Calls to WRA Central Reservations between May 1 and June 16 were down 23 per cent over last year. However, brochure requests were up 28 per cent, due to two ad campaigns promoting May/June packages. People weren’t biting, though, since actual reservations were down 26 per cent. According to the WRA, the decrease is the result of poor weather and the rock slide in the Cheakamus Canyon. The WRA is projecting an increase of 11 per cent in bookings for July and August. On July 28, volunteers from Arts Umbrella will be selling raffle tickets at the Upper Village Farmers Market. Arts Umbrella is a young people’s performing and visual arts centre in Vancouver. The grand prize is a one-year lease on a 1996 Jaguar XJ6. The car will be on display in the Upper Village. Other prizes include a men’s Rolex watch, a trip for two to New York City, gold Tiffany earrings and a Giorgio Armani suit. There are 150 other prizes with a cumulative value of $60,000. Arts Umbrella hopes to raise more than $200,000 over the course of the summer through this raffle — 13,306 tickets will be sold. Tickets cost $20 each, three for $50 or seven for $100.
