Toronto Dragon Boat Festival

The Event – Team Spirit At Its Very Best

The 22nd TELUS Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival promises a two-day fun-filled event that brings sports, team spirit and community spirit to Toronto Centre Island on June 19-20, 2010.

The Festival, which started in 1989, entered the international arena in 1993. From the humble beginning of only 27 teams participating in the first festival back in 1989, it has evolved to a much bigger operation over the past two decades.

Organized by the Toronto Chinese Business Association and the Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival, the Festival in 2010 will once again expect 180 to 200 teams with 5,000 athletes. Paddlers of different backgrounds from all over the world will take part in the ancient Chinese tradition and friendly competition.

In 2009, the Festival registered 8 teams of youth with physical and developmental challenges. The Festival was also graced by the cancer survivor terms from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Ontario Region, fundraising beneficiary of the Festival. After all, it’s not always about winning the cup. The team spirit, the message of hope and inclusiveness prevails throughout the Festival!

Once again this year, the Festival will welcome teams from all provinces across Canada, from the U.S., the Caribbean Islands, Europe and Asia.

In 2010, as the Festival celebrates its 22nd year, it promises to continue to be one of the most exciting summer events in Canada. It will juxtapose culture, water sport, exotic food with multi-cultural performances. In 2009, attendance at the Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival reached the 120,000 mark to make it one of the most popular summer festivals in Toronto.

Furthermore, the Festival values social responsibilities and has in the past raised funds for charities such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Breast Cancer Foundation and the SickKids Foundation.

Today, dragon boat racing is held globally. It is now an annual event held in over 40 countries. All around the world, far and wide, people have embraced this water sport and formed dragon boat racing clubs in their own countries.

The two most established Dragon Boat Race Festivals in Canada – Toronto and Vancouver – spearheaded the Dragon Boat Council of Canada, the national dragon boat organizing body in Canada. The mission of the Council is to work together to develop criteria and processes to select national dragon boat champions to represent Canada in International and World Championships.

Hope everyone in Toronto has a  great weekend!

– Laura & Manouk

Upcoming events:

Bike Ride through Stanley Park

Pub Night at Metropole June 23

Rip’ Roarin’ Rockies Adventure!

East is East

I am totally about trying new things and with the summer coming up Vancouver has endless opportunities, more than i think could possibly fit it anyone’s schedule. I love the fact that Laura pushed herself to try something new, and sushi too! I know plenty of people who have never eaten sushi before because they are terrified of eating RAW fish, and most of the time they stand firm in their beliefs that they’ll just hate it! But you never know….if there is anywhere to try sushi, Vancouver is the place to do it!

As most of you are aware of i am all about FOOD (*hint since a lot of my blogs have been about new restaurants i’ve frequented) and i want to let you guys know about all of Vancouver’s hidden gems that unless you’re a local you might miss out on. Since i am a student and am currently unemployed lol i need to find cheap options that wont break the bank but are also delicious and healthy. So i want to introduce to you all…EAST IS EAST!

This small restaurant has two locations; 1) East Is East on Main Street @ 4413 Main Street (Main and 28th), 2) Chai Gallery-East Is East & Silk n’ Spice @ 3239 W. Broadway. Known around the city for its amazing roti wraps, unique drink options (fruit smoothies, eastern shakes and boasting the best Chai in the city!) and just a calming aura, this hot spot will offer you with a unique experience that is rarely found around the city.

After being introduced to East Is East 7 years ago, i have become a dedicated weekly customer. When i first walked through the dimly lit doorway i was hesitant, what was this Indian/Afghan food?! Never heard of it before, never tried it before, wasn’t even sure what would be presented to me on the plate! But trust me i was not disappointed…everything i saw on the menu seemed to catch my fancy, so i made it my vow to try just about everything on the menu.

Whether its the summer of the winter, i’m there to enjoy their hand crafted benches and tables out front when the sun is shining, otherwise ill head in through the doorway and take cover in their carpet draped dining area for those wet days we see so often out here. Still not convinced?! Take a look at their website and see exactly what they have to offer in terms of their menu, events, galleries, etc.

“Nothing is what you expect as you walk into the chai gallery so welcome to a new world where you can have the dining experience of your dreams”

Playland-Celebrating 100yrs of Fun!

Playland is planning on celebrating 100 years of fun this weekend! Never been to the PNE before, well then this would be the perfect time to check it out. And Vancouver’s local radio station the beat 94.5 is giving its listeners an amazing opportunity to show of your skills in their contest called the Playland Playoffs. All you have to do is text the word “PLAYLAND” to 945-945 and you will be eligible to be 1 of the 100 finalists to compete in a series of carnival games at Playland’s Opening Day on Saturday, April 24th!

Each contestant will be put into groups of 10 where the winner from each group will move on until there is one winner. The grand prize winner will receive a Playland 100th Anniversary gift basket including 2 season passes to Playland and the P-N-E, 100 mini donuts, and $2,000 in cash!

If you don’t feel like entering this contest you can still enjoy all that Playland has to offer, featuring more than 35 exhilarating rides, unique attractions, and fun midway games! For more information on opening hours of operation visit their website

“Party in April. Sleep in May” The Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival

For 14 years, the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival has ridden the sweet spot where sports and art meet. So it’s that time of the year again to come together, this spring, to be a part of the Mother of All After-Parties! This world renowned festival has been part of Whistler’s history for the past 15 years. A 10 night and day adrenaline packed event offers us a glimpse into what’s up and coming in the Ski/Snowboard world, whilst providing its attendees with one of Canada’s largest and FREE outdoor concert series. This biggest annual gathering of winter sports, music, arts and culture in North America; the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival combines Canada’s largest outdoor concert series with an eclectic mix of snow sports contests and anti-comps, fashion shows, film screenings, photography showdowns,  live painting and even a dog parade. Do not miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime event, so for more information check out this website!

*event will be running from April 16th-April 25th

For more event listings all around Canada check out our ECal

Hi from Houtan!

So you might be wondering who this fine young gentleman is?! Well this is Houtan and some of you  might not have met him before because has been out of the office for a little while. Currently, Houtan is working out of Toronto but will be back in the office in the next few months so here is a quick introduction to a new face (for some of you at least) and check out baby Nala in the picture…too cute!

What is your name?
Houtan

Where are you from?
Tehran, Iran

What languages do you speak fluently other than English?
Russian. I can also communicate in Ukrainian and Arabic and a bit of German, and of course Persian my mother tongue

What position do you hold at INTERNeX? and for how long?
Good question, I have no idea what one would call my position or anyone else’s position for that matter at INTERNeX International Exchange..funny thing is that part of our job is to try and envision what working in a Canadian company would be like to most people who are about to work within a Canadian organization through one of our programs. Yet we work in a company that demonstrates and represents a Canadian organization based on employees from different parts of the world who wear different hats on a daily basis to provide excellence in service. That is why I can’t really tell you what my position is. (does this make sense?) I think Im just blabbing on again, but hey that’s me!! Lol And I have been working at INTERNeX just over 2 years and they have been  full of excitement

What made you want to get involved with INTERNeX in the first place?
Like minded people, think alike…well, I’ve had quite a background in travelling from A to B (never enough though), learning about visas, after finishing up school and getting involved with Canadian Resorts and the hospitality industry, it all seemed like a good match with what INTERNeX had to offer, so there I was getting started and here I am still rocking it

In what ways do you think INTERNeX is unique from other international placement agencies? What does INTERNeX offer that no other company can?
Aside from the fact of how thorough our service is and its not even comparable to any other agency, it’s also that we don’t think our programs are for everyone. The participant needs to understand the purpose of the program before being forced to be a part of it. Our honesty in delivering the service is a key in managing expectations

What changes have you personally noticed within INTERNeX?
I have noticed a number of little programs come and go, but the city placement program was a great success and it still is both in Vancouver and recently in Toronto. We also now have more representatives abroad, an official office in New Zealand, and a more so active presence in Toronto, ON

Where would you like to see INTERNeX in the next 10 years? Do you have any New Year’s goals for the company?
I truly believe that the possibilities are endless. Obviously I, along with the rest of the team, would like to see a world wide network of services provided by INTERNeX offices across the world. Now the services provided by INTERNeX within the next 10 years is what I would like to see continue on its journey to completion and perfection so that one day we’d be a tool for anyone from anywhere in the world that would like to take a trip to any part of the world for the purpose of work experience and/or self development

Tell us one interesting thing about yourself that not a lot of people know?
As a kid I always wanted to become a vet

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
It is really hard to answer this question, I love travelling and I don’t think I can settle anywhere for too long. I like what Toronto has to offer as a city, yet Vancouver’s geographical location is much more attractive than Toronto. On the other hand, Kiev Ukraine is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever lived in due to its historical background and remarkable architecture. But again, the grass is always greener on the other side, so we’ll keep on moving

If you have any more questions or queries about our programs please do not hesitate to contact us at the office:
INTERNeX International Exchange
Suite 200 – 211 Columbia Street
Vancouver BC -V6A 2R5-
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Phone: +1 (604) 662 8149
Email: info@internexcanada.com