This month, every dollar you donate to Covenant House Vancouver will be doubled up to $100,000!
Many of us come face to face with homelessness every day in Metro Vancouver. Homelessness can look like a young person sleeping in a doorway, other times it might be someone asking you to spare some change. Often it shows itself as a shared glance from a broken soul. Regardless of how we are reminded of the need, a common feeling often resonates: what can I do to help make this better? Here is your chance to make a difference.
Some of Covenant House’s amazing supporters came forward recently to offer this matching campaign so when you donate $20, Covenant House will receive $40. Your $60 becomes $120, and so on.
Covenant House Donation Matching
There’s only one non-profit organization in town that can get me to sleep outside on a frigid November night, in negative temperatures, using a piece of cardboard as a bed. That’s Covenant House. Over the last four years I have seen their work first-hand, met their clients, their success stories, their volunteers, and program coordinators. I have witnessed the positive impact they have on our city and I am so excited to continue to support them — and sleep outside again next November.
Covenant House Vancouver opened its doors in September of 1997 in response to a study that revealed that there were over 10,000 (now around 8,500) runaways in BC annually. The study also revealed that street youth were in desperate need of short-term transitional shelter and long-term supportive housing.
Covenant House Vancouver provides food, shelter, clothing and counselling to the estimated 700 (believed to be an undercount but no other number is deemed more reliable) street youth living in Vancouver at any given time. Most of the young people we help have fled abuse at home or have aged out of the foster care system. Last year, over 1,500 young people accessed Covenant House’s services.
Follow Covenant House on Twitter and Facebook for more information, and please consider donating this month.
Car Free Day is here and being that Vancouver is so enthusiastic about the event, it actually lasts for two full days in some neighbourhoods. This is your chance to hop off the sidewalk and stroll the streets of your community, or one you’d like to visit for the day, to experience live music, food, and the culture that makes each of these areas so charming.
Car Free Day Vancouver
Main Street
When: Sunday, June 19, 2016 from 12:00pm to 7:00pm
Where: Main Street, from Broadway to 30th
Resources: A vibrant mix of vendors, entertainment, businesses, and community members spanning over 20 blocks. Look for mini-festivals, community-supported stages with dozens of bands, multiple kids zones, three giant artisan markets and more. Facebook Event Page
Commercial Drive
When: Sunday, June 19, 2016 from 12:00pm to 7:00pm
Where: Commercial Drive, from Grandview to Venables
Resources: This 15 block fest will be packed with amazing local artisans, vendors and community groups, delicious food straight from the Drive, and tonnes of entertainment and activities for all ages. Facebook Event Page
Kitsilano
When: Saturday, June 18 & Sunday, June 19, 2016
Where: Various locations
Resources: In Kitsilano, it’s all about the individually-hosted block parties. Instead of closing off a major street, people throughout Kits host block parties with their neighbours. Some have dancing, some have music, some have couches, chairs and carpets in the middle of the street. Kitsilano Block Party Website, Kitsilano Block Party Facebook Page.
West End
When: Saturday, June 18, 2016 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Where: Denman Street, from Georgia to Davie
Resources: Facebook Event Page
Follow the main Car Free Day Twitter and Facebook accounts for the latest news and links to each event. Use hashtags #CFDrive #CFKits #CFMain #CFWest when tweeting about your car free neighbourhood.
Mission Hill Family Estate’s popular Summer Concert Series returns this summer with world-class talent playing the vineyard amphitheatre. Melissa Etheridge is there on Friday, August 26th, and the return of The Gipsy Kings on Sunday, August 28th. Michael Bolton is playing on August 5th and after all three shows incredibly sold out in just 20 minutes, a second Michael Bolton show was added for August 7th.
Tickets for the second Michael Bolton concert are on sale now, and you can purchase experiential packages to amp up your Mission Hill concert experience this summer. The spectacular outdoor Amphitheatre at Mission Hill is unlike any music venue in North America, providing an intimate experience for some of the greatest names in the world of music, and attracting audiences from across Canada, the US and beyond.
Mission Hill Family Estate, located in the heart of British Columbia’s pristine Okanagan Valley, offers visitors an exceptional experience in a setting of unparalleled natural beauty and extraordinary architecture. Established in 1981 by Proprietor Anthony von Mandl, O.B.C., the family-owned winery is known for its exemplary vineyard estates and award-winning wines. Heralded as ‘the gold standard of wineries’ by Condé Nast Traveler, the winery offers cultural programs including the annual summer concert series, culinary programs and international art exhibitions.
Win a Getaway to the Mission Hill Summer Concert Series
Thanks to Mission Hill Family Estate and The Cove Lakeside Resort in West Kelowna, I have an awesome prize pack to give away.
Tucked on the sandy shores of the spectacular Okanagan Lake in one of BC’s most treasured regions is the spectacular 150-suite Cove Lakeside Resort. Located in West Kelowna, the heart of the Okanagan Valley, The Cove Lakeside Resort is a short drive from Kelowna and is surrounded by an impressive variety of outdoor recreational activities. From hiking, biking, boating, horseback riding and skiing, to a choice of over 53 local golf courses, the Okanagan promises to keep you busy and entertained. For wine aficionados and food lovers, the Okanagan is rich with lush orchards, gourmet restaurants and award-winning wineries that open their doors for tasting throughout the year.
You can enter to win two tickets to the Michael Bolton concert (value of $278) at Mission Hill Family Estate on August 7th and a one-bedroom suite (garden view/ partial lakeview) at The Cove (value of $389) for one night, August 7th! Here’s how:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Prize cannot be exchange for other dates and must be used for the August 7, 2016 concert and the night of August 7, 2016 at The Cove. If the winner cannot attend these dates, another will be drawn. I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Monday, June 20, 2016.
Update The winner is Betty!
Condé Nast Reader’s Choice award winner, the Loden Hotel, is on the hunt for Vancouver’s Best Insider. Do you know where to find the best ice cream? The best bike route? Hidden gem attractions? Then the Loden wants to sign you for the summer!
The Loden Concierge team is searching for local residents to share their tips on the city’s best-kept secrets, and activities that are truly representative of Vancouver. Until June 19, The Loden is holding a contest to search for one lucky person to become an honorary member of the Loden Concierge team and share their insider tips on local activities and experiences.
To enter the contest entrants must post an Instagram or Twitter image sharing insight into Vancouver life using the hashtag #LodenConcierge between May 31st to June 19th, 2016. Contestants are invited to share their insider’s view on the city’s best-kept secrets, off-the-beaten-path destinations, and under-the-radar adventures.
What barstool is the best perch to sip a perfectly-crafted cocktail? Where do you place your picnic blanket for the most spectacular view? How do weekend warriors spend a day of urban adventure? Tell the Loden’s Concierge team via social media, and they will nominate five insiders based on their Instagram and Twitter entries. A winner will be selected via a public vote, open June 27, 2016, through July 17, 2016.
Throughout the month of August the Loden will provide the winner with opportunities to attend events and activities around the city. The winner will post their experiences on the Loden website and will also receive the title of Honorary Concierge, a $1500 cash prize and one night in the luxurious Halo Penthouse. Featuring a 1,600 square-foot wrap-around terrace with panoramic views, a lavish suite with a generously sized master bedroom, guest room, kitchen, and deluxe bathrooms, the Halo Penthouse is valued at nearly $5,000 per night.
To enter the Loden’s Vancouver’s Best Insider contest:
1. Follow @LodenHotel on Twitter or Instagram
2. Post an image to Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #LodenConcierge
3. Include a caption depicting insight into Vancouver life
All of the official rules and regulations can be found here. Good luck!
This spring, John and I did a Midwest road trip with the Honda Pilot. Our destination was his niece’s high school graduation in his hometown in Eastern Iowa, and our the overall goal of our journey was to introduce me to other Bollwitt family members that I haven’t met yet — in 10 years of marriage!
Interspersed across the Western United States, we were able to stop and see family in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and of course in Iowa, where we eventually stayed put for over a week.
Thanks to Honda Canada, we were equipped for the road in style with the all new 2016 Honda Pilot, Touring. The technology, interior comforts, and performance were perfect for this trek, that took us from the interstate to scenic byways, major capitol cities to rural farm town. Here are just some of the stops we made along the way:
Devils Tower, Wyoming
Devils Tower, Wyoming. America’s first national monument and a major icon from a Steven Spielberg film John made me watch for the first time upon our return.
Badlands, South Dakota
I’ve been the Canadian Badlands before but never have I seen the area south and east, in South Dakota. We woke up at our highway-side hotel that was near Mount Rushmore and I spotted the detour loop through Badlands National Park. I told John it’s something he’s got to see and he agreed.
All the places in between…
We stopped in Ashfall, Nebraska, dubbed the “Pompeii” of Prehistoric Animals and named a US National Landmark in 2006. There was also Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota for which billboards spot the landscape along the I-90 for hundreds of miles in each direction — make sure you stop in for some free ice water (their claim to fame since 1930).
We had to visit the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota, and John’s aunt walked us over to the Geographic Centre of America in Belle Fource, South Dakota. Come to think of it, while our destination was Iowa and we visited many people in between there and home, we really explore South Dakota the most.
Pilot features we loved
We really couldn’t have dreamed up a more comfortable ride for our adventure. Some of the highlights for me throughout the trip included:
Interior Comforts: Pull-up blinds on the back windows that, when it was a sweltering 30 degrees in the Badlands, helped prevent the oven-like feeling in the vehicle when we hopped back in after a walk. The sunroof was great to have, and we opened it when we finally rolled into John’s home town, but it was the panoramic moonroof that added that “wow” factor.
With two drivers, we programmed two seat positions using buttons #1 and #2 on the driver-side door. When I hopped in, I pressed #2 and my settings were adjusted automatically. Finally, the luggage room was great. We folded down the third row of seats to easily slip our suitcases in and out, and pack the side compartments with souvenirs.
Honda Sensing Technologies: While on the road for 12 hours of interstate driving, cruise control management became my new best friend. We switched our electronic speedometer to mph when we crossed the border so it was easy to read. Then, activating cruise control, we kept a nice pace for hours. When we approached a vehicle in our lane that was going slower, the cruise control automatically slowed up. I could change the distance settings so that it would slow up within several stages of approach, which was helpful. It allowed us to ease up on approaching traffic ahead, and make a safe turn into the left lane to make our passes. Once we passed and returned to the right lane, with no obstructions ahead, cruise control resumed its set speed.
Technology: John is a radio guy. He loves listening to local stations to see what they’re programming or what technology he can discern. He worked for Iowa Public Radio for years before I met him so it’s in his nature. However, sometimes signals are few and far between. We loved having SiriusXM available on the Honda Pilot (the 1st Wave station was a road trip life saver), and HD radio.
Multiple USB plugins were a must so that each of our devices would stay at full charge (there were several in the front console), and the navigation system didn’t lead us astray.
One feature we weren’t too keen on was that the vehicle switched off when idling, like you would find with a hybrid. It’s great for fuel economy but it was disruptive in stop-and-go interstate traffic when there was construction. Specifically, the steering wheel locked when the engine cut, before it would kick back in again when you released your foot from the brake. I have since learned that it is easily disabled.
The Honda Pilot proved to be a very trustworthy and luxurious ride for our cross-country journey. Even John’s family loved jumping in when we all went over to the high school for his niece’s graduation ceremony.
My sister-in-law snapped a selfie and caught the beautiful panoramic moon roof in the shot (and the face my other sister-in-law was making, I think she was just excited about the day ahead).
With every road trip, there’s a destination, but it’s the stops you make along the way that make the journey special. I’m so thankful to have been able to (finally) meet many Bollwitt family members who all opened their homes to us, hosted us at their supper tables, and welcomed us weary Canadian travellers with open arms. Big thanks to Honda Canada for making this trip possible.
