Sheryl interviewing Damian from The Kettle Society 

Last week, CBC’s North by Northwest Radio Host, Sheryl MacKay visited The Kettle Society, a mental health not for profit, to report on the new Kettle Choir, a historic collaboration between Vancouver Opera and The Kettle.

The choir features the voices and stories of Kettle members who have personally experienced homelessness and/or mental illness. Sheryl sat down with a member from the Vancouver Opera, The Kettle, and Geof, a member of the choir and resident at Kettle on Burrard. Each of them shared their thoughts on the choir’s impact and what the program means to them. So far, they have noticed amazing transformations since they began singing together every Monday. Kettle members who were once shy and quiet, are now singing at the top of their lungs, and are more confident than ever before.

The choir is currently working towards Requiem for a Lost Girl, a raw, heartfelt chamber production, which is set to be performed next year at the Vancouver Opera Festival. Requiem for a Lost Girl tells the story of a young girl who lost her life to streets, and explores themes of poverty, mental illness, and addiction, subjects that Kettle members can intimately relate too.

Link to full interview here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/programs/northbynorthwest/sunday-june-11-1.4155849

We are thrilled to be working with The Kettle on this project and will be attending The Kettle’s upcoming Making a Difference Evening on June 15, where the Kettle Choir will perform a special song. Show your support and buy a ticket to this inspiring event. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-kettle-making-a-difference-evening-tickets-33836205000

Elettra was a awarded a silver in the Canadian Public Relations Society's National Awards of Excellence. Our win came in the Special Events PR category and recognized our work on the Urban Grind campaign for Harbour Centre. Gwen Hardy proudly accept the honour at the CPRS National Conference in Kelowna. 

For the past couple of months we've been working with our friends at Decoda Literacy Solutions on the relaunch of their Digital Badges program. What are digital badges, you ask? Well, they are the new way to digitally display your unique skills, knowledge, and experience. They are issued by a variety of organizations in recognition of achievements and learning. And they are changing the way we introduce ourselves to the work. 

But don't take our word for it! Watch this nifty new Decoda Digital Badges new video that we created in partnership with the amazing talent at Hyphen Communications. 

Hyphen also created a brilliant infographic that explains exactly how digital badges work, and why they are such a huge improvement over the paper certificate of yesterday.

This week, literacy practitioners all across BC will receive their a digital badges kit, featuring a host of resources designed to help the spirit badges catch fire in every corner of the province. 

We've loved working on this great project, and we encourage everyone to check out digital badges today.

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. 

B.C.'s elite tower runner, and Urban Grind spokesperson, Shaun Stephens-Whale.

Have you noticed crowds of people at Harbour Centre on Tuesday afternoons during the month of March?  They are all awaiting their chance to take on a big fitness challenge – the Harbour Centre Urban Grind.

The Urban Grind is a 633 step challenge up the stairwell of the Vancouver Lookout, that can take anywhere from four to twenty minutes.  For $5, participants are rewarded at the top with a 360-degree view of the city, a refreshing Steamworks beer, DJ entertainment, and a $5 food court voucher. 

More than two thousand people have completed the Urban Grind.  It’s been incredible to see how our strategic social media efforts and extensive media coverage has resulted in so many people enjoying this unique fitness challenge.

B.C.’s elite Tower Runner, Shaun Stephens-Whale, has been lending his support to the campaign.  Every week, Shaun has been offering tips and techniques to Urban Grinders who are serious about their stairwell workouts.   As the Urban Grind spokesperson, Shaun has been interviewed about his formidable tower running career on CBC’s Early Edition, Global TV, City TV, and Roundhouse Radio. 

Amazingly, there have been Urban Grinders who have completed the circuit several times, as well as people who are able to complete the Urban Grind in under six minutes.  Anyone who uses the hashtag #UrbanGrind on social media has a chance to win great prizes from The Vancouver Lookout, Snowbus, and The Bar Strength and Conditioning Gym.

The final Urban Grind challenge is open to the public this Tuesday from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.  Get your friends, classmates, and work colleagues together and take on the Urban Grind challenge at Harbour Centre.  See you there!

This week we’re delighted to welcome our new intern, Victoria Giddings. Victoria is a Marketing Communications student at BCIT and will be spending her 9-week practicum at Elettra.

In 2015, Victoria left Smithers, B.C., the small-town in which she grew up in to pursue a career in Public Relations. She has always loved the city of Vancouver, which is what brought her to the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). She is in her final semester at BCIT and is looking forward to starting a career in PR at Elettra Communications. Her time at BCIT has prepared her for the real-world, and she is so excited to bring innovative and fresh ideas into the workplace.

Before focusing on her career, Victoria worked many years in the restaurant industry and traveled extensively after high school graduation. Her passion for traveling has taken her to Europe, South East Asia, USA, and Australia. She enjoys experiencing new cultures, particularly through food, music and art. Understanding the world and what makes it tick is something that will continuously inspire Victoria to explore and communicate with people.

During her free time, Victoria can be found snowboarding in Whistler, exploring the city, or trying out the latest ethnic restaurants in Vancouver. 

Volunteer Opportunity – Event Coordination

Event:         Vancouver magazine Restaurant Awards

Date/Time:  Tuesday, April 18 10:30am – 6pm (required)                             

Elettra Communications is looking for student volunteers to assist with Vancouver’s premier restaurant industry event. This opportunity will appeal to students who have an interest in public relations, publishing, marketing, or event management.

Now in its 28th year, the Vancouver magazine’s Restaurant Awards event is the biggest of its kind in North America. Nineteen of the city’s top food critics form the judging panel and vote on the best dining experience in more than 40 categories. The event includes a reception and awards show. The annual extravaganza welcomes more than 800 restaurateurs, chefs, sommeliers, suppliers, and food and wine critics.

Elettra Communications is the producer of Vancouver magazine’s Restaurant Awards. Elettra is a public relations firm that specializes in event management, media relations, and marketing communications. www.elettra.ca

Duties:

Volunteers will assist with a range of activities including:

·       Event set up

·       Guest check-in

·       Awards presenting/backstage coordination

·       Coat check

·       Event wrap-up

Benefit to you:

·       Event coordination experience

·       Exposure to the behind-the-scenes workings of a large event

·       Opportunity to build contacts in the PR, marketing, and publishing industries

·       Lunch will be provided

Dress code:          All black. No jeans; no running shoes/sneakers.

How to apply:

If you would like to volunteer for this opportunity, please contact gwen@elettra.ca

In your email please provide a brief introduction of yourself, and include a description of your current course of study, why you are interested in this position, and your contact information.

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.

L-R Reid Shier (Presentation House Gallery), Rainer Müller (PARC), and Uno Langmann (Collector) view excerpts from a Presentation House exhibit.

PARC Retirement Living announced today a $250,000 donation to North Vancouver’s Presentation House Gallery. The gift will be directed to Presentation House’s new Polygon Gallery, currently under construction on North Vancouver’s waterfront at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue. 

“The Polygon Gallery will transform arts and culture on the North Shore. PARC is proud to support Presentation House’s bold vision for the future of arts in our community,” says Rainer Müller, PARC’s Founder and Chairman. “Art can powerfully enhance quality of life and enliven the everyday, and we make it a priority in our PARC communities. We look forward to seeing the Polygon Gallery come to life and introducing our residents to it.”

“Rainer Müller has long been a supporter of the arts in North Vancouver,” says Reid Shier, Director / Curator, Presentation House Gallery. “He is a community citizen whose investment in the fabric of culture on the North Shore has positively impacted Presentation House Gallery in the past, and will help propel Polygon Gallery into the future. 

PARC opened its first retirement community in North Vancouver in 2001, and today more than 560 North Shore residents call one of three PARC communities home. Müller, a member of the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects, has a philosophy of developing communities where seniors benefit from cultural, social, and educational opportunities. He has invested in works of art for PARC residences and has forged long relationships with community arts organizations like Presentation House Gallery. The gallery has often brought excerpts of exhibitions directly to PARC for residents to enjoy.

PARC has partnered with Presentation House Gallery for many years. The organization’s support to the Polygon Gallery capital campaign is among the largest gifts the campaign has received, and marks an exciting level of support for the gallery. The campaign goal is $20 million and this contribution brings the total to over $16.5 million. 

Designed by renowned BC firm Patkau Architects, the Polygon Gallery will be Vancouver’s first new public art gallery of the 21st century. The gallery will be a welcoming waterfront landmark at the gateway to North Vancouver. The new building is designed to be operationally self- sustaining, and includes a gift shop and cafe, as well as exhibition and education space. 

Congrats to our friends at Burritt Bros. Carpets who just enjoyed a huge week in the Vancouver Sun.

First, there was this Business section article and video about how Harvey Burritt, Keith Donegani, and Chris Dragan have turned their 110-year-old carpet business around through sheer determination, guts, and, frankly, just being really good people.

And then today, Rebecca Keillor featured the Burritt's in this beautiful story about rug trends. 

In our humble opinion, it couldn't happen to a better group of people. Congrats to the whole Burritt Bros. team on your amazing new space in the River Design Quarter! And here's to the next 110 years of success!

Granville Island is in the midst of a planning process that will set a course for the Island's next 25 years. Elettra Communications is proud to be supporting the project with communications services.

There are a number of ways that the public take part in setting Granville Islands's course for 2040. Last weekend's Big Ideas Fair was the first in a series of public events. At the Big Ideas Fair the public was encourage to draw, write, and map their thoughts. Attendees were also asked to comment on a series of emerging ideas currently being developed by the GI2040 planning team. 

The next event up is the Ideas Workshop on Saturday, October 14 from 10am-4pm. At this day-long, hands-on design workshop, the planning team will  share the research, precedents and exciting design ideas for Granville Island that the Granville Island Vision 2040 team have been inspired by so far in their work and outreach. Participants will be asked to review, respond to, and build upon the ideas and work carried out so far, and to share any new ideas for the future of Granville Island. This will be a collaborative workshop with members of the design team and other participants.

Registration is required for this event. Click here to RSVP.

If you can't make it to the Workshop, then be sure to take the Granville Island 2040 Survey.

Of course, comments via social media are always welcome. Just hashtag your thoughts with #GI2040 and we'll get those comments to the planning team. Follow us on Instagram at @GranvilleIsland2040.

And finally, don't forget to sign up for regular updates by providing your email.

VRCA Outstanding Woman in Construction Libby Rowe (in middle) with Lindsey Dru from Canadian Construction Women and Danielle Johannes from the SuperSae Group of Companies.

Showcasing the finest in B.C.’s construction industry

The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) recognized the finest in B.C.’s construction industry at its 28th Annual Awards of Excellence, held last night at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

This year’s competition attracted more than 150 entrants and shone the spotlight on 45 projects representing approximately $1.3 billion in construction value.  A total of 23 awards were presented including 14 Gold awards, 7 Outstanding Achievement Awards, a Judges’ Award and a Heritage Award. 

"Through these awards we shine a light on the dedication and professionalism that our members bring to their projects - the complex, state-of-the-art infrastructure that we citizens use every day," says Fiona Famulak, President of the VRCA.

Standout projects included the Audain Art Museum and Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre, each receiving two Gold Awards.  In addition, multiple projects at YVR and UBC were recognized including YVR’s A-B Connector and Expedited Transfer Facility, as well as UBC’s Student Union Building, District Energy Centre, and the DES Phase 6-9 DPS & UBC Phase 6 & 7 ETS. 

Division 15 Mechanical Ltd and Houle Electric Ltd. were among the evening’s top winners.  Division 15 Mechanical won Member of the Year and Gold in the Mechanical Contractors Award - over $8 Million category for the UBC DES Phase 6-9 DPS & UBC DES Phase 6&7 ETS, in addition to two Silver Awards. 

Meanwhile, Houle Electric took home Gold in the Electrical Contractors Award - $2-$8 Million category for the Northern Rockies Regional Recreational Centre, Safety Award for superior safety record in the category of Trade Contractor 200,000 or more personhours, and the Innovation and Productivity Award for the Connected Snow Removal Camera Solution.

This year, the judges reviewed and recognized two truly impressive project submissions neither of which fitted into existing award categories.  Britco LP received the Judges’ Award for their contribution to the Bella Bella Staff Housing Project, Canada’s first multi-unit modular Passive House. Vintage Woodworks Inc. took home the Heritage Award for its restoration work as part of the MNP Tower.

“While these awards celebrate the achievements of the construction industry’s finest companies, they also provide insight into where the industry as a whole is heading,” said Tony Everett, Chair of the Awards of Excellence Judging Panel.  “This year, our Judging Panel noted a number of key trends amongst the winners that include the use of wood, the number of live sites, and the emergence of high-efficiency heating and cooling systems from overseas.”

For a full list of winners, click here. 

Downtown Vancouver BIA pilot project reimagines city laneways as animated pedestrian zones

This week, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) will be unveiling its first More Awesome Now reimagined laneway. Work is underway to transform the laneway that runs behind West Hastings street between Seymour and Granville, from utilitarian service corridor into a bright, playful public space to be shared by people and vehicles.

More Awesome Now is an experiment in reshaping city laneways into engaging, accessible public spaces that contribute to the vibrancy of the city. The project is a partnership between the DVBIA, the City of Vancouver’s VIVA Vancouver program, and HCMA Architecture + Design.

“Laneways serve an important business function, but for a big part of the day they are underused and full of potential,” says Charles Gauthier, President & CEO, DVBIA. “So we asked, if we make our lanes more appealing, could they become public spaces? More Awesome Now is an experiment in turning laneways into places of discovery - friendly, accessible, and lively parts of the urban streetscape.”

In juxtaposition to its location in the heart of the business district, the reimagined Hastings West laneway is themed “Play”. The lane has been painted in bold pinks and yellows and soon will be outfitted with basketball hoops and furniture. In the coming weeks, decorative lighting and a geolocation orb will be installed. The public is invited to use the laneway for play, exercise, or socializing.

“Boldly re-imaging downtown laneways can bring vibrancy to underutilized spaces in the city year-round,” says City of Vancouver Director of Public Space and Street Use, Margaret Wittgens. “The City is thrilled to be working with community partners to enhance Vancouver’s walkability, liveability and sense of creativity one laneway at a time.”

The laneway will be shared by people and vehicles, which will continue to access the lane for service purposes. There’s no formal schedule of events planned for the space, instead, property owners, tenants, and visitors will share responsibility for enjoying, cleaning, and monitoring it. 

Vancouver’s downtown street grid includes more than 200 blocks that are bisected by a lane. Reimagined, these laneways have the potential to increase the public pedestrian area by up to 30%. The Hastings West laneway is the first of what could become a network of interconnected downtown laneways, each with its own sense of place and evolving identity. There are plans to bring the concept to the Granville Street entertainment and Alberni Street fashion districts in the near future.

Last year the DVBIA conducted Re-Imagine Downtown Vancouver 2040, a collaborative visioning process. The desire for more public spaces of every scale, including rooftop patios, animated laneways, and large public squares, was a major theme that emerged from the process.

 “More Awesome Now will optimize existing urban space and inspire new opportunities for social connections, resulting in happier and healthier citizens, community, and city,” says Darryl Condon, Managing Partner at HCMA Architecture + Design.

 The More Awesome Now Hastings West laneway has its official launch with an event on the evening of Thursday, September 15, 2016 from 5pm-8pm. The public is invited to attend. The launch is part of the Placemaking Week’s #POPCrawl or Power of Placemaking self-guided tour of downtown public spaces. View the map:  https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1lXd573wBf-xME7XC1AT0dNeXtv0

SOCIAL:

#MoreAwesomeNow

Twitter:             @DowntownVancouver

Instagram:        @DowntownVan

Facebook:        Downtown Vancouver