The West Coast Women’s Show, western Canada’s largest women’s show, returns to TRADEX in Abbotsford October 21-23, 2016. Along with 400 booths, and 5 stages packed with entertainment, demos, and workshops, the show features a number of special guests. This year, Kathleen Baty – The Safety Chick – returns to host her very popular Street Smarts 101 and Mother/Daughter Safety Chick Chat.

The Safety Chick Kathleen Baty

I caught up with Kathleen, the Founder and CEO of Safety Chick Enterprises, over the phone last week to see what guests can expect from her Safety Chick talks, where she takes a unique and empowering approach to personal safety.

Kathleen, herself the victim of a kidnapping attempt at gun point by an obsessive stalker, teamed up with then California State Senator Ed Royce to pass the nation’s first anti-stalking law (SB2184). In 1997, she and now US Congressman Royce teamed up again to help pass the first Federal Anti-Stalking Law (H.R. 3230).

She’s spoken to millions of people through appearances on and contributing features to The Today Show, America’s Most Wanted, Inside Edition, Good Morning America, The Security Brief with Paul Viollis, and ABC World News Tonight.

“I had to learn to care about my personal safety the hard way, I had to learn every possible aspect of personal safety to stay alive, so that’s my motivation.” Kathleen said that her trial by fire still came at a price, but what she’s learned is what she teaches.

“The whole reason I started Safety Chick in the first place was because everything I always read about personal safety was always so negative and daunting, it was always written by a man. And I don’t believe that we as women respond to that. We like Sex in the City, Desperate Housewives, you go girl! Charlie’s Angels. We like to be empowered. We like to feel empowered. So that’s always been my thing.”

Kathleen’s approach is fun, relatable, positive and gets right down to the heart of the matter. She believes that personal safety starts with taking responsibility for your actions and really being aware of your surroundings.

“I love speaking to adolescent girls and their moms and trying to help give them street smarts before they have to learn it the hard way.” Her second talk at the show will be a general Safety Chick chat, focusing on 5 areas of personal safety, self awareness, and life lessons.

“It’s not about being paranoid, it’s about making smart personal safety choices so you don’t find yourself in dangerous settings in the first place.”

Catch Kathleen on the Main Stage Saturday, October 22nd at 3:30pm & Sunday, October 23rd at 11:00am for a special Mother/Daughter Safety Chick Chat. This will be her second time to the West Coast Women’s Show, and told me she loves the event:

“All these entrepreneurial women, with all these different businesses, and the best way I can describe it is walking into a Superbowl-filled arena full of empowered women, who are just there to have fun. I’m so looking forward to going back!”

West Coast Women’s Show

• When: Friday October 21, 2016 from 1:00pm to 9:30pm; Saturday October 22, 2016 from 10:00am to 9:00pm; Sunday October 23, 2016 from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
• Where: TRADEX in Abbotsford (1190 Cornell Street)
• Tickets: At the door: Adults $12; Seniors (65+) $9; Seniors (65+) Friday from 1:00 to 5:00pm $7 (no coupon required); Youth (13 – 17) $9; Children (6 – 12) $4; Children (5 & under) are free. Save $2 online and in store at London Drugs!

Theme Days

Show themes include Fashion & Style, Home & Interior Décor, Health & Wellness, World of Taste, Natural & Organic Products, the Active Women’s Zone, Travel Showcase and the Artisan’s Marketplace.

• Friday is Girls Night Out Martini Night. Calendar Firefighters Fashion Show (Main Stage) 7:30pm
• Friday is Seniors Discount Day – Only $7 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm (65 + years)
• Saturday is Girls Night Out Martini Night. Calendar Firefighters Fashion Show (Main Stage) 7:30pm
• Sunday is Mothers & Daughters Day at the West Coast Women’s Show. The first 500 visitors to the show will receive a FREE Gift Pack from Pretty Things

Stage Schedules are available here: Main Stage, Health & Wellness Stage, Kitchen Theatre Stage, Beauty & Cosmetics Stage, Cheese Tasting Stage.

Follow the West Coast Women’s Show on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more information. Join the West Coast Women’s Show VIP Club to receive information on the best ticket deals, show updates and exclusive deals available only to VIP Club members.

Known for its dazzling Christmastime displays, VanDusen Botanical Garden is lighting up for Halloween this year for VanDusen Glow in the Garden.

VanDusen Glow in the Garden

• When: October 24 to 27, 2016 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm & October 28 to 31, 2016 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm
• Tickets: Adult (19-64) $10; Senior (65+) $8; Youth (13-18) $8; VanDusen members $8; Kids (3-12) $6; Kids 2 and under free.

Experience an unforgettable Halloween walk in the woods at VanDusen Botanical Garden. The Garden comes to life with spellbinding lights, ghoulish music, and glowing pumpkin characters created by award-winning carvers, Clive Cooper and Bruce Waugh. After the walk, costumed kids will enjoy creating fun Halloween crafts inside. Parents can pick up a pumpkin and hot apple cider at the Taves Family Farms pop-up shop on the plaza.

Follow VanDusen Botanical Garden on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

The 3rd annual Chefs’ Charity Dinner, a fundraiser for the Dan Snook Trust Foundation (Dan’s Legacy), is coming up October 27th. Chef Sean Cousins, along with four other top chefs in Vancouver, will create a menu of culinary masterpieces guaranteed to delight the senses.

The evening begins with a selection of cocktails and canapés followed by dinner with wine pairings. Live music and a live auction featuring fabulous prize holidays to exclusive destinations round out the entertainment. All proceeds from the event support Dan’s Legacy, which provides therapeutic counselling to youth overcoming addiction as a result of trauma and abuse.

Chefs’ Charity Dinner

Where: The Vancouver Club (915 West Hastings)
When: Thursday, October 27, 2016 from 7:00pm to 10:30pm
Tickets: Available online now. Individual tickets are $250, with VIP packages also available. Call (604) 329-9186 for more information.

Hosted by Fred Lee, the gala showcases a five-course meal specially created by Vancouver Club Head Chef Sean Cousins, working in collaboration with Lee Cooper, Head Chef of L’Abbatoir, the Bauhaus Restaurant’s Chef Stefan Hartmann, Chef David Gunawan of Farmer’s Apprentice and Vancouver Club Junior Sous Chef/Pastry, Jessica Caparas. Music, and live and silent auctions round out the evening’s entertainment.

“This year we mark the 10th anniversary of our Foundation, and the gala is also an opportunity for us to thank our supporters, as well as raise funds to continue our work,” says Barbara Coates, Executive Director at Dan’s Legacy. “As we’ve seen with the recent drug-related health crisis in BC, our programs are needed now more than ever before.”

The Dan Snook Trust Foundation (Dan’s Legacy) was founded in memory of a promising and vibrant young man who fell victim to a sexual predator. As is common with victims of abuse, he turned to drugs to suppress the psychological pain of the experience. Stints in rehab only provided a partial solution. What was needed was counselling support to uncover the root of his addiction. Tragically, Dan relapsed and died from an overdose. He was nineteen years old.

“The Foundation has been my family’s way of keeping Dan’s memory alive,” says Kevin Snook, Dan’s father and Chair of the Board. “Dan was such a gentle soul with a free spirit and lovely heart, who always brought happiness to those around him. Whilst it has been a personal journey of pain and sadness to have lost my son, it gives me great joy and satisfaction knowing how many youth we are helping today through our work.”

Follow Dan’s Legacy on Facebook and Twitter for more information about The Foundation and the Chefs’ Charity Dinner.

Take on the challenge of the Burns Bog Escape this Halloween, as you and your friends sign up for this adventure in this globally unique ecosystem that will be teeming with supernatural activity October 28-31.

Burns Bog Escape Halloween Series

Where: Burns Bog (10388 Nordel Ct, Delta)
When: October 28-31, 2016 from 5:00pm to 10:00pm
Tickets: On sale now. Early bird (until October 15) kids (up to 18) $10; adults $20. Regular rates (after October 15) kids $15; adults $30. On site kids $20; adults $40.

Tethered to the land are the eight souls of World War II soldiers, killed by bombs made of the very peat you are standing on. You must free their souls, or risk being trapped here with them…forever!

The fastest group of four to make it through the challenge will win tickets & membership to Time Escape Games.

This event is presented by the Burns Bog Conservation Society. Visit the Facebook event page for full details about this event and more.

Fright Nights at Playland return October 7th to 31st this year, with 7 haunted houses, 2 live shows, and 15 chilling rides — along with 90 monsters roaming the grounds to help you savour your terrifying experience.

This adults-only experience will feature Canada’s most extreme pendulum ride, The Beast, 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.

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.

Win Tickets to Fright Nights at Playland

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

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00am on Friday, October 7, 2016. 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.

Update The winner is Christina!