RIVER DISTRICT
GUIDE TO LIFE & STYLE IN THE RIVER DISTRICT
IMAGES TO CHERISH HIDDEN GEM & EASTER EGGS CREATIONS & ACTIVITIES
RIVER DISTRICT
L I V I N G
www.riverdistrictliving.ca
riverdistrictliving.ca@gmail.com @riverdistrictliving
@riverdistrictlivingmagazine @riverdistrictlivingrealestate
Land
Acknowledgement
We recognize and acknowledge that River District is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
Contributing Photographers / Artists
Nissi Fajardo
Dylnne
Ishu Kler
Meghan Gregory
Katherine Hall
Martin Batkin
Candace Lum
Goldilocks Bake Shop
Mandy Wong
Wesgroup
Miguel Otálora
Juan Carlos Arenas
Editor-in-Chief
Katherine Hall
NISSI FAJARDO
Founder, Owner at Happy Child Box
CANDACE LUM
Founder, Artist at The Beanie Studio
Contributing Writers
Nissi Fajardo
Ishu Kler
Meghan Gregory
Katherine Hall
Cover Art
Mural by: Juan Carlos
Arenas @robotsoda & Miguel Otálora @miguelotalora
Contributors
ISHU KLER
Founder, Photographer at Ishu Kler Photography
CINDY MANGAO
Marketing, Purchasing at Goldilocks Bake Shop
Candace Lum
Cindy Mangao
Mandy Wong
Content Director
Katherine Hall
MEGHAN GREGORY
Founder, Vinyl Design Artist at Creations by MJN
MANDY WONG
Proud Pawrent of George
Dear Neighbours
Thank you so much for subscribing to our editorial magazine! This is our newest way to connect with our River District community and showcase and appreciate he River District Living lifestyle that we are so lucky to enjoy here in our beautiful neighbourhood. This was ntended to be a simple newsletter at first, but after receiving so much amazing content from our local contributors and friends of River District, a magazine was he only way to do it all justice.
The support of this community has been a huge influence in my life and really helped shape a path toward doing what I love!
As you may know, this journey of creating River District Living has inspired me to become a licensed Real Estate professional. If you have questions about buying or selling a home in River District, or if you would like to be featured in future issues of River District Living Magazine, please get in touch with me.
Sincerely,
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KatherineHall
BY NISSI FAJARDO PHOTOGRAPHY BY NISSI FAJARDO & DYLNNE
Happy Child Box is a monthly subscription box with a variety of activities curated for children 2.5 to 5 years old. They are based in the River District, Vancouver, BC.
For any inquiries or to place an order go to our website www.happychildbox.ca or find us on Instagram @happychildbox
Nissi, a devoted mother of two under 5 years old, founded Happy Child Box with a passion for early childhood education and family bonding. Happy Child Box offers a monthly subscription service tailored to children aged 2.5-5 years old. Each month, subscribers receive 10 engaging activities crafted by Nissi herself using locally sourced materials. The goal is to instill a love for learning and create lasting memories through hands-on experiences. Additionally, Happy Child Box provides curated mindful moment blogs to help parents, and adults with young ones in their life, navigate the busyness of life while fostering connection with their children. As a special touch, Happy Child Box partners with This Worlds Ours, a local co-working space, to bring educational fun to birthday parties with interactive crafts and science activities.
Whether you're a stay-at-home parent seeking engaging activities, a working parent looking to enrich family time, or planning a memorable birthday party, Happy Child Box has got you covered! We offer a curated selection of educational and fun-filled activities designed to spark joy and foster learning in children aged 2 55 years old.
Enjoy a 1 MONTH FREE discount when you subscribe (in order to make the discount work, you must choose "subscribe and save" plan not "one-time" before check-out) using the code "FIRSTFREE". Local pickup is available at River District! Hurry, this offer expires on April 1, 2024.
PHOTO BY DYLNNE
MIndulge in Moments of Mindfulness. What is it?
l, Mindful Moment blog offers a reprieve from fast-paced rush of daily life, allowing you to nnect with yourself and your loved ones in a dful, happier way.
se emails serve you as a perspective shifter in present "chaotic" moments, feel free to check some of our previous blogs on our website at w.happychildbox.ca/blogs/mindful-momentsor join our newsletter (on our website) and ive these blogs directly to your inbox.
Love for River District
What I love most about River District, is the connection and beautiful community that we have here that accepts all types of families. There's so much to offer, and as a Dog Mom, having the ability to explore with my furbaby is of course, absolutely amazing! In addition to that, I love the support that this community has and continues to show to local businesses. It's what really drew me in to living here, that, and just how beautiful the area is. Being around nature, the beautiful murals, and gorgeous buildings!
- Ishu , Ishu Kler Photography
The walkability! Once you're in the River District area, everything is within walking distancerestaurants, groceries, coffee shops, fitness centers, playgrounds, etc. It's a hub of activity during the daytime, and at nighttime feels so festive and safe with all the twinkling lights. Being so close to the waterfront walkway sure helps too.
- Candace , The Beanie Studio
Being nestled in the River District, Goldilocks Bake Shop thrives on the lively energy and diverse community spirit. The neighbourhood's welcoming atmosphere perfectly compliments our commitment to creating joyful moments through our food. Being part of River District allows us to share our love for sweet treats with a warm community, making everyday a delightful experience for locals and visitors. We also love seeing all the neighbourhood dogs!
- Cindy , Goldilocks Bake Shop
We love living in the River District for how beautiful it is and the community feeling. It’s great to have so many kids around that my daughter can play with on our down time, as well as having pretty much everything we need within walking distance from us. Being a mom on a limited budget, it’s also nice living in such a beautiful part of nature with the river a stone’s throw away.
- Meghan , Creations by MJN
I love that everything I need is just steps away in River District – from indulging in my favourite food (sushi) at Sushi Mura, picking up groceries at Save-On-Foods, grabbing a morning coffee from Starbucks, getting treats for George at Bosley’s, and much more.
What truly sets River District apart is its welcoming, dog-friendly community As a proud first-time dog parent, living in this community has been one of the biggest reasons why I have George in my life. Meeting fellow dog parents and their furry companions has not only enriched George’s life, but it has also provided us with a big support system
- Mandy Wong , George’s pawrent
Living in River District, I adore the sense of community and the stunning views of the river. After relocating from Coquitlam, where we cherished the natural beauty and vibrant dog culture, I never imagined finding a similar sense of belonging in Vancouver. However, River District has become our home, offering proximity to family and serving as the cornerstone of my entrepreneurial journey. Shout out to the parents who have welcomed our family with loving arms!
- Nissi , Happy
Child Box
Ishu Kler Photography
BY ISHU KLER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY @ISHUKLERPHOTOGRAPHY
is Ishu Kler, and I am a lifestyle, branding and portrait photographer living in River have been passionate about photography for over 10 years now and have been able e stories from around the world. I travelled to the other side of the world, and o live in New Delhi, India, where I spent almost 2 years learning a variety of phy styles through mentors and completed my Diploma in Photography. I also travelled with Photographers in Borders in 2015 to Costa Rica, where I completed a Documentary and Story Telling course while volunteering with a project focused on Sea Turtle conservation
Today, I specialize in portrait and branding photography, where I support small businesses, entrepreneurs, and families in creating meaningful content. I also offer a special VIP program, for content creators and businesses, at a discounted rate for monthly subscriptions, which allows my clients to show up and have high quality content to share their stories online During the spring/summer, I also offer lifestyle photography packages for families, maternity sessions, engagements, and intimate weddings. I love capturing people through photography and building meaningful connections through my work.
Every person has a story, and be it through their work, their lives, or their projects - I believe that capturing and sharing stories allows the world to not only connect, but to learn from one another Inclusion in the world is something I am passionate about, and through my work, I want to be able to share and capture all the stories of the world.
Photo credit: @ishuklerphotography
SPECIAL OFFER:
For my River District, familyI would like to extend a special offer for a 1 hour portrait session (can be used for lifestyle sessions including maternity, family, engagement, couples and fur babies or for a 1 hour branding session for entrepreneurs and small businesses) at a discounted rate of $350 + GST from now until March 31, 2024. Book by this date, and session date can be any date until August 31, 2024.
Ishu Kler
Phone: 604-317-9557
Instagram: @ishuklerphotography
Facebook: Ishu Kler Creative
Website: www.ishukler.com
reation by MJN
BY MEGHAN GREGORY PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGHAN GR
For people who see our feature we would love to offer a 30 discount on your first order wi using code RDistrict. Valid u September 1st (end of day), 20
Creations by MJN was started by a stay-at-home mom who was tired of knowing every episode of Paw Patrol by heart without even seeing the screen. I decided to expand my horizons with various products like apparel, stuffies, vehicle stickers, interior design elements, resin handicrafts, etched glassware & much more while keeping costs reasonable. I also try my best to work with tight budgets so even they can have their creations become more than a thought.
I try to treat each order like it was my own project so you can rest assured I’m going to do my best and put love into each piece.
My favourite style of project is spooky elements but with my daughter’s help I can also do the pink girly things, with everything in the middle.
I also work well with tight time frames even if it means staying up late to ensure completion.
I typically take Saturday to Monday off to allow for family time. When we are doing markets, my daughter can often be found helping me at my tables or even for order pick ups. She loves to talk to everyone when she sees them.
You can easily find me on Facebook at Creations by MJN, where I am most active. I also have an Instagram page @creationsbymjn (but I’m not as active there).
For more info, or to place an order, please reach out by email at creationsbymjn@gmail.com, or by TEXT ONLY at (778) 907 2382. I do ask that for orders that you only text as I am not always able to answer my phone when I’m with my daughter.
I try to treat each order like it was my own project so you can rest assured I’m going to do my best and put love into each piece.
The Beanie Studio
BY CANDACE LUM PHOTOGRAPHY & ART BY CANDACE LUM
Special Offer: 20% off all pet portraits (digital, print or framed).
Expiry March 30, 2024. Please mention discount when placing order.
Instagram: @thebeaniestudio
Email: thebeaniestudio@gmail.com
Hi! I'm Candace, the founder and artist behind The Beanie Studio. I'm based in Vancouver and I sketch portraits of your fur babies that are 100% customized to all their unique characteristics and details. The Beanie Studio is named after my ow fur baby, Beanie. He was the quirkiest, sweetest little senior dog who was famous for always wearing clothes - specifically a red buffalo plaid button up. I used to draw portraits under a different business name, but when he passed away in March 2022, I knew I needed to do something to remember him, and this is how The Beanie Studio came to be
The Beanie Studio offers custom portraits based on your favourite photos of your pet in multiple options - digital only, print, or framed for either one or up to two pets. Details like their fur pattern, colouring, and accessories or clothing are all captured in accurate detail; every portrait is digitally hand sketched, with the end result looking like a realistic pencil sketch.
During my first couple years of drawing pet portraits, a portion of all proceeds was donated to SAINTS Animal Rescue - an initiative that brought The Beanie Studio to the TV spotlight on CTV Morning Live last year!
Our fur babies bring so much joy to our every day, so why not have their cute little faces up on the wall (or on your phone wallpaper!)? Portraits are so meaningful to me because I have now experienced first-hand how much it means to have something of your pet’s likeness once they are no longer physically around. With The Beanie Studio, I want to encapsulate the love I had for Beanie in every portrait, because I know that each and every fur baby I am drawing is equally loved as much.
With The Beanie Studio, I want to encapsulate the love I had for Beanie in every portrait, because I know that each and every fur baby I am drawing is equally loved as much.
Burnaby Location
3728 North Fraser Way, Unit 101
Burnaby, BC V5J 5G1
604-736-7744
Vancouver Location 2833 Main St.
Vancouver, BC V5T 3G1
604-876-2464
Goldilocks Bake Shop
BY CINDY MANGAO
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLDILOCKS BAKE SHOP
dilocks Bake Shop (Canada) brings a warmth ilipino foods and baked goods. From classic nchies to innovative creations, our menu has ething for everyone. Whether it's a birthday, versary, or you just want some cake, our es are here to turn the ordinary to aordinary. We have cakes available everyday we also do custom cakes.
en you enter our store, the aroma of freshly ed goodness will welcome you every day! rt from our cakes, our shelves are filled with rray of baked delights. From Pandesal pino Dinner Rolls) to our Ensaymada oche topped with butter, sugar, & cheese), Filipino treats are crafted with love and nt to satisfy every craving.
it's not just about the cakes and baked goods; also bring the vibrant flavours of the ippines to your everyday life We have many ons of different Filipino foods to choose from yday. If you're looking to share the joy, our y trays offer a feast for your celebrations.
bsite: www.goldilocks-can.com ebook: Goldilocks Bakeshop Canada I tagram: @goldilockscan il: goldilocksyvr@gmail.com
CIAL OFFER:
would love to offer 15% off your total chase for the month of March, 2024. ntion that you saw it in River District ng Magazine to claim discount (in-store , available at both locations). Orders can placed in person, by phone, or by email.
Limited edition Easter treats: chocolate treat-filled eggs and Eggs-saymada, available at both Goldilocks Bake Shop locations.
Hi! I’m George!
Pet of the Month
For those who have already met George, some would say he’s funny, charismatic, curious, and full of energy. Okay, he gets handsome and cute a lot too.
Born on June 22, 2021, Georgie is a Blue French Bulldog who has a larger-than-life personality that never fails to bring joy to those around him. You might see us on our daily walks where we love to visit our usual neighbourhood spots: Bosley’s, Starbucks, and Everything Wine – a quick shout out to the staff at these locations for always giving us such warm welcomes <3 When we have extra time, we love walking down by the river.
Being in new areas and making new friends makes him so happy, especially if you play fetch with him, which never fails to bring a twinkle to his expressive eyes. Sometimes George might have too much energy, but deep down he is so kind and has so much love to give. What most people don’t realize about George, is that he suffered cardiac arrest in 2022 when he was a year and a half year old during a routine procedure. His heart stopped and he lost air to his brain for about a minute and a half. The hospital said his survival rate was 0.01% so I guess you can say he has too big of a heart and he’s a fighter as well You wouldn’t know he went through such a traumatic experience seeing him today. His resilient spirit serves as a constant reminder of the preciousness of every moment we share together.
that I am his mama. George may sometimes be a little “goofball,” but he’s my little goofball, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
FOLLOW GEORGE:
Please check out George on Instagram @vancitygeorgie Tik Tok @vancitygeorgie
PHOTOGRAPH BY KATHERINE HALL
Friends, can you believe it’s been 3 years since I shared the image on the left as my first post on the @riverdistrictliving Instagram account? March 23, 2021, began a journey of getting to know the most amazing community!
Over the past three years I have had the pleasure to engage with and meet so many wonderful residents, business owners, and more adorable pets than I could even imagine! Thank you for sharing your life moments with us, and for all your contributions to making our community as successful, fun, and appreciated as it is today.
Happy Birthday to us, River District Living community! Here’s to many more years to come.
Thank you, friends!
Katherine 604 655 1230 riverdistrictliving.ca@gmail.com
Harlin by Wesgroup
https://wesgroup.ca/residential/new -homes/harlin/
https://wesgroup.ca/harlin/
Paradigm by Wesgroup
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WESGROUP
Avalon 3 by Wesgroup
https://wesgroup.ca/residential/n -homes/avalon-3/
https://wesgroup.ca/avalon3/
https://wesgroup.ca/residential/new -homes/discovery/
https://wesgroup.ca/paradigm/
MODE by Wesgrou
https://wesgroup.ca/resid w-homes/mode/
https://wesgroup.ca/mode/
