Canadian Tire Stores in Vancouver celebrate JUMPSTART DAY to help local kids get into the game
On May 28, the Third Annual Jumpstart Day will take place at Canadian Tire stores in Vancouver. During this one-day fundraising event, every $1 donated by customers will be tripled by Canadian Tire Corporation. All money raised will be donated to Jumpstart, helping Canadian kids get involved in organized sport.
One in three Canadian families cannot afford to enrol their children in organised sports. In fact, a survey of Canadians conducted on behalf of Jumpstart found that 70 per cent of families saw cost as the number one barrier to participation in sport, yet most parents (94 per cent) believe that participation in sports increases a child’s chance for future success. Canadian Tire Jumpstart helps bridge that gap so that kids can get off the sidelines and into the game.
The city of Vancouver proclaimed May 28, 2011 as Jumpstart Day to give kids a sporting chance. Please let me know if you would like to schedule an interview with a local family that has benefited from Jumpstart.
Canadian Tire invites the Vancouver community to get involved and make a difference in the lives of local kids.
Below is a video of Jessica Land of the Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Tire Jump Start Program
Below is a video of Lee McIsaac of Boys and Girls Club at Canadian Tire Jump Start
Under the Salish Sun – Community Day at Oppenheimer Park in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
It’s a Picnic! It’s a Fair! All we want is…You to be there! * Salish Welcome and Sharing by Wesley Nahanee of Squamish Natin * Snowy Owl Drum Group with Dalannah Bowen * Power To Women * Pow Wow Drumming and Round Dance Singing with Jr. Waskewitch * Aboriginal Front Door drum group. * Nisga’a Dancersn * Rez Warrior- Larry Hanson! * Singing Group: Scow Community Organization Tables Hair Braiding Contest Community Craft Tables- Face Painting Balloons for the kids!
Saturday morning pancake at Woodwards Housing in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
Delicious pancakes were cooked up by Dan, our generous chef to feed hungry residents.
W2TV: Raise the Rates MLA Welfare Challenge
Coast Salish Territory – 600 block Powell Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver BC. Near the local office of the BC Ministry of Housing and Social Development.
On May 26, 2011, a group named Raise the Rates launches the MLA Welfare Challenge. A Challenge to BC MLA’s to see if any will live on the province’s rate of $610 for a single person.
Raise the Rates states an MLA accepting the challenge would be engaging in real action reseach and gain some understanding of what life on welfare is like.
It has been 25 years since Vancouver MLA and later Speaker of the House Emery Barnes spent 7 weeks living on the welfare rate of the time. Among those issuing the challenge to MLA’s is Constance Barnes, daughter of the late Mr. Barnes and a CoV Parks Board Commissioner. She explained with pride her father’s act to support a raise in welfare rates.
Based on his experience, Emery Barnes stated that the welfare rate for a single person without disabilities should be $700. That is 25 years ago and equivalent to $1,290 today, more than double what is the present welfare rate.
Bob Hopwood of Raise the Rates states they will provide MLA’s support and advice and work with them to ensure the month is a valuable and insightful experience.
As the legislature is in session until June 2, Raise the Rates states after that would be a good time to start with July 1 being the latest. MLA’s have until June 16 to respond. Raise the Rates commits to provide $610 to one MLA from each party and link them to people on welfare to hear their stories and experiences.
As MLA’s determine the welfare rates, they should be able to survive on them as 90,000 BC families and individuals do. Along with the MLA Welfare Challenge, Raise the Rates also has demands as Jean Swanson explains.
By taking the challenge, MLA’s would find current welfare rates for most does not provide enough for nutritous food or adequate shelter let alone hygiene or transportation.
The average rent for a one bedroom apartment in Vancouver is $1,012 a month. Even in the lowest rent area of Vancouver the average rent is $805 a month. Raise the Rates is a coalition of over 20 organisation in BC concerned about poverty and nomelessness in the province.
For W2TV, Sid Tan reporting from the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver BC.
Cristina King, Regional Floral Specialist at Whole Foods Market speaks on declining bee population at Epic Expo in Vancouver
Whole Foods Market addressed a critical environmental issue on the declining bee population at their main exhibit with lots of fantastic displays and visuals.
Here are the facts:
- Bees are responsible for pollinating at least a third of our food crops including: nuts, coffee, mustard, apples, peaches and other fruits and vegetables.
- The value of pollination to Canadian food crops has been conservatively estimated at $1.2 billion per year.
- The bee population is rapidly declining in North America due to habitat loss and degradation and the use of pesticides. In fact, in the U.S. alone, feral honeybee populations have dropped approximately 90% in the past 50 years.
Within a 400-square-foot booth made of 100% recycled materials, Whole Foods experts will be on hand to educate people about the importance of the bee population for local agriculture and ecosystems and what they can do to help the decline. The exhibit will feature a full scale urban garden with a variety of living plants, informational displays and a movie trailer of “Queen of the Sun” – an award-winning documentary about the bee crisis.
In addition, bee keepers from B.C were present at select times throughout the weekend to discuss facts about pollination and honey production and the issues challenging the beekeeping community.
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