In our last blog we introduced SmartBride Boutique, now we have a special announcement about a great Charity Event Talen Events went to and ways you can help the “Women Moving Women” Campaign.

On Thursday March 26, 2009 Amalia had the opportunity to attend the 1st SmartBride Spring Charity Event in support of the Canadian Women’s Foundation and its Women Moving Women Campaign.

Held at the Steam Whistle Brewery, we were entertained by trapeze swings, music and a tour of the brewery. Along with a fun photobooth with props, the food was great.

In order to help raise the money for this campaign there was a Silent Auction held with prizes ranging from a Image Consulting session from Your Shop Girl  to Toronto Raptors Tickets.

Women Moving Women campaign is an intiative to help women move out of poverty and into a better life, the event raised $3800 and helped move 1.5 women out of poverty. SmartBride Boutique would like to raise the other $1200 to move 2 more women out of poverty so they have resolved to donate $1 from every bridal or bridesmaid gown that is posted to the site throughout the month of April.

So we are encourage all of you to pass the word along about this campaign, if you or somebody you know has a bridal or bridesmaid gown in your closet to please list your gown on www.smartbrideboutique.com and help us move women in Canada out of poverty.

It’s Spring Cleaning Time! So If you live in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Halifax, Victoria and Winnipeg, clean out that post-wedding closet and post your gowns today!

As Always… Happy Planning!

Tiffany & Amalia

In keeping with our water theme, (see our recent blue star post), we thought that we would mention another wonderful foundation who has dedicated their time to conserve underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. Some of you divers out there might be familiar with Project AWARE, the dive industry’s leading nonprofit environmental organization that has worked in 175 countries around the world to protect their aquatic resources.

What do they do?

In 1989, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) developed the AWARE philosophy - Aquatic World Awareness, Responsibility and Education - to stress divers’ roles in conserving these environments and create a group of effective environmental advocates. “Shortly after creation, Project AWARE began to develop environmental specialty courses for divers and nondivers, provide educational information to divers and dive professionals, collaborate with other environmental organizations and organize a worldwide underwater cleanup. What began as an environmental ethic quickly formed into the Project AWARE Foundation Project AWARE has created an international presence, forming organizations in the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland and Japan. The combined efforts answer the urgent call for underwater conservation in 175 countries of the world.

Project AWARE works with divers and water enthusiasts alike to combat challenges facing underwater environments. they involve volunteers in hands-on environmental activities like International Cleanup Day & The International Whale Shark Project. They also fund grass-roots environmental projects that address key foundation focus areas, community activism and critical research with direct contributions made by people like you. Learn more about project AWARE please visit their site http://www.projectaware.org/ and offer your support. You can also watch these celebrity videos to find out more about the organization:

What can you do?

• Ed Harris
• Salma Hayek

Cheers,

Amalia & Tiffany

Do you have a charity that you support? Tell us about it or email us at: info@talenevents.ca with the subject line: CHARITY.

Hey folks! Summer is in full swing, and if you’re like us your spending every moment possible outdoors! Most of that time is spent in our local beaches which is why the Blue Flag Program holds a special place in our hearts.

Blue Flag

To be labeled as a “Blue Flag” beach is quite a respectful eco-label. Blue Flags are awarded to beaches and marinas that meet strict criteria that cover everything from water quality to environmental programs. The Blue Flag program began in France in 1985 and has since grown to include over 2,600 beaches in 36 countries. It is run by Canada’s Environmental Defense and does their best to protect the environment and human health ensuring clean air, thriving ecosystems nationwide and doing everything they can to reduce Canada’s contribution to climate change.Where are they located?

If you’re currently in Ontario make sure to support your local Blue Flag beach, keep it clean, and enjoy everything it has to offer:

Lake Huron & Georgian Bay

• Little River Beach Park
• Northwinds Beach Park
• Rotary Cove Beach
• Sauble Beach
• Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
• Station Beach

Lake Ontario

• Centre Island Beach
• Cherry/Clarke Beach
• Gibralter Point Beach
• Hanlan’s Point Beach
• Ward’s Island Beach
• Woodbine Beaches

What can you do to help? Support our Blue Flag Beaches!

Make a contribution to Environmental Defence, the operator of the Blue Flag program in Canada. Your gift of $40, $75, $100 or more supports the means to continue the development of the Blue Flag program in Canada, and improve the quality of our coastal ecosystems.

For more information:
http://www.blueflag.ca

Have a Wonderful Summer!

Tiffany & Amalia

Are you having the wedding registry woes? Wish that you can use your wedding to give back in some way?

Changing the Present is a perfect opportunity to do just that. It’s an organization with over 1,000 charitable gift opportunities from many of the world’s leading non-profits.

Couples can use their wedding registry to:
- Protect an an acre of the wilderness
- Provide a child with her 1st book
- or even sponsor an infant chimpanzee

If you’re feeling weird about giving away wedding favors, Charitable Wedding favors are also an option. You can help to supply PB & J sandwiches at a drop in center or healthy treats for rescued animals as well. Whatever you decide, Changing the Present will provide printed favors certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for your guests.

Please check out this amazing website and tell us what you think!
www.changingthepresent.org

Until then… Happy Planning!

Amalia & Tiffany

Didn’t get to participate in the WWF sponsored Earth Hour? Don’t worry! There is still two other ways you can support this amazing charity!

On Saturday April 19th 2008, the WWF is having their 18th annual CN Tower Stair Climb. Feel like getting your climb on? If you’re thinking about it, it just so happens that you could get some great prizes AND the money that you raise goes to support the following initatives:

• A little government influence that goes a LONG way on behalf of all Canadians
• Protection for the fragile ecosystems around the world
• Education for real change
• Getting the word out to industries and making sure they play their part
• Help nature survive some not so cool but sadly inevitable warming!

So even if you’re not so much a climber, it’s still a great idea to sponsor someone else or donate to WWF!

Talen Events will be there, helping out so we’d love to see you!

For more information check out: http://www.wwf.ca/

Cheers,

Amalia & Tiffany

On the ps: Don’t forget to check out “The Good Life: Make every Hour Earth Hour”

The Eco Wedding & Lifestyle Show is JUST around the corner, and I have to say we here at Talen are very excited. If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, make sure you do as Jaye Marsh, the organizer for the event has really brought a great group of eco companies together to make this a unique show. There are going to be other fun things going on during the show so make sure you check out the following:

1. INTERACTIVE FASHION STATIONS: They’ve taken your regular Fashion Show and added a twist. At the Eco Wedding & Lifestyle Show you’ll get to be up close and personal with the stunning eco-fashions and also be able to chat with the designers who will be there showing off their gorgeous creations. Four floor-level stations with circulating models so you can see just how beautiful ‘green’ can be! So you’ll be able to talk one on one with some great eco-conscious designers and get advice on great eco fashions.

2. MINI-SEMINARS: At the Eco Wedding Show there are many different seminars you can join to get some great information about financial planning, renovating for a greener home, and DIY invitations.

3. WEDDING CARBON CALCULATOR: You can check out the onsite calculator to see just how much carbon a wedding produces and what you can personally do to lower your carbon and offset it.

4. ECO-CAFÉ: Sit, Relax and enjoy the eco-cafe with an Internet Research Centre for our Virtual Vendors.

For more information about the Eco Wedding & Lifestyle Show be sure to check out:

http://ecoweddingshow.com/

Talen Events is hitting our first trade show this March! The Eco Wedding & Lifestyle Show is a unique tradeshow that will showcase the eco-chic bridal and lifestyle vendors who have made the same environmental choices you have in their product or service.

Have you been having trouble trying to find eco-savy companies in the Toronto area? This is the perfect one-stop special event to find the services and products that cater to your eco-conscious lifestyle. We’re here to help you and your family make the informed and sustainable descisions in your every day life!

For more information please check out: http://ecoweddingshow.com/

We’d love for you to attend, and look forward to meeting you!

The World Wildlife Federation has created an amazing program called The Good Life to track your eco-friendly efforts and the difference your making in your community!

Beyond that, The Good Life will give you some great “green” tips as well as an outlet to interact with other Canadians trying to live more sustainable lives.

“The Good Life” is a community of Canadians who would like to make simple but significant changes in their lifestyles that help fight climate change and reduce their footprint on the planet.

How to get on the Good Life?
1. Go to http://www.thegoodlife.wwf.ca and sign up
2. Check out all the actions that you have taken or plan to take in the near future!
3. Watch as your actions are tracked, and recieve an estimation of the amount of CO2 you have reduced.
4. Pat Yourself on the back as your total is added to the provincial and country wide total to track what we are doing as a nation to reduced greenhouse emissions.

We have taken up the challenge and we are now inviting you to join us in this cause. Don’t forget to invite your friends your co-workers to join. Remember, its the simple steps that will make a difference.. like telling your friends and coworkers what you’ve done to reduce CO2 in your life.

Cheers!

Tiffany & Amalia