Do you know someone who has faced seemingly insurmountable odds yet come through with courage, strength and a drive to help? Maybe this is you? Nominations are now open for the Coast Mental Health Courage to Come Back Awards presented by Silver Wheaton, a program that celebrates extraordinary people who have overcome significant challenges in their lives, and emerged with a passion to give back.

Nominate Today

There are six different categories; each recognizes people who have overcome social adversity, medical, physical, mental health and addiction issues. There is also a youth category. From now until February 8th you can nominate someone (including yourself) by completing this nomination form.

Yes, it does take time to make a nomination. However, these are stories we all want and need to hear! Celebrating the remarkable individuals in our lives not only honours their achievements but reminds us that we can survive whatever challenges we’re facing.

In the words of last year’s Courage Recipient Meredith Graham – “People can and do change in remarkable ways. There is extraordinary potential in genuine kindness. Every act of kindness, no matter how small, has the power to heal.”

The Coast Mental Health Courage To Come Back Awards are presented annually to celebrate British Columbians who have overcome illness or adversity and have ‘come back to give back’ to their communities, and to inspire others to do the same. For over 40 years, Coast Mental Health has been providing innovative programs that address the three essential pillars of sustained recovery for those facing mental health challenges: Housing, Employment and Support Services. They walk with people to support long term recovery and success.

Courage to Come Back Awards 2017

When: Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre
Tickets: Available online now

Last year a sold out event saw 1,500 people come together to celebrate six remarkable British Columbians who overcame adversity against incredible odds.

Win Tickets to the Awards Dinner

I have two tickets to give away to the Courage to Come Back Awards dinner and fundraiser on May 16th (value $600). Please help me spread the word about the call for nominations, and enter to win tickets! Here’s how:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

[clickToTweet tweet=”Nominations open now for @CoastMH #CourageToComeBack awards! Spread the word & RT to enter to win tix http://owl.li/J0Jv3085OOx” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00am on Friday, January 27, 2017. Follow the awards on Instagram and Facebook for updates.

Update The winner is Rae!

Hosted by Brian Cook, Shake, Shake, Shake is back by popular demand on January 27th! This evening of entertainment features amazing local musical talent, including Emily Chambers, I M U R, Jesse Roper and Dutch Robinson benefitting Parkinson Society BC.

Shake, Shake, Shake

Where: The Imperial (319 Main St, Vancouver)
When: Friday, January 27, 2017 at 7:30pm
Tickets: Available online now for $25 GA, $125 VIP online until January 26th. Tickets will then be $30 at the door. This is a 19+ event.

One of this year’s performers, Emily Chambers, told me that last year they had 6 local bands perform and raised over $16,000 for Parkinson Society British Columbia. This year they have 4 bands, including her, Dutch Robinson, I M U R and Jesse Roper performing, and they hope to raise $25,000.

Secure your tickets now for this incredible showcase for a cause. Follow Emily Chambers on Twitter for more information.

The Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival returns this year, from January 19th to February 14th, with dozens of restaurants and cafes serving up deliciously decadent creations for a cause. Over 25 participants will serve up over 60 flavours!

Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival

Try a “Red Truck” at Bella Gelateria, it’s a stout beer/hot chocolate collaboration with Red Truck Brewery, or savour a “Breakfast in Burnaby” from Chez Christophe, which is inspired by French toast with 34% Zephyr hot white chocolate, a maple drizzle and pecan crunch.

There’s also a “Vegan Spiced Hot Chocolate” at Earnest Ice Cream with chai tea ice cream with hints of coconut and cashew, drenched in dark hot chocolate for an affogato-style drink.

Up for some unique ingredients? Mink Chocolates, who had all of Vancouver cheeping about their ‘cricket” drink in 2015, are going for the buzz again with a drink combo that incorporates Ripple Pea Milk. Gem Chocolates has a 60s, blossom-infused, milk chocolate drink on their list that even Austin Powers would approve of. The always romantic Paul Dincer, owner of Koko Monk Chocolates, is infusing black olives, while Chocolate Arts is working with red wine.

These flavours and more are listed below under each participating venue:

Search flavours by location, or by event date. Throughout the festival you can enter to win a chocolate prize pack or a pass for the 2018 Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival.

Hot Chocolate for a Cause

For the fourth year, partial profits from festival sales will be donated to The PHS Community Services program for Downtown Eastside women’s employment and job skills training programs (as run by East Van Roasters.)

For more information follow City Food Mag on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The 6th annual Street Food City returns to the Dine Out Vancouver Festival from January 23rd to 29th. Presented by Tourism Vancouver, Street Food Vancouver Society, and the Downtown Vancouver BIA, the food truck pod, the most informal event of Canada’s largest festival of food and drink, will be grouped along Howe Street, between Georgia and Smithe Streets.

Street Food City

Dates: January 23 to 29, 2017
Hours: 11:00am to 3:00pm Monday-Friday; 11:00am to 5:00pm Sat & Sun
Where: Dine at 800 Robson Street and Vancouver Art Gallery South Plaza
Admission: Free entry

More than 25 food trucks will rotate throughout the week, serving up everything from crisp lumpia (spring rolls) at Fliptop Filipino Fusion to a rib-sticking serving of beef bourguignon from C’est Si Bon to a crunchy Sicilian pastry filled with cream from Cannoli King, and much more. Whether it’s a fully loaded hot dog from Dougie Luv, a wood-fired sandwich from Via Tevere Neapolitan Express, or spicy jerk chicken from The Reef Runner, guests are sure to leave Street Food City satisfied.

Participating food trucks are:

Partial proceeds from Street Food City’s Dine Out Vancouver specials will be donated to A Loving Spoonful, a volunteer-driven, non-partisan society that provides free, nutritious meals to people living with HIV/AIDS in Metro Vancouver.

Follow Dine Out Vancouver on Twitter and Instagram, using the tags #streetfoodcity #DOVF.

This post has been contributed by Katherine Town, Vancouver lifeguard stationed at Lost Lagoon, on behalf of the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”). As a member of SPES for the last six years, I wanted to offer the team an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I created the “SPES Series” where they contribute and share stories with my audience once a month.

Is It Safe to Skate on Lost Lagoon?

By Katherine Town, Vancouver lifeguard stationed at Lost Lagoon

Dec 24, 1983. Skaters on Lost Lagoon. Ralph Bower/Vancouver Sun.

It’s a rare winter in Vancouver when the temperature dips low enough for Lost Lagoon to freeze over. Vancouverites are enthralled with the ice, and yearn to go on it. But, is it safe? Seeing birds standing on the ice does not mean it will support you. After all, a bird may weigh a pound or two, how much do you weigh? The same if your dog scampers out on the ice. Consider its weight versus yours.

At any given time, the ice in Lost Lagoon is of variable thickness. On the city side, where it is predominately in the shade, the ice will be thicker. On the Park side, it is usually sunny, so the ice is thinner. Any place where water is moving means thin ice: at a drainage pipe emptying into the lake or where birds are moving around. Underneath the trees is another area where the ice is thin.

The water in Lost Lagoon itself is not totally fresh water. Some salt water leaks in, and this means it must be much colder in order for it to freeze. In addition to its brackish state, there is very little water circulation in Lost Lagoon; the bottom of the lake is silty with decomposing plants and waterfowl feces which bumps up the water temperature.

A few other factors contribute to thin ice on Lost Lagoon: The lake is close to the ocean, at sea level, so the freezing level must be very low to affect it. The temperature of the ocean also affects the land surrounding it. Lost Lagoon temperatures are therefore moderated by the ocean surrounding it. And Lost Lagoon is a large body of water reaching 7 feet deep in some areas. A larger body of water takes longer to freeze. Areas like Trout Lake, farther east away from the ocean, with 150 feet of elevation above sea level, will freeze more quickly. Combine all of these factors together, and you can understand why it takes Lost Lagoon longer to freeze than other ponds.

And ice can still be thick and not safe. When the snow falls on top of ice, the snow acts like a blanket and insulates the ice, keeping the ice warmer. The ice won’t form as quickly nor as solidly. It’s the kind that you will fall through! Or, air pockets may be formed in the ice, and these won’t support your weight either.

1930s: Skating on Lost Lagoon. Archives# CVA 1376-669.

Frozen Lagoon Safety Tips

1. Standing on the ice and stomping on it with your feet to see if it supports you is risky! Especially if you are unsure of the water depth. If you want to stomp on the ice, find a place where the water depth is only few inches thick. When you fall through, you only get wet to your ankles! Imagine the surprise you’ll get if you fall through 5 feet of ice cold water.
2. Keep your dog off the ice. When your dog falls through, your first inclination is to go and get him. Stop! Your dog is considerably lighter than you. This means you are definitely going swimming.
3. If you need to rescue someone, think of your own safety. Try to rescue them without putting yourself in danger, that is, stay away from where they fell in. Throw them something that floats. Throw them something with a rope attached to it, so you can pull them back in. Around the perimeter of Lost Lagoon, there are red wooden ice ladders. You can extend an ice ladder out to them.
4. If you feel you must go out on the ice, standing in one place puts all your weight in a small space. Try to distribute your weight over a large area. Lying flat on your stomach distributes your weight over a greater surface area. This is also how the red wooden ice ladders work in a rescue.
5. During periods of cold weather, when there is ice on Lost Lagoon, the Vancouver Park Board stations lifeguards to patrol the ice. If you are unsure of ice conditions, speak to the lifeguard. When the danger signs are on the ice warning you of thin ice, believe them! The signs are there because it is not safe. The Lifeguard’s mandate is prevention — by keeping people off the ice.

With all these conditions, Lost Lagoon is not open to ice skating very often. The ice may be thick enough for one person to walk on it, but if the Park Board opens up the lake, 1000 people could show up! (Trout Lake experienced 2000 skaters at once last weekend). To be safe, the ice will need to be thicker to support that many people. Approximately 10 years ago, a portion of Lost Lagoon was open for skating for less than a week. 23 years back, skaters enjoyed several weeks of fun on Lost Lagoon during a very long cold spell. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does it’s such a thrill!

Read: Vancouver’s Snow Lifeguards

Until Lost Lagoon’s ice is thick enough to support skaters, content yourself with this fun video of river otters enjoying some slippery fun last January:

Enjoy Vancouver’s rare wintry weather, but play safe!