Latest news with #LauraBallance
CTV News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
PNE Fair returns with wine pairings and crowd favourites
What's new at the PNE Fair this year? Wine pairings with classic fair food are among the newest attractions organizers of the Pacific National Exhibition are promising when The Fair opens on Saturday. The expert advice on how to choose the right glass of white with say, fried pickles, burgers or mini-donuts, is one of the ways the exhibition is trying to entice people back to the fair. 'I think it's so important that we have something new each and every year and something new for each member of the family,' said PNE spokesperson Laura Ballance. 'Our core demographic here at the PNE is two to 92, and everybody in-between.' Wine will be served in the Chalet, where pairings are suggested. The food can be then purchased from venders throughout the fair grounds. 'You do not need champagne and caviar to pair wine,' said wine specialist Carissa Palangio. 'You can pair wine with anything you have in your fridge and anything that we sell at The Fair.' Beyond food and drink, new features include an interactive sports exhibit, like outdoor hockey, and a full concert lineup with performances by Counting Crows, Flo Rida, Meghan Trainor and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The PNE runs from Aug. 16 to Sept. 1, and will be closed on Aug. 18 and 25.
Vancouver Sun
29-07-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
PNE Prize Home 2025: Step inside the $2.5M Langley residence built for the win
Now in its 91st year, the PNE Prize Home Lottery is more than just a draw — it's a deeply rooted tradition. 'It's the oldest prize home lottery in North America, and, I believe, the most beloved — because of the tradition,' says PNE spokesperson Laura Ballance. This year's Langley-based prize house represents more than just a dream home, says Ballance, as the revenue supports the PNE's non-revenue-producing initiatives like its agriculture programs. 'It has a special place in the heart of a lot of British Columbians.' Showcasing B.C.-based builders and designers, Miracon Developments, named Best Single-Family Builder of the Year at the 2025 HAVAN Awards and Best Residential Community of the Year at the 2025 Georgie Awards , designed and built the residence with interior design by Brown & Co Interior Design. The Grand Home Prize Package, valued at $2.5 million, is move-in ready and features furnishings by Yaletown Interiors, energy-efficient smart-home technology supported by BC Hydro and a Husqvarna yard care package. It's the fourth year in a row Langley has been selected as the location for the PNE Prize Home, and this year's home, with its 3,292 square feet of living space with a flexible, three-storey layout, will go to one lucky ticket buyer following the draw on Sept. 8. 1 of 16 Full Screen is not supported on this browser version. You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen. The home's main floor features an open-concept great room and kitchen/dining area designed for connection and comfort. There's a mudroom corridor off the garage, a half-bath, and — a thoughtful touch in today's tech-saturated world — a library-styled den for kicking back and reading a good book. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs. A legal two-bedroom basement suite and a separate downstairs whiskey-tasting room complete the residence. Every space invites you to slow down, unwind, and connect with your surroundings and with the home, says interior designer Sara Brown, principal at Brown & Co. Brown wanted to create an 'earthy modern' esthetic: a sense of warmth and moodiness that makes the home feel lived-in and timeless. An eclectic mix of metals, wood, vintage brass and pottery in the spacious kitchen captures that weathered look. 'We brought in some darker paint colours just to add a little bit of contrast while still leaving it bright with the open upper floor,' she says, noting the earthy, cracked-pepper coloured wall and ceiling paint in the den. Maple Ridge artist Leisa Marie was commissioned to create a series of mixed media and watercolours inspired by the region's natural surroundings, and her work is featured throughout the home, adding to the lived-in esthetic Brown had in mind. Nature is within easy reach with a park and walking trails behind the home. 'This is a City of Langley green space and walking park, so nothing will ever be built back there,' says Ballance. The 2025 Prize Home is located at 19619 76B Ave, Langley Township and can be toured from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays until Aug. 23. Free tour tickets are available through TicketLeader . In addition to the grand Prize Home package, ticket purchasers have the chance to win one of five vehicles from Chevrolet and Cadillac, five $10,000 cash prizes, two seven-day cruise packages with Holland America plus $1,500 in cash; a Winnebago Micro Minnie Trailer from Woody's RV World; a 2025 Harley-Davidson Street Bob from Trev Deeley Motorcycles ; and a hot tub package from Beachcomber Hot Tubs Group. There are four PNE Prize Home ticket options: bundles of two tickets for $35, six tickets for $80, 15 tickets for $165 and 30 tickets for $285, all available online at , via phone at 604-678-4663, or toll-free at 1-877-946-4663. The deadline to purchase tickets is Sept. 1.
CBC
07-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
B.C. government appoints former chief justice to review festival safety measures
Social Sharing The British Columbia government has appointed a former chief justice of the B.C. Supreme Court to report on safety measures for event organizers and police after 11 people were killed when a driver rammed into a crowded street festival in Vancouver. Premier David Eby says Christopher Hinkson has agreed to serve as commissioner to conduct the review "in a very short period of time." Eby says Hinkson is expected to report back by June 30 to help guide event organizers across B.C. to "maximize safety," while not retreating from the fact that people want to get together and celebrate. The premier says he knows there is a lot of anxiety from organizers and those planning to attend events this summer, and that they have questions about security, so he's glad that Hinkson is willing to take on the job. The commission will study best practices for public safety at community events, especially around traffic control, deploying trained security personnel, and engaging first responders, according to the commission's terms of reference. Event planner Laura Ballance, who has organized thousands of events in B.C., says the incident was an unimaginable tragedy, but it's also important to understand that attacks such as the one alleged to have happened at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival are difficult to prevent. She says security and safety have always been the top priority of event organizers, and safety measures also occupy a very large portion of their budgets.
