HUGE Fall Garage Sale hosted by the Calgary Association of Self Help, October 30 & 31

Living in Calgary isn’t cheap.

We all know people in our communities at work, school and church who are struggling to create comfortable homes for their families.

You don’t have to be wealthy to make an immediate impact on the everyday lives of others in need. Let everyone know about the household items, toys, dishes, bedding, kitchen appliances, furniture and thousands of quality used books being sold for very modest prices at

Calgary Association of Self Help’s HUGE Fall Garage Sale

Friday October 30th (11 am – 5 pm)
Saturday October 31st (10 am – 3 pm)

1019 7th Avenue SW

Not only can you save yourself money, you are encouraged to shop on behalf of those who are most in need but can’t attend due to physical, financial or social challenges.

Enjoy FREE parking behind the building during the sale.
The10th Street City Centre Station is right out front.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Cory Wilson, Fund Development/Communications Officer
Phone 403-266-8711 ext. 247
Email cory.wilson@calgaryselfhelp.com

Interior Decorating and Merchandising Alumnus Alykhan Velji Launches Afera Carpet Line for Rug Shop

Best known for his roles on CityTV’s My Rona Home and HGTV’s Style Department, Alykhan Velji is expanding his design work once again by launching a new line of carpets for Rug Shop. Inspired by motifs found in Islamic architecture, Velji’s Afera collection of hand knotted Nepalese carpets merge traditional geometric design and the modern, bold style he is known for.
Jamie Yamchuk, owner of Rug Shop, approached the Calgary-based interior designer with the idea to create a signature line earlier this year. “I’ve always dreamed of creating my own product line,” says Velji, “and this partnership with Rug Shop is the next step in reaching that goal.”
Afera, is an Islamic name meaning “Colour of Earth.” The bright colours and untraditional placement of the motifs are a modern twist on traditional Islamic design. Made outside of Katmandu, Nepal, each rug is hand-knotted and made of 100% New Zealand lamb’s wool.
“I love the idea of blending old and new styles to create something original and dynamic. Canada is full of contrast and I wanted to develop a line reflective of that.” Velji, a Tanzanian Canadian moved to Calgary when he was eight. Now, at 29, Velji has been working for himself for the last seven years on both commercial and residential interior design projects.
For more information on products visit http://www.rugshopcalgary.com/ or contact Jason Krell at jk@jasonkrell.ca or 403.862.7380.

Third Annual International Thanksgiving for Alumni a great success!

On Tuesday, October 6 the Bow Valley College Alumni Association hosted its 3rd Annual International Thanksgiving for Alumni. The event began in 2007 in an effort to connect with the large International community that are alumni members. The idea to share a traditional Canadian Thanksgiving meal as a way of bringing alumni from many different nationalities and cultures together in a celebration of thanks has caught on, in its three years the event has more than doubled in attendance from 32 guests in 2007 to 72 in 2009.

In past years each guest was given the opportunity to share their message of thanks with the entire room, an activity that created a powerful sense of perspective on our collective thanfulness for everyone in attendance. As the event has grown, the opportunity for everyone to share has become limited so this year a Wishing Tree was brought in that guests were encouraged to hang a note with their blessings for 2009 on. A video which included messages of thanks from Bow Valley College alumni, learners and staff was also shown at the dinner as ways to maintain the sense of perspective from other years.

The following messages were placed on the Wishing Tree throughout the evening:

• Please accept my special thanks for all the event holders and volunteers. Happy Thanksgiving!


• I am thankful to Bow Valley College and my family.


• Thank you so much, you are a great team!


• WEIP is a really successful program!


• I'm thankful for the opportunity each day to learn about people, the world we live in and how to make the world better for all of us.


• New family, new job, new friends, and old friends. I am very thankful as 2009 has been a great year for me.


• Thank you for everything you have done for us, you (BVC) have really changed my life.


• Thanks for giving me the opportunity to participate in CRTP. It gave me a lot of new knowledge about job search and communication.


• Thank you for a perfect dinner!


• Great thanks to all (BVC) teachers and directors. I am very happy being with you and feel like a family member.


• Thank you for life, health, happiness, a lot of money, love, kindness, direction.


• I am thankful for God for all the blessings I have and thanks for you (BVC) and my family.


• I am thankful for my learners in the IPNDIEN program and my family.


• Thank you Canada you gave us this opportunity to make you our new homeland.


• I am thankful for the opportunity to work with amazing people in the CRTP program.


• I am thankful for the “I love you mom” messages that my son leaves on my voicemail, I am thankful for being part of a large extended family, I am thankful for the warm summer we just had.Thank you BVC, my classmates and my family.


• Staying healthy and enjoying my family.


• Thank you for my lovely husband. Thank you for my mother, sister, aunts. Thank you for my friends old and new. Thank you for my job and boss. Thank you for my health. Thank you for my prosperity. Thank you God for being always with me.


• Thank you Bow Valley College CRTP, I learned lots from CRTP.


• Thank you for a wonderful night.


• I am thankful for attaining CHRP status, for my family, for my daughter and wife, for being alive to witness another spring, for good health and successful completion of the CRTP program.


• A special thank you to all CRTP team for a great support encouragement and teaching. Happy Thanksgiving.


• I am glad for my family and to be a part of the LPN program.


• Thank you very much for a nice event. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.


• I wish Calgarian’s will have a nice Tanksgiving dinner with food on their tables.


• I thank God for my family, my health, and all my opportunities.I am thankful for the opportunity to raise and love a group of people and animals that I call family.


• I am also grateful to have God in my life.


• I am thankful for wonderful friends, and family.


• I am thankful for my health and this wonderful country we live in.Thank you Bow Valley College, I am wishing for all of you , what I'm wishing for me, follow your dreams!


• Thank you for a wonderful dinner, great party and the Bow Valley College LPN program.


• Thankful for family, friends. Life , Love , Laughter.


• I am thankful for everything God has given me in my life. My family, parents, my career, and for my new country which I call my home. Also thanks to Bow Valley College and all the wonderful people I met here.


• I am thankful for my family, friends. Health, home and job. Happy Thanksgiving.


• There are a lot of things I'm thankful for:family, friends and an awesome life.


• Thank You Bow Valley College for helping make these things possible.


• So nice to meet with previous classmates. I hope this tradition will go on.


• I am thankful that my family and I are all well and happy regardless of the fact we all live in separate areas of the world.


• I am thankful for being able to attend BVC and meet the fabulous people there. It is such a blessing to meet and be a part of Alumni. Colleen and Amanda are amazing people.


• Thanks you Bow Valley College for giving me the chance to get in my career.

Many thanks to all those who contributed to the Wishing Tree. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Follow the BVCAA on Twitter and Facebook ...

The BVCAA has started making regular updates on Twitter and keeping alumni in the loop regarding programs, benefits, services, volunteer opportunities and events through the Facebook Fan Page.



Why, you ask ...



The BVCAA is making every effort to maintain a "green" communications strategy and tools such as Facebook and Twitter allow us to reach you, our alumni, with instant updates regarding information that benefits is of interest to you as BVC Alumni. The purpose of using these mediums is to maintain our connection to alumni without invading your email inboxes every time there is a a program or event announcement to be made. The BVCAA will continue to maintain the Alumni Insider Blog with general interest stories and announcements, links to these blog posts and time sensitive announcements will be managed through Facebook and Twitter.



We will still use our email distribution list for promotion of these new mediums, large announcements and invitations. If you have any comments, questions or concerns about this strategy please contact the BVCAA at alumni@bowvalleycollege.ca or 403-355-4666

Using your alumni benefits - TD Insurance Meloche Monnex

Being an alumnus means having access to valuable benefits and savings. Read below to find out how you can save money on insurance.

WHO
TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Canada’s largest direct writer insuring alumni and professionals for over 60 years!

WHAT
Preferred group rates on Automobile, Residential, Travel and Small Business Insurance for Bow Valley College Alumni.

WHERE
Online: www.melochemonnex.com/bvc
Phone: 1-800-339-1847
In person: Calgary, 125 9 Ave SE or Edmonton, 10025 102 A Ave NW

WHEN
Online – 24 hours
By phone - 8 am to 8 pm every weekday
In person – 8 am to 5 pm every weekday

WHY
Competitive group rates and many additional discounts available.
Unique auto products such as 5 Year Replacement Cost, Grand Touring Solution, Zero Deductibles, Accident Forgiveness and more.
Broadest range of residential insurance options available for homeowners, tenants and condo owners, as well as Identity Theft and 5 Million Dollar Solution.
Dedicated customer service analysts available to take your call or file your claim.
Providing an expiry date or getting a quote enters you to win “one of four trips to paradise” ($15,000 each)


*In 2009 BVC Alumna Christine Marston won the grand prize of $50,000.00 ... it could happen to you!

HOW
Quotes can be completed online, in person or by phone in as little as 15 minutes. Policies may also be purchased over the phone for your convenience.

To make the process as efficient as possible, have the following information handy prior to calling for a quote or filling out the online request:

For automobile quotes:
§ A copy of your existing policy and/or
§ Year, make, model and serial (VIN) number
§ Names, ages and license numbers of all drivers in your household
§ Previous insurance history and accidents and convictions if applicable
§ For more helpful auto insurance tips click here or see http://www.roadsafetyfirst.com/



For residential quotes:


§ A copy of your existing policy and/or
§ Address of the property and year built
§ Square feet or square meters of the residence
§ Existing coverage on the property if applicable
§ For more helpful residential insurance tips click here

Money saving tips

Automobile glass coverage is usually included but may be limited to save some premium.

Coverage for rental vehicles is available for a low yearly rate rather than the daily rate through the rental agency.

When parking a seasonal vehicle for longer periods, suspend your coverage rather than cancelling your policy, this will ensure you have no gaps in your insurance history which could cause you to pay more in the future.

Choosing a higher deductible will lower your premium.

Combining your home and auto insurance or even multiple vehicles with the same insurer will give you a discount.

Monitored fire and security alarms will save money on your home insurance.

Take these great tips and get a quote using the BVC Alumni Advantage today!!!

Using your Alumni benefits - Continuing Education discount

Did you know that as a member of the BVCAA you are entitled to a 10% discount on a long list of Continuing Education courses at Bow Valley College? All you have to do is show your alumni card when you register and you will get the automatic discount!

This special benefit gives you an opportunity to return to learning for less.

The following courses are eligible for discounts ranging from $8.00 - $69.50 per course this Fall (click on image to enlarge):

Power Within for Women - special rates for BVC Alumni!!!

Bow Valley College
Special Alumni Offer!

The Power of Women Series Presents

Barbara Walters, Erin Brockovich & Loretta LaRoche!
Live in Calgary, AB, September 18th, 2009 • 9:30AM to 4:30PM*
Calgary TELUS Convention Centre

Dear Alumni,

The Power of Women event will be presented in Calgary on September 18th, 2009 at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre. This event features an extraordinary line up of diverse guest speakers and promises to be a tremendous learning and networking opportunity for you and your guests!

Alumni and guests of Bow Valley College are eligible to receive a corporate discount. A block of tickets have been set aside for Bow Valley College alumni and their guests.

See these dynamic speakers in person!

Barbara Walters, ABC News correspondent; “The Barbara Walters Specials”; Creator, co-host and executive producer of ABC Daytime’s “The View” on Leadership
Erin Brockovich, Environmental activist, motivational speaker , television host and producer on Corporate Social Responsibility
Loretta LaRoche, Best Selling Author, Stress Management Consultant on Life Is Short – Wear Your party Pants (Stress Management)
Jean Chatzky, Best Selling Author, “Make Money, Not Excuses” on Finance

Bow Valley College Alumni Discount:

For a limited time, alumni and guests of Bow Valley College can register for The Power of Women session at a corporate rate of $189 plus GST/SC ($140 savings off the regular rate of $329)

Group Rate: A Great Team Building & Client Hosting Experience!

Purchase 5 tickets and receive a complimentary 6th ticket. (Very Limited Time Offer)To Register Call Ryan Toll Free 1-866-886-4775

Please contact The Power Within Inc., the company coordinating the event, to reserve your tickets. Call toll-free at 1-866-886-4775 and be sure to let Ryan know that you are calling for the Bow Valley College alumni rate. Visa, MC or AMEX are acceptable forms of payment.

For more details, please visit http://www.powerwithin.com/pdf/Calgary_POW_2009_RM.pdf
Ask about VIP tickets, includes a preferred seating area. Corporate rate is $269 (regular rate $395).

In order to receive the Bow Valley College corporate discount, registrations must be done by telephone Toll Free 1-866-886-4775. Online registrations do not qualify for a discount.

Please forward this invitation to your colleagues and guests because as a guest of yours, they will be able to take advantage of this special offer!
All sales are final. Tickets are transferable. Please add $5 service charge per transaction.