Grand Cariboo Opry, 7th Annual

Each year a group of us enjoy a night of entertainment  with Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts & Guests at The Grand Cariboo Opry! 

Originally starting in the basement of a church where people would squeeze in the church pews for a night of entertainment. The Opry has now outgrown that location and are now on their 7th year and filling up the Vogue Theathre !

This annual fundraiser is in support of the Potluck Café Society, who are residents of the Vancouver downtown Eastside and this year rasied over $38,000!!

 

 

 

See you next year !



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2012 Christmas Charities

 

There are so many charities in Vancouver and around the world it is very hard to pick one. Most people choose their charity based on someone they knew who was affected by an illness or something that is close to their heart. At The Travel Group we like to support local charities, and with majority of our employee's growing up in the Vancouver area we feel it is important to help those in our neighbourhood.

We continually fundraise throughout the year with our weekly "Friday wine down,"  "Jean's Day" and one of our biggest fundraisers is our annual event "The Longest Day of the Year."

This year we have picked 2 charities to concentrate on:

Potluck Cafe Society provides training and employment to residents of the Downtown Eastside with multiple barriers to employment. They also serve nearly 30,000 nutritious meals every year to community residents.

WISH, Operated by women for the exclusive use of female sex trade workers. A registered non-profit society that furnishes a variety of services within a nurturing and non-judgmental environment. WISH offers on-site showering facilities, dispensing of hygiene items & clothing, nursing care, and a detox centre among other things.

Dig out the PINKEST clothes you can find

October is
Breast Cancer awareness month.

The Travel Group has clients all over the world and sometimes a suitcase full of trinkets is not the best donation prize. This year we kept is light and simple and purchased a gift certificate and popped it in the mail for our clients in Toronto. Dressed all in pink, the highest bidder will take home the prize. 100% of the money raised is donated to assist Canadian researchers with finding a cure for Breast Cancer.
 

Friday Wine Down

Each week The Travel Group has a plater of cheese for tasting, it's only $1 donation and all donations go towards the Vancouver Downtown Eastside.

Email your travel agent for more details.

Dig out the PINKEST clothes you can find

October is
Breast Cancer awareness month.

This year The Travel Group, once again packed some trinkets into a suitcase and sent it off to their clients to raffle off for their Annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser. 100% of the money raised by raffling off the prizes is donated to assist Canadian researchers with finding a cure.

Golf Tournament - door prize

The Travel Group has donated a suitcase full of Golf trinkets as a door prize for a client’s annual golfing fundraising tournament.

Good Luck!

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Friday Wine Down

!! With Sangria !!

Each person is asked to donate $1 to sampleAll donations go towards the Vancouver Downtown Eastside.

Longest Day of the Year, 4th annual

With a grey, dark rainy Saturday, we were all very concerned about the weather for Sunday. We have lucked out the last 3 years and not had rain. And we lucked out again!

Waking up to clouds, and a dark one over Vancouver, the grass was damp on arrival, however no rain and sunny blue sky's as the day went on.

Thank you to everyone who attending in supporting
The Travel Group and the Vancouver Downtown East Side
with our 4^th annual event.

Each year we add a more to the event, in hopes to make it bigger and better.

This year Marie from Insight toWellness was invited to do a pre-race stretch.

Alam was the first to cross the finish line taking the first honors

many were hot on his heels

The fastest runner this year was Alar.

A frist timer, and hopefully not his last.

Our 4 legged contestants were said to slow our walkers down with all the stopping and sniffing, but they enjoyed the walk, and some play time with their new squeeky toys.

There were limited contestants for Sexy Shorts this year.

Karen took the prize with her mint green shorts.

The day was full of laughs, food and fun.

Raising money for the Vancouver Downtown Eastside.

5th Annual Fundraising Golf Tournament for Mesothelioma

Our clients are at it again, this time fundraising towards the Western Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation, with a fundraising Golf Tournament.

The BCICA (British Columbia Insulation Contractors Association) 5^th Annual Golf Tournament was held on June 22^nd 2012. The Travel Group does not have any avid golfers to put up to the golfing challenge so we supported this year with a suitcase full of trinkets for the silent auction.

The Ride to Conquer Caner

The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer^® is a unique, two-day cycling event that takes place on June 16-17, 2012. During this bold cycling journey, 8 clients sponsored by The Travel Group will be hoping on their bikes and seeing the scenic Pacific Northwest while raising money to conquer Cancer.

The money raised for The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer will benefit BC Cancer Foundation and support leading clinicians, scientists, and researchers whose search for new discoveries and improved patient outcomes will have a real impact in our communities throughout the province, across Canada, and around the world.

http://va12.conquercancer.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=va12_homepage

Longest Day of the Year Fundraiser

  Join Us!!

The Longest Day of the Year Race
is an annual fundraising event put on by The Travel Group to
raise money for the Vancouver Downtown East Side.

 

JOIN US IN THE 4TH ANNUAL

LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR FUNDRAISER

Sunday, June 24th 2012, 9:00amLumberman’s Arch, Stanley Park

Registration fee is a
$10 donation to be collected on race day.

Don’t let the picture fool you- you can run or walk-it’s all for fun!  Prizes for first to cross the finish line as a walker and as a runner, and don’t forget to wear your sexy shorts!

Check out previous years at: www.longestday.ca

Relay for Life - Support Annie

The Travel Group's Annie, will be  walking in the Relay For Life, North Shore, as she does every year.

A cancer survivor herself and cancer free since 1993. Annie has participated in this event for 10 years, as part of the North Lonsdale United Church Team.

All day there are bands playing as teams walk the track. There are different themed laps. 3 legged lap, a walk backwards, hop on one foot, & wearing a funny hat, just to name a few.

The last lap is very moving. The luminaries are lit which line the track. These are paper bags filled with sand, and a tea lights.  On the bag is written "in memory", "in support" or "in honour" of a person affected by cancer. At dusk, everyone walks around the track in silence holding a lit candle.

Annie relays in memory of friends that have lost their battle with cancer, too many and way too young.  Support Annie by helping her reach her fundraising goal.

Relay For Life, Mahon Park, North Vancouver
June 9, 2012. 10:00am - 10:00pm

Longest Day of the Year Fundraiser

4th Annual Longest Day of the Year

Fundraiser is fast approching !

** Join us **

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Odd Squad, 15th Annual Gala

15 years ago, seven determind Vancouver Police Officers developed Odd Squad Productions Society (OSP)

Their continued fundraising allows them to empower youth with educational presentations, crime prevention programs, peer-to-peer mentoring workshops, and the production of award-winning documentary films.

 
On Thursday June 7^th 2011  
is their 15th annual Odd Squad Gala Fundraiser !!

A silent auction, live auction, elegant dinner and fine entertainment are on the agenda. The Travel Group has donated a sleak suitcase with trinkets to help raise money.

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Karma Exchange

Today for wine and cheese, The Travel Group has decided to dedicate our winedown to a company called Karma Exchange.

Karma Exchange is a non-profit company that joins forces with various business in the lower mainland to raise money and awareness for a partnering charity. Together they help provide education, clean water, and other desperately needed resources to poverty stricken villages in West Africa.

KarmaExchange puts on social shopper promotions where a portion of each product purchased will go directly to helping those in need.

Today we will be featuring two of Karma Exchange’s products, wine from the Marquis Wine Cellar, and gluten-free chocolate chip cookies from Cloud 9 Bakery.

Enjoy!



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Fighting for a world without cancer !

Everyone knows someone who has, or had cancer.

Some of them work in our office.

The Travel Group helps support those in our office as well as our clients.

Chantel is walking in Langley's Relay for Life.

In support of 3 x Amazing People in her life.

Each have a very different cancer battle story

Read their stories:
http://www.relaybc.ca/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.
asp?ievent=480812&supid=354445556

Jeans Day - BC Children's Hospital

Jeans Day took place on Thursday, April 26, 2012. And  The Travel Group did not disappoint. Everyone sporting their Jean's and helping support BC Children's Hospital. 



Canuck Place

The Travel Group has donated a suitcase full of trinkets as a door prizes item for our clients inhouse office fundraiser to raise money for Canuck Place. 
 

Friday Wine Down - with Beer

Each week The Travel Group has a Friday afternoon Wine down, this week with a beer tasting. It's only $1 donation and all donations go towards the Vancouver Downtown Eastside.
Today, we’re sampling fresh, organic beer with no preservatives or chemicals which David & Cathy picked up while at the Tofino Brewing Company. 

The beer is special because this brewery does not bottle or can their beer.  You can only get the stuff on tap at select restaurants in BC and Washington State, or buy purchasing large jugs called “Growlers” or small ones called “Growlettes.” 

Today, we will have a growler full of Tuff Session Ale and a growlette full of their Hoppin’ Cretin IPA.  

More details: www.westernbeerclub.com


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Thursday Wine Down - Irish Style

With Friday being a holiday for the Easter weekend, we were able to have our "friday wine down" a day early !

Each week The Travel Group has a plater of cheese for tasting. It's only $1 donation and all donations go twards the Vancouver Downtown Eastside. Email your travel agent for more details.

From "the sunny southeast" of Ireland - Wexford, Anne-Marie had a long overdue visit home the last few weeks. And she brought with her some local cheese for us to sample at today's Wine down.

Relay for Life

The Travel Group has donate a suitcase full of trinkets as a door prizes item to support Chantel in her fundraising event.

Join Chantel & friends this weekend and help raise money in the fight against cancer.

At the Wheelhouse Pub, Surrey

Satuday April 7th 2012

ttp://www.relaybc.ca/langley2012/angandchantel_papasjourney940

 

Friday Wine Down

This cheese was a hot choice this week for our office "Friday Wine Down"
                                          ~ Roaring 40's ! 

Each week The Travel Group has a plater of cheese for tasting, it's only $1 donation and all donations go towards the Vancouver Downtown Eastside. Email your travel agent for more details.

Spring Cleaning

As any other home or office The Travel Group recycles paper and bottles on a daily basis. We are also part of an excellent electronic recycling program.

As computers die and need to be upgraded around the office, the ones that are replaced are often in still working order. All personal information is wiped and programs are deleted. Then they are donated to ERA who distributes working electronics to Schools and Charities in need.  

Friday Wine down, New York Style

What did Cathy find in New York for us to enjoy today?  3 Cheeses and Oatcakes to go with.   She was on the hunt for particular cheese that remained elusive but did find some she thinks we will enjoy.

Each week The Travel Group has a plater of cheese for tasting. It's only $1 donation and all donations go twards the Vancouver Downtown Eastside. Email your travel agent for more details.

From Consider Bardwell Farm on the Vermont New York border:

MANCHESTER An aged, raw goat milk peasant tomme. A rustic mountain cheese named for Manchester VT, the gateway to the Green Mountains. This cheese has a nutty and earthy bite. Due to rotational grazing on our pastures and the aging process itself, each batch has a distinct note. A bold addition to any cheese board.
Winner American Cheese Society (2008)
100 Great Cheeses - Wine Spectator (2008)

DORSET A washed-rind, raw Jersey cow milk cheese. A soft ripening cheese with a rich, buttery texture and seasonally influenced pungency. An elegant appetizer or dessert, often served here in the historic village of Dorset, VT.
Winner American Cheese Society (2008)
Winner World Jersey Cheese Awards (2008)

And from the Cellars at Jasper Hill:

Cabot Clothbound Cheddar is a handsome natural-rinded traditional cheddar. Bandaged with muslin and skillfully aged a minimum of 10 months at the Cellars at Jasper Hill. Cabot Clothbound has all the characteristic texture of an English-style cheddar with the sweet caramel and milky flavors that sets it apart from other bandaged cheddars. The flavor profile is at once sweet, savory, nutty, and tangy.

To go with we have some Effie’s Homemade Oatcakes.  Now made in Maine, it is from an old Nova Scotia family recipe, especially good with cheddars.  I think it will be really work with these cheeses.

For wine we are trying the Aces – Seven Deuce, let’s see what Aces can do for under $20. 

National Sweater Day

On Thursday February 9^th 2012, The Travel Group put on their favourite sweaters and turn the heat down a few degrees to help WWF  take action against climate change, and work toward a sustainable future.

      

Awards were provided for: 

Most ‘liked’ Sweater, on www.facebook.com/thetravelgroup

Brightest coloured sweater

 

 

The Travel Group Donated $5 per sweater to the WWF 

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Candy for a Cause - Canadian Mental Health

Approximately 5 years ago The Travel Group made the decision to dispose of the Christmas trinkets they gave out on sales calls and created “Chocolate for Charity.” Evolving over the years to “cookies for cause” and this year “candy for a cause.”

This year, for every candy that agents gave out during sales calls, The Travel Group donated $1.50 to their charity of the agents choice.

This year Colleen's charity of choice is the North Shore branch of the Canadian Mental Health. A good friend of hers has started a Saturday morning shower program and is often taking money out of his own pocket for razors to help these people clean up and get off the streets.

If you would like to learn more: http://www.northshoreoutlook.com/news/138071083.html

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Candy for a Cause - Under the Same Sun

Approximately 5 years ago The Travel Group made the decision to dispose of the Christmas trinkets they gave out on sales calls and created the “Chocolate for Charity.” This has evolved over the years to “cookies for cause” and this year “candy for a cause”

This year, for every candy that agents gave out during sales calls, The Travel Group donated $1.50 to their charity of choice.

Under the Same Sun was a popular charity to support this year. Cathy, Carmen, Clarissa, Laura, Grace, David, Naomi, Martha & Lindy all decided to have a portion of their charity money go towards it.

A client who is hugely involved with Under the Same Sun are clients of Martha, David, and The Travel Group. He travels to Tanzania on a regular basis and is making a giant effort to change what is happening.

Lindy chose Under the Same Sun as her charity of choice this year because she was horrified to find out that people with Albinism are being hunted in Tanzania.  They are mutilated, or even worse, murdered so their body parts can be sold.  These albino body parts are even being exported out of Tanzania to other parts of the world.  How can this be happening in the 21st century? 

Under The Same Sun (UTSS) Fund is a Canadian charity that helps to improve the lives of people with Albinism by establishing a resource center in Tanzania.  Their focus is advocacy, education, health care, and community support. 

Friday Wine Down

In conjunction with our casual wear Friday’s. We finish off the work week with a “Friday Wine Down.”

Each week we have a tasting of wine and cheese.

This cheese, Le Dauphin triple brie cheese, has fast become The Travel Group's favorite. 

Each person is asked to donate $1 to sample, and all donations go towards the Vancouver Downtown Eastside.

Candy for a Cause - WISH

Approximately 5 years ago The Travel Group made the decision to dispose of the Christmas trinkets they gave out on sales calls and created the “Chocolate for Charity.” This has evolved over the years to “cookies for cause” and this year “candy for a cause”

This year, for every candy that was given out during sales calls, The Travel Group donated $1.50 to their charity of choice.  Tara and Anne-Marie made the choice to donate their money to the WISH foundation. They feel it is important to support the local charities first. This is a situation these ladies definitely did not choose willingly and they need to be helped out of their situation.

WISH is operated by women for the exclusive use of female survival sex workers, the WISH Drop-In Centre Society is a registered non-profit society that furnishes a variety of services within a nurturing and non-judgemental environment.

In addition to meeting essential needs by serving nutritious, hot meals, providing showering facilities, dispensing make-up, hygiene items, and clothing, WISH offers on-site nursing care, referrals to detoxification centres, rehabilitation houses, and shelters for upwards of 120 women per night. Our programs, including Literacy and a Learning Centre have been hugely successful in providing opportunities to participants to engage in positive, empowering activities in a safe place.

Candy for a Cause - Grace Rwanda

Approximately 5 years ago The Travel Group made the decision to dispose of the Christmastrinkets they gave out on sales calls and created the “Chocolate for Charity.” This has evolved over the years to “cookies for cause” and this year “candy for a cause.”  

This year, for every candy that agents gave out during sales calls, The Travel Group donated $1.50 to their charity of the agents choice.

This charity was the pick for Karin and Michele.  Michele choose this charity as it is a client of hers, and The Travel Group's. It is a charity he holds close to his heart and over the years Michele has booked him and others to Rwanda to help with this cause. The genocide in Rwanda is still so real and there are so many people and orphans still dealing with the after effects of the tragedy. This country has so much potential for tourism and only with outside help, can they get back on their feet and put their country back on the map for tourism which will help their economy and in the end help these victims.

 

Grace Rwanda Society was founded in response to the events in Rwanda of 1994. In 100 days between April 6th to July 4th, genocide claimed the lives of approximately one million people. Grace Rwanda Society’s response is a commitment to supporting education for Rwanda’s young people. They believe that with education, Rwanda’s young people will continue to educate themselves and others, helping to create and sustain peace in Rwanda and in the world.  The core values are compassion, accountability, respect, and empowerment.