2017 Holiday

For every Travel Group Recipe Book given out during the 2017 holiday season,  $1 will be donated to the Vancouver Downtown Eastside. The charity of choice this year is: 

Saint James Music Academy believes in social transformation through the power and love of music. Through the inspiration and joy of collaborative music making within the framework of their orchestras and choirs. They give young people of the Downtown Eastside the opportunity to explore their creative potential, gain self-confidence, get an academic head start, and become role models within their families and community.

2017's Longest Day fundraiser was a giant success !

NINTH ANNUAL

#LONGESTDAY FUNDRAISERJUNE 11TH, 2017 ~ 9am

It was another successful year!

With the attendance over 110 people, we raised almost $3,000 for the Saint James Music Academy. A special shout out to Tony at Article for getting his company to raise $800 themselves.

Arlene, Dee Dee & Mel were on site to talk a little bit about Saint James Music Academy. SJMA feeds, inspires and provides emotional support for children and young people in "Canada's poorest postal code." It is a great privilege to be able to support this tremendous organization.

It was blue sky with some fast moving clouds for most of the day, a breeze to keep us cool while we ran or walked out the jetty.

Marie, starting things off with a yoga stretch including a Haka (traditional war cry, dance or challenge from the Maori people of New Zealand) She never fails to come up with something fun !

Peter from Globus was the fastest runner this year with a time of 34 minutes, but Duncan & Andrew were quick on his heels. The fastest women was Emma, coming all the way from Squamish for the event. Tony, a new comer took the win for the fastest walker with a time of 48 minutes.

Last year we introduced the "Team Spirit" award. The number of entries more than double in attendance. The "Outsetters" took first place with their matching palm palm headbands, but we couldn't just have one winner. The "Wander Women" were also given a prize with their matching tiara's and playful flying along the walk. 

The wildest hat is always a very hard prize to pick, each year the hats get better. Kevin took the win with his snaky hat. But the Hershey's Kiss, and the mad hatter were close seconds.

A special thanks to all the 2017 sponsors. (Listing above)

It was another year of great success, and we already planning 2018 !

Join our e-newsletter so you don't miss out

~ Colleen .

2016 Holiday Charities

For every chocolate given out during the 2016 holiday season,  $1 will be donated to the agents Vancouver Downtown Eastside charity.
These are the charities we will be supporting in 2016:

Saint James Music Academy believes in social transformation through the power and love of music. Through the inspiration and joy of collaborative music making within the framework of their orchestras and choirs. They give young people of the Downtown Eastside the opportunity to explore their creative potential, gain self-confidence, get an academic head start, and become role models within their families and community.

W.I.S.H. is a foundation that helps increase the health, safety and well-being of women involved in the survival sex trade in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES). Women come to W.I.S.H. to attend to their basic needs. A hot meal, showers, clothing or referrals for health care, shelter and detox support.

Downtown Eastside Women's Centre: Provides basic needs and helps make a positive change for women and children of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.

2015 Chocolates for Charities

For every chocolate given out during the 2015 holiday season,  $1 will be donated to the agents Vancouver Downtown Eastside charity.
These are the charities we will be supporting in 2015:




Covenant House. The Covenant House helps to provide essential services for homeless and runaway youth aged 16-24.

Saint James Music Academy. Saint James music academy believes in social transformation through the power and love of music. Through the inspiration and joy of collaborative music making within the framework of their orchestras and choirs. They give young people of the Downtown Eastside the opportunity to explore their creative potential, gain self-confidence, get an academic head start, and become role models within their families and community.


Potluck Café. By choosing Potluck we're supporting a social enterprise who provides training and employment opportunities for the DTES residents. Potluck prepares 30,000 free meals per year for people in the neighbourhood in addition to a community kitchen program.


W.I.S.H. is a foundation that helps increase the health, safety and well-being of women involved in the survival sex trade in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES). Women come to W.I.S.H. to attend to their basic needs. A hot meal, showers, clothing or referrals for health care, shelter and detox support.

Chocolates for Charities

For every chocolate we give this year,  $1 will be donated to our Vancouver Downtown Eastside charities. The charities we've picked from  2014 are:

Covenant House. The Covenant House helps to provide essential services for homeless and runaway youth aged 16-24.

 

Saint James Music Academy. Saint James music academy believes in social transformation through the power and love of music. Through the inspiration and joy of collaborative music making within the framework of their orchestras and choirs. They give young people of the Downtown Eastside the opportunity to explore their creative potential, gain self-confidence, get an academic head start, and become role models within their families and community.

Potluck Café. By choosing Potluck we're supporting a social enterprise who provides training and employment opportunities for the DTES residents. Potluck prepares 30,000 free meals per year for people in the neighbourhood in addition to a community kitchen program.

W.I.S.H. is a foundation that helps increase the health, safety and well-being of women involved in the survival sex trade in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES). Women come to W.I.S.H. to attend to their basic needs. A hot meal, showers, clothing or referrals for health care, shelter and detox support.

H.A.V.E. The HAVE Culinary Training Society is a culinary training school that provides food service job training and work opportunities to individuals in Vancouver who experience barriers to employment. HAVE's students are youth and adults facing barriers that may include mental and physical disabilities, poverty, addiction, age, ESL and homelessness.
 

A Special Delivery

Printing and postage costs saved through this e-card have been donated to our

Longest Day fundraiser - 6th Annual

Again, we lucked out with the weather! Cloudy skis, but nice and warm with no chance of rain.

Thank you to everyone who attended in supporting The Travel Group and the Vancouver Downtown East Side. We raised $500 towards our charities.

Colleen started things off with a welcome and thank you to everyone whom helped her organizing the event. Thank you to Lawrence from Starbuck for the coffee and Madison Avenue Shampoo Bar for the gift prizes.

David followed by telling everyone which charities we'd be supporting this year, WISH, The Potluck Café, and a new one of Saint James Music Academy.

It was great to welcome back Marie from Insight to Wellness, she did a pre race stretch and then we were off.

Alisha was the first to cross the finish line, as the fast runner or the group, with a time of 38:00. 

Most of our walkers were doing a lot of socializing along the way so Joan took the prize with a time of 50:28.

When Clarissa walked up sporting a Viking hat, it was a sure win for her, until Darren put on his Turkish hat and tied up the "wild hat" category.

There were so many sexy shorts that Tara and Karen both took a prize. Tara with colourful girly shorts with fringe. And Karen in her silver metallic shorts and an "I hate running" tee completed her outfit.

The dogs ran and played with their new squeaky toys, with snacks and great conversation to round out the day.

Thank you everyone for your efforts and coming out this year, we hope to see you next year.