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South Asian Senior: Carpet Bowling
Vedic Seniors Parivar Center of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian adults and senior members as well as non-members to come and enjoy the fun of playing Carpet Bowling, a great exercise free of cost, and make some new friends on Sunday, December 24, 2-3:30 p.m., at Shanti Niketan Hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple, 8321 140th Street, Surrey. Someone will teach you how to play the game. Tea and light snacks will be served. Contact Surendra Handa, coordinator, at 604-507-9945 for further information.
Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services is calling on eligible blood donors to help fill 35,000 appointments by January 6 to ensure that Canadian patients continue to have access to the blood and blood products they need over the holidays. Blood collection centres will be open on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, as well as during other regular collection hours. New and existing donors are welcome and walk-ins will be accepted. To book an appointment to help patients like Andie, download the GiveBlood app available for iOS on the App Store or for Android on Google Play, call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236 6283), or visit blood.ca. Canadians who are unable to give blood can give financially, and can encourage others in their networks to give blood on their behalf.
5th Annual Delta Idol Competition
Delta Parks, Recreation & Culture is currently accepting auditions for the 5th Annual Delta Idol Competition – Delta Idol 2018. Auditions are currently being accepted until Sunday, January 21. Live event: Friday, February 23 at Tsawwassen Arts Centre, 1172 56th Street, Tsawwassen. If you have a passion and talent for singing, auditions, 2018. Full contest rules and audition submission information can be found at delta.ca/events. The contest is open to Delta residents 12-18 years of age. Interested in attending as an audience member? Tickets go on sale January 2. Call 604-943-9437 to purchase in advance, $11 each.
VanDusen Festival of Lights
The 33rd annual VanDusen Festival of Lights (FOL) returns from now to January 7 (closed December 25). More than 15 acres of the Garden will be decorated with millions of lights. FOL includes the Dancing Lights show on Livingstone Lake, stories and selfies with Santa, indoor Festival Stage with entertainment, licensed fireside lounge, and the Air France carousel. Look out for selfie spots and photo opportunities and share with #VanDusenFOL. All FOL activities are included with admission. A wide selection of food trucks will be on site serving up their savoury creations, along with on-site favourites Shaughnessy Restaurant and Truffles Café. FOL will be partnering with Make-A-Wish Foundation for the 17th consecutive year. Donations in the candle grotto and sales of glow star necklaces help make children’s wishes come true. When riding the carousel, snap, share and tag your photos on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, using the hashtag #AFxParisCarousel, for a chance to win tickets. To save money and skip the lineup, buy tickets online. More information about the event can be found at vandusenfestivaloflights.ca. People who buy tickets for FOL also will also receive a free ticket to Holiday Heights at Bloedel – Arctic Oasis, which runs December 15 to January 7 (closed December 25). More information at vancouver.ca/holidayheights
Bright Nights Christmas Train
The Bright Nights Christmas Train is celebrating the 20-year partnership between the Vancouver Park Board and the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. The attraction features displays with more than three million lights, train decorations, entertainment, and Santa Claus. A quarter of a million people enjoy this seasonal attraction each year. The matinee and evening Bright Nights train runs from now until Saturday, January 6. Hours of operation vary. It is closed Christmas Day. Advance tickets are available at ticketleader.ca or by calling 604-252-3700. Same-day tickets are available at the Stanley Park Railway Plaza starting at 10 a.m. daily. A portion of each day’s tickets is set aside for on-site sells. Special live shows and visuals will be performed by Mortal Coil Performance Society. Donations in bins at the front gate and partial proceeds from train admissions support the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. Donations are also accepted for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
Tree Chipping and Bottle Drive at Surrey School
North Surrey Secondary School (96th Avenue and 160th Street) will be hosting a tree chipping and a bottle drive on Saturday, January 6 and Sunday, January 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days. Donations will benefit the school’s 2018 Dry Grad fundraising committee. “Dry Grad” is a parent subcommittee of the school PAC that organizes an event that occurs after the school dinner and dance for the grads. Parents work together to provide the graduates with an evening filled with fun and entertainment in a safe, drug and alcohol free, parent supervised environment.
Richmond: Recycle Christmas Tree
Richmond residents can recycle their Christmas tree to help support fire prevention, reduce waste and turn waste into resources. The City of Richmond offers multiple tree recycling options – remove all tinsel and decorations before recycling. * Residents with curbside Green Cart collection may cut up, bundle the pieces and place it at the curbside on their regular collection day. The tree should be cut and bundled to a maximum size of three feet by two feet and four inches in diameter. * The City’s Recycling Depot, located at 5555 Lynas Lane, accepts trees between 9 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday. Note the depot is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and statutory holidays. * Drop off at Ecowaste Industries, which is located at 15111 Williams Road. For hours of operation, call 604-277-1410 or visit www.ecowaste.com. * You can also keep the holiday spirit going by bringing your tree as well as a donation to the Richmond Firefighters Association’s annual Christmas tree chipping event. Firefighters will be accepting trees from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 6 and Sunday, January 7 at Garry Point Park. For more information, visit www.richmond.ca/recycle, call 604-276-4010 or email garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca.
English Conversation Circle
MOSAIC: Facilitator: Jane Shim. Topics: Federal and provincial government * Illness and medical care * Banking * Library and post office * Work * Food. Language requirement: Minimum English Level 3. Wednesdays, January 10 – February 14, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Contact: MOSAIC at 304-2730. Commercial Drive, Vancouver. Shaima: 604-438-8214. sjaff@mosaicbc.org
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