The 44th Chinese New Year Parade takes place on Sunday, January 29th. This signature event of Vancouver’s Chinatown will feature lion dances, cultural dance troupes, marching bands, martial arts performances and much more.

Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade

When: Sunday, January 29th, 2017 11:00am
Admission: Open to public, free admission
Where: The 1.3-km long route starts at the Millennium Gate on Pender St (between Shanghai Alley and Taylor St), proceeds east along Pender St, turns south onto Gore St, turns west onto Keefer St and then disperses on Keefer at Abbott.

The Chinese New Year Parade celebrates the new year of the Chinese lunar calendar and is a festive event for everyone to enjoy. It will bring together over 70 groups, with 3,000 participants from various community and cultural organizations from around the Lower Mainland, and is anticipated to draw over 100,000 spectators! It’s one of the top 3 largest non-commercial annual parades in Vancouver.

Join everyone from the Vancouver Police Department Motorcycle Drill Team, to local marching bands, and the largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams in Canada with dozens of colourful and energetic lions from various local fraternal and martial arts organizations.

There will be live broadcast from Media Sponsors Shaw TV Vancouver (Channel 4) starting at 10:30am (LIVE), and will then be replayed at various times throughout the following week.

After the parade, as a Chinese New Year tradition to promote good fortune for the year, some lions will be visiting the shops and businesses in Chinatown. The lions will perform a celebratory dance at each participating shop to bring good luck and prosperity. Come see and hear the lion dances up close. This will start right after the parade from approximately 2:00pm to 4:00pm.

The Cultural Fair will be held throughout the weekend, on January 28th and 29th, at the Sun Yat-Sen Plaza (50 East Pender St). The fair will have multicultural performances, a special lion dance grand finale, martial arts demonstration and more. Performances will be between 1:00pm and 4:00pm on Saturday, and 2:00pm and 4:00pm on Sunday.

The Year of the Rooster in the Chinese Lunar calendar officially begins on Saturday, January 28th, 2017. Find out more about these festivities from the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver.

Do you know someone who has faced seemingly insurmountable odds yet come through with courage, strength and a drive to help? Maybe this is you? Nominations are now open for the Coast Mental Health Courage to Come Back Awards presented by Silver Wheaton, a program that celebrates extraordinary people who have overcome significant challenges in their lives, and emerged with a passion to give back.

Nominate Today

There are six different categories; each recognizes people who have overcome social adversity, medical, physical, mental health and addiction issues. There is also a youth category. From now until February 8th you can nominate someone (including yourself) by completing this nomination form.

Yes, it does take time to make a nomination. However, these are stories we all want and need to hear! Celebrating the remarkable individuals in our lives not only honours their achievements but reminds us that we can survive whatever challenges we’re facing.

In the words of last year’s Courage Recipient Meredith Graham – “People can and do change in remarkable ways. There is extraordinary potential in genuine kindness. Every act of kindness, no matter how small, has the power to heal.”

The Coast Mental Health Courage To Come Back Awards are presented annually to celebrate British Columbians who have overcome illness or adversity and have ‘come back to give back’ to their communities, and to inspire others to do the same. For over 40 years, Coast Mental Health has been providing innovative programs that address the three essential pillars of sustained recovery for those facing mental health challenges: Housing, Employment and Support Services. They walk with people to support long term recovery and success.

Courage to Come Back Awards 2017

When: Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre
Tickets: Available online now

Last year a sold out event saw 1,500 people come together to celebrate six remarkable British Columbians who overcame adversity against incredible odds.

Win Tickets to the Awards Dinner

I have two tickets to give away to the Courage to Come Back Awards dinner and fundraiser on May 16th (value $600). Please help me spread the word about the call for nominations, and enter to win tickets! Here’s how:

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

[clickToTweet tweet=”Nominations open now for @CoastMH #CourageToComeBack awards! Spread the word & RT to enter to win tix http://owl.li/J0Jv3085OOx” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00am on Friday, January 27, 2017. Follow the awards on Instagram and Facebook for updates.

Update The winner is Rae!

Hosted by Brian Cook, Shake, Shake, Shake is back by popular demand on January 27th! This evening of entertainment features amazing local musical talent, including Emily Chambers, I M U R, Jesse Roper and Dutch Robinson benefitting Parkinson Society BC.

Shake, Shake, Shake

Where: The Imperial (319 Main St, Vancouver)
When: Friday, January 27, 2017 at 7:30pm
Tickets: Available online now for $25 GA, $125 VIP online until January 26th. Tickets will then be $30 at the door. This is a 19+ event.

One of this year’s performers, Emily Chambers, told me that last year they had 6 local bands perform and raised over $16,000 for Parkinson Society British Columbia. This year they have 4 bands, including her, Dutch Robinson, I M U R and Jesse Roper performing, and they hope to raise $25,000.

Secure your tickets now for this incredible showcase for a cause. Follow Emily Chambers on Twitter for more information.

The Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival returns this year, from January 19th to February 14th, with dozens of restaurants and cafes serving up deliciously decadent creations for a cause. Over 25 participants will serve up over 60 flavours!

Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival

Try a “Red Truck” at Bella Gelateria, it’s a stout beer/hot chocolate collaboration with Red Truck Brewery, or savour a “Breakfast in Burnaby” from Chez Christophe, which is inspired by French toast with 34% Zephyr hot white chocolate, a maple drizzle and pecan crunch.

There’s also a “Vegan Spiced Hot Chocolate” at Earnest Ice Cream with chai tea ice cream with hints of coconut and cashew, drenched in dark hot chocolate for an affogato-style drink.

Up for some unique ingredients? Mink Chocolates, who had all of Vancouver cheeping about their ‘cricket” drink in 2015, are going for the buzz again with a drink combo that incorporates Ripple Pea Milk. Gem Chocolates has a 60s, blossom-infused, milk chocolate drink on their list that even Austin Powers would approve of. The always romantic Paul Dincer, owner of Koko Monk Chocolates, is infusing black olives, while Chocolate Arts is working with red wine.

These flavours and more are listed below under each participating venue:

Search flavours by location, or by event date. Throughout the festival you can enter to win a chocolate prize pack or a pass for the 2018 Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival.

Hot Chocolate for a Cause

For the fourth year, partial profits from festival sales will be donated to The PHS Community Services program for Downtown Eastside women’s employment and job skills training programs (as run by East Van Roasters.)

For more information follow City Food Mag on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The 6th annual Street Food City returns to the Dine Out Vancouver Festival from January 23rd to 29th. Presented by Tourism Vancouver, Street Food Vancouver Society, and the Downtown Vancouver BIA, the food truck pod, the most informal event of Canada’s largest festival of food and drink, will be grouped along Howe Street, between Georgia and Smithe Streets.

Street Food City

Dates: January 23 to 29, 2017
Hours: 11:00am to 3:00pm Monday-Friday; 11:00am to 5:00pm Sat & Sun
Where: Dine at 800 Robson Street and Vancouver Art Gallery South Plaza
Admission: Free entry

More than 25 food trucks will rotate throughout the week, serving up everything from crisp lumpia (spring rolls) at Fliptop Filipino Fusion to a rib-sticking serving of beef bourguignon from C’est Si Bon to a crunchy Sicilian pastry filled with cream from Cannoli King, and much more. Whether it’s a fully loaded hot dog from Dougie Luv, a wood-fired sandwich from Via Tevere Neapolitan Express, or spicy jerk chicken from The Reef Runner, guests are sure to leave Street Food City satisfied.

Participating food trucks are:

Partial proceeds from Street Food City’s Dine Out Vancouver specials will be donated to A Loving Spoonful, a volunteer-driven, non-partisan society that provides free, nutritious meals to people living with HIV/AIDS in Metro Vancouver.

Follow Dine Out Vancouver on Twitter and Instagram, using the tags #streetfoodcity #DOVF.