Today, Elettra helped its client, GWL Realty Advisors, celebrate the completion of a deal for Amazon’s new Metro Vancouver Fulfillment Facility. It was a great event with a great turnout. Thank you to Tsawwassen First Nation for the warm welcome.
Dynasty Seafood accepting the Restaurant of the Year award from the Vancouver Magazine editorial team Dee Dhaliwal, Anicka Quin, and Neal McLennan.
Awards show celebrates first-ever Chinese Restaurant of the Year; Joël Watanabe named Chef of the Year
At yesterday’s Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, Dynasty Seafood became the first-ever Chinese restaurant to win the coveted Restaurant of the Year title. During the 28th annual addition of the awards show, 41 gold awards were handed out, as the industry’s top talent gathered to celebrate their own.
“Though Vancouver is renowned for having the best Chinese food outside of China, there has often been a disconnect between Chinese restaurants and non-Chinese diners. Dynasty Seafood has changed all that,” said Neal McLennan, Food Editor, Vancouver Magazine. “Chef Sam Leung has bridged the gap like no other, by reaching out to non-Chinese diners without compromising the integrity of his traditional dishes. We are thrilled to celebrate Dynasty Seafood, and all the talented teams who took home Restaurant Awards this year.”
Chef of the Year honours went to Joël Watanabe. The award recognizes the triumph of Watanabe’s refined fusion style which Vancouverites have come know, first through his modernized Chinese-French menu at Bao Bei, and now through his Japanese-Italian menu at Kissa Tanto. “Humming with clarity,” “honesty,” and “elegance,” is how the judges described Watanabe’s food. Kissa Tanto also picked up gold in the Best Pan-Asian and Best Design categories.
Fraserhood favourite, Savio Volpe, celebrated top honours in the Best New Restaurant category. This year’s show saw the addition of several new categories, including Best Brunch (Café Medina), Best Sushi (Zest), Best Vegan/Vegetarian (The Acorn), Best Bakery (Thomas Haas), and Best Pacific Northwest (Royal Dinette).
There were surprise upsets in some categories, with CinCin taking Best Italian and My Shanti winning Best Indian. Meanwhile, Hawksworth once again defended its Best Upscale Restaurant title, and Le Crocodile and Maenam repeated for Best French and Best Thai respectively. Best Latin saw La Mezcaleria and newcomer, El Santo, tie for first place. Around the province, Araxi took Best Whistler, Agrius won Best Victoria, and Waterfront Wines was named Best Okanagan.
Uva’s Sabrine Dhaliwal took home Bartender of the Year; L’Abattoir’s Lisa Haley was named Sommelier of the Year; Pemberton’s North Arm Farm won the Producer/Supplier Award; and Sid and Joan Cross were honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. For five decades, Sid, an oenophile, and Joan, a cookbook editor, have sought out and celebrated the local culinary pioneers who have changed the way we eat and drink. Together, they’ve promoted the region’s up-and-coming city talent to chefs, winemakers, and producers throughout the world.
Bob Lindsay, Owner, Lift Bar and Grill, Soojin Park, Lift Executive Chef, and Damon Wong, General Manager, SSP Canada
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) welcomed a new full-service restaurant, Lift Bar & Grill, in January. Inspired by the original location in downtown Vancouver, passengers are now able to enjoy Lift’s well-known selection of seasonal cuisine with a focus on local seafood offerings.
Centrally located in the international terminal, the restaurant is wrapped around the airport’s iconic aquarium (with more than 850 indigenous sea animals), and is designed to draw on a coastal waters theme. This is evident in both the interior detailing with tones of warm oak, steel blue and charcoal greys as well as the menu, featuring Oceanwise certified seafood.
Scott Norris, Vice President, Commercial Development, Vancouver Airport Authority said, “YVR provides the first and last impression of British Columbia, so we are delighted to welcome Lift Bar & Grill to bring our passengers a unique West Coast dining experience.”
In partnership with YVR, Elettra invited food media, bloggers and influencers to the launch event, where they were treated to Lift Executive Chef Soojin Park’s incredible tasting menu. Before becoming a chef, Soojin studied Inorganic Chemistry, which now fuels her passion for molecular gastronomy and understanding of food composition.
Soojin’s beautifully plated bite-sized portions were well received by attending media, served with New Zealand wine from the Marlborough Sounds region.
Lift’s location post-security means that travelers can take advantage of YVR Food on the Fly – any YVR restaurant provides fresh food and snacks packaged especially for your flight in a travel-friendly bag.
Be sure to check out Lift next time you’re flying internationally through YVR.
Vancouver film buffs will have the opportunity to catch a number of critically acclaimed international films over the next fortnight at the 34th annual Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), which kicks off on Thursday.
As a former film journalist and self-confessed film fanatic, I am really excited about this year’s selection of films. It is chock-full of features and documentaries I have been looking forward to seeing.
I’m also excited to be volunteering in the VIFF media office where I get to combine my passion for communications and my love of cinema!
One of the perks of volunteering is that I get a pass granting me access into most screenings so have eagerly scoured the VIFF schedule and selected the movies I most want to watch.
Here are the top five movies I intend to check out:
Room
Lenny Abrahamson’s adaptation of Emma Donaghue’s powerful bestseller is at the very top of my list.
While the subject matter may not be for everyone (it’s inspired by the horrendous Josef Fritzel case) the film generated rave reviews at Telluride and Toronto – even winning the People’s Choice Award at the latter.
Brand: A Second Coming
Documentarian Ondi Timoner’s film about British comedian and activist Russell Brand is screening in the documentary section of the festival.
This promises to be a revealing and intimate portrait of Brand’s life over the last few years and his struggle with addiction.
Beeba Boys
I’m a sucker for a gangster film so when I saw the trailer for Beeba Boys, a film about a ruthless mobster loosely based on “Bindy” Johal, I was very intrigued. A gangster film set in Vancouver and directed by a woman no less!
I love seeing this city on the big screen and it’s especially nice to enjoy it for itself and not as a stand-in for a US location.
London Road
Received enthusiastically at TIFF, this unorthodox musical recounts the chaos that followed the murders of five prostitutes in Ipswich, England in 2006.
Evolving from the stage musical of the same name it is based on actual taped interviews conducted with inhabitants of London Road, the quiet residential street from where the victims were picked up.
45 Years
This drama generated glowing reviews from critics and earned Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay best actor awards at the Berlin Film festival earlier this year.
It tells the story of an older couple whose lives are rocked when the husband receives a letter revealing that his past love’s frozen body has been recovered from the Alps five decades after she fell to her death.
By Lorna Allen
Two months ago I began my internship at Elettra. I’ve somehow time warped into my last week, because it feels like yesterday was my first day. That being said, I’ve been fortunate to accomplish a lot in eight weeks. Between helping out with events, drafting communication tools, creating social media content and putting together media kits, it’s been an exciting time. For the sake of being short and sweet, I won’t recap everything I’ve experienced here. Instead, I’ll share the top three lessons I’ve learned.
Lesson 1: Know your industry Completing PR school in Toronto, I was curious about how Vancouver would compare. If I’ve learned one thing, it’s that practical skills are only as valuable as your knowledge of the industry. Being a good writer means nothing if you don’t know who to pitch to, or how to address your audience.
At Elettra I spent plenty of time familiarizing myself with the Vancouver media landscape – studying local newspapers and blogs, scanning for coverage, and composing media lists.
Lesson 2: Be detail-oriented I was lucky to experience the Pacific Centre Make an Entrance fashion show from planning stages to event day. I quickly learned how important attention to detail is, as we examined every angle of the event – from what to do if it rained, to what kind of skirting to use on the runway.
Simone warned me, be ready for anything. If you can imagine it, it can happen. Behind the scenes, the ladies of Elettra were prepared for any possible situation. This meticulous mindset resulted in a successful and memorable event.
Jenny
Lesson 3: Think creatively Throughout my internship I also worked on creating social media content for Harbour Centre. In agency you’re forced to think creatively, as each client has a unique set of needs. The challenge here was crafting content that’s appealing for their audience, while remaining relevant to current news and events. Generating ongoing, original content encouraged me to explore new methods of thought.
Team brainstorm sessions certainly help with the creative process. Thankfully I was able to listen and contribute to quite a few during my internship. The fantastic part about Elettra is their collaborative environment, which breeds excitement and innovation within the team.
So that about sums it up. It’s hard to list only three takeaways, because I’ve learned countless things during my internship. I owe a huge thank you to the ladies of Elettra for offering me their knowledge, insight and support. As for me, onto the next chapter of my PR story!
You can reach Jenny on LinkedIn here.
A university degree is part of our identity in the working world, and often stands as common ground to make a new connection. Even years after the degree hangs on the wall, our network of peers continues to grow.
UBC has a strong penchant for alumni relations and believes in supporting the lifelong community you join when becoming a UBC student. Their new complex, the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre was born to facilitate relationships of likeminded students and alumni.
The centre, located at the corner of University Boulevard and East mall in the Vancouver Campus, is home to classrooms, social spaces, a lounge library and café. Its other main function, a selling point for those who aren’t Thunderbirds, is as a conference and events venue.
The 41,700 square foot facility can house anything from corporate meetings to fundraisers and weddings. The smallest space, ideal for meetings or web-conferences, is an intimate size of 350 square feet. For those looking to host a larger-scale event, parties of up to 400 can fit inside the reception-style space.
Although built in the spirit of alumni relations, the complex was designed to accommodate all types of events. Its diverse selection of spaces boasts advanced technology for audio, video, telecommunication services, digital signage and web-conferencing.
To ease the process of event preparation, the centre provides front-of-house staff to support planning. In-house kitchen and catering staff are also available.
Check out this article from Meetings Canada for more info!
I can’t believe how quickly time flies. It seems like just yesterday I started my internship here at Elettra Communications, yet somehow I’m already heading into my last week. Working with a range of clients in a variety of industries, I’ve been lucky enough to have some pretty great experiences in my short time here.
On my first day, I was able to help out with Harbour Centre’s Urban Grind. I got to meet thousands of Vancouverites that, through the power of PR, showed up to hike to the top of the Vancouver Lookout to enjoy some music, beers, and great city views. I also got insight into the back end of events like this by tracking the event’s success on a weekly basis and preparing a post-event report for the client.
In addition to the Urban Grind, I was part of a team that celebrated all of the hardworking employees at YVR, promoting their new employee appreciation program: YVR Stars.
I got to spend a morning handing out coffee, tea, and cookies to YVR employees coming in to work, while telling them about the YVR Stars program.
On top of that, I was solely responsible for organizing the Chefs’ Showcase for this year’s Vancouver magazine Restaurant Awards. What does that mean? It means I got to spend a good portion of my days talking to the top chefs in Vancouver and inviting them to prepare some of their signature dishes to be presented to (and thoroughly enjoyed by) the over 900 guests at this year’s awards. This also means I got to work on a project that was 100% my own, from start to finish. That was a pretty good feeling.
Plus, I got to catch a glimpse of the event itself - a room full of Vancouver’s finest from the restaurant industry coming together to celebrate each other’s successes.
Aside from working on some pretty amazing events, my internship at Elettra has allowed me to put my writing skills to good use. One of the main reasons I’m in PR is because I love to write. Throughout my internship, my bosses recognized this passion and encouraged it by giving me opportunities to write blog posts, client articles, and social media content.
I would also like to acknowledge some of the extra perks of working at a PR agency - the proverbial cherry-on-top of my internship. Working on the Vancouver magazine Restaurant Awards meant I was able to visit some of Vancouver’s top restaurants before the crowds got to them. I also got to hand deliver mail to some pretty great food trucks; needless to say, some delicious lunches were had. Additionally, I was able to attend this year’s Boink Day hosted by Spring Advertising where I learned I could bouce on a pogo stick over 30 times for a good cause!
So there you have it, some first-hand insight into life as an intern. It’s been an incredible experience and I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Of course, saving the best for last, I would like to thank all the ladies at Elettra for being so supportive and encouraging during my time here. I hope our paths cross again soon.
And now, I’m off to find a job!
pr, public relations, spring, boink day, Elettra, company, firm, media, vancouver
This Friday, March 20, Spring Advertising will be celebrating the first day of spring with their annual Boink Day, a public pogo stick challenge to raise funds for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. They will be set up outside the Vancouver Art Gallery along Georgia Street, rain or shine, with their pogo sticks at the ready. Come down and challenge the team or boink on your own. For each pogo stick “boink”, Spring Advertising will donate $0.10 to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Every $1 that gets donated allows the Food Bank to buy $3 worth of nutritious fresh fruit, vegetables, canned goods, and eggs.
Feel free to bring your own pogo stick or use one on-site to celebrate the beginning of spring while helping a good cause. If boinking isn’t for you, you can bring a cash or non-perishable food donation down to the Art Gallery to show your support.
When: Friday March 20, 8:00am – 6:00pm
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery on the Georgia Street side
How much: Free of charge. All donations will come from Spring Advertising and are based on boinks.
Rain or shine, we hope to see you there!
We are very excited to welcome our new intern, Kelsi Carleton, to the Elettra Communications team. Kelsi is a second year Marketing Communications student at the British Columbia Institute of Technology and the Vice President of Operations at Enactus BCIT, a student run organization on campus. She has dedicated the past two years to her education and building her communication skills through participating in networking events, presenting at Enactus regional and national expositions, and attending local events to support the Vancouver business community.
In her spare time Kelsi enjoys attending events including concerts, food truck festivals, and music festivals. She has a passion for travel and followed her passion by backpacking through Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America.
Kelsi gained experience in communications during her time at BCIT. These communication skills, paired with her love of events were her drivers for joining the world of PR in Vancouver. She was drawn to the opportunity of working on a variety of clients in multiple industries. Kelsi has enjoyed refining her business writing and presentation skills in school and is excited to start applying them to the real world of public relations.
Welcome to the team Kelsi!
Daylight Saving Time is this weekend, wand the switch often comes with negative side affects for the population including headaches, lost productivity, and a spike in traffic accidents. What many don’t realize is the profound effect that the time change has on Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers, for whom a regular schedule is critical to quality of life. Coreena Robertson, Communications and Wellness Director at Fraserview Care Lodge and creator of Boomerang LIFE products, gave an interview with Richmond Review (see here) on how the time change affects seniors with Alzheimer's or dementia. The time change causes confusion and can increase behaviours known as “sundowning,” which includes acting out, general aggression, a tendency to wander away, and increased feelings of depression and anxiety.
You can also listen to Coreena this Sunday (March 8th) on CKNW. Below are Coreena's tips for helping a loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia adjust to Daylight Saving Time:
- Make the transition gradual. The sudden loss of a full hour is difficult to cope with. To address this, on the first day of Daylight Saving Time, allow your loved one to sleep for 45 minutes past their usual wake up time. On subsequent days, gradually move wake up time ahead by 15-minute intervals until the desired wake-up time is reached.
- Engage with your loved one. Take extra time to engage your loved one in the days following the time change. This is especially important around meal times, when what their body is telling them may not match what the clock says. Turn on their favourite TV show or play a game to help focus their attention.
- Relax into sleep. As the name suggests, “sundowning” happens in the early evening. To keep sundowning behaviour at bay, choose an activity to engage them with, but make it something calming such as listening to soft music and or sipping a warm beverage together. This will also help your loved one prepare for going to bed an hour earlier than usual.
- Be present. Meet your loved one in the moment they are experiencing, everyday. Join them in their journey by validating what they are saying. Don’t try to correct their ‘stories’.
Company now operates 16,500 square feet of premium lounge space at YVR
Vancouver, BC; (March 3, 2015) Plaza Premium Lounge is pleased to announce the official Grand Opening of its recently upgraded lounge at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The lounge, one of four Plaza Premium Lounge spaces at YVR, is located in the airport’s new A-B Connector on Level 3 Departures of the Domestic Terminal.
The 6,390-square foot space continues Plaza Premium’s commitment to offering all travellers a first class experience regardless of airline or class of travel. The opening of the new lounge follows the 2014 facelift of Plaza Premium Lounge in YVR’s International Terminal. The company will also open a lounge in Winnipeg International Airport later in 2015.
Plaza Premium Lounge Management Limited Founder & CEO Mr. Song Hoi-see says, “Vancouver is a very important market for us, and this new lounge is the next step in our plan to grow the Plaza Premium Lounge brand throughout North America. For 10 years, travellers through YVR have embraced the comfort and convenience of having a lounge option. We are dedicated to continually improving upon the premium experience we offer our guests. And we say to all travellers ‘you are a member at Plaza Premium Lounge’.”
The stylishly appointed facility has seating for 135, including a comfortable lounge, dining and bar areas, and a business centre. There are also private spaces where travellers can freshen up with a shower or unwind in one of three semi-private resting areas outfitted with comfortable recliners. Guests enjoy a menu of freshly prepared hot and cold food and beverages, and stay connected with Wi-Fi, large screen TVs, and a selection of international newspapers and magazines.
Designed by Kinney Chan of renowned Hong Kong design firm, Kinney Chan & Associates, the space demonstrates the company’s commitment to first class comfort. Travellers enter the reception area via a soaring glass entrance and head up a sweeping spiral staircase to the lounge level. Upstairs, the expansive, open-air floorplan offers views of the airfield and the Strait of Georgia in the distance. The furnishings and materials are luxurious, with a warm colour palette.
Plaza Premium Lounge takes traditional airport lounge food to the next level by offering a wide variety of enticing meal options. The focus is on healthy and fresh options that will help prepare travelers for their onward journey. The menu includes everything from freshly baked artisanal breads, hot breakfasts, signature pastas, toasted Paninis, quesadillas, soups, and salads. The bar offers specialty espresso coffees, juices, beers, wines, and spirits.
“We are committed to providing our customers with remarkable customer service,” said Craig Richmond, President and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. “This stunning new Plaza Premium Lounge, which is open to all travellers within Canada, is a most welcome addition to the award-winning 170-plus shops, services and restaurants available to YVR passengers.”
A single visit to Plaza Premium Lounge starts at CAD 40 per person for two hours, and includes use of the lounge facilities, showers and all food and beverages. Semi-private resting areas are charged separately.
Travellers will find the new Plaza Premium Lounge after security near Gate B15. Other YVR Plaza Premium Lounges are located after security in the International Terminal (Gate D53) and after security in the Transborder Departure Terminal (Gate E86). Plaza Premium Lounge also operates a Distinguished Visitors Lounge on Level 2 of the International Arrivals Hall. This space is available by reservation only.
Plaza Premium Lounge Management Limited now operates in more than 120 locations in 31 international airports throughout the world.
Andrew Peller Import Agency is pleased to announce the Canadian national expansion of its fine wine and premium spirits import, warehousing, and brand building service.The company, formerly Grady Wine Marketing, will nowmarket and sell internationally recognized brands to provincial liquor monopolies, private retailers, restaurants, hotels, and clubs across English Canada. The expansion will enable the Agency to build on its track record of success in Western Canada, while leveraging the significant national resources of its parent company, Andrew Peller Limited, a leading producer and marketer of quality wines in Canada.
“Andrew Peller Import Agency offers customers the personality and style of an entrepreneurial agency combined with the brand recognition and resources of a large company,” says Alex Bakker, National Director, Andrew Peller Import Agency. “With this national expansion, we are now the leading partner to help premium international wine and spirits brands access the English Canada market.”
To service the vast national market, the Agency has created dedicated regional sales teams with in-depth local knowledge. The company also plans to replicate the winning “go- to-market” strategy that made it so successful in Western Canada. The strategy is based on strong market coverage, concentrated channel marketing, powerful business intelligence, and an experienced and professional sales team.
“Over the past several years, our growth has been more than double that of the Canadian import wine market, and that has enabled us to drive additional market share for our partners,” continues Bakker. “It’s a winning solution for our customers. We look forward to giving them exceptional service right across English Canada.”
Today, Harbour Centre celebrated the upcoming Chinese New Year with a dragon dancer. The dancer started at noon in SFU, pranced its way through the food court, and then moved through the shops, eating lettuce and collecting money along the way. Outside, a sampling team handed out cuisine from food court vendors and fortune cookies.
Happy Chinese New Year!
