is also back and up to his usual creepy antics.
Guests have the option to purchase a Rapid Pass, which offers the same access as a regular gate pass PLUS access to an expedited line for each Haunted House and The Beast, Wooden Roller Coaster, Atmosfear, and Hellevator. Guests will also be able to save $3 by purchasing tickets at participating 7-Eleven locations or online.
Ticket Info
Due to the overwhelming demand and to ensure a quality guest experience, Fright Nights is putting a cap on the number of tickets sold per day. Tickets must be purchased for a specific date. Event nights have limited availability and may sell out. Admission includes unlimited access to all eight haunted houses, shows and 20 rides. There is an additional charge for the Revelation and Drop Zone. Parking is NOT included.
Win Tickets to Fright Nights at Playland
I have a 4 pack of regular admission tickets to give away to Fright Nights, 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 4 passes to #FrightNights @pne_playland http://ow.ly/vsiS30fDZxY” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, October 12, 2017. The winner will get to choose their date, based on availability.
Follow Playland on Twitter and Facebook for more information about Fright Nights.
Warning! Not recommended for ages 12 and under, seniors 65+, people with sensitivity to strobe lighting or fog machines, people with high blood pressure, heart conditions, pregnant women or scaredy-cats. Absolutely no guest costumes or guest costume face make up allowed.
Update The winner is Mercedes!
We sat in the shade of the East Block on a warm August morning in Ottawa. The capital’s Carillon played America the Beautiful as a part of an “Unofficial Anthems” song selection, after Jamaica Farewell and before the AfricAcadian anthem, Oh, Freedom. The daily carillon program is just one of many aspects of visiting the Canadian Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. We were waiting to meet up with our Centre Block tour group, and had just visited the Peace Tower.
Visiting the Canadian Parliament Buildings in Ottawa
All visits to Parliament are offered free of charge but I highly encourage you to grab your tickets as early as possible in the day as they are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. To get tickets for guided tours (in French or English) of Centre Block and East Block, visit 90 Wellington Street which is just across the road from Parliament Hill. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
