First Weekend Club which celebrates a new Canadian film every month as part of their Canada Screens initiative is back in February with a powerful documentary called Pink Ribbons Inc.

Pink Ribbons, Inc. looks at the pervasive impact of breast cancer fundraising. Every year, millions of dollars are raised, but where does all the money go, and what is actually achieved? The film offers a completely different take on the pink ribbon “success” story that has overtaken North America, with insight from leading doctors, activists and social critics, as well as women diagnosed with breast cancer.  

When: Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at Denman Cinemas (Vancouver)

6:30pm: Doors open with live music by Lisa Chase www.sailstudios.com and complimentary wine tasting by Road 13 Winery.  

7:30pm: Film Screening followed by a video Skype Q&A with producer Ravida Din 

Cost: $15 in advance (includes glass of wine, music and film) in advance by at http://www.firstweekendclub.ca  or $16 at door / Students $12

BC BuzZ is a proud partner of First Weekend Club and Canada Screens. Become a First Weekend Club member for free at http://www.firstweekendclub.ca

We could’nt be more BuzZ’d to announce a new partnership with the most awesome site around! Vancouver Is Awesome called and we had to pick up, so starting this Friday BC BuzZ episodes will be served up on VIA every week (or so) and aims to support local communities. You’ll still be able to catch all the BuzZ and more at www.bcbuzz.ca but with this partnership we are spreading our wings to new viewers.  Vancouver is Awesome: The study, promotion and preservation of Vancouver arts and culture, with a positive spin.
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We could’nt be more BuzZ’d to announce a new partnership with the most awesome site around! Vancouver Is Awesome called and we had to pick up, so starting this Friday BC BuzZ episodes will be served up on VIA every week (or so) and aims to support local communities.

You’ll still be able to catch all the BuzZ and more at www.bcbuzz.ca but with this partnership we are spreading our wings to new viewers.

 Vancouver is Awesome:

The study, promotion and preservation of Vancouver arts and culture, with a positive spin.

There’s nothing more special then to see someone with a smile plastered all over their face…….and the good doctors, well Clown-Doctors that is, at Jest for Joy work one smile at a time! If you remember the Robin Williams movie Patch Adams, you’ll know exactly what we are talking about. Jest for Joy brings joy and inspiration to the British Columbian health care system through the integration of clown-doctoring. Their ultimate goal is to improve and focus on the wellness of patients in health care settings through wit, physical theatre, improv, song & dance and tons of foolery! If you’d like to support these clowns grab yourself a ticket to The Annual Jest for Joy Naughty Noses Gala on February 24th.  Hosted by CKNW’s Simi Sara, the gala will include stand-up comedy, silent and live auctions, music by DJ Byron James & more! Tickets sold out last year so get them while they are still available. Keep tuned to BC BuzZ as we will be clowning around with Jest for Joy in the next couple of weeks!
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There’s nothing more special then to see someone with a smile plastered all over their face…….and the good doctors, well Clown-Doctors that is, at Jest for Joy work one smile at a time! If you remember the Robin Williams movie Patch Adams, you’ll know exactly what we are talking about. Jest for Joy brings joy and inspiration to the British Columbian health care system through the integration of clown-doctoring. Their ultimate goal is to improve and focus on the wellness of patients in health care settings through wit, physical theatre, improv, song & dance and tons of foolery! If you’d like to support these clowns grab yourself a ticket to The Annual Jest for Joy Naughty Noses Gala on February 24th. 

Hosted by CKNW’s Simi Sara, the gala will include stand-up comedy, silent and live auctions, music by DJ Byron James & more! Tickets sold out last year so get them while they are still available.

Keep tuned to BC BuzZ as we will be clowning around with Jest for Joy in the next couple of weeks!

KUNG HEI FAT CHOI “Year of the Dragon”

Here is a sprinkle of Chinese New Year celebrations around BC

Richmond:

Many of Richmond’s Asian restaurants will feature special menus for the next two weeks including: Jade Seafood, Shanghai River & Northern Delicacy. From now until January 29, Richmond’s International Buddhist Temple hosts a Chinese New Year bazaar featuring flower arrangements, traditional food & more! Also dont forget to check out Parker Place, which offers live performances and lion dancing on January 29th.

Vancouver:

The Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade will take place on Sunday, January 29th at 12 noon at Millennium Gate on Pender Street, The Vancouver Chinatown Spring Fair and Cultural festival takes place January 28-29, from 11am to 5am, at Sun Yat-sen Plaza. And last but not least The Dragon celebration at International Village, January 27-January 28, 12pm-10pm and January 29, 12pm-7pm.

Prince George: 

Join The Exploration Place on January 28th for the annual Chinese New Year Gala Fundraiser! Tickets are just $65/person, $120/couple. Doors open at 5:30pm & fireworks at 6:00pm

Victoria:

The Victoria Chinatown Lioness Club will be hosting its annual Chinese New Year banquet Saturday January 28th.  The Art Gallery is hosting three great events as part of its Chinese New Year celebrations.  On January 26 at 7pm there is a film screening of Greeting the Lunar New Year in Taiwan.  A lantern-making workshop from 7pm-9pm on February 2nd. The gallery’s official Chinese Lunar New Year celebration is February 4th, 1pm-3pm There will be live performances, gallery talks, a curator’s tour and refreshments. And of course head to Chinatown for a huge celebration including lion dancing on Sunday January 29th as the official Chinese community celebration!

Kamloops:

On Saturday January 28th The Lotus Inn Restaurant is hosting their Chinese New Year party for $30 which includes dinner, entertainment & door prizes

*video provided by: The Associated Press

I read once that the best hosts are the ones who let their guests take centre stage - not themselves.  They should always have the utmost respect for the guests and their audience.

When you have interviewed about 15,000 guests in a 15 year span, the guests also respect you and your audience shows their love by continually tuning in each day.  

This is the case for Fiona Forbes & Michael Eckford of Shaw TV’s Urban Rush (Weekdays at 5pm).  In this day and age in broadcasting, they have accomplished something that not many others have had, and thats a long line of success.  Add the fact they have won numerous awards, hosted brilliant events and still to this day love working with each other.  Not bad for a former law student and construction worker that are probably the most loved pair on BC TV today. 

BC BuzZ got to sit down with the duo for a couple minutes and by the end noticed two big things, they love what they do and they have fun doing it…….sounds like a perfect life.  We also noticed two other things, they talk a lot (which makes sense considering their job) and they are truly two very funny people.  We are BuzZ’d to have so much footage, there’s a good chance you may see more of them on BC BuzZ in the future.

Check out Urban Rush on Shaw TV, weekdays at 5pm

There is nothing we love more then a celebration……especially a celebration of local food & drink! Taste BC is one event that you will not want to miss. This memorable tasting promises to inspire a sense of local pride, and most importantly, raise proceeds to benefit BC Children’s Hospital’s Oak Tree Clinic. Mix a lotta wine, beer, some tasty fare, door prizes, a silent auction that rivals any other, live music and more and you have one 3hr event that looks to be as successful as ever. With an event like this not only would you be supporting a great cause, but you’ll be supporting your community and many others! Event details: Tuesday January 24, 2012, 4:30pm - 7:30pm, 49.99/person www.taste-bc.com for more information To date Taste BC has raised $186,336 – for BC Children’s Hospital’s Oak Tree Clinic. 
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There is nothing we love more then a celebration……especially a celebration of local food & drink!

Taste BC is one event that you will not want to miss. This memorable tasting promises to inspire a sense of local pride, and most importantly, raise proceeds to benefit BC Children’s Hospital’s Oak Tree Clinic.

Mix a lotta wine, beer, some tasty fare, door prizes, a silent auction that rivals any other, live music and more and you have one 3hr event that looks to be as successful as ever.

With an event like this not only would you be supporting a great cause, but you’ll be supporting your community and many others!

Event details:

Tuesday January 24, 2012, 4:30pm - 7:30pm, 49.99/person

www.taste-bc.com for more information

To date Taste BC has raised $186,336 – for BC Children’s Hospital’s Oak Tree Clinic. 

BC BuzZ is excited to partner with First Weekend Club to celebrate Canadian cinema with their monthly event Canada Screens.  This event allows you the film fanatic to see a sneak peek of new Canadian films before they hit the theatres. But wait there’s more! Canada Screens is a distinctly social event that  brings together filmmakers, stars and film fans in a fun atmospher with a sophisticated vibe. You are treated to a pre-show wine reception (complimentary glass of wine), live entertainment by some of BC’s finest musicians and a great Canadian film, plus a post Talkback discussion with the filmmaker and/or stars.  So if you are ready to go to the movies we want to help get you there by giving away tickets for you and a guest to the upcoming screening of: 

SON OF THE SUNSHINE : A Film by Ryan Ward

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 6:30 pm at Denman Cinemas 

With live music by Ben Sigston, complimentary wine tasting reception by Road 13 Winery and a Live Q&A with film maker Ryan Ward.

To win tickets, comment below with your favourite Canadian film or Retweet: “I entered a BC BuzZ contest to win tickets to Canada Screens @bcbuzztv http://www.bcbuzz.ca @1stweekendclub #bcbuzzcontest”

Contest closes at 9pm Friday January 13, 2012. 

Full event details and to purchase tickets: 

http://www.firstweekendclub.ca/canada-screens-jan-18-2012-son-of-the-sunshine.html

SON OF THE SUNSHINE: Sonny Johnns, a young man with Tourettes Syndrome, spends his savings from years of disability payments to undergo an experimental procedure that promises to eradicate his symptoms. Sonny soon discovers that the surgery has somehow smothered an amazing supernatural gift he has had all his life: the uncanny ability to heal the sick and the dying, a power which Sonny may need in the near future. http://www.sonofthesunshine.com

Become a First Weekend Club member for free at http://www.firstweekendclub.ca

Do you remember the first time you performed on stage?  Do you remember the first piece of art you made?  Do you remember the first song you sung in public? Do you remember the first time you were creative?

Welcome to the world of Project Limelight, a free theatre program for kids who are driven to perform. No experience necessary!

Project Limelight is about inspiring children to look inside themselves and discover their inner strengths, explore their hidden talents, develop confidence and form lasting friendships.  

Project Limelight is launching on January 28 for kids aged 8-15 in the Downtown Eastside/Strathcona area of Vancouver. Right now they are looking for instructors, artists and workshop leaders to inspire, motivate and mentor. For more information please go to their website and support in any which way you can!

www.projectlimelightsociety.org 

First Weekend Club has been “getting bums into seats since 2003”…Canadian bums into Canadian cinemas for Canadians films that is! A Cross Canada film club that strives to build audiences for Canadian cinema by promoting the best in Canadian film through grassroots marketing, launch events and Q&A’s with filmmakers and stars and much more is what First Weekend Club is all about.   Through Q&A’s with filmmakers and actors, contests, premiere parties, advance screenings, film alerts, and much more, First Weekend Club encourages members to attend opening weekend screenings in order to keep Canadian films in theatres longer. Hence the name, “First Weekend Club” And the best thing is that membership to the club is absolutely free….yes that’s right kids FREE! Before you read on, do yourself a favour, click the link, sign up and come back to read more: http://www.firstweekendclub.ca/join.html  One exciting initiative that First Weekend serves up in Vancouver, BC is Canada Screens which is a monthly screening & Talkback series within an intimate and social environment, fusing cinema, film lovers and filmmakers to create one helluva evening!  Mingle with a glass of wine, watch a movie, listen to live entertainment and get up-close & personal with filmmakers & stars. STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING SCREENINGS, FREE TICKET GIVEAWAYS & MORE ON BC BUZZ!
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First Weekend Club has been “getting bums into seats since 2003”…Canadian bums into Canadian cinemas for Canadians films that is!

A Cross Canada film club that strives to build audiences for Canadian cinema by promoting the best in Canadian film through grassroots marketing, launch events and Q&A’s with filmmakers and stars and much more is what First Weekend Club is all about.  

Through Q&A’s with filmmakers and actors, contests, premiere parties, advance screenings, film alerts, and much more, First Weekend Club encourages members to attend opening weekend screenings in order to keep Canadian films in theatres longer. Hence the name, “First Weekend Club” And the best thing is that membership to the club is absolutely free….yes that’s right kids FREE!

Before you read on, do yourself a favour, click the link, sign up and come back to read more: http://www.firstweekendclub.ca/join.html 

One exciting initiative that First Weekend serves up in Vancouver, BC is Canada Screens which is a monthly screening & Talkback series within an intimate and social environment, fusing cinema, film lovers and filmmakers to create one helluva evening!  Mingle with a glass of wine, watch a movie, listen to live entertainment and get up-close & personal with filmmakers & stars.

STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING SCREENINGS, FREE TICKET GIVEAWAYS & MORE ON BC BUZZ!

For all of you MMA hounds in BC,  get ready for a big night of Mix Martial Arts! Quest For Glory presents Club Fights, Friday January 27th at Gossip in the Plaza of Nations. Quest For Glory features 4 title matches, drinks, dancing and an after-party hosted by DJ EarWAXX from TAO in Las Vegas all under one roof! We are BuzZ’d to bring you some up close & personal footage of local fighters and activities leading up to the big night!

The British Columbia Mix Martial Arts Association which dedicates its time and focus to being a positive influence on the communities and youth in the province of BC.  Through the promotion of MMA activities and fighters, BCMMAA is working with local businesses and charities to develop more awareness of this booming sport and the positive social and economical effects that these events can bring our local communities.  

Tickets on sale now: http://www.questforgloryfc.com/