How to donate to the relief efforts in Japan

Organizations helping earthquake- and tsunami-ravaged Japan have made it easy for Canadians to donate.

Canadian wireless customers with most major carriers can text ASIA to 30333, to donate $5 to the Canadian Red Cross Japan Earthquake/Asia-Pacific Tsunami fund and there is no charge for the text.

According to the Canadian Red Cross, a total of $3 million has already been donated by Canadians since the catastrophic 8.9 magnitude earthquake Friday.

Those wanting to help can donate online at redcross.ca or call 1-800-418-1111.

James Astleford, donor-relations director for ADRA Canada, a humanitarian agency established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, said his organization has representatives in Japan working with stranded residents.

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee has set up a Japan donation website as well and says it is working with partners on the ground to determine what role its volunteers can play.

Donations to CRWRC can also be made by calling 1-800-730-3490.

Médicins Sans Frontières says two teams of three people are trying to reach the worst-hit areas in Japan’s Iwate and Miyagi prefectures.

“The MSF teams, composed of medical and logistics personnel, will try to reach the area by helicopter,” said spokeswoman Naomi Sutorius-Lavoie in an email Friday. “Once there, the two teams will liaise with local emergency-response authorities to assess medical needs. Another 25 MSF medical and logistical staff in Japan are on standby to respond once the situation has been assessed.”

UNICEF says it has already positioned supplies and personnel in countries throughout the Pacific region.

Plan International Canada had an emergency-response team on standby in Indonesia, where it has a warehouse stocked with 5,000 family kits available for immediate distribution.

World Vision Canada has also set up a webpage to solicit donations to provide disaster relief for victims of the earthquake.

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, a group that supports IsraAid, an Israel-based humanitarian organization sending teams of rescue personnel, emergency medical officers and water pollution purification specialists to Japan, is also accepting donations here.

CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Quebec and Save the Children Canada have formed a group called The Humanitarian Coalition and began accepting donations Saturday.

The Salvation Army announced it was allocating $75,000 to the earthquake relief effort in Japan and is accepting donations online here.

Canadians can also donate online through International Development and Relief Foundation or by calling 1-866-497-IDRF (1-866-497-4373).

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada says “the best way for Canadians to help is to donate money — not clothing or food.”


article published On Tue Mar 15 2011 in the Toronto Star

Canadian Statutory Holidays

It seems like the next holiday is so far away. What are the holidays in Canada anyway?

Statutory holidays are New Year's Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas Day - these days are celebrated nationwide and are paid day off for employees. In addition to these Canadian statutory holidays businesses may choose to close on other holidays but they are not required to do so. Confused yet?

The next nationwide statutory holiday in Canada is Saturday, April 2, Good Friday

There are 5 nationwide and 4 provincial holidays in BC plus Easter Monday, which is a bank holiday and commemorated by federal employees.

The four provincial holidays are Victoria Day, British Columbia Day, Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day.

Boxing day is not an official holiday in BC but Remembrance Day is. Family day is also not a statutory holiday in BC.

Generally banks, municipal libraries, schools and some businesses will be closed on public holidays, however most entertainment venues, shops, grocery stores and tourist attractions remain open. Special events may also be held on these days in celebration or commemoration of the occasion.

BC Holidays for 2011 number nine. These nine stat holidays in British Columbia entitle most employees to a day off with pay.

* New Year's Day - Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011
* Good Friday - Friday, April 22, 2011
* Victoria Day - Monday, May 23, 2011
* Canada Day - Friday, July 1, 2011*
* B.C. Day - Monday, August 1, 2011
* Labour Day - Monday, September 5, 2011
* Thanksgiving - Monday, October 10, 2011
* Remembrance Day - Friday, November 11, 2011
* Christmas Day - Sunday, December 25, 2011

About Victoria Day

Held the Monday preceding May 25 each year, the Sovereign’s birthday has been observed in Canada since Queen Victoria’s (1837-1901) reign in honour of both Queen Victoria and the current sovereign’s birthday. Canada remains a voluntary member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

About Canada Day

Canada Day is a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of July 1 1867 enactment uniting Canada as a single country known as the Canadian Confederation. Many events are observed throughout Canada with no shortage of fun things to see and do to cap the day off in celebration of the ‘birth’ of Canada. In Vancouver, street festivals, parades and sporting events are held in many communities including Granville Island, Yaletown, Surrey, and in Canada Place. The
Canadian flag is proudly sported publically from homes, businesses and communities alike.

About British Columbia Day

Introduced in 1974 to honour the pioneers of BC and in celebration of achievements as Canadians in this province, many people have a day off work. This popular long weekend is often used to go camping or taking short trips out of town to enjoy the beauty of BC in summer. Various celebrations are held province-wide with events including fireworks, parades and cultural festivals.

Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Father's Day and Halloween are not official holidays but are celebrated nationwide, however, no paid vacation is given for these days.

On unofficial holidays - especially on Boxing Day and Remembrance day - most businesses are closed with the exception of select retail stores.

Every statutory holiday has some must-do activities. On New Year's Day you should either be on a cruise ship drinking champaign or have a snowball fight and party with your friends while on Canada Day its customary to rent a cottage if you don't have your own and travel "up north" for the long weekend.

Victoria Day marks the unofficial start of the summer and that's when people usually pull out the bbq from the garage and keep it on the deck until Labour Day, which is the unofficial end of the summer. Many travel agencies and parks have special family weekend getaway packages for the long weekends for those who prefer to spend the days hiking, camping, birdwatching, canoeing, etc.

Holiday Destinations

The majority of people travel during their time off from work. Popular travel destinations for Canadians include Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica and select European countries like France and Italy - it all depends of the season. During the winter people fly south to spend some time in hotels and beaches in Florida, Hawaii or Costa Rica for example, indeed a great alternative to snow shoveling.

In the summer there are countless travel deals to Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan and other not-so-warm countries and because of the relatively strong Canadian dollar it doesn't cost too much to rent a car and stay at nice hotels abroad. Well, except in the UK that is.

How to meet Canadians

Now it's the new year. 2011. Time to make some resolutions. Study harder, exercise more, practice English. Those are all pretty usual promises that are easy to make but hard to continue. How about make your goal this year to meet Canadians?

Making friends with Canadians is a great way to improve your English. It can also help you understand Canadian culture and make Vancouver life more interesting.

Many of you have asked this question but it is not an easy answer. Because of culture, language, and personality, it is difficult to know how to approach Canadians.

Here are some easy pointers for you to get you started.

1. Do something that Canadians like to do. This includes joining a Canadian activity club, yoga class or community centre. If you try to do an activity that has many Canadian participants, it won't be long before you start up a conversation with someone.

2. Volunteer at a Canadian organization or non-profit society. There are thousands of volunteer opportunities in Vancouver. If you volunteer you can get a chance to talk with Canadians and meet some people who have similar interests.

3. Join drop-in sports games and the community centres. There are many community centres in Vancouver. Most centres have drop-in sports games like volleyball, basketball and badminton. You can not only get a workout but also meet people are into sports.

4. Enjoy Vancouver's nightlife. Vancouver has various clubs, pubs, live shows and performances. Canadians love to go out especially on the weekend. Go somewhere out of downtown that doesn't have a large ESL population. Once you find a good spot that you can enjoy, don't be afraid to start a conversation with someone. Canadians love small talk especially when out on the town.

Check out the web list on the right for links.

Polar Bear Swim

If you are looking for a unique way to celebrate New Year in Canada, it doesn't get cooler than this. The annual Polar Bear Swim is a tradition across Canada. Canadians all all ages celebrate the new year by refreshing their body and mind in the ocean, river or lake. In Vancouver this takes place at English Bay.

The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world. Its initial swim was in 1920 when a small number of strong swimmers took the plunge into English Bay on New Year's Day. Led by their founder, Peter Pantages, the swim has grown from around 10 swimmers in that year to the record number of 2,128 swimmers in 2000.

Today, the swim takes place at 2:30pm on the first day of each new year. Costumes and the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race are the highlights of this event.

To be a club member you must register before the swim -- it's free. Registration takes place in front of the English Bay Bathhouse from 12:30pm - 2:30pm each New Year's Day. You may also register by clipping out the coupon in The Province and presenting it at the registration desk the day of the swim. Prizes are drawn from all registrations.

Ready, set, SHOP!

December 26th is Boxing Day, a holiday in Canada and the day after Christmas, when everything imaginable goes on sale, making it the most notorious shopping day of the year.

Expectant Boxing Day shoppers have been known to form lines early in the morning or late into the night (even though most sales will continue through the week), so wherever you go, be prepared for the crowds.

Here are a few tips.

1. Do research before you shop. Compare prices online before you shop to be sure you’re getting the most for your money.

2. Find the best deals. Retailers everywhere want to clear out their stock and you could find big savings on cameras to capture those holiday memories from Henry’s. Save big from clothing retailers such as Old Navy and Sears. Grocery stores want to sell off Christmas items so you’ll likely discover delicious deals for your New Year’s Eve party.

3. Prioritize your purchases. Determine your "must-have” items and plan to visit those stores first so you won’t be disappointed. And remember, a deal is only a deal if you really need the item, so shop with care and don’t be tempted by the low prices.

4. Set clear goals. To make the most of Boxing Day shopping, planning is important. Make your list, set your budget and determine how much time you will spend at the malls and stores.

5. Shop smart. Wear comfortable shoes, leave the heavy coats in the trunk of your car and bring snacks and drinks so you don’t waste time and money purchasing them at the mall.

6. Be patient. Boxing Day shopping can be even more hectic than last-minute Christmas shopping, so just relax and accept the fact that stores will be busy and the line-ups long.

7. Stay home and shop online. If the post-Christmas mall madness is more than you can manage, remember that many online retailers offer Boxing Day deals too. You can avoid the shopping chaos and take advantage of savings online.

Boxing Day's biggest deals will be found at the larger, name-brand stores, making it a good day to shop for electronics, appliances, furniture, designer clothes and accessories, and toys.

For downtown Vancouver shopping, both Robson Street and Pacific Centre Mall will be packed with deals--and other shoppers. Luxury retailer Holt Renfrew is a great place to shop for designer apparel: it's always pricey, but sales there lead to fabulous finds!

For mall shopping, you can't beat the behemoth Metropolis at Metrotown. With 450 stores, Metrotown is BC's largest mall, and it has its own SkyTrain stop for getting there car-free.

Enjoy!!

What should we do for Christmas?

Christmas is here. From all the staff at ULC we wish you a merry Christmas. For some of you, this is first time to spend Christmas abroad. You might feel lonely or even homesick, but don't waste this season feeling down. There are too many interesting things to see and do. Here is a great list of how to enjoy the holiday season.

Ongoing through December 24
Grouse Mountain - The Peak of Christmas
What: Grouse Mountain celebrates the holidays with a month of family fun: live entertainment, real reindeer, breakfasts with Santa, free ice skating, and more.
Where: Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver
Cost: See site for details

Ongoing through January 2
Bright Nights at Stanley Park
What: Stanley Park's Bright Nights is an annual Vancouver holiday tradition where over a million twinkly lights transform the forest into a winter wonderland.
Where: Miniature Train and Children's Farmyard, Stanley Park, Vancouver
Cost: $9; $6 for seniors & kids 2-18

Ongoing through January 3
Magic of the North at Vancouver Aquarium
What: Vancouver Aquarium celebrates the season with a special exhibit on Canada's Arctic Ocean, Scuba Santa, a Christmas Tree switched on by their electric eel, and much more!
Where: Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver
Cost: $21; $16 for seniors & students; $13 for kids 4 - 12; free for children 3 and under

Saturdays & Sundays through December 25
Christmas in Kerrisdale
What: Kerrisdale’s shopping district gets in the Christmas spirit on Saturdays, with Christmas decorations galore, free horse & carriage rides, roving quartets, and visits from Santa and his elf.
Where: West 41st Ave, between Larch St. & Maple St., Vancouver
Cost: Free

Friday, December 3 - Sunday, January 2,
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
What: Every year, the Capilano Suspension Bridge transforms into a celebration of light for the holidays, with live music, kids activities, and more.
Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge, 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
Cost: $15 for adults; $5 for kids

Saturday, December 4 – Sunday, January 2
White Christmas, The Musical
What: The Arts Club Theatre Company’s holiday offering is a stage version of Irving Berlin's famous film, perfect for kids and adults alike.
Where: Stanley Theatre, 2750 Granville St., Vancouver
Cost: $25 - $74

Friday, December 10 - Sunday, January 2
VanDusen Botanical Gardens' Festival of Lights
What: The gorgeous VanDusen gardens turn festive with elaborate light decorations, a Candy Cane Tree, Gingerbread Walk and much more.
Where: VanDusen Botanical Gardens, 5251 Oak St., Vancouver
Cost: $13; $9.50 for seniors & youth; $7.25 for kids 6 - 12; $29.75 for families

Thursday, December 23
Free Horse & Carriage Rides for Christmas
What: Kerrisdale invited everyone to come for free horse and carriage rides and a chance to see Santa--who will hand out chocolates--in person, too.
Where: West 41st Ave, between Larch St. & Maple St., Vancouver
Cost: Free

Halloween

It's time to celebrate Halloween! This is Canada's most unique holiday, full of costumes parties, fireworks, and candy. Why don't you come to the ULC Halloween party this Friday, October 28 at 6:00pm. To get ready for the event, here are some costume ideas. Remember there is a prize for the best dressed!

1. The $10 Pirate – White Long-Sleeved Shirt, Red Bandana, Eye-Patch, Hoop Earring, Black Tights/Pants, Black Boots – Ahoy There Me Harties! (cost – $2.00)

2. Train Engineer – Pair of Overalls (striped ones are ideal, but any will do) White T-Shirt, Red Bandana to tie around neck (cost – $1.00)

3. Cheap-Skate Ghost – Old White Sheet (done) Oh, and to dress him up a little, why not add a colourful Bow-Tie!?! (cost – Free!)

4. Inexpensive Bag of Candy - 1 Dry-Cleaners Bag, 20 Multi-Coloured Balloons (cost $1 for Balloons)

5. Stingy Skeleton – Black Turtle-Neck, Black Pants, White Acrylic Paint. Use an anatomy text book to re-create a rough skeleton out-line. (cost – Free!)

6. $9.99 Witch – Long Black Dress, Witch’s Hat, Black Gloves, Large Pendant etc. (cost – $9.99 for hat at Walmart)

7. Cheapy Scarecrow - Straw Hat, Old Jeans, Plaid Shirt, Straw to Stuff out Neck and Cuffs (cost – $3.00 for straw bail from local farm)

8. Money-Mad Scientist – White Lab Coat (see if you can have or borrow an old one from a highschool, or University Lab) Pens and Pocket Protector, Lots of Hair Gel to make a crazy “do” (cost – free!)

9. No-Money Mummy – One roll of good quality Toilet paper, and that’s a wrap! Hah! Wrap, get it? (cost – .50)

10. Tacky Tourist - Loud Hawaiian Shirt available in husband’s closet, Camera around neck, Hawaiian Leis, Straw Hat, Sun Glasses, Zinc Sunblock on nose, Maps (cost – free!)