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Vancouver Charity Garage Sale – May 14th 2011 – RLP Shelter Foundation

Sebastian — Wed, 11 May 2011 17:39:31 +0000

It’s that time of year (bargain hunting / decluttering season). This coming weekend (May 14th 10am – 4pm) we’ll be hosting the 2nd annual RLP Shelter Foundation’s National Garage Sale for Shelter in Mount Pleasant. This year it’s going to be even better than last year (we raised nearly $5000!) with a BBQ, entertainment, great deals and plenty more!

RLP Garage Sale Information

You can find more details about this event here.

Every dollar raised goes directly to those who need it. The RLP Shelter Foundation is the largest (private) source of funding for Women’s shelters in Canada. They are dedicated to helping women and children that are victims of domestic violence.

How can YOU help?

1. Donate - We’re still looking for donations. (I can pick up, you can drop off at one of our RLP Vancouver offices or we can arrange pick-up of large items)
2. Share - Tell you friends about us! Let people know on Facebook, Twitter or even in person.
3. SHOP - Come out on May 14th and shop, shop, shop for great deals and fun!

I really hope that you can make it. This is going to be a lot of fun!

WHEN? Saturday, May 14th, 2011 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

WHERE? VCC Broadway Campus
1155 East Broadway (Parking Lot bordering E. 7th and Great Northern Way)
Vancouver, British Columbia

RLP Shelter Foundation Garage Sale Location

Vancouver Real Estate

Contact Sebastian, Vancouver Realtor or send me a quick email.

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Announcing the Grouse Grind for Charity Event

Sebastian — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:01:43 +0000

It’s official. I’m doing it again!

Sebastian Albrecht on the Grouse Grind - 2009

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

I’ll be attempting to ascend the Grouse Grind a record 14x in a single day on June 23rd, 2010 (plus, raise $15,000 for charity). That’s 14x up a 2.9 km trail with 853 m elevation gain and an average grade of approximately 30%. If successful, I will have climbed 40.6 km and ascended 11.9 km in elevation in approximately 16 hours.

Those that know me know that I don’t need a reason to do something like this, other than the challenge. However, I happen to have a fantastic motivation. I am attempting the record in order to raise funds and awareness for the RLP Shelter Foundation (in support of women’s shelters and violence prevention programs).

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

I set the record in 2009 by climbing the Grouse Grind 13x in a single day. You can see some of the media coverage of last year’s event here. This year, it’s going to be bigger and better!

My goal is to raise $15,000 this year. I would very much appreciate your help and support. You can show your support by donating to the RLP Shelter Foundation.

I’ve dubbed this event Grind4Shelter and you’ll be able to easily follow my progress by going to Grind4Shelter.com , the Facebook Event page, or following me on twitter #Grind4Shelter.

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

For media inquiries please contact Crystal Reinitz ( crystal.reinitz@edelman.comor 604.340.4541).

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Grouse Grind Ascent Record Media Summary

Sebastian — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:39:52 +0000

I have never, ever done anything like this. My only previous experience with the media was way back in highschool. Although, I’m pretty sure that my yearbook photos wouldn’t count as media experience (Those of you that I went to highschool with please cut out and destroy my Grade 12 yearbook photo. Thank you).

Media coverage of my Grouse Grind Ascent record attempt

The idea to challenge the single day Grouse Grind ascent record was born out of wanting to raise money and awareness for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. After matching the record of 12 last year, I didn’t think that I would EVER attempt that record again. I was happy with 12. After all, who in their right mind would want to do more?

Once the decision was made to support the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation I needed to find an event that would provide it with maximum exposure. Naturally, it didn’t take long for me to settle upon the idea of the Grouse Grind ascent record.

For a few months in the Spring of 2009, I promoted the event to my own clients, friends and colleagues. By early June I had raised roughly $1500 which was a very long way from my goal of $10,000. It was at this point that I was approached by Crystal Reinitz of Crystal Clear Communications to help bring attention to what I was trying to do.

Little did I know just how good Crystal was at what she does. In fact, I don’t think anyone expected as much media attention as I received on that day…and I welcomed every opportunity. I felt that since I had requested the attention, and the media had actually shown up and was interested, I couldn’t turn anyone down.

I was awoken at 5:15 AM by Canadian Press asking what time I’d be at the base of the mountain. From that moment until 11:30PM that night I was constantly under the media microscope (I can only imagine what it’d be like to live that way every day).

The original intention was to keep interviews restricted to the gondola ride down. I rapidly discovered that this was a challenge because it was the only time in my schedule that I had available to refuel. It’s surprisingly difficult to eat almond butter and talk into a microphone at the same time.

However, due to the amount of media requests…and my unwillingness to turn anyone down…I was soon doing interviews at the base of the mountain, at the top of the trail, and even on my phone as I hiked up the trail.

To some degree, I think that the distractions of dealing with the media helped me that day. I didn’t have time to think about what I was doing. I didn’t get much of a chance to dwell on the enormous task before me, the strain that my body was taking or the pain that I began to suffer from towards the end. However, that was also the drawback. When you are tackling a challenge like this you have to focus and concentrate.

I have put together a summary of all the media coverage of my Grouse Grind ascent record attempt here. There are a few video pieces that are still missing and that I hope to add soon. If you know of any others, please tell me so that I can attempt to find them and add them to the archive.

Read about the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation

I am still not quite at my target of raising $10,000 for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. The current total stands at $7,500. I would appreciate any help that you could offer in getting me closer to my goal.

Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation

My primary motivation is raising awareness and donations for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. This amazing organization has raised over $7 Million dollars in donations since 1999 and helps over 30,000 people each and every year. Better still, every dollar raised goes to where it is needed as all administrative costs are paid for by Royal LePage.

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Countdown to the Grouse Grind Ascent Record

Sebastian — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:09:00 +0000

Monday is the day.

Yep.

I know. That’s TOMORROW.

For those of you interested in keeping tabs on my progress, I shall be updating my progress on Twitter. You can follow me on Twitter here.

I’ve been planning for this event for months, but the past week has been a real whirlwind. With the hard work of the fabulous Crystal Reinitz of Crystal Clear Communications I have suddenly received a blitz of media attention for which I am very grateful.

Learn about my record attempt on the Grouse Grind

My goal here is to get as many donations and as much awareness as possible for the RLP Shelter Foundation as possible. With the help of Crystal, my goal of raising $10,000 seems attainable.

Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation

So far, I’ve been interviewed by The Peak 100.5, Virgin 95.3, CKNW 980, CTV.ca and City TV while the story is also being carried on News 1130, CBC Radio, 24 Hours and Metro Vancouver. There are also some local blogs that have also taken an interest in the story including Miss604, South Okanagan Homes + Outdoor Vancouver.

I am starting to feel a little intimidated with all of this media attention. When I did 12 ascents of the Grouse Grind last year, I did it with almost no one knowing. This year, is a completely different experience.

Everyone knows.

Of course, that has been the goal (getting the word out for the benefit of the RLP Shelter Foundation)…but it’s interesting to see how this publicity has changed the dynamics of the event for me.

Read about the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation

I’m feeling apprehension, nervousness and a bit of self-doubt that I didn’t experience last year. Perhaps last year I was blissfully ignorant (never having done multiple grinds in one day), but I attribute these feelings to the pressure of expectations.

I’m looking forward to fulfilling those expectations and breaking the Grouse Grind ascent record on Monday. Apprehensions be damned.

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The Grouse Grind Will Kick My A$$ for Charity

Sebastian — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:07:58 +0000

You likely already know about the plans that I have to break a world record to raise money for charity. I’ve been planning and training for this event for the past few months. Of course, the day was bound to arrive eventually but it really has snuck up on me.

It’s hard to believe that there is just one more day left.

Learn about my record attempt on the Grouse Grind

I have to admit that I’m nervous. Yes, I’ve done this before. Last summer I matched the current record number of ascents of the Grouse Grind in one day (12).

That was probably the most difficult challenge that I’ve ever taken on, and I am not shy of taking on challenges. This task challenged me in every way possible. I was stretched to my limits both physically and mentally.

In all honesty, after that day I would have been quite happy never to see the Grouse Grind ever again. At least, that’s what I told myself the moment that I finished.

I should have known better.

Here I am just two days before tackling the same feet once more. Apparently, I am either a sucker for punishment, insane or non too bright.

Well…ok, there could be another explanation.

Read about the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation

Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation

More Info on Vancouver Real Estate

If you’d like to learn more about the Vancouver real estate market generally you can check out this page.

If you are thinking of buying or selling, or just have questions, contact me here or send me a quick email.

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Vancouver Realtor Attempts Grouse Grind Record for a Great Cause – Royal LePage Shelter Foundation

Sebastian — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:18:33 +0000

I think that most of us want to make the world a better place. Some of us take steps to do just that while most of us just can’t seem to find the time. For a long time, I’ve put myself in that latter category. However, this summer I am going to try and change that.

Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation

I strongly believe that small steps can and do make a difference. For that reason, I will be taking many small (although probably out of necessity most of them will be lengthy) steps on June 22nd, 2009. That day I plan on breaking the record for the most summit ascents of the Grouse Grind in one day (the current record is 12).

Learn about my record attempt on the Grouse Grind

The most important goal for that day is to raise as much money as possible for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. This incredible organization is there to help women and children suffering from domestic abuse. Of every dollar donated, 100% goes directly to those in need (Royal LePage covers all administrative costs of the charity).

Read about the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation

I’m excited about the challenges that lie before me. Physically, this is one of the most difficult things that I’ve ever done. Climbing the Grind 13 times is the equivalent of climbing higher than Mt. Everest in one day and will burn more than 13,000 calories.

Please Donate

My biggest challenge, though is raising money for a very important charity. While I will be climbing the Grouse Grind on my own, I can use your help to raise money. I would appreciate any help that you can provide to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.

Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation

More Info on Vancouver Real Estate

If you’d like to learn more about the Vancouver real estate market generally you can check out this page.

If you are thinking of buying or selling, or just have questions, contact me here or send me a quick email.

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Using Twitter and Social Media for Good (not evil)

Sebastian — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:03:17 +0000

Have you heard of Twitter? It’s like a blog in miniature. Twitter is a fabulous tool for networking and connecting with people all around the world with similar interests. It is also being used as a tool for doing a bit of good.

I was inspired recently by a group of local Twitter(ers) that organized an event to help the homeless in Vancouver through Twitter. This occured at the height (so far) of our winter storm. Temperatures were easily -15 and windchill was devastating. It was cold inside, and most of us couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have to spend a night like that outside.

Two people decided to take action. In the end, about a dozen people showed up to hand out warm clothes directly to the people that needed it most on the street.

A new friend gets some warm clothes (courtesy Yam De La Pena).

You can read more about the TweetUpHeatUp right here.

That was the day of our first big snowstorm in Vancouver and I found myself frustrated that I couldn’t make it downtown to do my part. That frustration led me to think about how I could use Twitter to do some good of my own.

That evening on the news I learned that Canadian Blood Services was in desperate need of blood. Due to the bad weather and the proximity of the holiday season, blood supply was low as were donations. I figured that this was an excellent opportunity to try something along the lines of the TweetUpHeatUp.

I announced my plans late on the Tuesday evening. Within minutes, I had offers from other Twitterers (notably Yam De La Pena) to help promote the idea. One friend after another promoted the event, spreading the word through the Twitter community.

There were five of us that showed up to give blood that day. I would have loved for a bigger response, but I think that given the short notice, the holiday season and the impending snowstorm, we did pretty well.

Waiting our turn. Dory was already ahead of us.

I’d like to thank Yam De La Pena, Gillian Shaw, Dory Lanenter, and Gus for coming out, giving of their time, and their blood.

Gillian putting her feet up. Yam filming the proceedings.

I am still hopeful that Twitter can be used for some amazing things. I will continue to run a TweetUpBleedUp, but only every 56 days (you can’t donate blood more often than that). You don’t have to be a registered user of Twitter to participate. Simply send me an email and I’ll keep you up to date.

I am also planning on seeing if I can use Twitter (and this Vancouver real estate blog) to do some good in other ways. Like many a Vancouver realtor, I like to help.

Relaxing and showing off my "I gave blood" sticker.

Stay tuned.

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Beware the Media Hype on Vancouver Real Estate

Sebastian — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:20:49 +0000

We are currently being bombarded by news reports that claim the sky is falling on Vancouver real estate. I think that we need to take all of this with a grain of salt. It’s important to realize that the media tends to jump on the bandwagon and overexaggerate trends in either direction. When things are good, they pump them up and inflate them out of proportion with the fundamentals. Likewise, when things are bad the pessimism and fearmongering keep people focused on the news.

However, what I hadn’t realized and what I wanted to draw to the attention of my readers was the mistruths that are espoused by the media. On Thursday evening, there was a news report on Global TV’s New Hour on the Vancouver real estate market. It’s available still online right here. In this one Global TV newsclip by Ted Chernecki there were two major points that were presented as fact but which are entirely untrue.

The primary news that motivated the piece was an economic forecast for the Greater Vancouver real estate market written by Helmut Pastrick of Central 1 Credit Union (while it’s been talked about in the media, I can’t find a link to it online but here’s their website). Pastrick’s prediction was that we’d see a 13% decline in prices in 2009, and 5% in 2010 before the market recovered (not to mention the 12% reduction we’ve already seen since March of this year).

So far so good? Leaving aside the accuracy or usefulness of predictions (and the BCREA will be releasing their own prediction this coming week), what I have a problem with was how the particular Global TV news piece interpreted that press release. Chernecki gave an example of a $1.5 Million home put on the market two days ago. If the predictions were accurate, this home would be worth 30% less in two and a half years and be worth only $1 Million in 2010.

Right? Wrong. We’ve already seen a 12% drop in average prices in Greater Vancouver. That would mean between today and 2010, Pastrick is predicting a further 18% drop in the market. Thus, the $1.5 million home would be worth $1.27 million and NOT $1 million as Ted Chernecki claims.

Secondly, the statistics that are quoted in the news clip are completely false. They claim that in the city of Vancouver there were a total of 2,000 listings and 68 sales. These numbers match no real data that I can find. The facts are that there were 2130 new listings, 6095 total listings and 464 sales in Vancouver East and Vancouver West in the month of September 2008. You can follow the link to read my blog post on the September 2008 Vancouver real estate statistics.

What do you think?

If you are interested in the truth, and would like to see the numbers reported with accuracy and honesty then you can follow my Vancouver real estate blog. I report on the monthly statistics released by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, as well as my own weekly reporting of the numbers for Vancouver East and Vancouver West.

If you are thinking of buying or selling, or just have questions, contact me here or send me a quick email.

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News Reports Claim Ritz-Carlton Condo Construction Halted

Sebastian — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:06:05 +0000

Photo from CBC

I’d heard rumours throughout the day, but it had yet to be verified. Late this evening, news reports confirmed the rumours that indeed work on the Ritz-Carlton (a proposed 60 story condo development across the street from the Shangri-La) had been halted.

According to the news reports from CBC and CTV, the developer is halting construction because of redesign considerations (most notably on the parkade), and not because of the financial crisis that is having global repercussions. If construction truly is being momentarily paused, it’s interesting that the advertising put up by the condo marketing company has all been removed.

The positive spin on this news is that the people that bought into this project might have their money freed up to purchase elsewhere in the city. For instance, may high-end homes will soon be coming up at the Shangri-La. However, given that the developer is calling this only a “pause” in construction I wonder how quickly their deposits will be returned.

The project marketer says that 50 percent of the project had been presold. The hotel was to occupy the lower floors and there were to be 123 high end condo units on the upper floors from $2.5 million – $10 million and the penthouse at $28 million. Prices were up to $2,000/sq ft.

Another Holborn project, The Hills, is also “delayed” until the new year. This project is to be located at Nanaimo and Broadway with 280 units in a high-rise and mid-rise tower.

View the CBC article Ritz-Carlton Condo Project Stalls in Vancouver

View the CTV article Work Halted on Ritz-Carlton Condo-Hotel Tower

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Canadian Federal Election Information

Sebastian — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:34:51 +0000

It’s almost time to get out and vote. Just one more day before we all (hopefully), exercise our civic duty and put our stamp on the future of our country (and community). Don’t forget to vote on October 14th, 2008! It’s quick, easy and painless.

I’ve added a few links here that might help some undecided voters make up their minds.

General News Media Election Coverage:

CanWest
CBC
CTV
Georgia Straight

The Globe and Mail has a great resource for each riding. Not only do they cover each candidate, but they also have great links to articles from around the web about each specific riding:

Vancouver Centre
Vancouver East
Vancouver Kingsway
Vancouver Quadra
Vancouver South

I didn’t have time to attend my local all candidates debate myself, but thankfully there was someone with a video camera and an internet connection that posted the information up to YouTube for the Vancouver-Kingsway riding. Unfortunately, Vancouver-Kingsway’s debate is the only one that appears to have been documented in such a way. Too bad, I think that it’s fabulous to have this information out there.

All Candidate Debate Videos on YouTube

Voting Information:

Elections Canada

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