What’s happening in your community in October?
October’s Vancouver calendar features important dates and events in the Lower Mainland including shows, concerts, spring festivals, markets and events.
Link to October events around the GVRD: https://www.tourismvancouver.com/events/calendar-of-events/vancouver-events-in-october/
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Vancouver Public Library to debut massive new rooftop garden this week
When Vancouver Public Library (VPL)’s central branch opened in 1995, its top two floors were leased to the provincial government on a 20-year tenancy as part of a financing project.
The highly anticipated project adds 42,000-square-feet of new indoor space to the VPL’s central branch, which includes various amenities such as a glass-enclosed reading room, bookable meeting rooms, exhibit and gallery space, an 80-seat theatre, outdoor terraces, and a rooftop garden.
“In a 2017 study, it found that people feel an increasing sense of social isolation and they’re really looking for public spaces to connect in person,” Christina de Castell, VPL’s chief librarian, told the press at the central library. “This is something that the public library offers to people every day. This is the reason we thought that opening up these new spaces was so important.”
The two-level expansion adds a welcomed public space to the downtown Vancouver core. It features plenty of natural lighting, garden and city views, as well as quiet rooms for reading and studying.
There’s also a snack lounge for people to have a drink or bite in the library. An on-site café won’t be available, but visitors can bring their own food or check out the vending machines in this space.
According to Castell, the rooftop garden has been one of the most requested spots by the public. It covers approximately 7,400-square-feet, and was designed by renowned landscape architect, Cornelia Hahn Oberlander.
Safdie Architects and DA Architects were the original designers of the building, and they were commissioned to oversee the new expansion as well. It cost $16.8 million for the transformation, jointly covered by the City of Vancouver, Government of Canada, and private donors through the VPL’s private foundation.
For those who don’t visit the massive library often, the expanded facility is worth checking out.
“It’s a new space where they can come to connect with each other, to meet, enjoy, and escape in the city,” de Castell told the Straight in an interview at the central library. “There aren’t many places where you can go as a member of the public and enjoy a rooftop garden as beautiful as this. We’re excited to have this new landscape and new view of the city that everyone in Vancouver can enjoy.”
Scroll through the photos below for a first look inside VPL’s top two floors.
TAMMY KWAN
TAMMY KWANDinosaurs Unearthed
See the prehistoric in a new way.
Walk the new galleries and hear the roars of animatronic dinosaurs as they swoop down to look you in the eye. At the next turn, be transported to a dig site with skeletons ranging from bird-sized dinosaurs to aquatic lizards and a 68 foot long sauropod. Even touch fossils with detailed impressions of skulls, bones, eggs, skin and feathers.
Feathers? That’s right. The exhibit is current with the latest scientific research which gears away from the vision of scaled dinosaurs and in favor of feathered beasts. Did you know the latest theory is that the t-rex spent its teenage years covered in downy feathers like a duckling?!
Take in Dinosaurs Unearthed with a paleontology lens or as pure Jurassic entertainment. Suitable for all ages.
https://youtu.be/D57TG9V_lsw
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Ancient cedar’s journey home
Blessing of the ancient cedar. Photo by Andrea Berneckas
BY ANDREA BERNECKAS
On June 25, 2018, community members gathered in front of Collingwood Neighbourhood House to share in the blessing of the cedar log. The event was honoured by the presence of Councillor Morgan Guerin of the Musqueam band as well a performance by Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack).
Elder Jewel Thomas offered a blessing on behalf of the community and Jennifer Gray-Grant, executive director of Collingwood Neighbourhood House, explained the importance of this project to the community.
After the blessing and acknowledgements, participants were invited to join participants of the Families Branching Out program as they celebrated with a wonderful salmon dinner.
Lead carver Gerry Sheena has had a long creative partnership with the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood. His work can be found at the 29th Avenue SkyTrain station (Guardian of the Park), CNH (Multicultural Gateway) and Synala Co-op, to name a few projects.
Gerry is joined by apprentices Yvette Muskego, Roxanne Charles and Veronica Rose Waechter Danes. Local youth will be assisting at the site.
Gerry explained the significance of the animals in the design:
The Eagle perches and watches from the highest point of the carving and represents both home and journey. She is always soaring and finding new places to rest along her way. Eagle is nesting Eaglet in her lap to say that although Eagle travels widely, she is rooted in her home and family.
Bear is the protector, supporting Eagle and Eaglet from below with strength and wisdom. Bear is the guardian of the forests and streams.
Bear holds Salmon out front. The artist holds great respect for Salmon because Salmon feeds everything in the forest. Salmon always returns home to begin the cycle of Life. Salmon appears in all of Gerry’s work.
Carving begins on the cedar log. Photo by Nathaniel Frank Piché
The carving is made of a 600-year-old red cedar tree. This ancient tree’s journey is intricately intertwined with our community’s journey. Red Cedar found its way to us to support the carver and apprentices in their journey to reveal the spirit of this ancient being for all of our community.
Once carved, Red Cedar will find a new home, standing solidly and firmly at the Collingwood Neighbourhood House Annex as a guardian and emblem of all of our journeys. Red Cedar’s presence will prompt us to feel rooted in our places together, here in this beautiful land, to honour all of the stories that led us to this place we call home.
In October community members will be invited to join in a parade and blessing as the pole travels to its new home at the Annex.
Please drop by and check out the carving project. If you would like to schedule a group visit to learn more, contact Andrea at aberneckas@cnh.bc.ca.
Copyright 2018 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News
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Collingwood Neighbourhood House Celebration
Tuesday September 4th, Collingwood Neighbourhood House started offering programming at our new, additional location, our Annex at 3690 Vanness Avenue. We are deeply grateful to so many people for their years of hard work leading to this key milestone in the history of Collingwood Neighbourhood House and the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood.
The 10,250 square feet of community space includes an Art Room, a Children’s Room, a Commercial-Grade Kitchen, a Multi-Purpose Room (with a sprung floor), and office space. It is the result of years of lobbying, dreaming, visioning, collaborating and planning. Now it’s time to celebrate!
Our opening ceremonies will take place over three days:
- October 11, 2-4pm: Our Grand Opening with a formal ceremony and reception.
- October 12, 6-9pm: A Fashion Show to showcase and sell vintage clothing, with all proceeds going to our Homeless Program.
- October 13, 11am-3pm: Community Celebration with activities, food, performances, and artist demonstrations – all free.
Attached is our poster with more information. Please register for the October 11 Grand Opening here. The other events do not require an RSVP.
Link to Poster: ANNEX OPENING POSTCARD
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General Election in BC – October 20, 2018
Link to Elections BC Site: https://elections.bc.ca/political-participants/local-elections-campaign-financing/2018-general-local-elections/
Link to 2018 Referendum on Electoral Reform: https://elections.bc.ca/referendum/
Inclusion BC Link: http://inclusionbc.org/inclusive-education/whats-new/2018-general-local-elections-bc
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Intelligent Lives Premier
Free Screening: October 22, 2018 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
KPU Melville Centre for Dialogue
8771 Landsdowne Road, Richmond, BC
RSVP: info@rscl.org with the number of guests
Free Screening: October 24, 2018 7:00 pm
Coast Coal Harbour – Harbour Room
1180 West Hastings, Vancouver BC
Join Richmond Society for Community Living (RSCL), UBC Centre for Inclusion and Citizenship (CIC) and Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) for a night at the movies to celebrate Community Living Month. The event will also launch CIC’s new project – Transitioning Youth with Disabilities and Employment (TYDE) – a network of partners committed to improving the employment outcomes for youth ages 14 – 18 with intellectual disabilities or autism in BC.
INTELLIGENT LIVES stars three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities – Micah, Naieer, and Naomie – who challenge perceptions of intelligence as they navigate high school, college, and the workforce. Academy Award-winning actor and narrator Chris Cooper contextualizes the lives of these central characters through the emotional personal story of his son Jesse, as the film unpacks the shameful and ongoing track record of intelligence testing in the U.S.
INTELLIGENT LIVES challenges what it means to be intelligent, and points to a future in which people of all abilities can fully participate in higher education, meaningful employment, and intimate relationships. A panel discussion will follow the screening.
For more information about the film, please visit www.intelligentlives.org.
Link to Poster for October 22 screening: Intelligent Lives Oct 22
Link to Poster for October 24 screening: Intelligent Lives
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PosAbilities Stage Door Presents
Haunted Horror Halloween Dance
Where: Heritage Hall – 3102 Main Street, Vancouver
When: Thursday October 25, 2018
Tickets $12.00 at the Door
Call for information 604-872-1252
Link to Poster: Halloween Dance 2018
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- Finding meaningful employment begins with the job seeker’s hopes and dreams. The PATH process helps to tease these out. Join us to learn about this life changing process from two PATH Facilitators – Marta Carlucci and Cheryl Fryfield – who will introduce and demonstrate the PATH process. Bring the whole family to witness and be involved.Workshop Details
- PATH – Focusing on Personal Goals
- Thursday, October 25 7-8:30 pm
- The Barb Goode Training Space (Same as last year)
- 3223 Kingsway Ave – (Just East of Joyce)
- Pay parking is along Kingsway with free parking along the side streets -#19 bus or a short walk up the hill from the Joyce Skytrain Station
- Questions??? and to RSVP to Anne – afmillerd@gmail.com
- Please share the attached flyer as all are welcome
Link to Poster: Van FW – October- Final_
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When: Friday, October 26, 2018
Time: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm)
Place: Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion
2702 Norland Avenue, Burnaby
Tickets: $25.00 per person (includes snacks per table of 8)
Buy Tickets Here: http://familysupportbc.com/events/trivia-2018/
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Caramel Coffee House and Social Club|Recurring Event (See all)
Details
Date: October 31, 2018
Time: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Venue
5024 Rumble Street
Burnaby, British Columbia Canada+ Google Map
Cost: FREE!
For more information, please email rbandera@posAbilities.ca or mkang@posAbilities.ca
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Kudoz is an experience platform connecting people with and without disabilities to splendid things to do, together.
Locals host anything from anime drawing to bread making to city politics.
Youth & adults with cognitive disabilities search the platform and book experiences to try!
Everyone is welcome at Reflection Cafe to swap photos & stories
from experiences.
Earn badges for stretching yourself! Badges go great on resumes.
Along the way, access our free learning coaches to build motivation & hone your skills.
Check out more at: http://kudoz.ca/
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Relaxed performances at the Cultch
The Cultch is implementing accessible performances starting this fall. (i.e. “relaxed” performances for those with Autism, Tourette’s & other neurological conditions who cannot sit still & quiet for an hour or more). They have scheduled a relaxed show of the Panto on Dec 2, matinee.
Link to Accessibility information: https://thecultch.com/accessibility/
Normally, the Panto is already a kid-friendly show where they are encouraged to cheer & boo for characters & talk back to the stage. Each Panto is based on a classic fairy tale or kids’ story, this year it’s Wizard of Oz. It’s a really fun show for adults too, with lots of double entendres & local cultural references & spoofs of local characters, politicos etc.
Tix are on sale now at:
https://thecultch.com/events/east-van-panto-wizard-of-oz/
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East Van Panto: Wizard of Oz – The Cultch
thecultch.com York Theatre. Poor Dorothy! Flung from her PoCo townhouse by an earthquake that had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH Tornado Resource Extraction Inc.’s suburban fracking, she fi nds herself in the magical Land of Oz. |