Burnaby Heights merchants bring holiday cheer to Hastings Street during Light Up the Heights, a sidewalk festival on Saturday, December 3rd.
Light Up the Heights for the Holidays
Where: Burnaby Heights along Hastings Street (Boundary to Gamma)
When: Saturday, December 3, 2016 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Admission: Free
Local merchants will be decked out and in a festive spirit with treats, music, special pricing, and giveaways to make the shopping season bright.
There will be a tree lighting ceremony at 4:30pm at Burnaby Fire Hall No. 5 (4211 Hastings St) and everyone can enjoy Valley Bakery cookies and Caffe Divano hot chocolate with City dignitaries, festive characters, holiday carols, and Santa Claus himself. Guests can also enter the holiday raffle to win a Cioffi’s Meat and Deli Honey Ham (approximately 10 pounds) just in time for their holiday dinner.
Follow the Burnaby Heights Merchant Association on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
It’s 2:00pm the day before my sleep out with Covenant House and the lights just came on in my office since it’s so dark outside already. I put down my hot cup of decaf coffee and shuffle my slippers over to the thermostat to give it a nudge. I walk down the hall to my closet and pull out my backpack which I start packing with supplies for tomorrow night.
Gloves (both mittens and fingerless so that I can type on my phone from my sleeping bag), a toque (Covenant House branded, from last year), two scarves (one for my neck and a thick Whitecaps scarf to use as a pillow), a fleece sweater, my fuzzy synthetic Ugg knock-off boots, my leggings, my long running pants, and a thick pair of socks. My backpack is now puffed out like a stuffed parachute bag. An extra battery pack for my iPhone, ear plugs, and my metal water bottle round out the gear list.
At the event, I’ll be given a sleeping bag and a piece of cardboard for the night.
Tomorrow night I’ll arrive at Covenant House, I’ll meet the other participants, we’ll have some snacks, and we’ll meet some of the youth that have benefitted from various levels of Covenant House’s services. Some will talk about the homes they came from, for others it’s too painful or too much of a distant memory.
Many of the youth that Covenant House supports don’t get the luxury of packing an overnight bag as I did. They don’t get to parse through a box of winter clothing, select items that might keep them warm or dry enough, and carefully plan their night on the street. Some come to Covenant House with absolutely nothing, and they’ve been through absolutely everything.
Many of the kids have lived with violence or the threat of violence for much of their young lives. Feeling safe is a right we all have but one these kids have not enjoyed.
On any given night there are over 700 young people living on the streets in Vancouver. Vancouver’s downtown streets are dangerous. Sexual exploitation, drug abuse, poverty and illness are commonplace. Many youth are re-victimized on the streets, having fled one unsafe situation only to find their circumstances are often worse. Exposed to the elements, lonely, afraid and without hope; this is the reality for kids on the street.
Covenant House Statistics
- 39% of Covenant House’s youth present with a mental health diagnosis
- 70% have witnessed family violence
- 50% of Covenant House’s youth present with an addiction problem
- 95% of Covenant House’s youth report that Covenant House has helped them
- 75% of youth feel more confident about their future after staying at Covenant House
- Average length of stay has increased 83% in past five years (Covenant House knows that a young person’s success rate increases significantly with longer stays)
This will be my fourth year participating, sleeping outside in an alley in Downtown Vancouver so that we can raise funds to support homeless youth in Vancouver. It’s wet, cold, and miserable every single year but every year I keep coming back. It’s such a seemingly small gesture for me to make. It’s an inconvenience and a discomfort. But it’s nothing like what others have to endure. I do it so that I can reach my social audience and raise funds for Covenant House’s programs. I do it so that THEIR stories can be heard, not mine.
I would love your support for this campaign. $10, $20, $50, any amount you can donate directly to Covenant House through my campaign page would be of significance. Whatever amount you can spare can truly make a difference.
Donation Perks
All those who donate $20 or more before November 17th will be entered to win a $200+ London Drugs prize pack from me. Additionally, a generous Sleep Out participant from last year has offered to match ALL donations made by November 30th – up to $50,000!
Thank You
Thank you very much for your consideration. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter for updates on November 17th when I sleep out on the street again. Follow Covenant House on Twitter and Facebook for much more information about the organization.
The Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra with Goh Ballet presents the children’s symphonic classic Peter and the Wolf at the iconic Orpheum Theatre in Downtown Vancouver.
Peter and the Wolf
Where: Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe St, Vancouver)
When: One day only! Sunday, November 27, 2016 at 2:00pm
Tickets: Available online now and at the door for $15 adults, $10 students & seniors
The Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra (“VAMSO”) is bringing Vancouver yet another delightful show, just in time for the holiday season, and this year they teaming up with an exciting new partner. For the first time in Vancouver arts history, VAMSO will be performing with Goh Ballet in a charming presentation of a classic symphonic fairytale – Peter and the Wolf.
Gorgeous dancers from Goh Ballet will transform into characters from Sergei Prokofiev’s children’s masterpiece about a brave boy who outwits a fearsome foe. Russian composer Prokofiev wrote the work in 1936 as an introduction to classical music for children, with each character in the story demonstrating different instrument families: Peter the strings, Bird as the flute, Cat voiced by clarinet, Duck as the oboe, Wolf as French horn.
Music Director Leslie Dala will lead the 100+ young virtuoso musicians of VAMSO in accompanying the Goh Ballet dancers, as well as Bard on the Beach founder and local theatre luminary Christopher Gaze. Joining a long list of celebrated figures who have previously narrated the musical fable – Alec Guinness, Sean Connery, David Bowie, to name a few – Gaze will lend his voice to weave the tale on stage.
Win Tickets
I have a pair of tickets to give away to this amazingly collaborative performance, here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra on Facebook and Twitter for more information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 6:00pm on Monday, November 21, 2016.
Update The winner is Haven Jones!
It’s tough to save money during the holidays while going to gatherings of friends and family, hosting dinners, and exchanging gifts. However, I know of several activities that will get you in the holiday spirit without sliding you into debt. Here is my second annual list of Free Christmas Activities in Metro Vancouver*:
Free Christmas Activities in Metro Vancouver
- Light Up the Village at Park Royal November 18, 2016. Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, balloons, Lindt truffles. Special activities like cookie decorating and face painting will be by donation.
- Burnaby Village Museum Heritage Christmas November 19, 2016 to January 2, 2017. Free gate admission includes light displays, entertainment, crafts, and more. Carousel rides are extra.
- Surrey Tree Lighting on November 19, 2016 with light displays, free concerts, exhibitors, amusements, and a giant 50ft tree at Surrey City Hall Plaza.
- St Paul’s Hospital Lights of Hope kicking off with a community celebration on November 24, 2016.
- Festival of Trees at Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver & CF Pacific Centre November 25, 2016 to January 2, 2017. The 30th annual Festival of Trees are on display supporting BC Children’s Hospital.
- CandyTown in Yaletown November 26, 2016. A free winter wonderland and neighbourhood festival with visits with Santa and the Ice Queen, Christmas arts and crafts, and of course lots of sweet treats.
- Lights at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam November 26, 2016 to January 22, 2017. More than 100,000 twinkling lights, featuring 10 themed zones, plus activities including lantern workshops, scavenger hunts, hot chocolate nights, caroling and more.
- Edmonds Festival of Lights November 26, 2016 at Edmonds Community Centre with the lighting of the Edmonds Tree, entertainment, snacks, crafts, and Santa visits.
- Port Coquitlam Winter Artisan Market and fair November 25-27, 2016 at Leigh Square Community Arts Village.
- New Westminster Santa Claus Parade. December 3, 2016 along Columbia St. Activities at the Anvil Centre, River Market, Fraser River Discovery Centre.
- Christmas Kick Off in Port Coquitlam. December 3, 2016 at Leigh Square Community Arts Village.
- Maple Ridge Santa Claus Parade December 3, 2016 followed by Christmas in the Park at Memorial Peace Park.
- Rogers Santa Claus Parade December 4, 2016 in Downtown Vancouver on Georgia and along Howe. More family fun at the Coast Capital Savings Christmas Square at Robson Square.
- Ladner Christmas Carol Ships set sail on December 2 & December 3, 2016. The Ladner Gospel Assembly choir will be set up at the government dock at the foot of Elliott street to serenade the crowd with Christmas favourites.
- Festive Tree Lighting December 7, 2016 at Dunbar Community Centre.
- Wesbrook Balloon Winter Wonderland December 3 to 18, 2016, launching with a Holiday Craft Fair and festival on December 3, 2016.
- Surrey’s Santa Parade December 4, 2016 in the historic downtown of Cloverdale.
- Big Rigs for Kids December 4, 2016 at Surrey City Hall Plaza. Watch a parade of lighted trucks roll through Downtown Surrey followed by a community Christmas carol sing-a-long.
- Park & Tilford Hi-Light Festival November 25 to December 31, 2016. Entry by donation with 100% proceeds to the North Vancouver Firefighters Charitable Society.
- Light Up the Heights December 3, 2016. Free street festival along Burnaby Heights (Hastings between Boundary and Gamma) with tree lighting ceremony in the evening.
- Christmas in Steveston Village Santa arrives off the boat on Steveston Public Wharf December 4, 2016. Free Santa hats, a classic Christmas car display, mascots, carolers, Cannery Farmers’ Market and more.
- Steveston Festival of Trees. Free admission on Cannery Market Days December 4, 11, 18.
- CP Holiday Train. After crossing the country from Montreal and visiting 150 communities, the CP Holiday Train will finish its journey in Pitt Meadows (December 16th), ending in Port Coquitlam and Port Moody (December 17th). View the light displays and enjoy a free concert.
- Burnaby Lake Park Holiday Open House. December 4, 2016. Guided walks, history, crafts.
- Robson Square Tree Lighting December 2, 2016 with a holiday concert, photos with Santa, holiday crafts, free hot chocolate and cookies, the lighting of the 50 ft. Christmas tree and more.
- Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink. Free when you bring your own skates. Open December 1, 2016 to February 14, 2017.
- Christmas Sail Past December 10. View lighted ships from the White Rock pier as the holiday procession sails past spectators.
- Christmas at Canada Place December 16 to December 30, 2016 free outdoor displays, lights, the legendary Woodward’s Windows, and more.
- Christmas Lights Photowalk at English Bay December 17, 2016.
- Lumiere Festival Vancouver December 3, 2016 lighting up the West End at Jim Deva Plaza and Morton Park.
If you have any other events to add, send them in via my contact form and I’ll include them (free or not) on the December event list. Thank you!
* Please note that there may be costs associated with extra activities at these events and attractions, such as food/snacks, admission to other attractions or sites, etc. This post covers information available at the time of publishing and any posted signage or fees at these activities should be observed.
Subscribe to the Weekly Events Newsletter
If you wish to receive this weekly/weekend event list right to your email inbox, please sign up for the new Miss604 Weekly Events Newsletter below. It will be sent once a week, only to those who opt-in.
I remember walking through the Othello Tunnels as a child, splashing through puddles in my gumboots and squeezing my father’s hand when bats would flutter by. The Othello Tunnels, a part of Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, are a fun walk through local history with many great photo opportunities.
Othello Tunnels
In the early 1900s, the Canadian Pacific Railway decided a route was necessary to link the Kootenay Region with the BC coast by rail. The railway was built over three mountain ranges. In the Coquihalla Gorge – the river cut a 300 foot deep channel of solid granite. A straight line of tunnels were built through it which are known now as the Othello Tunnels. There are spectacular viewing opportunities available on the trail, through the tunnels and on the bridges. This park highlights the Kettle Valley Railway grade that passes through the canyon and 5 tunnels which were built in 1914. [BC Parks]
Fans of the Bard will appreciate some of the nearby hiking trail names — like Lear, Jessica, Portia, Iago, Romeo & Juliet, and of course Othello — as engineer Andrew McCullough was an avid reader of Shakespearean literature. Pop by the next time you’re visiting Hope, BC or traveling up the Fraser Canyon. The Provincial Park is 1h 45m from Vancouver and just minutes outside of Hope.
Note: The tunnels are closed during the winter months due to unstable conditions, falling rocks and ice. They will re-open for the May Long Weekend.
Check out the #Photos604 tag on Instagram for more information and follow @Miss604 for my own Pacific Northwest & inspired photos.
