John MacSween and his four-year old son Tristan enjoy the free skating at Robson Square where special events continue through to New Year’s.
Photograph by: Dan Toulgoet , Vancouver Courier
Downtown
Here’s an opportunity to chow down on food created by Top Chef Canada competitors Trevor Bird and Curtis Luk, while helping kids at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.
Tickets are on sale now for Embrace Miracles, a News Year’s Eve gala in support of Canuck Place Jan. 31 (no surprise there on the date) at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown, 1128 West Hastings St.
Bird and Luk will prepare a full dinner, including canapés, two courses and dessert. There will also be a silent auction, followed by music and dancing. For ticket information visit canuckplace.org.
Downtown
Free ice skating continues at Robson Square, but now skaters can enjoy live DJs on Friday nights and live music each week night now through Dec. 24. A Saturday night concert series runs through Feb. 23.
There’s also free skating Christmas Day from noon to 5 p.m. and a special New Year’s Countdown for Kids Dec. 31, with glow sticks, live music and a bubble machine. An early countdown will be held for the little ones. And what better way to clear the cobwebs than with free skating New Year’s Day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Skating is free, but there is a charge for skate rentals. Visit robsonsquare.com.
Various locations
The White Spot restaurants on Kingsway, at Knight Street and at Richmond Centre continue with their holiday tradition of giving in support of Richmond General Hospital Foundation and Variety, the children’s charity. Between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Christmas Day, Dec. 25, White Spot staff and managers will donate their time, wages, tips and net proceeds while serving up Legendary burgers and Pirate Packs.
Kitsilano
Church at the Hollywood is hosting a Christmas carol sing-along Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. The Hollywood, located at 3123 West Broadway, was once a popular movie theatre, but after it closed became home to two church groups. The first church service was held at the Hollywood this past September. Visit info@churchatthehollywood.ca.
Kerrisdale
Celebrate Christmas with music at Ryerson United Church, Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. The Ryerson Church choir will perform accompanied by Ed Norman on organ and conducted by Bryan Nixon. Admission is by donation. Visit ryersonunited.ca.
Oakridge
Even though it doesn’t cost anything to give blood, it’s a gift of immeasurable value.
Canadian Blood Services is asking eligible Canadians to “Give a Holiday Miracle” by donating blood and platelets during the days leading up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Collecting blood during the holiday season is a challenge due to the fact many donors go away or are busy with other activities. Yet many patients will spend their holidays receiving cancer treatment or undergoing life-saving surgery and emergency care.
During the weeks of Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, Canadian Blood Services estimates a need of 25,000 units of blood to give holiday miracles to hospital patients across Canada. In order to meet this blood collection goal, they need an additional 3,000 Canadians to book appointments and donate blood between now and the end of the year.
More than 1,300 donors are still needed in order to help meet this goal in Vancouver and Surrey. Platelets, which are derived from blood donations, are of particular concern around the holiday season. Because platelets only have a shelf life of five days, it’s not possible to stock up ahead of time. Patients with diseases such as cancer need large quantities of platelets as part of their treatment so it’s critical that clinics be full of “miracle workers” over the holidays. A permanent blood donor clinic is located at 4750 Oak St. in Vancouver. Visit Canadian Blood Services online at blood.ca or call 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283) to book an appointment.
Twitter: @sthomas10
