Mount Pleasant
This is an interesting event for parents with plans to send their child or children to camp this year.
The Vancouver Kids Camp Expo takes place at Heritage Hall on Main Street, March 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The expo is an opportunity to meet former attendees and representatives from numerous camps, which focus on everything from sports to special needs.
The expo was the brainchild of Pratpal Gill, a busy mom who organized the first event last year as a way to bridge the gap between a desire for information and camp directors needing an opportunity to showcase their programs. Gill organized the event as an extension of her work at the Empowerment Playground, a group dedicated to empowering young women in Vancouver.
Parents can gather information on day and overnight camps with a variety of themes, including tennis, art, the outdoors, sports, leadership, computers, circus school and more. It’s basically one-stop shopping for parents. The expo is free and the first 100 families through the door will receive a gift bag. Besides the live expo at 3102 Main St., a virtual camp takes place March 2 online at kidscampexpo.com. For more information and a list of guest speakers visit kidscampexpo.com.
Mount Pleasant
Also taking place at Heritage Hall is the inaugural Chefs’ Table Society of British Columbia’s Curry Cup, emceed by the Courier’s very own Fred Lee.
On Tuesday, March 4, eight chefs well known for their culinary skill and passion, but not particularly noted for cooking curry, will compete for bragging rights and a chance at the cup. This event was created in the spirit of bringing local chefs together through healthy competition and camaraderie in front of an audience.
Competing chefs include Alvin Pillay from the Blackbird Public House and Oyster Bar, Brian Skinner from Acorn, Chris Whittaker from Forage, Dino Renaerts from Aura at Nita Lake Lodge, Hamid Salimian from Nextjen Gluten-free, Joachim Hayward from Campagnolo Roma, and savoury chef Taryn Wa and Tret Jordan from Homer St. Cafe and Bar.
Judging the event is Angus An, chef and owner of Longtail and Maenam restaurants, Jeff Hamada, the Japanese Canadian artist and creator behind Boooooom, Joie Alvaro Kent, food writer and restaurant award judge, Mijune Pak, founder of Follow Me Foodie blog, and Mike Bernardo, director of operations and wine at Vij’s.
The event is in support of Chef’s Table Society of B.C. For ticket information, visit chefstablesociety.com
Downtown
Don’t forget to wear pink next Wednesday to show support for the CKNW Orphan’s Fund anti-bullying day Feb. 26.
Statistics show that when bystanders intervene, 50 per cent of bullying can end within 10 seconds. This encouraging statistic fuels the passion behind what’s now known as Pink Shirt Day.
Organizers encourage British Columbians to show their support by wearing pink to symbolize zero-tolerance for bullying. Official Pink Shirt Day T-shirts are available in-store at London Drugs and online at PinkShirtDay.ca. Proceeds from the sale of these shirts help raise funds for preventative bullying programs in B.C.
On Feb. 26, between 8 and 9:30 a.m., hundreds of volunteers will take to the streets and a dozen speakers will take to the podium at London Drugs Plaza at the corner of Georgia and Granville streets.
sthomas@vancourier.com
twitter.com/sthomas10
