Tim Hortons Camp Day: June 2, 2010

Tim Hortons Camp Day is my 2nd favourite day of the year (next to Christmas, of course). It means for every coffee you buy, you’re donating to the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation. Every penny from Tim Hortons coffee today will be donated to help less fortunate kids go to camp.

These camps increase children’s self-confidence, self-esteem, and teach them leadership skills. This year the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation will send over 14,000 deserving kids to camp, but hope to send many more with your support.

According to the Tim Hortons Website, $9.4 million CDN was raised on Camp Day in 2009. Let’s help make it $10 million or more today! If you can’t make it in-person, or want to donate a little extra, you can donate through CanadaHelps.org.

Before heading to Tim’s today, learn more about Tim Hortons Camp Dayand the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation. I’ll be heading through the Timmy’s Drive-Through this afternoon. Will you?

Groupon Vancouver: 2 Thumbs Up!

I have a new love: Groupon!

Each day, Groupon Vancouver offers a new “cool thing to do” at a discounted price, often saving you about 50%. You purchase the “groupon” from their site and take it to the vendor for the discount.

Last week I bought a groupon for Epic, the Vancouver Sustainable Living Expo. Tickets were normally $15, but we got tickets for $5 each!

The process was so simple:

1. Sign-up for their daily email notifications.
2. When you see an email that tickles your fancy, click to purchase it.
3. You can then print the groupon or access it through their free iphone app and show it to the vendor.

Since Groupon Vancouver started in April 2010, they have offered discounts for local food, yoga, conventions, art, and so much more. They have groupon sites for many large North American cities and have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, CNN, Wired, and so many more media outlets.

In case you haven’t figured it out, I am now a huge Groupon Fan (I’m a Groupon Groupie)! I look forward to getting my daily groupon and can’t wait to see what I’ll save next time!

Get the Groupon Daily Deal now, and enter your email in the top left corner to subscribe.

Driving in Vancouver: BC-wide Cell Phone Ban (Part 2)

Are the new cell phone and electronic device restrictions in Vancouver and throughout BC really going to make us safer? Many studies indicate that drivers are just as distracted by electronic device usage while driving, even with a hands-free device.

With our new law, effective Jan 1, Vancouver and BC drivers have restrictions on the use of electronic devices while driving. An Angus Reid study from June 2008 found that 85% of drivers supported some level of a cell phone ban.

Hands-free is Not Actually Safer

A University of Calgary study from 2004 found no significant safety benefits to using a hands-free cell phone. They found that even though hand-free dialing may eliminate some of the distraction (as opposed to physically dialling), once you start a phone conversation, the distraction level is the same as using a hands-on phone while driving.

Accident Stats

• Cell phone while driving can decrease your brain processing and reaction time by 50%
• Distractions associated with cell phone usage while driving is comparable to driving drunk
• When text messaging, drivers spend about 400% more time with their eyes off the road
• Distracted driving (including cell phone use) contributes to about 25% of all motor vehicle accidents MVAs are the #1 cause of injury-induced death in people under 25 years of age

Common Driving Distractions

• Cell phone and electronic device usage
• Eating/drinking
• Manipulating vehicle controls
• Reaching for objects in the car

Activities not contributing to driver distraction include talking to a vehicle passenger, or listening to music or audio books.

Cell phone regulations are already in place throughout the world including parts of Australia, the United Kingdom, Finland, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Japan, Singapore, and several US States and Canadian Provinces.

For more information about the new BC-wide electronic device  and cell phone ban and rules, read my WriterGal post, or visit the ICBC Drive Cell Safe website.

(Stats from the Discussion Paper: “Addressing the Problem of Distracted Driving and its
Impacts to Road Safety” by the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General)

Driving in Vancouver: BC-wide Cell Phone Restrictions (Part 1)

It's now illegal to use a hands-on cell phone in Vancouver and throughout BC (photo: Chance Agrella, freerangestock.com)

Aside from the 2010 Winter Olympic Buzz, Vancouver is talking about the new cell phone ban that came into effect on Jan 1, 2010. Here’s what every Vancouver driver needs to know.

The new law bans or restricts the use of certain portable electronic devices while operating a vehicle. It applies particularly to cell phone usage, but also applies to devices including PDAs, Mp3 players, and handheld electronic devices. Email and texting are now completely banned while driving.

Permitted Electronic Device Usage

You are permitted to answer calls using a hands-free device (such as a Bluetooth headset). Permitted hands-free devices or headsets must be:

• set-up and in place before turning on your vehicle
• operated by voice command or one-touch
• worn in one ear only (unless you are on a motorcycle)

You may use the full, hands-on capabilities of your electronic devices if:

• lawfully parked off the roadway
• calling emergency services (911) about an emergency
• using a hands-free device

Fixed GPS devices, portable music players and television screens may still be used as long as they are set-up before starting the vehicle, and are not operated (unless using voice commands) by the driver.

Emergency response personnel (peace officers, paramedics, and fire services) are permitted to use electronic communications devices in carrying out their job. Commercial drivers have similar device restrictions to regular drivers, but with additional permitted uses. Drivers in the Graduated Licensing program now have a full ban on using all electronic devices while driving…No exceptions.

Grace Period

During January, there is a one-month grace period in which you will only get a warning and a reminder. Starting February 1, 2010 you can be fined $167 plus 3 penalty points if you’re caught using an electronic device while driving in BC.

Hopefully this will help keep Vancouver roads safer. Visit the WriterGal blog tomorrow for more information about driving in BC.

For full details about the BC-wide electronic device and cell phone ban and rules, visit the ICBC Drive Cell Safe website.

White Christmas: A perfect substitute for real snow in Vancouver

The Arts Club Theatre Company performance of White Christmas: The Musical (Image: Arts Club Theatre Company website)

It’s too warm for a white Christmas in Vancouver this year, but the stage musical of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage is a great substitute for real snow! The Arts Club Theatre company did an amazing job and I had an amazing evening.

White Christmas Synopsis

White Christmas is about 2 army buddies (Wallace and Davis) trying to help their old army General, now a struggling inn-keeper in Vermont, save his Inn and lift his holiday spirits.

They are joined by the Haynes sisters (Betty and Judy) , an up-and-coming singing duo who are the sisters of another old army buddy. Together they plan a large broadway show in the Vermont Inn to attract people to Vermont and save the Inn and the General.

Along the way Davis and Judy try to set-up hopeless romantics Wallace and Betty, but they resist. White Christmas: The Musical is a story of romance, friendship, and loyalty in the spirit of Christmas. You’ll leave the show singing “Sisters” or “The Old Man” for days afterwards!

My Review: A+

I went with my family to this live show and had an amazing time! If you ever watched Bing Crosby’s version of White Christmas, you’ll love the stage version.

The actors all seemed to have a genuine good time on stage, and it showed! Their tap dancing, acting, and the sets set the scene well. The audience is also often encouraged to join in the singing of “White Christmas.”

One warning though: be prepared to have either “Sisters” or “The Old Man” in your head for days after!

Stanley Theatre Parking

If attending an evening performance at the Stanley Theatre, park along 12th or Hemlock streets because its free after 6pm (whereas it’s not free until after 8 on the other nearby streets). I arrived just before 7pm for the 7:30 performance and there was lots of street parking available here.

Unfortunately all 45 shows of White Christmas at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage in Vancouver are sold out (except for single tickets). If you can get your hands on a ticket, or find one in your stocking next week, you can “count your blessings instead of sheep” knowing that you’ll have an amazing evening (or afternoon).

Read more reviews, audience comments, blog coverage, and downloads for the Arts Club Theatre Company performance of White Christmas: the Musical.

Autumn Photowalk at Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver

Today is the last nice day we’ll see in Vancouver for a while, so we decided to do a quick photowalk through Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver.

Queen Elizabeth Park opened in 1902 and is the highest point in Vancouver, rising 168 metres above sea-level, overlooking the Vancouver skyline and North Shore Mountains. At the top of the park is the Bloedel Floral Conservatory. SciFi fans may recongize the grounds as settings for many scenes in Stargate SG1, which were filmed here.

Here are some of the better shots from our photowalk:

Book Review: One Red Paperclip

"One Red Paperclip" is an amazing and inspiring read.

Inspiring! Earlier this year I read the book “One Red Paperclip.” It is the true story of Kyle, a man from Belcarra, BC (near my hometown of Coquitlam, BC), who decided to trade a small, red paper paperclip for a house…Well, not directly.

Getting a house was his ultimate goal. He started with a lonely, red paperclip from his desk, and traded it for something slightly better. Then trading that for something slightly better… and so on, until he traded to a house. He started seeking trades through Craigslist (my favourite classifieds site) then later started his own website so people could see the current trade and make offers. He was also invited to many radio and TV shows to share his story.

This book is simply an amazing read. I remember hearing about this guy several years back. Then while browsing a book store in Sydney, Australia I found his book and HAD to buy it. Not only was the premise of his idea amazing, he was also from my hometown (well, two cities over, but close enough). He also wrote about making a trade at a 7-11 convenience store in Vancouver, and I knew the exact one he was talking about.

I was so hypnotized by his story that I read the entire 2nd half of his book in one sitting. I envied his adventures and felt inspired to start my own trading mission (I never did, but I was still inspired).

Click on the link below to get a listing of bookstores that sell Kyle’s book. This list is straight from his website.
One Red Paperclip: How a Small Piece of Stationery Turned into a Great Big Adventure

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for any kind of inspiration. This book gets 5 stars:

Happy 1 Month Anniversary to the WriterGal Blog!

I just realized that my blog has been up for exactly 1 month TODAY! I’ve had some great feedback and traffic so far, and here are some traffic stats from August to share:

• 966 Page Views
• 450 Absolute Unique Visitors
• 42% of you use FireFox (Yeah for Firefox)
• You are visiting from: Canada, USA, Belgium, United Kingdom, Australia, India, France, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, Philippines, Mexico,  Japan, Malaysia, Switzerland, Pakistan, Algeria, and Singapore.
• Most of you found me through a Google Search (followed by linking here directly)
• My 2 posts about the Canada Line Skytrain were the most popular this month

I’m very happy with how this first month has been. I hope the coming months will be just as exciting for me as a writer, and for all my readers, friends, and family.

Sincerely,

WriterGal (aka Ashley Mikulik)

Vancouver Business Location FAIL

While you sip your Sunday morning coffee, take a look at my first FAIL picture. I’ve driven down this street many times, and the other day I finally took my camera with me to get this shot:

The picture speaks for itself...Business Location FAIL!!

Do you have any local (Vancouver) FAIL pictures to share?

Great Customer Service: Blenz Coffee, Davie & Bute

Most coffee shop barista’s are friendly. I had an exceptionally friendly one at Blenz Coffee at Davie & Bute in downtown Vancouver yesterday.

After ordering my coffee from the Barista, she commented on my necklace (a blue, blown glass heart pendant). I mentioned that I got it in Venice. She said “Oh, that must be Murano Glass right? I loved Venice.”

After ordering my coffee, I sat down to wait for a colleague to arrive. It was slow in Blenz at the time. Since I had about 10-15 minutes before my colleague was to arrive, I casually asked the Barista when she was last in Venice. We each shared memories from our respective trips, between customers who came for their coffee.

Fifteen minutes later, my colleague arrived and we were still chatting about Europe!

Examples of Great Customer Service

During my time in the Blenz coffee shop, I noticed 3 great examples of exceptional customer service:

1. Friendliness: The Barista was very friendly and made a successful attempt to relate to her customer (me).
2. Attention to Detail: She saw a “regular” customer walk in and started making his coffee right away.
3. Attentiveness: When a customer would enter the store, she would turn her attention to the customer and give them her undivided attention.

I’ve seen similar examples of great customer service at other coffee shops before. I mention this as a specific example that stands out from the rest. I’ve noticed some customer service staff attempt “small talk” with customers, but it often seems forced or fake. The conversation yesterday seemed genuine and I think we both enjoyed listening to each other’s stories.

Thank-you to the barista at the Blenz Coffee on Davie & Bute in Vancouver. I enjoyed chatting with you!