btvancouver

Wanted to pass on the information about an event I am participating in next week – I will have the pleasure of introducing Dr. Suzuki!

Here’s the official press release :

SUZUKI DINNER FOCUSSES ON WATER, CELEBRATES RESTORATION OF FIRST NATIONS FISHERY

On Thursday, November 10th, C Restaurant is throwing a dinner hosted by sustainability titan David Suzuki. The evening is a fundraiser for the DSF and C’s burgeoning not-for-profit, the C Blue Foundation, a grassroots initiative by Harry Kambolis and Chef Robert Clark to raise essential funds to protect lakes, rivers, streams, beaches and oceans.

The DSF and C Restaurant collaboration has netted an exceptional partner, the Lake Babine First Nation reserve fishery. Back when Rome was a mere village, the Lake Babine people operated traditional salmon weirs on their lake and river, harvesting hundreds of thousands of sockeye a year. Tragically, their traditional fishery was extinguished in 1906 by the Canadian government, to make room for an industrial coastal fishery. It devastated an entire way of life. This past summer, the Nation recreated their fishery, in partnership with Skeena Wild Conservation Trust, Raincoast Trading of Vancouver, and RiverWild Seafoods of Terrace. It has become the second largest sustainable sockeye fishery in British Columbia. Chef Lee’s menu will feature the Nation’s sockeye prominently.
“We are honoured to serve the salmon caught with great care and pride by the Lake Babine Nation,” says Kambolis. “The rebirth of their fishery is monumental and their story and achievements are synergistic with the mandate and dreams of our new foundation.”
Also a featured player at the dinner: Summerhill Pyramid Winery,  Ezra Cipes of the Kelowna winery and C sommelier Kim Cyr will compose the wine pairings to complement Chef Lee’s menu. About 80% of the total grapes used in Summerhill’s production are certified organic, and the rest are in a transitional organic status on their way to being certified.
To reserve your seat at this multi-course dinner with wine pairings, please telephone the restaurant at 604-681-1164 or email info1@crestaurant.com with “Suzuki” in the subject line.

Dawn

Looking forward to emceeing the 4th Annual Scene- a fundraiser for the Pacific Cinematheque. Guests will embrace the golden age for one night with:

• mai tais at the Waldorf Hotel, a creative compound that has played host to celebrities such as Jack Nicholson.
• a canapés supper catered by Nuba.
• an extensive Silent Auction, which will include Liam Neeson’s working script for The Grey, exclusive artwork, and tickets to many of the city’s finest arts organizations.
• “mystery film cans” that hold a variety of prizes.
• a tiki themed photo booth.

Should be a fun night to be SCENE…hope to see you there tomorrow!

Dawn

The month of November marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and thus, the month of MOVEMBER!

I had the pleasure of kicking off Movember at the Granville Island Brewing CO. - they have a number of ways you can help their team if you go to their website.

with Walter and Vern from GIB

Yes ladies, this means your men may appear more “scruffy” but it’s all for an important cause…the ultimate goal is for the men to GET CHECKED Us women go for exams every year (and no, they aren’t pleasant for us either)….so suck it up gentlemen and go for yours. There are NO symptoms so the only way to catch it is to go to your Doctor. The great news, if you catch it early…the better your chance of beating it!

I will also be on location on November 30 (location TBA) to wrap up the month and would love to have you join us to “Show us you Mo” but we’re also looking for your pictures – email your pics to contests@btvancouver.ca for a chance to win a pair of tickets to a Vancouver Canucks Game.

Get checked. If not for yourself, at least do it for the people who love you

Dawn

FACEBOOK : http://www.facebook.com/dawn.chubai

TWITTER : http://www.twitter.com/dawn_chubai

I recently received this press release about a way you could combine fashion AND philanthropy…

On Thursday, September 29th, please join the Honourable Wally Opal and I as we spend an elegant evening surrounded by Birks luxury and history. From the sparkling gems, lavish hors d’oeuvres, special private entertainment performance by Andrew Allen and incredible array of live & silent auction items, this is one chic and unique evening not to be missed.

There will be food, drink and fashions by the lovely Malene Grotrian - I will also be wearing a Diamond necklace from Birks valued at $6000. Raffle tickets for this gorgeous piece will be for sale at the event!For tickets and information, please click here.

Hope to see you there – should be fun!

Dawn

The Sears Great Canadian Run

I spent the weekend in Whistler where I was asked to help out with the Sears Great Canadian Run. No, I didn’t do any of the running (that part I left to the professionals). Instead, I hosted the closing ceremony. And what a celebration we had! 100 people spent their sunny Saturday running from Squamish to Whistler – raising money for pediatric cancer initiatives at BC Children’s Hospital and across Canada. Close to $100,000 was raised at this event which is an incredible amount of money! Toronto and Ottawa are also taking part with similar runs this fall. And dozens of volunteers also helped out.

Next up — the Great Canadian Chill in February 2012! Click here for more information. And congratulations to everyone who took part! Together, we can all beat cancer.

K

Wow! What a great long weekend we had in Vancouver. And the weather was picture perfect for the Pride Parade on Sunday afternoon. Riaz, Dawn, Michel, Greg and myself got to take part in this year’s parade. We saw SO many viewers and handed out thousands of our BT fans (which came in very handy since the weather warmed up!).

Here are a few photos from Sunday’s Pride Parade. Hope you had a Happy Pride! We’re looking forward to next year’s parade!

K

I just can’t get enough of the Royal visit by Prince William and his wife Catherine (aka Kate)! I’ve always been fascinated with the British Monarchy. I just wish I got a chance to go see them in person!

My cousin Chelsea lives in Yellowknife and she got a chance to see them during their stop in the Northwest Territories. She got some awesome photos of the couple during their meet-and-greet with the crowd. She shook Kate’s hand. And her friend asked to see Kate’s ring — and she gladly showed it off to the crowd! How cool is that!?

K

Here we are. Almost a week after the riot in downtown Vancouver last Wednesday. What a night that will be in the history of our city.

I was downtown that night – at Georgia and Homer – right in the middle of the crowd. My crew and I were doing live hits into CityNews at 6 and 11 in Toronto. The crowd at 3pm (for the 6 o’clock show) was a great group. By the time we went up at 8pm (for the 11 o’clock news) — the crowd had turned. People were getting angry – and throwing bottles at the giant screen. I got hit in the back with a can. People were shoving, swearing — and getting really unruly.

Within moments — someone lit a car on fire right in front of the Canada Post building on Georgia Street. What really struck me, was how no one in the group appeared to be scared of fearful of the fact the car might explode at any moment. It was making really loud popping noises — a huge plume of black smoke was billowing high above the city — and people continued to pose for photos. Fires continued to be set in that particular block — and there was no room for emergency crews to show up and put them out. Little did we know, things would escalate across the downtown core — and very, very fast.

I got about two hours of sleep that night. Woke up at 1:30am and headed back downtown to do live cut-ins with our affiliates across the country. During the six hours of live TV we did, I had a chance to wander around the neighbourhood. Downtown Vancouver felt like a warzone. Abandoned. Smashed glass all over the sidewalks. Garbage, newspaper boxes and fecal matter thrown all over the streets. Cars overturned. Graffiti on windows and doors. This was NOT the Vancouver I live in. And to think it was done at the hands of people who call themselves Vancouverites makes it even worse.

Here are some photos I took on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Kudos to everyone who cleaned up the streets of Vancouver. We all appreciate you and your work.

Vancouver’s image has been tarnished by the ridiculously stupid actions of a group of people. Teenagers. Young men. Young women. And even grown men and women in their 30’s and 40’s. Many of them, caught on camera — running into stores, taking whatever they can, and walking out. Laughing about it. And scaring everyone who lives in the city. Shame. Shame. Shame. This is NOT a representation of the amazing people who live in this region. But seeing the volunteers who are rolling up their sleeves and getting this city back to normal — that is what true Vancouverites do.

K

Hard to believe we are 23 weeks into the Transformation Project. Funny thing is, in 3 weeks and a day, I will still be doing everything I have been for the last 5 months – this REALLY has become a lifestyle…so let’s talk about the fitness side of things because although much of my change has been because of nutrition and regulating those blood sugar levels – for me, fitness is a necessary component. So, how to stay motivated?

I have had the good fortune of working with Tommy Europe once a week for the last few months – you can work with him for even cheaper through his newest book – and I am telling you, this is EXACTLY like working with him, it’s how he talks and it’s how he motivates.

Just like working out with him!

I also like to mix it up and so once in a while I “Shake” and “Tuck” with The Bar Method in Yaletown – way harder than you could imagine and NO you do not have to be a dancer or flexible.  A neat way to mix it up. Former Bachelorette and Interior Designer Jillian Harris is also a proclaimed fan according to her Tweets!

Be prepared to SHAKE!

But the one workout that I have been really impressed with is the locally created Ugi Workout. You get a ball that resembles a squishy medicine ball that is weighted at 6, 8 or 12 lbs as well as a DVD, an exercise book with too many versions to mention and a meal plan for under $200. You only need a space as big as a yoga mat and you only need 3o minutes. It’s crazy, but I have been doing the DVD at home and not only have a sweat as much as a Tommy Europe Workout, but my waist is becoming whittled!  Singer Chantal Kreviazuk sung it’s praises during an interview on BT last year.

Good Bang for your Buck (and butt!)

So there you have it…options. No excuses…it’s working for me and I look forward to hearing what works for you. It’s a battle for all of us to fit it in, I know, but I am learning more and more it’s about changing attitudes- more  time is not necessarily better…being consistent is key as is working smarter.

Thanks for your support and know that I am rooting for you as well!

Tune into CityLine Wednesday for the next update!

Dawn