I am very honoured to announce that Miss604 has won an international media award from Variety – The Children’s Charity. The award recognizes the outstanding contribution of a media supporter to one of the 42 chapters worldwide, and Miss604 was selected earlier this month at the Variety World Conference in Jersey, UK for my support of Variety BC.
Miss604 Wins Variety International Media Award
Every year at the conference, the tents, or chapters, nominate a partner in a number of categories. This year Variety of BC, Tent 47, nominated Miss604 who was among nominees from other Variety Tents in Canada, the United States, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
For the last two years, Miss604 has been the official Social Lounge Sponsor at the Variety BC Show of Hearts Telethon, cross-promoting the television and in-person activity to drive online donations and support. In 2016, I had an amazing team of bloggers from around the Lower Mainland helping me out:
Scott Graham, John Biehler (who did on site 3D printing), Marc Smith, Ariane Colenbrander, Leeann Froese, and Christina Pocock. I want to particularly thank my husband, John Bollwitt, for his unwavering support and spending the last two Valentine’s Days with me and Variety.
Thanks to the efforts of my team, throughout the 22 hour telethon weekend we helped raise awareness online, reaching millions of social media accounts and even trending in Canada on Twitter on a very busy Saturday night and Valentine’s weekend.
The media award recognizes and rewards individuals, companies or corporations who publicize Variety’s charitable efforts for children and in doing so, help Variety raise money to continue and expand their good work. Variety BC also took home the Variety International Award in the $3M+ category; the Presidential Citation (Bill Senghera); and the Corporate Award (Buy-Low Foods).
I am so excited to have had this partnership with Variety over the last two years, and to have been there when the balloons drop on telethon week to see them raise over $6.8M or children in BC. Thank you for reading, re-tweeting, sharing on Facebook, and supporting my efforts throughout the year!
Follow Variety on Twitter and on Facebook to learn more about their work with BC kids throughout the year.
Celebrating the best of British Columbia film and television, the Leo Awards will take place over three nights in downtown Vancouver, on Saturday, May 28th, Saturday June 4th and Sunday June 5th at the Hyatt Regency.
Leo Awards: Nominees
The Leo Awards received a total of 1137 eligible entries for 2016, the second highest in their history! This year’s entries are comprised of 173 program and 963 craft entries.
“Thank you to all our entrants for another remarkable year. We now begin the task of screening and adjudicating your work.” said Walter Daroshin, Leo Awards President.
Here are a few of the multiple-nominees for the 2016 Leo Awards:
Dramatic Series: Motive, 17 Nominations
Dramatic Series: The Romeo Section, 14 Nominations
Motion Picture: The Devout, 14 Nominations
Motion Picture: Numb, 12 Nominations
Television Movie: On the Farm, 10 Nominations
Television Movie: R. L. Stein’s Monsterville: The Cabinet Of Souls, 9 Nominations
Short Drama: Reset, 7 Nominations
Short Drama: Victory Square, 7 Nominations
Youth or Children’s Program or Series: Some Assembly Required, 8 Nominations
Documentary Program or Series: Sonic Magic: The Wonder and Science of Sound, 7 Nominations
View the full list of nominees by program online, along with the list of awards by evening.
Tickets are now available for the three awards ceremony evenings:
Celebration One Awards Ceremony
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Hyatt Regency – Perspectives Level, 34th Floor
Celebration Two Awards Ceremony
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Hyatt Regency – Regency Ballroom
Gala Awards Ceremony & Red Carpet
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Hyatt Regency – Regency Ballroom
Follow the Leo Awards on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
I love to show off our city, and with John’s family and friends being in United States, we get visitors almost every summer for whom I can play tour guide. Hopping into a car2go is an easy way to make the most of a full day around town when you want to show off a lot of sights. There are always a few place I love to take visitors which I think are “must sees” for everyone that wants to experience Vancouver:
5 Best Places to Take an Out of Town Guest
Museum of Anthropology
car2go parking: Closest parking a short walk away at UBC Arno Lot- 6300 Crescent Rd
Begin your introduction to Vancouver by going back to the start of its cultural heritage at the Museum of Anthropology. The museum is renowned for its displays of world arts and cultures, in particular works by First Nations of the Pacific Northwest.
The special exhibition this summer is “In the Footprint of the Crocodile Man”, featuring contemporary art of the Sepik River of Papua New Guinea. The museum shop is also one of the best in the region.
The Beach
car2go parking: In these beach areas, there is on street parking for permit, resident only, 2 hr, or areas with no signage where members can end their trips.
Spanish Banks, Jericho, and Kits Beaches all offer stunning views of the North Shore Mountains and Downtown Vancouver in the distance. Here you’ll find locals out walking their dogs, playing on the sand banks, and having picnics on warm summer days. Even in the winter, a beach stroll with warm beverage in hand is always a fine idea.
Sitting on the edge of Vancouver’s eastern boundary, New Brighton Park is a unique combination of community facilities, panoramic mountain views, beach-side paths… and industry. Flanked by traffic rushing by on the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge and trains pulling out from the port, it’s a surprisingly quiet pocket of green space.
False Creek
car2go parking: There is on street parking for permit, resident only, 2 hr, or areas with no signage where members can end their trips. For Granville Island car2go has dedicated parking by Bridges Restaurant and Granville Hotel
Park the car, hop a water taxi, and criss cross this busy waterway, returning on foot around the sea wall. Watch dragon boaters slip past in unison, stop on a patio for some lunch with views of the city and mountains. Check out the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Village and how the area has turned into a bustling community with shops, services, craft breweries, cafes and restaurants.
Make Granville Island your start and end point while you discover the seaside culture of Vancouver along this marine thoroughfare, where you can also pick up some fresh seafood from right off the boat.
Coal Harbour
carg2go parking: Designated car2go parking can be found by the Coal Harbour Community Centre and overflow parking at 200 Granville (next to Waterfront Station).
From cruise ships at Canada Place and the Olympic Cauldron, to patio dining by the inlet, and the entrance to Stanley Park, Coal Harbour provide a great taste of Vancouver for visitors.
Head west on the Seawall toward Stanley Park, watch float planes land, and have a picnic on the lawn at Harbour Green Park. Coal Harbour showcases the city, the sea, and the beautiful views we have of the North Shore.
North Vancouver
carg2go parking: Designated parking is located at 200 E Esplanade Ave. 5 spaces on the south side and unlimited overflow in permitted in any unreserved parking space on the lot.
Cross the iconic Lions Gate Bridge and get a view of the city from across the water. Shop for local produce and artisanal ingredients at the Lonsdale Quay Market, enjoy a sunset from a patio near the Shipyards or shop the night market, and take advantage of a great photo op from Waterfront Park.
car2go is an entire fleet of free-floating, low-emission, self-service smart fortwo cars distributed all over the city. Its tech-friendly booking makes it a great option for getting out and about to enjoy Vancouver. Members can go to the car2go website to view a live map that shows all car2go parking spaces, and reference this FAQ PDF. Just click on parkspots to see where they are on the map. This feature is also available on the app.
Sign Up Deal
car2go is offering up free registration and 15 minutes of drive time* this summer when you sign up here, and use the code C2G15.
Follow car2go on Facebook and Twitter for more information about the service in your area.
*Restrictions and fees may apply. Registration deal/code is valid 5/2/2016- 6/12/2016.
Offer only valid in Vancouver until June 12th, 2016. One redemption per member. Drive time will be valid in Vancouver for 45 days from the date of issuance. This offer is not redeemable for cash or other credit.
In one day on the upper Sunshine Coast I had an awesome breakfast, learned how to play the violin, strolled along the beach, interviewed some fascinating locals for a FestivalSeekers article, drove up to Lund, hopped in a zodiac, ripped past Desolation Sound and landed on an island referred to as the “Galapagos of the Salish Sea”.
Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park
It was my second experience with Terracentric Tours, which is based out of Lund, right near the Mile 0 marker for Highway 101. Owner Christine Hollmann is incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to all things Sunshine Coast, Salish Sea, and navigating the beautiful waters and islands of British Columbia. This year, she took my small group out to Mitlenatch Island, which means “calm waters all around” in the Coast Salish language.
Mitlenatch Island is just 155 hectares but is full wildlife. It is a Rockfish Conservation Area, and home to the largest seabird colony in the Strait of Georgia. Its wildflower meadows sprout chocolate lilies, prickly pear cactuses, blue and white camus, and the rocky shores on one side balance a barking and groaning sea lion colony. The park receives less than 75cm (30 inches) of rain each year, about half the Campbell River average, making for a very unique ecosystem.
If you want to explore Mitlenatch, I recommend going with a tour since it is such an environmentally sensitive area. The park is accessible by boat only and the only access to the park is from Northwest Bay or Camp Bay. No boats are to land along the rocky shorelines on either side of both Camp and Northwest Bays or at any point around the island. Boaters should enter into the middle of either bay to minimize wildlife disturbance and are responsible for their own boat and passengers.
Book a Music Festival + Boat Tour Package
You can book a tour with Terracentric this summer and pair it with an amazing musical experience, with a direct tour package straight from Vancouver to the Sunshine Coast for the PRISMA Festival. The Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy in Powell River culminates with PRISMA on the Beach (Wednesday, June 15, 2016) where you can join 5,000 concertgoers for a seaside concert.
Read all about this event in my article “Orchestra on the Beach: PRISMA Brings a World of Music to Powell River” over on the FestivalSeekers website and check out Sunshine Coast Tourism to plan your trip to this beautiful coastal region.
