Run and give in the spirit of Thanksgiving at the annual Granville Island Turkey Trot. This annual event brings together community in a celebration of Thanksgiving – demonstrating our gratitude for sport and our commitment to supporting others.

A hallmark event, the Granville Island Turkey Trot features a fun 10KM race on Thanksgiving Monday, October 10th, plus a Kids Run a day earlier.

Enjoy free food, drinks, entertainment, awards, medals, and more, as you run, walk or stroll around Granville Island! Even if you don’t feel like running, stop by to watch the fun and bring a donation to support the event’s local charity partners.

Granville Island Turkey Trot

Sunday, October 9, 2016 Kids Run at 12:00pm
Monday, October 10, 2016 10KM at 8:30am

Included in Registration

• Brand new 10KM medal for all finishers
• Free Stanley Park Beer valid at Mahony & Sons for those of legal drinking age
• $20 Gift Card (no minimum spend) from Rackets & Runners on New Balance product
• Free yoga session with Ocean Breath Yoga
• Race bib with built-in timing chip
• Free, convenient and secure gear check
• On-course services including water, Clif Bar, Ultima Replenisher and toilets
• Exciting Finish Line on Granville Island
• Free Expo at Performance Works with yoga and music
• Post-race celebrations with holiday-themed food and lively entertainment
• Age category and fun team prizes are up for grabs
• Plus your race entry supports local charities!

All abilities welcome. Participants are encouraged to run, walk, or even stroll with baby strollers. Great food will be available post-event and we encourage people to stay and mingle with free parking on Granville Island until 1:00pm on race day, Thanksgiving Monday. Kids will receive a ribbon, snacks, and fun activities including face painting.

Community Challenge

The Community Challenge, presented by Chevron, will recognize and reward communities that support the event: $500 will be awarded to the team with the largest numbers of runners; $250 will be awarded to the Best Team Costume – runners or spectators; Prizing for Team Captains of largest teams.

All participants who donate to one of the charity partners will be entered to win draw prizes donated by Granville Island merchants. Volunteers will also receive a free $20 Gift Card from Rackets & Runners valid on New Balance product with no minimum spend, plus other benefits including a shirt, food, and great group camaraderie.

For each $20 Gift Card redeemed by runners and volunteers, Rackets & Runners will also donate a pound of non-perishable food to our charity partner, Quest Food Exchange.

Benefitting Charities

Arts Umbrella: Art can change the lives of children in incredible ways, which is why Arts Umbrella helps students cultivate creativity through high-quality Performing, Visual, and Media Arts programs. Since 1979, the not-for-profit arts training centre has opened the doors for all kids to find and explore their artistic voices. More than 21,500 young artists ages 2 to 19 discover the magic each year – with two-thirds participating at little to no cost to their families.

Quest Food Exchange: A non-profit organization that provides dignified access to a variety of affordable and healthy foods to individuals facing food security challenges in British Columbia. Their primary objectives are to reduce hunger with dignity, build community and foster sustainability. Not open to the general public, Quest Food Exchange works in collaboration with food suppliers who donate their surplus food, and social service agency partners who refer their clients.

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

Now in its 12th year, the Canuck Place Gift of Time Gala has raised over $8 million in support of children and families at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. One such family are the Evanows. Their daughter, Florence had Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 and passed away at Canuck Place the evening before Mother’s Day 2015.

Michaela Evanow will be the featured speaker at the Gift of Time Gala, sharing her family’s experience at Canuck Place. “Never in a million years did I imagine I would lose my first born daughter the day before Mother’s Day,” explained Michaela.

“Canuck Place gave us the opportunity to feel comfortable in a home-like environment and let Florence be with her mama and daddy under the same roof.”

“What really blew me away was the end-of-life care. There is absolutely no way we could have done it on our own. The team guided us with a steady hand through the most agonizing moments of our lives. As a mother, I can’t fully express how much gratitude we have for this place.”

The Evanow family continue to be regular guests at Canuck Place, attending bereavement sessions and family events.

“Our son gets to spend time in a place that was so special to his sister and to us. And because she passed away at Canuck Place, being involved with the program allows us to feel closer to her,” said Michaela. “Some days are incredibly hard, and all I want to do is hold Florence in my arms. I cannot do this, but I can walk into the doors of Canuck Place, sit down, and talk about it.”

The 2016 Gift of Time Gala is sold out, but you can still support by donating to the Friends of Gift of Time fund. Follow Canuck Place on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

Enchant is a brand new event coming to Vancouver this holiday season, with the promise of illuminating the city with the world’s largest Christmas light maze.

Enchant Vancouver Christmas Light Maze

Where: West 1st and Crowe Street (between Olympic Village & Cambie Bridge)
When: November 25th to December 31st, 2016 4:00pm to 10:00pm daily
Tickets: Starting at $20 for adults (or $5 for the Christmas Market only)

Enchant will have 55,000 square feet of brilliantly illuminated sculptures along with the light maze. The market will have over 40 local vendors, 12 food trucks and a licensed eating area where guests can enjoy their favourite holiday drink. There will also be a VIP Christmas Party area.

Tickets are available now online for specific dates. Season passes are sold out. Follow Enchant on Twitter and Facebook for more information leading up to the holiday event.

UPDATE December 8th and 22nd are fundraising nights at Enchant Christmas where you can support Variety – The Children’s Charity of BC. You can also use code VCC2016 to automatically donate 20% of your ticket purchase!

UPDATE Enter to win tickets here!! <<

It’s a Thanksgiving Weekend tradition at the Birthplace of BC! The 21st annual Fort Langley Cranberry Festival returns October 8th, celebrating the harvest and history of the cranberry in the region.

Fort Langley Cranberry Festival

Where: Fort Langley Village (free) & Fort Langley Historic Site (admission)
When: Saturday, October 8, 2016 from 10:00am to 5:00pm

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.

Over at Fort Langley National Historic Site, experience the popular cranberry stomp, and play a host of cranberry and farm related games. Admission rates apply.

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.

Tickets are on sale now for Fright Nights at Playland, which runs October 7th to 31st this year. This adult-themed Halloween event in the amusement park includes 7 haunted houses, 2 live shows, and 15 chilling rides — along with 90 monsters roaming the grounds to help you savour your terrifying experience.

Fright Nights at Playland

Canada’s most extreme pendulum ride, The Beast, will be returning this Halloween alongside favorites like Pirate Ship, Hell’s Gate and Atmosfear. Experience first-hand paranormal activity in Haunted Mansion or overcome your fear of clowns in Car-N-Evil haunted house.

With new and returning performances by the Monsters of Schlock and Radiant Heat Fire Troupe, Fright Nights 2016 is more spooky than ever – the perfect, ghoulish event for every Halloween lover.

You can save $3 by purchasing tickets online or at participating 7-Eleven locations. Rapid Passes are also available, which offer access to expedited lines for The Beast, Wooden Roller Coaster, Music Express, Hellevator, Atmosfear and every Haunted House.

Fright Nights Hours & Admission

Online tickets are on sale now. 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 seven haunted houses, shows and 15 rides. There is an additional charge for the Revelation and Drop Zone. Parking is NOT included.

Follow Playland on Twitter and Facebook for more information about Fright Nights.

Warning! Definitely not recommended for ages 12 and under, seniors 65+, people with sensitivity to strobe lighting, people with high blood pressure, heart conditions, pregnant women or scaredy-cats. Absolutely no guest costumes or guest costume face make up allowed.