Royal Columbian Hospital is celebrating 150 years this year - a historic milestone for B.C.'s first hospital.
The hospital opened in 1862 with 30 beds for men only. Today the hospital serves one in three British Columbians.
The River Market is holding a weekend of fundraising events for the hospital - all with a historic flair.
There is a fundraising dinner -which includes wine, food and entertainment - on Thursday, June 28, from 7: 30 to 10: 30 p.m. at the market.
Record contributors Archie and Dale Miller will talk about the hospital's history.
Guests are encouraged to bring their dancing shoes for the band, Lesismore, and their appetite. Tickets for the fundraiser are $35. To buy tickets, visit: http: //150goingstrong. eventbrite.com.
The fundraising fun continues at the River Market, which will step back in time to reinvent a Royal Columbian Hospital tradition, the country fair fundraiser. From 1943 to 1969, Royal Columbian Hospital volunteers invited residents to the "Come One, Come All to Country Fair" held at the city market in New Westminster. The market will host an updated version of the country fair.
On Friday, June 29, the market's Food Hall will be transformed into a walk-in movie theatre where families can watch Footloose and grab dinner from one of the market restaurants, including newly opened Re-Up BBQ and Wally's Burgers.
On Saturday, June 30, the Fraser goes south.
The market will be overrun with gingham, hay bales, sunflowers and specially handcrafted tea bar by Great Wall Tea.
There will be entertainment for the whole family, including a performance by the Vancouver Circus School, Square Dancers and music from the New Westminster Secondary Jazz Quintet.
The River Market patio will play host to a bevy of country fair novelty games, animals from KJM's Southland Farm location and more, says a media release.
"Thankfully, the prizes for winning the novelty games will not include a squirrel cape, which was a featured prize at the 1948 Country Fair," well-known local vegan and the market's event coordinator Melissa Balfour said in the release.
The weekend will wrap up with a pancake breakfast at Paddlewheeler Pub from 8 to 10 a.m., and Canada Day celebrations will carry on from there with music, face painters and more fun.
Proceeds from the events will benefit the Brooklyn's Wish Fund in support of Royal Columbian Hospital families whose newborns receive care at the neonatal intensive care unit.
"We wanted the proceeds of our benefit to help families in need, and we couldn't think of a better cause than Brooklyn's Wish Fund, which will help keep families together in times of crisis," Balfour said in the release.
