Win Tickets to Refuge at the Firehall Arts Centre

Comments 15 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Firehall Arts Centre is proud to produce and present Mary Vingoe’s Refuge from March 18th to April 1st, 2017.

Refuge at the Firehall Arts Centre

  • Where: The Firehall Arts Centre (280 East Cordova, Vancouver)
  • When: Opening Night: March 22 at 8:00pm
    Previews: March 18, 8:00pm, March 19, 3:00pm, March 21, 7:00pm, March 22, 1:00pm
    Performance Times: Tuesday 7:00pm, Wednesday to Friday 8:00pm, Saturday 4:00pm & 8:00pm, Sunday 3:00pm, Wednesday March 22 & 29th at 1:00pm
  • Tickets Available online or by calling (604) 689-0926

Based on the award-winning CBC Radio documentary “Habtom’s Path”, Refuge tells the emotionally riveting story of Eritrean army deserter Ayinom Zerisenai who has landed in Nova Scotia, where his mother already has refugee status. But even as Ayinom’s plight wins the support of immigration lawyer Saul Ackman, questions about his past actions – and his current enigmatic behaviour – begin to haunt Pamela who has taken him under her roof. Could she and her husband be harbouring a legitimate refugee – or a terrorist?

Written by Mary Vingoe and directed by The Firehall Arts Centre’s Donna Spencer, Refuge is a provocative story of the pitfalls of seeking sanctuary in today’s suspicious world.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away for Refuge, here’s how you can enter to win:

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

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to REFUGE at @firehallartscte http://owl.li/YkNt309Nm8y” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, March 16, 2017. Follow The Firehall Arts Centre on Twitter, and Facebook to learn more about this production and more.

Update The winner is Suzanne!

#SkiNorthBC Shredding at Shames

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt
Disclosure: Sponsored Post — The #SkiNorthBC series is in partnership with SnowSeekers Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.

This winter I partnered with SnowSeekers, with whom I have done a few fun assignments, to share their #SkiNorthBC stories from destinations in Northern BC.

The team visited Powder King, Terrace, Smithers, Quesnel, Troll Ski Resort, spent 72 Hours in Smithers, explored Hudson Bay Mountain, and visited Terrace. The FINAL story is from SnowSeekers #SkiNorthBC expedition member Matt “Powder Matt” Mosteller who met up Paralympic bronze medallist Caleb Brousseau at Shames Mountain.

Shredding at Shames


Dax Justin Photo

Powder Matt’s visit to Shames starts out with “parking lot attendant greets you with big smiles and blaring classic rock tunes” and escalates to a point where his excitement beams from his report, as he uses terms with which even I am unfamiliar.

“Taking a look at the ski touring map, you can easily picture yourself enjoying a lifetime of options further afar. Or, you could be easily entertained with yo-yo laps for hours, right from the top of the lift. Sure, this place has a good offering of cruisers, in-bound glades, moguls, groomed runs, in addition some steeps and a terrain park.”

Above all else, Matt says that hands down, “the draw is one of North America’s best lift-accessed backcountry ski touring.”


Matt “Powder Matt” Photo

From there, Matt met up with Caleb Brousseau, who recently won bronze in Socchi.

You can’t miss the big smile and laughs, of Caleb Brousseau, who grew up in nearby Terrace, learned how to ski and ride on these family-friendly slopes. His laps were learned on the antique chairlift and t-bar, day in and day out, from sunrise, to sunset. No wonder this kid was hooked on this sport…

…“After all that training and commitment to my sport, it is so cool to be here. Shames is my hometown hill, it offers some of the deepest snow, I have ever seen, and it has hands down some of the best side country offering anywhere,” says Brousseau.

Shames Mountain is a 30-minute drive from Terrace, and it is operated as the first community co-operative ski area in Canada. Read the full story about Shames Mountain via SnowSeekers here »


Jim “Doc Pow” Barr Photo

If You Go

#SkiNorthBC and explore more! For travellers, SnowSeekers has partnered with National Car rental to secure you a SnowSeekers preferred rate. Make a reservation online, or with an agent and in the Contract field enter XVC4SNO for a savings that could cover your ski pass cost every day.

Read the full story about Shames Mountain via SnowSeekers here »

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Spring Break is almost here and as such, local attractions are amping up their offerings and programming. This weekend is just the beginning! Check out the full March event list and send in your event any time for a free listing.

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green.

Friday, March 10, 2017
A Fundraiser for Gordon Neighbourhood House
musica intima: womenspiration
Winter Watershed Snowshoe Tours
Story Story Lie – Woman’s Fundraiser
Le Gala des Rendez-vous de la Francophonie
Tomboy Survival Guide
A Dram Come True
Vancouver Art Gallery: FUSE: ReFuse
Eastside Flea Spring Market
Vancouver International Dance Festival: Dairakudakan: Paradise
Opening of Amazonia: The Rights of Nature at the MOA
CelticFest Vancouver
Coquitlam Craft Beer Festival
Transit: An Original Play
The Wizard of Oz at the Michael J Fox Theatre
Théâtre la Seizième Present: Bonjour, là, bonjour
Vancouver International Women in Film Festival
Chutzpah! Festival
Vancouver International Dance Festival
OKUNI ~ Mother of Kabuki
Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

Win Tickets to BC Distilled

Comments 117 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Canada’s largest artisan distillery event, BC Distilled, expands its festival with tastings at Legacy Liquor and a Distillers Dinner at Forage this year.

BC Distilled

Where: Croatian Cultural Centre (3520 Commercial Drive, Vancouver)
When: Saturday, April 8, 2017
Trade Tasting: 2:30pm to 4:30pm
Public Tasting: 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Tickets: Available online now

BC Distilled 2017 participants include:

Ampersand Distilling | Duncan Monashee Spirits Craft Distillery | Revelstoke
Anderson Distilleries | Burnaby Odd Society Spirits | Vancouver
Arbutus Distilleries | Nanaimo Okanagan Crush Pad | Summerland
Bohemian Spirits | Kimberly Okanagan Spirits | Kelowna & Vernon
Central City Brewing and Distilling | Surrey Old Order Distilling | Penticton
Crow’s Nest Distillery | Abbotsford Pemberton Distillery | Pemberton
Deep Cove Brewers & Distillers | North Vancouver        Shelter Point Distillery | Campbell River
DeVine Spirits | Saanichton Sheringham Distillery | Shirley
Dragon Mist Distillery | Surrey Sons of Vancouver | North Vancouver
Dubh Glas Distillery | Oliver Stealth Distilleries | North Vancouver
Fermentorium Distilling Co | Victoria The Liberty Distillery | Vancouver
Goodridge & Williams Distillers | Delta The Woods Spirit Co | North Vancouver
Legend Distilling | Naramata Urban Distilleries | Kelowna
Long Table Distillery | Vancouver Victoria Distillers | Victoria
Mad Laboratory Distilling | Vancouver Wayward Distillation House | Comox Valley
Maple Leaf Spirits | Penticton X Four Vodka | Richmond
Merridale Craft Spirits | Cobble Hill    Yaletown Distilling | Vancouver

Delicious canapés from Juniper, Timber, Two Rivers, Cascade Room and Lucky’s Doughnuts, as well as chocolate from Koko Monk, and drinks from Walter Caesar, Modern Mixers & Elixirs, Philips Soda, Cahoots Syrups and Rootside Provisions round out the night’s offerings. Those attending the trade and media events will be treated to nibbles from Oyama Sausage, Benton Brothers Fine Cheese and A Bread Affair.

In addition, an on-site Legacy Liquor pop-up shop will allow participants to purchase bottles, selecting from the widest selection of BC spirits available anywhere, with well over 100 products.

The evening includes a charity auction in support of the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS), which breeds, raises, trains and supports certified assistance dogs for people living with disabilities and for community care professionals. Some of the festival’s proceeds will also support PADS.

BCDistilled-2

Legacy BC Spirits Showcases

Where: 1633 Manitoba St, Vancouver
When: BC Gins Showcase: April 3, 2017 at 7:00pm
BC Whiskies Showcase: April 4, 2017 at 7:00pm
BC Barrel-Aged Gins Showcase: April 5, 2017 at 7:00pm
Details: Each tasting will be presented by an expert who will lead the attendees through the various spirits. In addition to the line-up, each tasting will present a spirit that is different from subject of the tasting to give attendees some exposure to something new. Tickets »

Distillers Dinner at Forage

Where: 1300 Robson St, Vancouver
When: April 7, 2017 at 6:00pm
Details: This dinner will pair six innovative courses from the restaurant’s outstanding Executive Chef and avid locavore Chris Whittaker with spirits from Odd Society, Sons of Vancouver, Okanagan Spirits, Wayward, Sheringham and Dubh Glas. Tickets »

Win Tickets to BC Distilled

I have a pair of tickets to give away to the public tasting event on April 8th, here’s how you can enter to win:

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

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to @BCDistilled http://owl.li/pVzK309KTrP” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

Follow BC Distilled on Facebook and Twitter for more information. Please enjoy responsibly. Must be 19+. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, March 15, 2017.

Update The winner is Sonya Mann!

One Coquitlam Park You’ve Got to Visit This Month

Add a Comment by Guest Author
Disclosure: Sponsored Post — Posted in Partnership with Explore CoquitlamPlease review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.

Runners, rev your engines. Whether you’re eager to burn off some extra calories or are training for the fast-approaching race season, add some variety to your routine by exploring new trails in Coquitlam.

Mundy Park

One Coquitlam Park You’ve Got to Visit This Month

One must-see destination is Mundy Park, which is luring runners and walkers from all over Metro Vancouver, thanks to its 16 kilometres of trails that have a nice cushioned surface and varying terrain. Zone out and watch the kilometres click by with each scenic twist and turn.

In fact, TripAdvisor rates Mundy Park the #1 thing to do while visiting Coquitlam. The park has two lakes, lots of parking and plenty of birdlife, but that’s not all. It’s a jewel in the centre of the city, where you can escape from your busy lives and take time to breathe.

Thanks to the SkyTrain’s Evergreen Extension, it’s now easily accessible by transit for visitors throughout Metro Vancouver.

Mundy Park is home to the Phoenix Running Club, the annual Pinetree Classic Cross Country Race, and a Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) Trail Race, coming up on April 2nd.

Not a runner? Here are six more reasons why you should visit Mundy Park this month: Continue reading this post ⟩⟩