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Movers & Shakers: Changes coming to annual craft beer awards

Breweries will go head to head at the B.C. Beer Awards this year.
Burnaby breweries clean up at B.C. Beer Awards_2

Breweries will go head to head at the B.C. Beer Awards this year.

Organizers of the annual awards, which recognize the very best in craft brewing, have added several new categories for brewers to compete for, including a soon-to-be coveted Tap & Barrel Brewery of the Year.

“The B.C. Beer Awards and Festival has become one of the most anticipated beer tasting festivals in the Lower Mainland,” notes a press release.

Last year, Burnaby craft breweries Steamworks and Dageraad took home 11 awards, including a Best in Show win for Steamworks for its Flagship IPA.

In addition to new award categories, this year’s awards will also include a change to the format of the day-long event. Instead of having the awards ceremony in the middle of the day, the accolades will be handed out during an hour-long ceremony from 4:15 to 5 p.m. Then, from 5 to 10 p.m., guests can enjoy the festival.

Special VIP awards tickets are available for industry folks who want to attend the awards ceremony (the awards are hosted by CBC’s Stephen Quinn), and for the public, there will be general admission tickets available, according to the release.

The awards are planned for Saturday, Oct. 21 at the Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Dr. in Vancouver.

Tickets are on sale now. VIP awards tickets are $55 and general admission are $35 until Oct. 1, at which time they’ll be sold at full price for $40. For tickets and more info, go to www.bcbeerawards.com.

MUJI opens next week

The moment everyone has been waiting for is finally here – MUJI will open its first Western Canadian store next Saturday, Aug. 26, at Metropolis at Metrotown.

The popular Japanese retailer, known for selling simple but functional quality household items, opened its first Canadian store in Toronto in 2014 (three more stores have since opened in Ontario), but at 7,770 square feet, the Burnaby location will be the biggest location in Canada.

The Metropolis store will offer household goods, apparel and food, according to a press release.

MUJI was founded in Japan in 1980 and has since opened 800 stores worldwide. Metropolis at Metrotown opens at 10 a.m. on Saturdays. For more info, go to www.muji.ca.

B.C. Liquor stores accept donations

Burnaby residents wanting to support those impacted by wildfires can make donations at any B.C. Liquor Store in the province.

Customers can donate at the till in increments of $2, $5 or multiples thereof, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross. The funds will help with costs of providing shelter, food and water for evacuees.

“Our partnership with B.C. Liquor Stores provides an easy way for people to reach out and help their fellow British Columbians affected by the fires,” said Kimberley Nemrava, vice-president of the Canadian Red Cross, B.C. and Yukon, in a press release.

B.C. Liquor Stores in Burnaby are located at: The Heights (4450 Hastings St.); Old Orchard Shopping Centre (4429 Kingsway); SOLO District (4455 Skyline Dr.); Big Bend (7509 Market Crossing); Northgate Village (3433 North Rd.); HighGate Village (7155 Kingsway); Kensington (6512 Hastings St.); and SFU (8992 University High St.).