B.C. EVENTS: For the week of Saturday, December 28

(These are FREE listings. Submit your event / announcement at EditorVoice@gmail.com in typed format as early in the week as possible. No posters please.)

South Asian Adults & Seniors: Christmas with Bollywood Music

Vedic Seniors Parivar Center of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey is going to celebrate Christmas with Bollywood music at a social get-together on Saturday, December 28 at Shanti Niketan Hall of Lakshmi Narayan Temple, 8321 140th Street, Surrey, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be live entertainment program with jokes and Bollywood music.  Appetizers will be served in the beginning. Vegetarian pizza and dessert will be served for lunch. Prior registration required for attending this special event. Contact Surendra Handa, coordinator / organizer, at 604-507-9945 for prior registration.

Call For Blood Donors

Blood donations between now and January 5 are essential to collect platelets, which are a vital blood component many patients living with cancer or a blood disorder may need for treatment. But platelets have a short expiry of seven days. Statutory holidays in December impact Canadian Blood Services’ collection hours, so every blood donation counts during the holiday season. In 2020, Canada needs over 100,000 new blood donors to keep up with demand. There are many ways to donate. As a national registered charity, Canadian Blood Services also welcomes financial donations prior to the December 31, 2019 tax deadline. Financial contributions are another option for people who want to support Canada’s Lifeline and want to make their blood or platelet donation go further, or for those who are ineligible to donate blood. To make an appointment, download the GiveBlood app, call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or book now at blood.ca. Walk-in appointments are also available at all locations.

Surrey City Hall: Development Cost Charges

Come Have Your Say: Development Cost Charges (DCCs) Open House on Wednesday, January 8, 6-8 p.m. Interested in, or affected by, Development Cost Charges (DCCs) in Surrey? The City is conducting a review of the DCC bylaw to provide the necessary rate adjustments to fund its 10-Year Servicing Plan and the Parkland Acquisition Program. DCCs are collected from land developers and pay for infrastructure related to growth including roads, storm drainage, sanitary sewer, water and parkland. Join in to learn more and share feedback on proposed rates. 

South Asian Health Expo

Anyone interested in kick-starting a healthy lifestyle in 2020 should attend the South Asian Health Expo in Surrey on Sunday, January 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sikh Academy, 12895 85th Avenue (across from Dashmesh Darbar Gurdwara). This is the only South Asian focused trade show with vendors onsite from the health, wellness, beauty and fitness industry – and admission is absolutely free for the entire family. What to expect: Industry experts on-site, free health testing, product demonstrations, free product sampling, free exercise / dance classes, free workshops, play area for children, tons of prize giveaways and a flea market. You also have a chance to win tons of prize giveaways and pick up a free copy of the South Asian Health magazine. For more information about the Expo or to become a vendor, advertiser, and / or sponsor, contact event organizer Rina Gill at 778-688-4973 or rina@thehypeadagency.com.

PLEA Poetry / Short Story Youth Contest

Punjabi Language Education Association (PLEA) is inviting original poems and / or short stories (in Punjabi) from people aged 21 and under. Stories and poems can be submitted via e-mail to Balwant Sanghera (b_sanghera @yahoo.com) or Sadhu Binning (sadhu.binning @gmail.com) on or before February 7, 2020. A panel of experts will select the top six stories / poems. The writers of these works will be invited to share them with the audience on February 22, at the International Mother Language Day Celebration to be held at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Surrey. Each participant will receive a Certificate of Participation. Selected top six writers will receive Certificates of Participation and other prizes including cash. For further information, contact Balwant Sanghera at 604-836-8976 or Sadhu Binning at 778-773-1886.

(For more events, visit the “Events” section of our website at voiceonline.com)