PRESS RELEASE November 28, 2005 Kingsgate Mall was transformed into an indoor festival site last Saturday, with the assistance of the Solar Power Roadshow's hard work. Visitors to the mall were treated to Christmas cookies, cakes, and treats at a bakery and gingerbread house competition. Shoppers did the voting.
	SHOPPERS SAY VCC, SWISS BAKERY, ARTISAN BREAD ARE TOP BAKESHOPS IN VANCOUVER! COUNCILLORS RAYMOND LOUIE AND SUZANNE ANTON INSPECT NEWLY-DESIGNED SOLUTIONS TO CYCLING IN THE WET STREETS OF 'RAINCOUVER'. NEVER BEFORE IN A SHOPPING MALL: RAGING GRANNIES SING-A-LONG, POETRY READING, TANTO DRUMMING, AND DIDGERIDOO MUSIC. SEYMOUR SCHOOL'S GINGERBREAD HOUSE VOTED BEST IN CONTEST. VANCOUVER ELECTRIC VEHICLE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS EXPLAINED WHY THEIR ELECTRIC BIKE RIDERS CAN FLY OVER RAIN PUDDLES.
			Councilor Louie was one of the many visitors to Kingsgate Mall who enjoyied free hot chocolate. Here's Councilor Louie with Leyda Molnar, Director of Marketing with Kingsgate Mall. All smiles, councilor Raymond Louie tried some tasty samples from Swiss Bakery's Christmas cookies that were handed out by Sylvia. Swiss Bakery won the trophy for Best Cookies in the competition. Vancouver Community College won the top honours trophy with their exquisite, edible-art, a sub-miniature "log cake", sampled by hundreds of shoppers, who voted VCC as the top bakers. Marlie van de Ven and her students took the microphone and thanked everyone. Two more trophies and awards were handed out to Artisan Bread of North Vancouver and Swiss Bakery (for the best stollen cake and marzipan.) The crowd had fun with Rob, the MC, who threw and gave away dozens of T-shirts and prizes. A T-shirt was thrown into the audience every 10 minutes, or so. One shopper won a gift basket. Her winning entry was drawn by a Raging Granny. Newly-elected Councilor Suzanne Anton (former Vancouver Park Board member) arrived on her bike. She was too late for the Raging Grannies sing-a-long, but asked many questions about the new Scooter Rain Cape from the E-Ride.ca electric scooter display. Three young people from the audience played the maracas and washboard instruments, assisting the Raging Grannies with their music.
		Weather-wise, Vancouver had been plagued with rain and fog for weeks. Due to runaway Climate Change, BC will be getting progressively more precipitation in future years, according to this week's BCSEA forum and Walrus magazine. Thus, Kingsgate Mall's event also featured "Rain Cover For Raincouver" as shown on City-TV. One red rain cape for bikes was invented and manufactured by Raincouverite Paul Bogeart, and sold at the Bike Doctor shops. Many people tried on the Bike Doctor rain cape, and said they liked it. Robert Shaw, a member of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association, also exhibited his personal solution to wet weather: A black "rain shield" fastened to the front of his electric bike. Shaw uses this ebike to travel everywhere, 12 months a year, keeping the air clean. Councilor Louie asked if Shaw's boots remained dry. Shaw replied, "Yes. I don't need booties because my shield is low enough to keep everything dry, even my work suit." Shaw is an unstoppable inventor. Gordon Wong, a member of VEVA, and owner of an electric sportscar, asked Shaw a question about Shaw's bike's rain fairing. E-Ride.ca's Steve Miloshev and Councilor Louie talked about Steve's scrolling electronic billboard. That's a business opportunity highlighted, thanks to Councilor Louie's sharp observation. The E-Ride electric scooter had many unique features allowing it scoot over 2" puddles and over wet leaves. With an E-Ride rain cape, the rider stays dry in even "impossible" rainy conditions. The rider can be "Laughing In The Rain." Here's Steve of E-Ride showing a disabled citizen how the E-Ride Rain Cape fits over a disability scooter. Two people said that similar Rain Capes for disabled scooters are 20X more expensive. It became evident that some business should selll BC Health these less-inexpensive rain capes, and save taxpayers some money. As the day drew to an end (whew!) the Lightwork Band boosted our energy with Tanto drumming, a didgeridoo, uplifting music and poetry, from Scott Robinson's book of profound book, "The Journey Is The Goal." With some lively dancing, too. Scott Robinson and the Lightwork Band turned spiritual and uplifting poetry from "The Journey Is The Goal" into song. Contact: Rob Matthies, Solar Power Roadshow. Solar Solar Power Roadshow publicizes malls by creating unique events that are relevant for our times and the season. Almost always, malls, BIA's, schools, or festivals got free, positive media coverage simply because of the novelty and timeliness of Solar Power Roadshow's services or equipment. Solar Power Roadshow also conducts renewable energy workshops for kids at fairs, festivals, schools or community centres. One such workshop was a double-world's first accomplishment for workshop students. This is a hypertext Press Release. Click here, for link to photos, and more photos, and more photos about this event, and other unique ideas.