The Epoch Times was one of more than 300 exhibitors over the weekend at EPIC, the Vancouver Sun Sustainability Living Expo and Vancouver’s hottest green consumer show and eco-marketplace.
The event was held at the newly opened Vancouver Convention Centre West, a spectacular venue said to be one of the greenest in the world, featuring six acres of living roof and incorporating locally harvested Hemlock and Douglas fir.
Over 16,000 turned out to enjoy the positive environment and learn about everything from home décor, sustainable energy use, children’s toys, organic bedding, and the latest local wines—not to mention an exciting variety of hybrid and electric cars and trucks.
Attendees who stopped by the Epoch Times booth repeatedly expressed their enthusiasm for the event. They were also happy to pick up a copy of Epoch after learning of the paper’s global focus and non-sensational news reporting.
Dolores and William Storness-Bliss run Nature’s Garden, an organic deli located on the top of Burnaby Mountain and part of Simon Fraser University’s sustainable community project. Visiting EPIC gave the couple an opportunity to see what others are innovating.
“We appreciated the fact that many are small entrepreneurs, such as ourselves, developing products and methods of providing quality and uniqueness to their customers. We could appreciate the challenge of providing quality products that cost a lot to produce yet pricing them so they will sell,” said Mrs. Storness-Bliss.
EPIC is the brainchild of the Vancouver-based not-profit The Globe Foundation, best known for producing world-renowned international conferences catering to government, big business and organization leaders. Targeting small businesses and consumers, EPIC makes a good complement for the foundation’s other events.
“This event is a key forum for consumers, green businesses, and experts on sustainable living to come together, share their knowledge and take a powerful stand on the environment—at a personal level,” said Nancy Wright, EPIC executive director.
Salt Spring Coffee, a family owned business, has been involved in EPIC and has played a significant role from the show’s inception.
According to Charles Tremewen, the company’s director of marketing, they “delighted” in telling attendees their “triple bottom line story” which involves looking after the environment and sharing profits equitably.
To demonstrate its commitments, the coffee company handed out samples in ceramic cups and featured a unique Micro-lot brew sourced from a single farmer in Peru named Jesus Vina.
“Although we lost a few [cups] by the end of the show, the increased engagement we received with attendees and their appreciation for our commitment to reducing waste far outweighed any losses we might have incurred,” he said.
The EPIC main stage featured a lineup of special events, including a presentation by eco-model and activist Summer Rayne Oakes, eco-fashion shows, and a panel discussion on the greening of BC’s film industry, moderated by local Emmy award-winning film producer Warren Carr.
Planning is already underway for next year’s EPIC, and with the rapid growth of sustainability consciousness, the show can only be expected to get bigger.
The event was held at the newly opened Vancouver Convention Centre West, a spectacular venue said to be one of the greenest in the world, featuring six acres of living roof and incorporating locally harvested Hemlock and Douglas fir.
Over 16,000 turned out to enjoy the positive environment and learn about everything from home décor, sustainable energy use, children’s toys, organic bedding, and the latest local wines—not to mention an exciting variety of hybrid and electric cars and trucks.
Attendees who stopped by the Epoch Times booth repeatedly expressed their enthusiasm for the event. They were also happy to pick up a copy of Epoch after learning of the paper’s global focus and non-sensational news reporting.
Dolores and William Storness-Bliss run Nature’s Garden, an organic deli located on the top of Burnaby Mountain and part of Simon Fraser University’s sustainable community project. Visiting EPIC gave the couple an opportunity to see what others are innovating.
“We appreciated the fact that many are small entrepreneurs, such as ourselves, developing products and methods of providing quality and uniqueness to their customers. We could appreciate the challenge of providing quality products that cost a lot to produce yet pricing them so they will sell,” said Mrs. Storness-Bliss.
EPIC is the brainchild of the Vancouver-based not-profit The Globe Foundation, best known for producing world-renowned international conferences catering to government, big business and organization leaders. Targeting small businesses and consumers, EPIC makes a good complement for the foundation’s other events.
“This event is a key forum for consumers, green businesses, and experts on sustainable living to come together, share their knowledge and take a powerful stand on the environment—at a personal level,” said Nancy Wright, EPIC executive director.
Salt Spring Coffee, a family owned business, has been involved in EPIC and has played a significant role from the show’s inception.
According to Charles Tremewen, the company’s director of marketing, they “delighted” in telling attendees their “triple bottom line story” which involves looking after the environment and sharing profits equitably.
To demonstrate its commitments, the coffee company handed out samples in ceramic cups and featured a unique Micro-lot brew sourced from a single farmer in Peru named Jesus Vina.
“Although we lost a few [cups] by the end of the show, the increased engagement we received with attendees and their appreciation for our commitment to reducing waste far outweighed any losses we might have incurred,” he said.
The EPIC main stage featured a lineup of special events, including a presentation by eco-model and activist Summer Rayne Oakes, eco-fashion shows, and a panel discussion on the greening of BC’s film industry, moderated by local Emmy award-winning film producer Warren Carr.
Planning is already underway for next year’s EPIC, and with the rapid growth of sustainability consciousness, the show can only be expected to get bigger.
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