I am Blake Sebastian, the founder and creator of “BareTalk TV.” A fast and informative Canadian news and entertainment channel on Facebook and YouTube created for millennials who want to stay informed while on the go. “BareTalk TV” was created to accommodate the demand by millennials for entertaining and educational content that isn’t filtered. It takes a stand for creatives who are tired of being monitored, journalists who want to showcase their individuality and opinions without being censored, and viewers who seek truth and transparency with a side of humour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28fUkIE2Wmo&t As someone who has worked professionally in media for seven years, I’ve realized a number of things. Things most people don’t want to or don’t care to talk about. I first got involved in media at the age of 17. I dabbled in the world of broadcasting and was involved on-air for a number of publications. I completed my Journalism diploma...

Watch episode 3 of Nathan Bosgra’s journey towards recovery through CBD (cannabidiol) therapy. CBD is one of at least 85 active cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Five years ago, Bosgra began having symptoms of progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM) syndrome – a neurological disorder characterized by progressive muscle stiffness and episodes of painful muscle spasms. In this episode, Surrey604 learns about Bosgra’s progress in regaining mobility, and the team also talks to The Village Dispensary’s co-owner Andrea Dobbs about the benefits of CBD....

Nathan Bosgra is on his third week of CBD (cannabidiol) therapy. He began having symptoms of progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM) syndrome five years ago - a neurological disorder. Watch Surrey604 learn about his struggle with the disorder, and his strength to overcome his condition. Watch episode one here: Finding hope of recovery through medical marijuana. This segment is kindly brought to you by Phant....

Nathan Bosgra began having symptoms of progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM) syndrome five years ago. The syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by progressive muscle stiffness and episodes of painful muscle spasms. Battling through different treatments and medications led Bosgra to take the leap towards CBD (cannabidiol) therapy. Although first skeptical and unsure, he soon learned the benefits of cannabidiol through The Village Dispensary’s co-owner Andrea Dobbs. Cannabidiol is one of at least 85 active cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Bosgra says it is a great antispasmodic, anticonvulsant and it also helps reduce anxiety among other health benefits. Bosgra entered a case study looking at the medical benefits of cannabinoids for people with his condition. Watch Surrey604 learn about his story and follow his journey towards recovery. This segment is kindly brought to you by Phant....

Watch Surrey604 visit one of the Women Grow Vancouver Signature Networking Events – where the next generation of female cannabis entrepreneurs connect and empower one another. Women Grow Vancouver is the first of its kind in Canada - since its beginning, other chapters have sprung up in other Canadian cities, including Toronto. The for-profit organization was founded in 2014 in Denver, Colorado. About 35 chapters are currently operating in the United States with over 60 cities soon to start their own networking events in the country. Women Grow Vancouver networking events happen on the first Thursday of every month. For more information visit the Women Grow Vancouver Facebook page....

Image: Surrey Youth Engagement Conference discussion groups. Rochelle Prasad and Gaven Sekhon are interns with Surrey’s Team for Youth Leadership and Engagement (STYLE) - the brainchild of the Surrey Child and Youth Committee - a number of community groups dedicated to supporting the needs of children, youth and their families in the Surrey and White Rock area. “Gaven and I both knew that STYLE would give us the platform to share our opinions regarding youth  into adulthood, and that our voices would be heard throughout the community,” explains Prasad in an email statement. Prasad and Sekhon joined STYLE in July and have since held dozens of workshops and set up multiple booths - collecting information from the public on their thoughts on youth engagement. The 2015 Vital Signs report found Surrey youth want more basic life skills training in secondary school, such as how to pay off bills, do taxes...

Watch Surrey604 visit Surrey’s Inaugural Youth Engagement Conference. We chat with Trisha Dulku, Youth Engagement Facilitator for Surrey’s Team for Youth Leadership and Engagement (STYLE), Erin Beirne, chair of Vital Signs and to youth themselves. The conference discussed results from the 2015 Vital Signs report, which was developed by SurreyCares Community Foundation - combining survey results from 400 youth ages 12 to 24. Make sure to check out our STYLE intern profiles. ...

Image: Surrey Social Innovation Summit panel discussion. About 200 local and national experts gathered at Surrey’s inaugural Social Innovation Summit – discussing creative thinking and social innovation to tackle urban issues. A key topic of discussion at the summit: A look at the settlement needs for refugees coming to Surrey. Mohamed Muktar Mussa, 25, a community research assistant at Simon Fraser University was welcomed as a panelist where he shared his story. Mussa lived in a refugee camp in Eritrea after his family fled from a civil war in Somalia. After moving to Canada in 2010 he found it difficult to continue his studies, which he was unable to attend at the refugee camp. “When you’re a refugee it’s very hard to study … I was with the family because my dad left us when I was 13 14 years old, so in the refugee camp I didn’t study … I...

Image: Jonathan Evans / www.JonnyPicture.com TEDx Vancouver 2015 welcomed over 20 speakers – from breakdancers, journalists to transgender rights advocates – filling the day with inspiration, education and dialogue. A memorable speaker receiving two standing ovations and one of the loudest cheers from the crowd was Special Olympics Athlete Matthew Williams. He spoke about living with intellectual disabilities and turning them into triumphs as a Special Olympics athlete. “It’s an incredible feeling to have that response from the crowd, you always hope that the speech that you are delivering really relates to people and that they really take in what you’re speaking about,” says Williams. He explains his childhood was filled with a number of challenges, “I was born with epilepsy and intellectual disabilities … I also had some learning challenges so school was always tough … just being always a little bit behind or taking longer than the other...

Surrey’s Team for Youth Leadership and Engagement (STYLE) is hosting its inaugural conference, the Youth Engagement Conference 2015. The conference is inviting Surrey youth, parents, government, non-profit sectors and business representatives to discuss the challenges Surrey youth are currently facing. “What we are trying to do with this conference is gather members of the community together so we can discuss and really create a dialogue … on how to better connect and support our youth so that they can successfully transition into adulthood,” says Trisha Dulku, Youth Engagement Facilitator for STYLE. STYLE hopes to fill the day with dialogue and review data from the 2015 Vital Signs report - combined survey results from 400 youth ages 12 to 24 addressing the challenges Surrey youth are facing. STYLE is the brainchild of the Surrey Child and Youth Committee – a number of community groups dedicated to supporting the needs of children,...

Surrey youth want more education, work and financial stability, according to the 2015 Vital Signs report. The report developed by SurreyCares Community Foundation combined survey results from 400 youth ages 12 to 24. The report states youth in Surrey feel unprepared to enter into the workforce or into post-secondary education – Surrey youth want more basic life skills training in secondary school, such as how to pay off bills, do taxes, find affordable housing and save earnings for future financial stability. “Young people want to work, they want to get educated they want to be independent, they want to give back to the community, they want to have a voice,” says Erin Beirne, chair of Vital Signs. Transportation was also listed as a top priority – the report says many youth from lower-income homes can’t participate in extracurricular activities or have difficulty travelling to and from work due to costs...

CONTEST: We are giving away a $50 gift card for Tasty Indian Bistro each month! Scroll down for more info. Watch Surrey604’s Blanca Blandon chat with Tasty Indian Bistro’s supervisor Apaar Josan about the restaurant's renovations and decor. Image: Indian Bistro’s supervisor Apaar Josan with Surrey604's Blanca Blandon. Image: Tasty Indian Bistro's interior design. Image: Tasty Indian Bistro's interior design. Enter November’s contest to win a $50 gift card! Want to enjoy Tasty Indian Bistro’s decor and Taj Mahal flair yourself? Win a $50 gift card by following these steps: Follow @IndianBistro on twitter Post the following tweet: Follow & RT to be entered to win a $50 gift card to @IndianBistro from @Sry604 http://goo.gl/j0K16f #TastyIndian #SurreyBC For additional chances to win, check out our Facebook page & Instagram account and leave a comment on the contest photo telling us why you should win! The contest closes November 30, 2015! Winner announced in December. Previous Winners The people listed...

Not In My Back Yard" is a short documentary film that explores the impact of social services on neighbourhoods in Metro Vancouver, with a focus in Surrey, BC. Petitions continue against the opening of homeless shelters, and anti-crime rallies have voiced concerns regarding social services – such as in the 2014 “Take Back Surrey” rally after the homicide of teen Serena Vermeersch. But are social services and crime linked? We speak to various experts to discuss the impact of social housing, homeless shelters, and mental health and addiction treatment centres on neighbourhoods. We also discuss the possible effects on the business community and explore various opinions on what needs to be done to end homelessness in Canada....

Global Girl Power’s 3rd anniversary and International Day of the Girl welcomed various community leaders who are working to empower women through education, inspiration and dialogue. Some of the speakers at the luncheon included Madeleine Shaw of Lunapads & G Day for Girls, Ashley Wiles of Sole Girls and Kristal Barrett-Stuart of The Sparkle Project BC. “ giving girls a platform to bring awareness and bring empowerment to our adolescent girls,” says Global Girl Power’s Founder, Lucky Gill. Co-Founder and Creative Director of Lunapads International Madeleine Shaw says, she “want to realize how much girls matter, and that they are listened to and we continue to support their dreams, their intelligence and their success.” The event supported two main projects: one year of education for two girls in India through the Dalit Freedom Network and outreach work in Serbia where a Vancouver team is helping support Syrian families with four...

CONTEST: We are giving away a $50 gift card for Tasty Indian Bistro each month! Scroll down for more info. Watch Surrey604’s Blanca Blandon chat with Tasty Indian Bistro’s Assistant Manager Harman Basutta about the savoury Mint Chicken dish. Marinated in fresh mint, mint chutney and various herbs and spices - the Mint Chicken is one of many to die for dishes from Tasty Indian Bistro’s vast food menu options. Image: Tasty Indian Bistro's Mint Chicken Enter October’s contest to win a $50 gift card! Want to enjoy Tasty Indian Bistro’s Mint Chicken and explore over 100 food menu options for yourself? Win a $50 gift card by following these steps: Follow @IndianBistro on twitter Post the following tweet: Follow & RT to be entered to win a $50 gift card to @IndianBistro from @Sry604 http://bit.ly/1RilFNo #TastyIndian #SurreyBC For additional chances to win, check out our Facebook page & Instagram account and leave a comment on the...