Vancouver Gluten Free Expo 2013

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Vancouver is hosting a Gluten Free Expo on January 13th that will include products, education, demonstrations, and plenty of samples. Browse the offerings of over 100 vendors and exhibitors while Registered Dieticians take to the main stage to talk about living gluten free.

Where: Vancouver Convention Centre East (Canada Place)
When: Sunday, January 13, 2013 from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Tickets: Available online for $9 or at the door on the day of the event for $12. All prices include HST and service fees. The first 2000 attendees also receive a re-usable shopping bag.

Exhibitors and sponsors include (but are not limited to) Canadian Celiac Association Vancouver Chapter, Choices Markets, BC SPCA, Delight Gluten Free Magazine, Five Hole for Food, Edible Canada, Nature’s Path Foods, Noodlebox, Wendel’s True Foods, and a large number of bakeries like Cloud 9 Specialty Bakery, The Sweet Tooth Cakery, PatsyPie Gluten-Free Bakery, Bakery on Main, and Lemonade Gluten Free Bakery.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale. Removing gluten from your diet means excluding foods that contain these ingredients. It’s no wonder that so many bakeries signed on as exhibitors – proving that you can be gluten free and still enjoy breads, sweets, and treats.

Follow the Gluten Free Expo (that also stops in Toronto and Calgary) on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

Port Coquitlam Celebrates 100 Years

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Port Coquitlam is kicking off a series of celebrations that will take place throughout the year in honor of their 100th birthday in March. Join the community on Friday, January 4, 2013 at the Port Coquitlam Rec Complex (2150 Wilson Ave) from 5:00pm to 9:30pm to see what’s in store for the rest of the year.

poco100

Port Coquitlam History

Today Port Coquitlam is a community of 57,000 with commercial and industrial areas, 217 hectares of parkland (including the Traboulay Trail), and residential neighbourhoods. Here’s a brief history from the PoCo100 site:

When European explorers discovered this region in the early 1800s, the Coast Salish people had already been hunting, fishing and farming between the Pitt and Coquitlam rivers for thousands of years. In addition to fertile land, rivers teeming with salmon and forests providing wood and game, the area offered a strategic location near the important transportation links of the day: rivers and, after 1885, rails.

By the time the 1860s arrived, homesteads, businesses and roads were starting to sprout up throughout the area. Surveyed land was selling for 10 shillings an acre, and two reserves were set aside for the Kwikwetlem First Nation, named for Chief Kwikwetlem William (later the namesake for Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam). In 1886, the first train passed through the Westminster Junction railway station on what is now Kingsway Avenue, further spurring growth.

An estimated 1,200-1,500 people had settled in the area when the City of Port Coquitlam was incorporated on March 7, 1913, splitting off from the largely rural District of Coquitlam. Lively Kingsway Avenue, the town centre at the time, was lined with businesses and wooden sidewalks, while Canadian Pacific Railway was the biggest employer. A devastating fire on Kingsway in 1920 shifted the downtown core to the Shaughnessy Street area, where the City Hall had been built in 1914.

Growth was slowed by war and the Great Depression, but the end of the Second World War in 1945 and completion of Lougheed Highway in 1948 brought an influx of residents and businesses to both the north and south sides of the CP Rail operations. Between 1941 and 1951, the population more than doubled from 1,539 to 3,232. By 1961 it had more than doubled again, to 8,111.

By 1980, when a young Port Coquitlam hero named Terry Fox inspired the world with his Marathon of Hope, the population was approximately 27,000. The late 1990s and 2000s saw more population and infrastructure growth, with the renovation of City Hall, Hyde Creek Recreation Centre and the Port Coquitlam Recreation Complex, and construction of Fire Hall #1, the Operations Centre, Leigh Square Community Arts Village, Coast Meridian Overpass and other facilities. The population reached 50,000 in the early 2000s.

Traboulay PoCo Trail Traboulay PoCo Trail

PoCo 100 Events

After the launch on Friday, there will be over a dozen other events that will showcase community pride and spirit including: Spirit Week (February 9 to 16, 2013), Taste of PoCo Spirit (February 16, 2013), the Community Birthday Celebration (March 7, 2013), May Day Trolley Tours (May 11, 2013), Homecoming Event (August 17 to 18, 2013) and much more. Follow Port Coquitlam 100 on Facebook for event information.

Christmas Tree Chipping in Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey

Comments 3 by Rebecca Bollwitt

It’s a new year and soon it will be time to take down decorations and slip into post-holiday routines. If you’re looking to recycle your Christmas tree, there are a handful of chipping events around town that will take it off your hands and support a great local cause in the process:

PC160042
Photo credit: TheVancouverGuy on Flickr

Mount Pleasant

When: Sunday, January 6, 2013 from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Where: Kingsgate Mall (370 E Broadway)
What: Mount Pleasant BIA’s 4th annual tree chipping event to raise field trip funds for Mount Pleasant Elementary School. Free cookies and hot chocolate. Chipping by donation.

UBC Botanical Garden

When: Now until Wednesday, January 9, 2013 from 9:30am to 4:30pm
Where: UBC Botanical Garden (6804 SW Marine Drive)
What: Christmas tree recycling fundraiser for the food garden expansion at Thunderbird Elementary School. There is a suggested donation of $5.

City of Vancouver Tree Recycling Stations

When: Saturday, January 5, 2013 from 10:00am to 4:00pm
When: Sunday, January 6, 2013 from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Where: Kerrisdale Community Centre ice rink parking lot (5670 East Blvd)
Kitsilano Beach parking lot (Cornwall Ave and Arbutus)
Sunset Beach upper parking lot (Beach Ave and Broughton)
Rona Home and Garden Grandview (2727 E 12 Ave, overflow parking lot south of 12th)
What: City of Vancouver and volunteers from the Lions Club are providing Christmas tree chipping events in several locations. After the trees are chipped, they are taken to the Vancouver Landfill to be composted. Cash and non-perishable food donations collected at the events will be distributed to local charities.

You can also set out your tree with your food scraps and yard waste in the City of Vancouver. Be sure to remove all ornaments and tinsel.

Surrey

When: Saturday, January 5th, 2013 from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Where: Newton Athletic Park (128th St and 74th Ave)
What: Surrey’s 28th Annual Chip-In is by donation to the Surrey Firefighters Charitable Society.

When: Saturday, January 5th, 2013 from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Where: IGA Mall (17710 No 10 Hwy)
What: By donation, hosted by 1st Cloverdale Scouting.

Burnaby

When: Saturday, January 5th, 2013 from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Where: Lougheed Town Centre (corner of Austin & North Road)
What: Presented by Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society. Come on down to the full service Christmas Tree Chip! Hot dogs, pop & firetrucks.

2012 Year in Food

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt

We’re fortunate enough to break out of our West End bubble to dine out at a selection of eateries, hotels, and fine restaurants throughout the year. In 2012, we enjoyed cuisine from British Columbia, Washington State, and the lush farming island of Maui, Hawaii.

Dunn’s Famous in Vancouver

Dunn's Famous Vancouver Dunn's Famous Vancouver

Black Rock Resort Ucluelet

Black Rock Resort Black Rock Resort

Ashiana Restaurant in Surrey

Ashiana Tandoori Surrey Ashiana Tandoori Surrey

The Urban Tea Merchant

Urban Tea Merchant Urban Tea Merchant

Wild Rice in New Westminster

Day in New Westminster: May 2012

Day in New Westminster: May 2012 Day in New Westminster: May 2012

Brunch at Reflections in the Rosewood Hotel Georgia

Reflections: Rosewood Hotel Georgia

Reflections: Rosewood Hotel Georgia Reflections: Rosewood Hotel Georgia

Pop-Up Patio at the Westin Grand

PopUpPatio PopUpPatio

Slow Food Cycle Farm Tour in Agassiz

Slow Food Cycle Tour Agassiz

Nita Lake Lodge Whistler Creekside

Nita Lake Lodge Whistler Nita Lake Lodge Whistler Nita Lake Lodge Whistler

Tulalip Bay at Tulalip Resort and Casino

Tulalip Tulalip
Tulalip

Ka’anapali Fresh on Maui

Ka'anapali Fresh Maui Ka'anapali Fresh Maui

Maui: August 2012

Maui: August 2012 Maui: August 2012

Ka'anapali Fresh, Maui Ka'anapali Fresh, Maui

Chefs Across the Water with Lee Parsons of the Wedgewood Hotel

Chefs Across the Water at Hastings House Chefs Across the Water at Hastings House

Yolk’s Breakfast Food Truck

Yolks Breakfast Yolks Breakfast

Connie’s Cookin’ at Granger Grocery

Connie's Cookin' at Granger Grocery Connie's Cookin' at Granger Grocery Connie's Cookin' at Granger Grocery

Copperleaf Restaurant at Cedarbrook Lodge

Copperleaf Restaurant Copperleaf Restaurant

Holiday Tea at The Urban Tea Merchant

Urban Tea Merchant Urban Tea Merchant

I’m still dreaming of the crab cake from Tulalip and a risotto we had at Cin Cin during the Vancouver International Film Festival. The croque madame from Yolk’s Breakfast, our hearty tofu and spicy pork from Donburi Ya, ramen from Kintaro, oysters in Seattle, pretzels from MARKET’s Oktoberfest, and much more.

Get outside of your comfort zone, try new flavours, support growers and farmers, and enjoy the best local ingredients that are offered. Close to home or far away, I’m looking forward to tasting more delectable bites in 2013.

2012 Year in Photos

Comments 3 by Rebecca Bollwitt

2012 was a much sweeter year than 2011 which contained too many tears due to losses in our families. We bounced back and embraced the last 12 months with enthusiasm and a thirst for adventure. In 2011 I traveled 75,000kms, mostly on my own. In 2012 I wanted to share more with John and I think we were successful in combining our adventures. We spent much more time in Seattle (including taking the train down for the Mariners’ opening day), had one of the best massages of our lives at Tigh-Na-Mara in Parksville for our anniversary, we explored more of Whatcom County just south of the border and found a Tesla coil in the Spark Museum, we biked a circle farm tour in Agassiz, and the biggest puddle jump for us was going to Maui for the inaugural Ka’anapali Fresh festival.

Vanier Park

While Instagram became an easier and more mobile way to post photos, I have put together the following “Year in Review” using my Flickr images that were *not* taken with an iPhone. I used my Olympus PEN the most along with my Nikon D90 and still managed to upload over 104 pages worth of photos to Flickr.

January

Our year started off in Iowa again and took an afternoon drive over to LeClaire, the home of American Pickers.

Afternoon Iowa Drive Afternoon Iowa Drive

Afternoon Iowa Drive

February

The most romantic month of all. We celebrated Valentine’s Day at Black Rock Resort in Ucluelet where we walked the Wild Pacific Trail and then our anniversary was spent at Tigh-Na-Mara in Parksville during their Parksville Uncorked festival.

Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet

Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet Black Rock Resort

Black Rock Resort

I also got to check out the Deeley Motorcycle Exhibition and the newly re-opened BC Sports Hall of Fame.

March

I was invited to Powell River to write about the historic Patricia Theatre and the town’s efforts to help it go digital through fundraising — which was a success! I also got a tour of Townsite Brewing, which burst onto the BC craft beer scene this year.

Patricia Theatre, Powell River

Townsite Brewing, Powell River Townsite Brewing, Powell River Townsite Brewing, Powell River

April

Our friend Duane moved back to Chilliwack for a few months and I experienced more of Tulalip Resort (and the Hibulb Cultural Centre) in Washington State.

Cultus Lake Park - Main Beach

Hibulb Cultural Center, Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center, Tulalip

Hibulb Cultural Center, Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center, Tulalip

May

When the spring sunshine popped out I did a few random photowalks in the West End, capturing traffic circles of all things, and of the budding flowers in Stanley Park. John and I also had some fun checking out downtown New Westminster for a day.

West End Traffic Circles Stanley Park Flowers

Day in New Westminster: May 2012 Day in New Westminster: May 2012

June

Marc Smith started up his 30 Day Adventures campaign in June where he set out to discover a local attraction every day for a whole month. I booked a day with him and we spent hours touring some of Langley’s best wineries. I also toured BC Place, did a TreeTrek in Whistler, and Whatcom County destinations like Fairhaven, Bellingham, and the Hovander Homestead.

Langley Winery Day

Langley Winery Day Langley Winery Day

Ferndale, Washington

Fairhaven, Washington Fairhaven, Washington

TreeTrek Whistler TreeTrek Whistler

July

John’s brother and his family visited us from Iowa for the first time so we had a lot of fun playing tourist in our own town, from a Stanley Park walk to Grouse Mountain’s SkyRide, and a trip up the Sea to Sky. July also had Canada Day festivities, Surrey’s Fusion Festival, another tour of the Celebration of Light barges, the Slow Food Cycle Tour in Agassiz, and I sat in on a few Vancouver Film School Summer Intensives.

Merilees Trail Stanley Park

Surrey Fusion Festival 2012 Honda Celebration of Light 2012

Slow Food Cycle Tour Agassiz

August

The end of summer was all about Maui and our trip to the Ka’anapali Beach Association’s first annual food and wine festival.

Sunrise on Maui at Haleakala

Ka'anapali Fresh, Maui Ka'anapali Fresh, Maui

MauiGrown Coffee Tour MauiGrown Coffee Tour

Ka'anapali Fresh, Maui Canoeing with Maui Paddle

Preview of my Haleakala photos from Maui

September

A sizzling season of even more food and wine with O! Osoyoos Celebrates and Chefs Across the Water on Salt Spring.

Osoyoos Lookout Views

Osoyoos Wine Tours Chefs Across The Water

October

We took a trip to Bellingham to visit the SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention and I visited the Canadian Red Cross’ Emergency Response Unit setup in Ontario.

Spark Museum Grand Re-Opening 2012

Canadian Red Cross ERU Canadian Red Cross ERU

November

It was the first time we traveled to support a hometown team on the road as we followed Vancouver WhitecapsFC to Los Angeles for their playoff game against the Galaxy. My mother and I then traveled to New York for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — something that’s been on her “Must See” list her entire life.

View from Crystal Cove State Park Newport Beach

Central Park

Top of the Rock Top of the Rock High Line Park

Central Park Central Park

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2012

December

We left for Iowa earlier in December this year so we didn’t get any other travel in. I sponsored Christmas at Canada Place and took one last photowalk around False Creek before we left for the year.

Christmas at Canada Place 2012 Christmas at Canada Place 2012

False Creek Village Photowalk

False Creek Village Photowalk False Creek Village Photowalk

Here’s to more laughter, love, sharing, caring, and happiness in 2013!