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.

This weekend Oktoberfest kicks off in Vancouver, comedy legend Colin Mochrie takes to the stage, rivers are celebrated at a free festival in Burnaby, and the Seaforth Highlanders head home. All of these events and more are listed below for your weekend activity planning.

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green.

Friday, September 23, 2016
Colin Mochrie at Vancouver TheatreSports
1st Annual Seniors Carnival, Surrey
Seacity Fitness, Restorative Date Night
Aboriginal History and Cultural Awareness Session
Dish Sample Sale Event
Vancouver Giants Home Opener VS Everett Silvertips
Richmond Night Market
Oktoberfest at the Vancouver Alpen Club
Feast on the Fraser, New Westminster
IDS West
Word Vancouver
Digital Folk
Snowbird RV Show and Sale

Saturday, September 24, 2016
Etsy Vancouver Market 2016: Made in Canada
Point Grey Village Festival
St Paul’s Brilliant Gala
Dish Denim Sample Sale Event
Teenage Dirtbag with Jacob Samuel
Science Literacy Week, Triple Star Party, Selvey Park Maple Ridge
Science Literacy Week, Triple Star Party, SFU
Metropolis at Metrotown Retail Job Fair
Opening Reception: Art Show with Jessica A. Gihon & Robin Atchison
Seaforth Highlanders Homecoming
Sad Secrets Comedy Show
Vancouver: Every Lake, Every River Paint Night
Art Starts: Culture Remix: Hapa-palooza Art Station
Art Starts: Rumba Calzada, Vancouver
VSO Masterworks: The Rite of Spring
Mid-Century Modern House Tour
CNIB Night Steps at Holland Park
Olde Harvest Fair at Historic Stewart Farm
River District Drive-In Movie
National Tree Day Planting Party, Surrey
Indigenous Plant Use Walks in Stanley Park
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs Colorado Rapids
Grape & Grain Wine and Spirits Festival
Burnaby Farmers Market
River District Farmers Market
Trout Lake Farmers Market
West End Farmers Market
Richmond Night Market
Magnificent You Womens Conference
IDS West
Feast on the Fraser, New Westminster
Word Vancouver
Oktoberfest at the Vancouver Alpen Club
Digital Folk
Snowbird RV Show and Sale

Sunday, September 25, 2016
World Rivers Day at Burnaby Village Museum
Grape & Grain Wine and Spirits Festival
Vancouver Soccer Fives Tournament
Japantown, North Strathcona: Past, Present, and Future
Knox 125th Anniversary Open House, New Westminster
Art Starts: Rumba Calzada, New Westminster
Sunday Soul Brunch at The Emerald
Southlands Country Fair
Mount Pleasant Farmers Market
Kitsilano Farmers Market
Richmond Night Market
Magnificent You Womens Conference
IDS West
Feast on the Fraser, New Westminster
Word Vancouver
Oktoberfest at the Vancouver Alpen Club
Digital Folk
Snowbird RV Show and Sale

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