We are beyond thrilled that More Awesome Now's Kickstarter to raise funds for FIELD in Ackery's Alley has met it's fundraising goal of $35,000. Public art in a Granville St alley will become a reality!

People from all over the world have supported our campaign. Folks from across Canada, the USA, Australia, the UK, Chile, Germany, Mexico and South Africa support the campaign which will enable the More Awesome Now team to create an interactive sound + light installation in the alley behind the Orpheum Theatre. 

Our stretch goal is to grow our community to 500 people.  What this means, is every dollar backed above our goal will help with extra things like programming the alley (allowing people to truly make the space their own), but what is really meaningful to us is the size of the community, and how many people are connected to this vision.

Our Kickstarter campaign has already built a sizeable community around this project, (of more than two hundred and fifty three people!) and we know there are more people out there who believe in what we are doing. 

 By making a pledge (of any value, even $1!), you become part of this global community. Pledging means you will be kept updated on the progress of Ackery’s Alley and FIELD. Belonging to this community means you are addressing the issue of urban isolation, a common plight in all major cities across the globe.

Better yet, pledge $100 and your reward will be a set of limited edition Ackery's Alley and Alley Oop posters. (See image.)

Are you the PR Consultant we're looking for?

Do you have a passion for being in the know? Do you start every day getting up to speed on what’s happening in your city and around the world? Does the idea of learning something new every day thrill you? Then this job may be for you.

We are a team of smart, informed, resourceful, quality-driven, and accountable individuals. We currently have an opening for a dynamic PR Consultant.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Stakeholder Communications

• Participating in campaign planning and handling day-to-day project management including budgeting, timelines, and status reporting.
• Producing compelling communications materials (written and visual) to support campaigns.

Media Relations

• Executing media relations campaigns, including: preparing effective written and visual materials; researching and crafting compelling story angles; and successfully pitching media.  
• Preparing spokespeople for media interviews, and assisting with formal media training sessions.

Events

• Supporting the development of comprehensive event plans and working with suppliers to create top-notch event solutions.  
• Handling event logistics, collateral production, and aspects of project management.

Social Media

• Developing social media content calendars for clients, including paid and organic content. Preparing written and visual content.

ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES:

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following attributes:

• SMART: You are sharp and quick-thinking.
• INFORMED: You’re a newshound who is informed about our city and our country.
• RESOURCEFUL: You are not daunted by obstacles or uncertainty. You simply find a way to get it done.
• QUALITY-DRIVEN: You are dedicated to producing work of the highest standard.
• ACCOUNTABLE: You keep your commitments. You take responsibility and ownership over your work.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Business, Arts, Marketing, or Public Relations.
• 3-5 years’ direct experience in public relations.
• Strong knowledge of regional/national media landscape.
• Exceptional writing skills. You write clear and sophisticated prose in a variety of styles.
• Proven success with conducting media relations campaign.
• Highly adept at, and engaged with, social media.
• The following are considered assets: Adobe Creative Cloud proficiency; photography skills; Wordpress skills

POSITION DETAILS:

Full time, permanent. You must be flexible with hours and able to respond to media inquiries and work at events outside the 9-5, Monday-Friday work week.

Salary will match experience of the successful candidate. Expected start: Early September 2017.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Demonstrate your exceptional writing skills by sending a well-crafted cover letter and resume to careers@elettra.ca.

Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be accepted. 

Application closing date: July 10, 2017.

Campaign to raise funds for interactive sound & light art installation in Ackery’s Alley

More Awesome Now, the collective who brought Vancouver its first reimagined alleyway, Alley-Oop, is asking for the public’s help to fund an interactive art installation in the city’s next activated laneway – Ackery’s Alley.  The collective is launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise the $35K needed to secure FIELD, an interactive public art installation by renowned international artist, Alex Beim.

Once transformed, Ackery’s Alley (located off Granville Street in the alley behind the Orpheum Theatre) will be a space for public art and performance, with FIELD at its centre. The installation’s field of sensors and lights will detect the presence of a person, changing colours and emitting sounds in reaction to movement. FIELD will work like a large musical and light instrument that creates a unique composition every time someone moves through it.

“I can see people coming together and experimenting with FIELD -  dancing and creating something that is completely unexpected,” says Alex Beim, artist and director of Tangible Interaction. “I think Vancouver needs more spaces that create conversation and connection. This installation will bring people together in that way, and it would be amazing to get the funding to make this happen.”

More Awesome Now will use the funds raised through Kickstarter for the procurement and installation of FIELD.  The collective has already raised funds to transform the alleyway with artful signage, psychedelic paint, a metallic gold feature element, projection walls and a glowing orb beacon.

“Human connection is at the core of rich urban experiences.  By creating interactive public spaces, we can foster connection and social exchange,” says Charles Gauthier, member of More Awesome Now, and President and CEO of the Downtown Vancouver BIA. “We hope this project inspires the people of Vancouver and also those outside our city who want to try something similar in their own communities.” 

More Awesome Now is a collective of thinkers and doers who reshape underutilized urban land spaces into engaging, accessible public spaces.  The group includes the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA), HCMA Architecture + Design, in partnership with Vancouver Civic Theatres and the City of Vancouver’s VIVA Vancouver program.

More Awesome Now hopes that the concept of reimagined alleyways takes on a life of its own, so that one day Vancouver and other cities around the world have a connected system of colourful alleys that are places of human connection.

The Kickstarter page will be live for thirty days, ending on the 12th of July.  Ackery’s Alley and FIELD will be completed and ready for the public to enjoy by the end of summer.

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!