COAL HARBOUR
Over 600 sponsors and supporters of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice have put up serious swag for the annual fall fundraiser for a charity that provides pediatric palliative care for more than 450 B.C. children and their families. The Gift of Time Gala, once again hosted by Global anchorman Chris Gailus, takes place at the Westin Bayshore hotel this Saturday (Oct. 19) and features a three-course meal, live and silent auctions, and the musical stylings of boogie-woogie piano man Michael Kaeshammer. Individual tickets to the black-tie soiree are $375 or a table of eight for $3,000. For more information, visit thegiftoftime.org.
DOWNTOWN
Cyclists are posing a serious challenge to motorists and transit users later this month, but this time it has nothing to do with the regular traffic snarl known as Critical Mass. The Share the Road Challenge invites motorized morning commuters from across Metro Vancouver to compare their times against pedal-pushers to see who arrives first to an 8:30 a.m. event Oct. 23 at Library Square, 300 W. Georgia St. All participants will be offered snacks and coffee, bike maps, the possibility of prizes, and the services of a volunteer bike mechanic, just like during the annual Bike to Work Week, which gets rolling again Oct. 28. Head on over to btww.ca for more info.
UBC
How do you like them apples? If the answer is any variation of “lots,” then head over to the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research (6804 SW Marine Dr.) this weekend for the annual Apple Festival. More than 70 varieties of the popular pomaceous fruit, grown both conventionally and organically, will be ripe for the picking, including the samples of Grimes Golden, Bramley’s Seedling, Cox’s Orange Pippin and the newly minted Ambrosia, which was recently hybridized in the south Similkameen Valley town of Cawston. The B.C. Fruit Testers Association will also give demonstrations of grafting and cider-pressing. The event is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19 and 20. Tickets are $4 for adults. Kids under 12 are free. For more information, call 604-822-4529 or visit botanicalgarden.ubc.ca.
RENFREW-COLINGWOOD
A self-described bully doctor, modern minstrel, fish lover, soul poet, sexplainer, circus kid, inquisitive gastronomist, thoughtful lawyer and even an IT guy are among the 15 people set to step up to the microphone at the inaugural TEDx RenfrewCollingwood event Oct. 19 at Windermere Secondary school. Inspired by but independently organized from the world renowned TED talk series boasting “ideas worth spreading,” the full-day event called From Far To Here includes of a variety of speakers, performers and activities inviting thought, discussion and play. Brian Adler, CEO of Aldercast Films and part-time professional wrestler, and techvibes.com co-founder Lindsay Smith will host the event running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3155 East 27th Ave. Tickets are $50 each ($40 for seniors and students with valid ID) and include food and beverages. Visit tedxrenfrewcollingwood.com for more.
