The 22nd annual Fort Langley Cranberry Festival returns October 7th, celebrating the harvest and history of the cranberry in the region.

Fort Langley Cranberry Festival

Where: Fort Langley Village (free) & Fort Langley Historic Site (free for Canada 150)
When: Saturday, October 7, 2017 from 10:00am to 4:00pm

Unique vendors, free entertainment, pancake breakfast, and family activities await everyone for what is always a great day in the centre of Fort Langley. Join over 60,000 other people from all over the region for this community celebration. This year there will be free shuttles running from Trinity Western University and Walnut Grove Secondary from 9:30am to 4:00pm so you don’t have to worry about parking!

Over at Fort Langley National Historic Site, enjoy free admission for Canada 150! Experience the popular cranberry stomp, and play a host of cranberry and farm related games. Don’t miss the wonderful cranberry-themed market in the village.

About BC Cranberries

I researched cranberries around the region for a piece I wrote for Tourism Vancouver a few years ago and found all kinds of interesting facts:

• The cranberry is one of only three commercially-grown fruits that are native to North America.
• Traditionally, cranberries were hot trading commodities at Fort Langley (aka the Birthplace of BC) as local First Nations used them for food, dyes, and medicine. They would trade cranberries for HBC blankets, beads, and other items. In fact in 1858, cranberries were actually worth more than salmon.
• Of all the cranberries harvested in Canada every year, about 60% are grown for Massachusetts-based Ocean Spray, to which most BC cranberry growers belong as a cooperative — as a result 90% of BC cranberries are shipped to the USA.
• Approximately 50% of BC’s crop is used to make sweetened dried cranberries, 40% is made into juice, 9% is sold whole frozen and 1% is sold fresh, according to the Government of BC.
• Read more »

Follow the Fort Langley BIA on Facebook for more information.

Nominations are now open for the 35th annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards. Recognizing local women for their contributions to their workplace, industry, and community, the awards will be handed out at a ceremony in June of 2018.

The Women of Distinction Awards support the YWCA’s 45 programs and services that help women, children, youth and families at turning points in their lives. It is a chance to pay tribute to our community’s outstanding women and organizations and to support much-needed programs and services crucial to building brighter futures for vulnerable women and children.

Nominations Open

You can nominate an individual or a workplace in the following categories: Arts, Culture & Design; Business & the Professions; Community Building; Education, Training & Development; Entrepreneurship; Environmental Sustainability; Health, Wellness & Active Living; Non-Profit & Public Service; Technology and Science Research; and Young Woman of Distinction.

Nomination Information Session
Tuesday, October 3, 2017 from 5:15pm to 6:30pm
YWCA Program Centre, 535 Hornby St (4th Floor)
Register here »

Nominations for the 2018 Women of Distinction Awards are now open and will close on Friday, January 19, 2018 at 12:00pm PST.

The 35th annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards will be held at the JW Marriott parq Vancouver on Thursday, June 7, 2018.

Follow the YWCA of Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter for more information along with the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards @YWVanWODA on Twitter.

YWCA Metro Vancouver is dedicated to achieving women’s equality. Their mission is to touch lives and build better futures for women and their families through advocacy and integrated services that foster economic independence, wellness and equal opportunities.

The Vancouver International Film Festival (“VIFF”) brings films from around the globe to its audience, inviting viewers to share great stories and unique personal visions in a communal, celebratory environment. This year the festival kicks off with the latest from Vancouver’s own Mina Shum.

VIFF Opening Gala Film

Where: The Centre for Arts (777 Homer St, Vancouver)
When: Thursday, September 28, 2017 at 7:00pm

Opening Gala film Meditation Park is a moving exploration of marriage and infidelity, as well as a humorous tribute to Vancouver itself.

Maria (Cheng Pei Pei) has spent decades of devoted marriage dutifully excusing the prejudices and vices of her husband (Tzi Ma). But when she discovers another woman’s thong in his pocket, she embarks on some unintentionally comic sleuthing which soon introduces her to new East Vancouver communities and ultimately sets her on the course to self-discovery. Mina Shum makes an inspired return to narrative feature filmmaking with this richly detailed, emotionally rewarding and unmistakably Vancouver story.

VIFF Closing Gala Film

Where: The Centre for Arts (777 Homer St, Vancouver)
When: Friday, October 13, 2017 at 7:30pm

The festival season ends with VIFF’s Closing Gala film, Todd Haynes’ Wonderstruck, a luminous tale of two children and the special inspiration that drives them.

Todd Haynes (Carol) returns with a marvellous time-travelling tale that follows the parallel fortunes of two deaf 12-year-olds—Ben (Oakes Fegley), a lad in 1977 Michigan, and Rose (luminous newcomer Millicent Simmonds), a girl in 1927 New Jersey—who, for seemingly different reasons, are drawn to a gloriously rendered New York City in search of their own burgeoning identities… “Intricate and ambitious… Embraces so many shimmery, evanescent ideas, it’s a marvel that any one picture… can hold them.”—Time

Win Tickets

I have a a pair of passes to the Closing Gala Film and Closing Gala Party to give away to a lucky Miss604 reader. 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 the @viffest closing film & gala party http://ow.ly/3pAZ30frBCo” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw two winners at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

Follow VIFF on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information about the festival, its events, special guests, and films.

Miss604 is a proud Media Partner of the Vancouver International Film Festival

Update The winner is Angela!

Inspiring greater public participation in arts, culture and heritage, Port Moody, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam will host over 25 free events during Culture Days, September 29th to October 1st.

Culture Days in Coquitlam

The 8th annual Culture Days celebration is where thousands of artists, individuals, organizations and communities across Canada host free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite people to create, participate and share.​ Here’s what will be happening in Coquitlam:

Salmon Scavenger Hunt

Register now for the Spot the Salmon Scavenger Hunt! 12 salmon sculptures were installed throughout Coquitlam in prominent public spaces as a legacy public art project for Coquitlam 125 anniversary celebration.

Coquitlam is inviting residents to track down all 12 salmon sculptures during Culture Days for a chance to win the Grand Prize, which includes a $100 gift card to Coquitlam Centre, $100 art pack from Opus Art Supplies and four all-day Compass ride passes.

Those who visit and correctly answer the questions for 6 of the salmon locations will have a chance to win a Second Prize, including a $50 Coquitlam Centre gift card, $50 art pack and 2 Compass ride passes. Participants should also be on the lookout for pop-up prizes at random locations.​

More Events in Coquitlam for Culture Days

Friday, September 29, 2017
Drawing with Water-Soluble Pencils
Special book Club

Saturday, September 30, 2017
Coquitlam Heritage Tours
Celebrating Diversity – Canada 150
Geocaching
Glen Pine Culture Days Open House

Sunday, October 2, 2017
Coquitlam Farmers Market
Cutie Circle Ukulele Jamboree
Maillardville Walking Tour & Mackin House Tour
Make Your Tickets to the Show
Special Fibre Arts Demonstration
Family Day

Read full event details, view schedules, and registration info here »

Culture Days represents the largest-ever collective public participation campaign undertaken by the arts and cultural community in Canada with over 7,500 free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to create, participate and share. Miss604 is proud to be a media partner of the Tri-Cities Culture Days weekend. Stay tuned for more event listings in the coming days.

Follow Culture Days on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information.

Miss604 is proud to be a media partner of Culture Days in the Tri-Cities

The Granville Island Turkey Trot has become a Thanksgiving Day tradition in Vancouver, and registration is now open for the 20th annual event that inspires active lifestyles and supporting the community around you.

Presented by RUNVAN®, this year’s Granville Island Turkey Trot will once again have a Kids Run on Sunday followed by the 10KM run on Thanksgiving Monday.

Granville Island Turkey Trot

Sunday, October 8, 2017 Kids Run at 11:00am
Monday, October 9, 2017 10KM at 8:30am
Register today »

Included in Registration

• 10KM medal for all finishers
• Free $20 Gift Card from Rackets & Runners valid on New Balance product with no minimum spend
• Race bib with built-in timing chip
• Free, convenient and secure gear check
• Free drinks
• On-course services including water
• Exciting Finish Line on Granville Island
• Expo at Performance Works with free yoga
• Post-race celebrations with free hot food and lively entertainment
• Age category and fun team prizes
• Plus your race entry supports local charity

Rackets & Runners will donate two pounds of food to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank for every $20 Gift Card redeemed at the Expo or at Rackets & Runners until November 30th! Donate to The Greater Vancouver Food Bank and you are also eligible to win draw prizes.

All abilities welcome. Participants are encouraged to run, walk, or even stroll with baby strollers. Great food will be available post-event, along with live entertainment inside Performance Works post race.

Community Challenge

The non-profit Vancouver International Marathon Society now annually organizes the Granville Island Turkey Trot. To acknowledge the special role communities play in bringing race day to life, they feature a Community Challenge Program – the goal of which is to create a movement that will ignite support and excitement for sport.

The Community Challenge presented by Chevron recognizes and rewards communities that support the event. Cash prizes are up for grabs! $250 will be awarded to each of the following categories:

• Team with the Largest Number of Runners wins $250
• Best Team Costume, runners or spectators, wins $250
• Best Volunteer Team wins $250
• Additionally, RUNVAN® will randomly award one lucky team of 10 more runners $250!

Greater Vancouver Food Bank

The Granville Island Turkey Trot is annually organized over Thanksgiving in the spirit of community and giving back. When you register, please consider donating to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank or bring non-perishable food items to the race to support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.

The GVFB provides assistance to over 26,500 people weekly through 13 distribution locations and more than 80 community agencies located in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and North Vancouver. For every $1 donated, the GVFB is able to purchase $3 of nutritious food. The GVFB is committed to its vision of accessible, healthy and sustainable food for all and through community collaboration, is pro-actively working to help end hunger.

Follow RUNVAN

The Granville Island Turkey Trot is part of the RUNVAN® race series, which also includes the BMO Vancouver Marathon in May and Fall Classic Run at UBC in November. All events are organized by the local non-profit RUNVAN®, with the goal to inspire healthy, active lifestyles.

Register today! Follow the Granville Island Turkey Trot on Twitter and Facebook, plus RunVan on Twitter and Facebook #runvan #runandgive for more information.