A little warmth goes a long way in the damp winter months, especially for those living on the streets. It's in that spirit that Realtors at Park Georgia Realty and RE/MAX Advantage Realty are joining in the 17th annual Realtors Care Blanket Drive.
Between Monday Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, their offices on Sixth Street will be taking donations of blankets, hats, gloves, socks, coats or any long-sleeve warm clothing for distribution to the Lower Mainland's homeless folks. More than 165,000 people have received clothing or a blanket from the annual drive since its inception 17 years ago, according to a press release.
See more about the blanket drive at www.blanketdrive.ca or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BlanketDrive.
Pai Gow
Starlight Casino has, quite literally, the only game in town these days when it comes to Pai Gow Tiles.
The casino introduced the traditional Chinese game of chance on Tuesday, Nov. 15 and found a lineup to play until the table closed at 4 a.m.
Sam Oan, executive table manager at Starlight said the game is especially popular with Hong Kong Chinese gamblers.
"Traditionally, that's where they played it the most in the olden days, if you will," he said.
Oan said they decided to introduce the game after requests from casino patrons. This is the first time the game has been available in a B.C. casino.
"They were clamouring for something different," he said. "We want to be the first to introduce new products. That's what we strive to do," Oan said.
The British Columbia Lottery Corporation has granted Starlight exclusive rights to offer the game for three months to offset the cost of training new dealers but marketing manager Lui Garcea said the game's popularity means it will likely be showing up in other casinos around the province next year.
JIBC Honours
New Westminster's Justice Institute of B.C. Foundation is honouring some B.C. heroes at its annual gala and awards for justice and public safety Wednesday Nov. 30.
This year's honourees include Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, B.C.'s advocate for children and youth; five-time Vancouver Park Board commissioner Allan de Genova for his role as a director and president of the Honour House; retired Canadian Forces Capt Trevor Greene, who was severely injured while serving in Afghanistan; Firefighters Without Borders; and Robert MacKay, a Vancouver man dubbed a hero after being beaten by the crowd during the Stanley Cup riot. McKay was trying to stop rioters from looting the Bay on Georgia Street at the time.
The event starts at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. For more info on the black tie affair, contact [email protected].
