New Years Eve Party at the Yale! Big Band Blues Starring Brickhouse Wednesday, December 31 at 7:30pm/ $50 in advance or $55 at the door Bring in the New Year at the legendary Yale and create memories to last a lifetime! Dance to the music of Vancouver’s hottest party band Brickhouse with special guests, enjoy scrumptious catering, party favors and complimentary champagne at midnight! Dubbed as “Vancouver’s busiest band” by on air host Stormin’ Norman of Rock 101, Brickhouse performs over 200 shows a year. With a list of original material that rivals the number of keys on a full size piano, the sleek ensemble delivers a sound that is forever evolving and shaping into a new album. Tickets available online at www.theyale.ca. Yale VIP passes not accepted for this event. www.brickhousetheband.com Packages available at the Quality Hotel Vancouver - "The Inn at False Creek" starting at $219 plus tax per room. call to book. 1-800-663-8474

Link: http://vancouver.ca/parks/events/polarbear/2008/index.htm

Thursday January 1, 2009 is the date of the 89th Annual Polar Bear Swim. The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world. Its initial swim was in 1920 when a small number of hardy swimmers took the plunge into English Bay on New Year's Day. Led by their founder, Peter Pantages, the swim has grown from around 10 swimmers in that year to the record number of 2,128 official entries in 2000. Today, the swim takes place at 2:30pm on the first day of each new year. Costumes and the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race are the highlights of this event. To be a club member you must register before the swim. Registration takes place in front of the English Bay Bathhouse from 12:30pm - 2:30pm each New Year's Day. You may also register by clipping out the coupon in the Province Newspaper and presenting it at the registration desk the day of the swim. Your free membership includes a commemorative button after you take the plunge. Prizes will be drawn from the entry forms filled out or turned in from the Province newspaper at the Swim registration table. See you there!

Taking a day trip to Whistler? Check out Brandy's Sports Bar located at the Keg Whistler. This is one of Whistler's premier local's bar and it's the place to be to watch all the sporting events, with 10 Plasma TVs, Jumbo Screens and NHL & NFL packages, not to mention some of the best staff in the village!

Link: http://va08.endcancer.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=va08_homepage

The "Inn at False Creek" - Quality Hotel Downtown is proud to support the Weekend to End Breast Cancer. Staff Memeber Michelle Johnson and her friends, Cindy Charlebois, Tammie Thiessen and Tina Bernard walked the 60km and raised over $8,000 for cancer research. The weekend was a success and in total raised over $4.1 million dollars. Please read full press release below. 1,600 RAISE OVER $4.1 MILLION FOR BREAST CANCER IN 60-KM WALK Breast cancer research, treatment and care at the BC Cancer Agency to benefit from millions raised in two-day walk. (Sept. 6, 2008, Vancouver) Today, the BC Cancer Foundation announced that 1,600 participants raised over $4.1 million in its fifth annual Weekend to End Breast Cancer. The Vancouver-based event is the largest breast cancer fundraiser in British Columbia. Events in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 generated net revenue of over $13 million. The sixth annual Weekend to End Breast Cancer is already planned for August 14 -16, 2009. After an uplifting opening ceremony at the UBC Rugby Field, participants embarked on the first 30 km of their walk through the city. Tonight, they camp at Killarney Park where Biff Naked will be performing while they rest-up and prepare for Sunday’s final 30 km. Their weekend journey ends with an emotional Closing Ceremony at the UBC Thunderbird Stadium at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Family, friends, and supporters are invited to greet and cheer on the Walkers as they make their way to the finish. “Everyone participating this weekend is a true hero in the fight against breast cancer. Yesterday, we had more than 80 kids join us for our first-ever KidsK™ benefiting the BC Cancer Foundation, a 2.5km/5km walk and they raised over $20,000 for research into childhood cancers at the BC Cancer Agency,” says Nick Locke, Senior Vice President of Development at the BC Cancer Foundation. “It’s great to see so many youth take such a strong initiative and make a real impact on critical cancer research in this province. We hope everyone will help us make next year’s event just as successful by registering now for the 2009 Weekend to End Breast Cancer.” “The Weekend to End Breast Cancer® benefiting the BC Cancer Foundation is helping us build a world-class breast cancer research program in British Columbia. Thanks to these walkers and their donors we’ve acquired specialized equipment and funds for research projects that otherwise would not be happening here in B.C.,” says Dr. Sam Aparicio, head of breast cancer research at the BC Cancer Agency. Weekend to End Breast Cancer funding of over $13 million over the past four years has played a crucial role in many projects at the BC Cancer Agency. Over this past year the funds have been used to support breast clinical trials across the province, the establishment of a Chair in Breast Reconstructive Surgery and a new international research study that will result in a better understanding of the many different types of breast cancer, leading to more targeted treatments and improved breast cancer survival rates. The Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefits the BC Cancer Foundation, which raises funds to support research and enhancements to care at the BC Cancer Agency, an international leader in the fight against cancer. The BC Cancer Agency has developed a breast cancer research program built on its unique strength in translational research and its province-wide cancer control system. The BC Cancer Agency is also dedicated to early detection of breast cancer — a critical factor in improving patient outcomes. With cancer survival rates better than any other province in Canada, the BC Cancer Agency has become a model for cancer care and control around the world. For more information about the event, or to register as a participant for next year, contact (604) 684-WALK (9255), or sign up online at www.endcancer.ca. Visit Opening Ceremonies, Camp or Closing Ceremonies and register on-site for 2009!

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Monday February 1st, 2010- Only 11 days left until the Olympics begin!

A word from Stella Panagiotidis, Marketing Manager The Yale Hotel “A Tribute to Music and Community” continues at The Yale this September with a stellar line-up of talent including Jim Byrnes, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Dalannah Gail Bowen, Joani Bye, Candus Churchill, Alita Dupray, Leslie Harris, Taylor James, Jerry Doucette, Kenny Boychuk, Will McCalder, Gospel Experience, Riley Inge, Songs of Mahalia Jackson, and more! “A Tribute to Music and Community” is a two-month fundraising campaign presented by The Yale in partnership with Rize Alliance and The Georgia Straight in aid of the homeless and those in dire need. The Yale will donate $2 of every Friday and Saturday night cover during August and September to the St. James Community Service Society (SJCSS). Rize Alliance will match total donations raised by The Yale to a maximum of $20,000. Supplementary fundraiser concerts scheduled throughout September, including “Tribute to Women of the Blues” on Tuesday, September 9 beginning at 8pm, “Keyboard Blast” on Monday, September 15 beginning at 9pm and “Gospel Sunday Celebration” on Sunday, September 21 from 1-4pm will donate all net proceeds to SJCSS. Admission to each of these spectacular shows is $10 at the door. Yale VIP passes not accepted. These performances are generously sponsored by Rize Alliance and The Georgia Straight.