Does anything sound better than holiday cookies for a good cause? There isn’t much coming to mind, so Sherway Gardens’ Gingerbread Cookie Factory sounds pretty great.

From November 30 to December 23, volunteers from the Trillium Health Centre will be at the center with cookies galore. It’s their 21st year at the center, and the tradition is always popular.

Cookies are $4 each, or three for $10, and all proceeds go to supporting seniors’ health services at Trillium.

“The Gingerbread Cookie Factory is a holiday tradition at Sherway that isn’t just for kids!” says Lisa Resnic, senior marketing director at Sherway Gardens. “Have fun decorating your own delicious gingerbread cookie for just $4, with all proceeds going to Trillium.”

Decoration is a key part of the process. It makes it more of a community tradition than a simple bake sale. More than 3000 cookies get dolled up at Sherway Gardens each and every year.

We’ve been keeping an eye on Coquitlam Centre’s Unwrapped charity shopping night since it launched four years ago. The center has found it very successful—to date it’s raised over $205,000.

This year it’s bigger than ever, with over 70 partnered charity and non-profit organizations. Each of those organizations will sell the $10 tickets for the evening, bringing in, the center hopes, over $70,000 total between them.

As always, the center will keep it classy with wine, craft and import beers, and spirits all available for tastings. Local restaurants sponsoring the evening will provide food tasting samples. And Glam stations will be set up throughout the center, offering an extra-relaxing selection of mini-makeovers and pampering experiences.

Once sufficiently glamorous and cheerful, Santa will be on hand for fun, relaxed photos with these special shoppers. A box of props will be available, and the shots are free with a donation to the food bank.

A charitable night of shopping wouldn’t be much without shopping, and the center has that entirely under control. After sneak peeks of the season’s fashions and holiday trends, shoppers will enjoy one-night only specials at retailers throughout the center. And with $16,000 in prize draws over the course of the night, there are plenty of happy surprises planned.

It’s October, and you know what that means: it’s time for the season of Pink. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and you’re likely in the midst of executing your big, pink plans.

Riverlink Shopping Centre is certainly prepared. The center has put together the sort of event that just begs for a get-together with the girlfriends. Given how many women breast cancer affects, this seems appropriate—no one should have to go through it without the support of a close community. That community will come together early in the day on October 17 for the Riverlink Go Pink! Morning Tea Fundraiser.

Picture, if you will, a group of women coming together for a good cause, and having a fantastic time in the process. “Morning Tea” is a bit of an understatement, really, though of course a delicious tea will be part of it. Other parts include live entertainment by Wickety Wak Duo. * Entertainment by the Wickety Wak Duo, a comedy pair, and Aussie Thunder, an all-male cabaret revue (read: utter eye candy).

Slightly less risque will be the contest to pick the best-decorated bras. Sounds racey, but they needn’t be modelled. Dress up is left to the prizes for best pink outfit, a color theme most shoppers won’t be pulling out on a regular basis. There will also be informative displays, goodie bags, raffles and prizes.

Registration costs $10, but all proceeds go to fight breast cancer. It’s a small price to pay for a great cause and a fun morning out with the girls.

Mountains are a bit of a thing for Dalton Park. Earlier this year, the center encouraged its shoppers to engage in the 3 Peak Challenge for Cash for Kids. Not content to climb by proxy, though, the center has since sent its own team uphill for charity.

A 10-strong team from the center successfully tackled Scafell Pike, England’s highest peak. Members of Team Dalton Park came from all areas of the outlet. Cleaning staff and security staff, retailers and management—everyone came together to meet the challenge. Together, they crushed their fundraising goal of £2500.

The money was gathered for The Sick Children’s Trust. The non-profit provides free, high-quality housing for the families of children who are seriously ill and under treatment in hospital. It relies entirely on voluntary donations, like the one from Dalton Peak.

“The Sick Children’s Trust and Crawford House do a tremendous job in supporting parents of sick children in our region and beyond,” said Jerry Hatch, the centre’s manager and a member of the climbing team. We’re delighted to have beaten our fundraising target thanks to the generosity of our customers and supporters.”

Now matter how well you plan an event, there are always factors you can’t control. Like, say, the weather.

The Light, Leeds, hosted its end-of-summer outdoor music festival on Saturday and ran into a bit of a speedbump—pouring rain. But that didn’t dampen its spirits. The show must go on, so with the performers safely under cover the center went ahead with the music.

Hundreds of visitors showed up for the Switched On festival, taking in popular (but unsigned) local acts like Dorien Starre, I Call Shot Gun, Seas of Green and Soul Circus. The evening was closed out by The Young Knives. All the bands played the gig for free, leaving proceeds to be collected for a great cause, children’s cancer-fighting charity Candlelighters.

In the end, the center brought in £500 for the charity and gave a great (damp) time to many shoppers. Stephanie James, marketing manager at The Light, said “The event is a great way to showcase some of the brilliant unsigned acts out there and raise money for charity at the same time”