The Vancouver Airport Authority in partnership with the Vancouver Aquarium will be holding the annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup at Iona Beach on Sunday, September 18th. Last year the volunteer-driven event had over 300 people show up to help remove over 700kg of waste from the shorelines!
Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup at Iona Beach
Where: Iona Beach Regional Park When: Sunday, September 18, 2016 from 10:00am to 1:00pm
You can pre-register to help with the cleanup online here. You can also register on the day of the event starting at 10:00am at Iona Beach Regional Park. There will be a light lunch for all participants (first come first served). To keep it a zero-waste event, make sure to BYO-water bottle.
“Vancouver Airport Authority is the Provincial Sponsor of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, a conservation initiative of the Vancouver Aquarium and World Wildlife Foundation.
With help from the neighbouring Sea Island community, we hope to work together to clean up our shorelines. Since 2012, over 2,000kg of waste has been cleared from Iona Beach with help of our volunteers.”
Shuttle buses will be running from Templeton Skytrain Station to Iona Beach Regional Park throughout the event. RSVP on Facebook to get all info and updates directly.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Review — This is not a paid post, views are my own. Our activities were courtesy of their operators and Bowen Island. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
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Bowen Island is Vancouver’s Original Summer Getaway, being home to picnics, camping, hikes, paddles, and recreation for the better part of the last century. Earlier this summer, John and I got to experience a quick escape to Bowen, packing two days full of adventures by sea and land.
5 Things to do on Bowen Island
There are more than 5 things to do per category, but here’s a start if you haven’t been to Bowen before, or if it’s been too long since your last visit. We were on the island for 48 hours and we fit all of this in and more, including some down time in our Union Steamship Cottage with the fireplace roaring. A day trip is always an option, and if you’re staying longer – lucky you!
Duration: 2.5-3 hours
Distance covered: 0.5-1km approximately
Cost:$69.00 – 3% donated to Bowen Island Food Bank
Enjoy the sweet and savoury side of Bowen as Jody Lorenz guides your walk that covers a bit of local history, and a whole lot of food. Come hungry! We stopped at Rustique Bistro; Lime & Moon Pie Company; Shika Provisions; The Snug Cafe; Doc Morgan’s; Candy in the Cove; Bowen Island Coffee; Bowen Island Beer & Wine Store; The Ruddy Potato Deli; and Cocoa West Chocolatier.
It’s great to do this tour at the start of your time on the island since it will give you ideas for planning out the rest of your meals during your trip. We ended up having breakfast at the Snug and dinner at Rustique Bistro following our tour. If we were staying longer, we’d stock up at the other locations to fill our cupboards.
Located right on the dock, to the east of the Snug Cove ferry terminal, you’ll find another great tour option but this time on the water. The morning of our paddle, it was pouring rain and everyone seemed surprised that John and I were still up for the adventure. We arrived to meet owner Brent O’Malley, who reassured us of our decision: “Welcome to BC!” We set out for our journey all along the south east side of the island, following the shoreline and enjoying Ben’s narration. He covered geology, First Nations history, the Union Steamship era, the region’s marine ecosystem, and more during our soggy time on the water – it was fantastic.
Since we took a bus from Downtown Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay, then walked on the ferry to Snug Cove, we were on the island without a vehicle. We were staying just a few steps from the ferry at the Union Steamship Cottages but to see the rest of the island, which is about 52 square km, we were set up with Zoom Zoom. Just steps away from our cottage we were given a quick course on scooter driving and safety from Zoom Zoom owner Jamie Woodall. Neither of us had been on one before, and we were a bit trepidatious at first, but after Jamie’s reassuring instructions we were off!
Jody had recommended Killarney Lake, as well as the Cape Roger Curtis Lighthouse as destinations. We zipped around, hopped off, walked, explored, took photos, and really enjoyed seeing the island this way.
4) Hike on Bowen Island
We didn’t get involved in a strenuous hike on Bowen Island but I know that Mount Garder is a popular spot. It’s a 7 hour hike to the peak of the island, over 17km, and gaining about 719 meters. The views, from the photos I have seen, are spectacular.
There are two museums within a 5 minute walk of the ferry terminal in Snug Cove, which made me very happy. We visited the museum and archives just up the road from Snug Cove, as well as Bowen Heritage, located in a cottage right behind our own.
Head up to Artisan Square — a community shuttle will get you there, or you can take your rental scooter. There you’ll find the Bowen Island Arts Council, galleries, studios, and many more creative spaces to browse and shop.
If you don’t make it to Bowen Island before summer ends, you’ll still find some amazing events throughout the year. There’s the Bowen Island Wine Festival (September 24), Applefest (October 9), Light Up Bowen (December 3), Christmas Craft Fair (December 4), and more including a Moms’ Retreat and an Adult Spelling Bee this fall. The autumn colours will illuminate the island and we definitely know first-hand that even in the rain, a paddle around the island is still pretty spectacular.
Get ready to kick off your shoes, roll up your pants and crush some grapes! The annual Township 7 Grape Stomp fully sold out the first date so they are adding a second by popular demand. Put a team together and battle in the barrel to see who can stomp the best (or rock the best costume while stomping).
Township 7 Grape Stomp
Where: Township 7 Vineyards & Winery (21152 16th Avenue, Langley) When: Sunday, October 2nd (sold out) & Saturday, October 1st 12:00pm to 4:00pm Register: Entry Fee:$21 (plus tax per person). Fee includes a glass of wine. All stompers must be 19+. Maximum 6 people per team.
Your team will need a skilled stomper to stand in the barrel and squish the juice out of the grapes using only their feet.
The other members of your team will need to work together to keep the juice flowing into the wine bottle while gathering grapes to be stomped.
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Proudly Supports Ronald McDonald House British Columbia & Yukon. Partial proceeds raised at the Grape Stomp event will be donated to the organization.
Register your team by emailing wine[at]township7.com, including your team name and contact info. Follow Township 7 on Twitter and Facebook for more information about special events like this and their latest wine releases.
The SociaLIGHT Conference returns to Vancouver for the third year this October, presenting the only Canadian entrepreneurship conference focusing in the triple bottom line (planet, people, profit). If you have an entrepreneurial dream, idea, or passion for making a global impact, you’ll be inspired by two days of talks and networking at SociaLIGHT.
SociaLIGHT Conference Vancouver
Where: Pan Pacific Vancouver When: Saturday, October 22nd & Sunday, October 23rd, 2016 Tickets:On sale now! Use code MISS604 to get the early bird rate of $197 and save $100 before Monday, September 5, 2016.
The brand SociaLIGHT is a spin off of the traditional socialite, with a new spelling and acronym. “LIGHT” is an acronym for L.eader I.mpacting G.lobal H.umanity T.oday.
When you attend SociaLIGHT you can network with and learn from likeminded entrepreneurs, global thought leaders, and innovators and to take your personal and professional success to new heights.
“The presentations and the content is a combination of entrepreneurial, business-oriented topics mixed with a motivational and inspirational mindset which is often absent in other entrepreneurial conferences,” says Founding Partner, Theresa Laurico. “They’re heavily focused on either business or tech, however, SociaLIGHT aims to bridge the gap between entrepreneurship & business skills, and sustainable leadership to make a positive global impact.”
Previous speakers have included the likes of Seth Godin and Richard Branson, Tony Hsieh of Zappos, and more. “There have also been stories from as Noriki Tamura of Japa Dog and David Katz of Plastic Bank who are still making a big impact. “SociaLIGHT is not just about top world businesses and speakers. They pride themselves in identifying the next best things and allowing them to share their story to get more exposure and grow by connecting with top big brands.”
This year you can see: Bruce Poon Tip who is the Founder of G Adventures (the world’s #1 travel company, valued at $100m), NY Times bestselling author of Looptail with forward from the Dalai Lama, and Canada’s Entrepreneur of the Year and Fastest Growing Company by PROFIT.
SociaLIGHT puts words into action, having made a donation of $80,000 last year (in lieu of paying the keynote) to the Room to Read Foundation, which is supports children’s literacy and education around the world.

For more information, follow SociaLIGHT on Facebook and Twitter.
Easter Seals BC is inviting thrill-seekers from across the Lower Mainland to take part in their annual Drop Zone event, where you can rappel down a 20-storey downtown Vancouver office building! This adrenaline-inducing fundraiser takes place on September 13th in Downtown Vancouver, and raises funds and funds and awareness for the BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities.
Easter Seals BC Drop Zone
Where: 999 West Hastings Street, Vancouver When: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 from 8:00am to 5:00pm Register:Register now until September 7th.
Participants who are brave enough to take part in the event are required to fundraise a minimum of $1,000 to participate. Last year, the event saw 65 rappellers take the plunge and over $188,000 was raised in support of Easter Seals BC. This year, Easter Seals BC hopes to have even more participants take part in this unique and exhilarating event for a great cause.
The Drop Zone raises much-needed funds to help fund the Easter Seals House Vancouver and sends children with disabilities to accessible Easter Seals camps in BC. The BC Lions Society is a non-profit that aims to enrich the lives of children in BC and the Yukon by providing programs and services, like specialized, accessible camps for children with physical and/or cognitive disabilities.
I participated back in 2010 and years later I still get to tell the story of “that time I rappelled down the side of an office building in Downtown Vancouver” — it was such a thrill!
Participants can win prizes if they are some of the top overall fundraisers and finishers, you get to wear costumes (your chance to dress up like a superhero) and you’re invited to join in climbing sessions in advance of event day. It’s such an invigorating experience, all for a fantastic cause. If you can’t participate, consider donating online to support Easter Seals BC.
Enter to Win
I have a 4-pack of Sea Vancouver tickets to give away to one lucky Miss604 reader who would like to enjoy a different adventure around Vancouver. Launching from the Westin Bayshore Hotel, Sea Vancouver’s open-air, purpose built, zodiac-style vessels are Vancouver’s fastest and safest way to view the city from the sea. Cruise the harbour, and rip across the inlet to see the city from a whole new perspective on this guided tour.
I’m hoping to get the word out about the Easter Seals BC Drop Zone on September 13th so here’s how you can enter to win this prize:
Leave a comment on this post naming a fear you have conquered, or would like to (1 entry)
RT to enter to win a #SeaVancouver tour for 4 from @Miss604 http://bit.ly/2bv4PBn in support of @DropZoneVAN
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 6:00pm on Sunday, September 4, 2016. Follow the Easter Seals BC Drop Zone on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information.
“Vancouver Airport Authority is the Provincial Sponsor of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, a conservation initiative of the Vancouver Aquarium and World Wildlife Foundation. 
