On Friday, September 30th we recognize and observe the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (also known as Orange Shirt Day). Everyone is encouraged to commemorate and recognize this day of active listening and action, and participate in Indigenous-led programming.
September 30th marks the second official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to recognize and reflect on the legacy of residential “schools” in Canada.
If you are looking for a way to commemorate and recognize this day of active listening, and action (on top of wearing an orange shirt, which is a good start!) here are a few events in which you can participate around Metro Vancouver:
The Port of Vancouver is celebrating World Maritime Day on Saturday, October 1st with free, family-friendly festivities both in the water and on dry land at Canada Place. In honour of this international celebration, I thought I would share some interesting facts about the Port of Vancouver:
World Maritime Day in Vancouver is October 1, 2022
1. Port of Vancouver isn’t just in Vancouver
Technically, the Port of Vancouver extends from Roberts Bank and the Fraser River up to and including Burrard Inlet. That’s 16,000 hectares of water, more than 1,500 hectares of land and hundreds of kilometres of shoreline, bordering 16 municipalities and intersecting the traditional territories and treaty lands of several Coast Salish First Nations.
2. It’s Canada’s Largest Port
The Port of Vancouver is about the same size as the next five largest Canadian ports combined. Home to 29 major terminals, the port is able to handle the most diversified range of cargo in North America: bulk, containers, breakbulk, liquid bulk, automobiles and cruise.
3. Port of Vancouver + Canada Place
Canada Place integrated with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority in December 2012 – since then, the Port of Vancouver has been the owner and operator of Canada Place. Canada Place is home to the Port of Vancouver offices, which overlook the beautiful Burrard Inlet.
4. Many, Many Trading Partners
The Port of Vancouver is the country’s gateway to over 170 trading economies around the world, handling $1 of every $3 of Canada’s trade in goods outside of North America. It enables the trade of approximately $275 billion in goods, port activities sustain 115,300 jobs, $7 billion in wages, and $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada.
5. What’s in All Those Ships?
Have you ever wondered what’s in all the ships that move in and out of the Port of Vancouver? Some carry shipping containers, which are filled with everything from clothes and electronics to grain and produce. Others move liquid cargoes like canola oil, chemicals and fuels, or items such as lumber products, machinery, automobiles, and cruise passengers. In fact, our port handles the most diversified cargo of any port in North America.
5. A Sustainable Port
The Port of Vancouver’s vision is to be the world’s most sustainable port, which ties in with this year’s World Maritime Day theme of New technologies for greener shipping.
6. p̓q̓al̕s
The land where Canada Place sits is called p̓q̓al̕s, which means “white rock” in Musqueam’s and Tsleil-Waututh’s hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language, and in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh language. The name refers to the white rocks once found around the foot of Granville Street. Many areas within the port authority’s jurisdiction have traditional hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh names, some of which have stories attached to them.
Join World Maritime Day at Canada Place
When: Saturday, October 1, 2022 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Where: North Point & west promenade of Canada Place
Admission: Free!
This is the 3rd annual World Maritime Day event at the Port of Vancouver – the inaugural event was in 2019, and there was a scaled-down, socially-distant event in 2021. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, they hosted virtual activities to commemorate the day.
This year there will be exhibitors and displays from the port community along the west promenade of Canada Place. The event will also have musical performances with maritime flair, stilt walkers, airbrush tattoos, the Shipyard Pals from MONOVA in North Vancouver, and more.
About World Maritime Day
World Maritime Day was established in 1978 by the United Nations to mark the 20th anniversary of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Convention’s entry into force. Celebrations are held throughout the world every year to recognize the international maritime industry’s contribution to shipping safety, maritime security, and the marine environment.
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of World Maritime Day 2022
Vancouver’s largest event in support of animals, Offleashed, returns in person on October 15th bringing together hundreds of animal lovers to celebrate the BC SPCA’s lifesaving work. I caught up with the Chair of Offleashed, Tracey Wade, to learn more about this unique event and the cause it supports.
Tracey Wade at Offleashed with “Wade”
QA with Tracey Wade, Chair of Offleashed
Miss604: The event is back in person after being virtual for a few years, I’d love to know more about its history, how did it begin?
Wade:Offleashed came to be in 2015 for a couple of reasons, all driven by a deep love and respect for animals from everyone involved. Firstly, because I have worked for a long time volunteering for charity events I felt the BC SPCA, and the wealth of programs it runs throughout the province, was not widely understood. Secondly, the BC SPCA had no marque event to provide a platform to share details of these lifesaving programs. And thirdly, my life’s goal is to have a positive impact on as many animals as I can before I’m gone. So, with my background in broadcasting and storytelling, we were off and running with his amazing event to celebrate animals and the great works of the BC SPCA.
Miss604: What makes Offleashed unique?
Wade: What makes this event different from other big evening charity events? So many things, but I think what our thousands of guests over the years would initially point to is our – Cuddle Lounge! We have rescued puppies, kittens, and other animals for our Offleashed guests to snuggle and learn about. And a cool fact – all animals featured in our Cuddle Lounges since Offleashed began (in 2015) have been adopted because of the event! Another big difference that sets Offleashed apart from the pack is that I focus on education and growing a compassionate animal loving community. I believe to do that we need to involve youth, so Offleashed warmly welcomes families.
Miss604: Why does the BC SPCA need our support right now (and always)?
Wade: The BC SPCA needs community support now more than ever. The past few years have brought floods, fires, a pandemic, an upsurge of housing insecurity, increasing food insecurity, and many other hurdles that have caused a spike in the need for help for the animals. And I think we, as a society, are becoming more aware of the needs of others…maybe the pandemic helped this shift…I don’t know. The BC SPCA is there first and foremost for the animals. Absolutely. But there are so many programs that help humans too, and with only increasing need, humans and their pets, and all the animals in crisis in BC right now, need support. The BC SPCA is completely reliant on the public. And it is amazing what this organization does and continues to do.
Miss604: I read that you’ve even had a puppy named after you at a previous Offleashed. For you, personally, how important is it to give back and become involved in such worthy causes?
Wade: Our Offleashed event in 2018 happened to fall on my birthday, which I didn’t tell anyone about. But, one kind BC SPCA staff member figured it out and arranged for an adorable puppy being featured in our Cuddle Lounge that year to be named “Wade” (my last name). Of course when I cuddled “Wade” I couldn’t keep it together, what a sweet soul.
But as is the case for all of our Cuddle Lounge animals, “Wade” was adopted and has gone on to live his best life in a loving home. I feel driven to do this work, as I do with my work in mental health at Coast Mental Health and kids health at BC Children’s Hospital, because everyone at a low point deserves kindness, care, and safety.
I love working with the BC SPCA because so many of the organization’s programs are driven by community need and benefit animals and their guardians: pet food banks, free vet clinics, free boarding for those fleeing domestic abuse or entering treatment care, investigating acts of cruelty, educating children at summers camps and in schools, and the list goes on. It’s easy to go on your merry way when you are not informed. But when you know, when you see, you can’t help but get involved or support those who are doing something. And I think, I hope, that’s what Offleashed does – helps people of all ages see and feel, and to add their voices to those standing up for animals in BC.
Miss604: What can folks do to show support if they are unable to attend?
Wade: Anyone can be a friend to animals. Keep up with current issues by visiting the BC SPCA website, volunteer, and donate if you can. But most of all, be kind to animals and all living things. And if you see an animal in crisis, call the BC SPCA Animal Helpline at 1-855-622-7722.
The 2022 Vancouver International Film Festival (“VIFF”) presents the VIFF Talks series October 2-7, which provides a platform for industry professionals to share their expertise, going beyond the screen. One of these presentations is An Evening with Michael Abels, a special one-night only event with two-time Emmy-nominated composer Michael Abels (Get Out, Nope) featuring the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Michael Abels, Tiffany Townsend, John “Adidam” Littlejohn
An Evening with Michael Abels at VIFF Talks
When: Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 7:00pm
Where: Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St, Vancouver)
Michael Abels is known for his genre-defying scores for the Jordan Peele films Get Out and Us, for which Abels won a World Soundtrack Award and the Jerry Goldsmith Award, among others. The hip-hop influenced score for Us was shortlisted for the Oscar. Abels’ creative output also includes the concert work At War With Ourselves for the Kronos Quartet and the opera Omar, co-composed with Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Rhiannon Giddens.
Abels is co-founder of the Composers Diversity Collective, an advocacy group to increase visibility of composers of colour in film, gaming, and streaming media.
Just announced is the addition of two black soloists who will be joining the VSO, including Vancouver’s own violinist John “Adidam” Littlejohn and LA Opera’s soprano Tiffany Townsend.
Enter to Win
I have a pair of tickets to give away for this evening of insight, creativity, and performances of Abels’ music. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Brother: In Conversation with Clement Virgo, Director
Sunday, October 2 – 6:00pm at The Annex
Acclaimed director-writer Clement Virgo is one of Canada’s foremost film directors. His numerous TV credits include Empire, The Wire, The L Word, and CBC’s record-breaking The Book of Negroes, which he directed and co-wrote. Join us for a unique conversation and get new insights into his acclaimed film, Brother, a VIFF 2022 Showcase selection. The talk is moderated by his fellow Canadian Film Centre graduate, Vancouver-based director Mina Shum.
In Conversation with Costume Designer, Deborah L. Scott
Monday, October 3 – 7:00pm at The Annex
Best known for her work in James Cameron’s record-breaking blockbuster Titanic, which won her the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Deborah Lynn Scott has earned more than 50 credits for her work, which include the iconic films Back to the Future, Minority Report, and Transformers. Join us for a fascinating conversation about Scott’s process: designing costumes for action movies versus period pieces, the importance of research, and creative collaboration required to pull off a director’s vision.
Don’t Worry Darling: Production Design Masterclass with Katie Byron
Wednesday, October 5 – 7:00pm at The Annex
Production designer Katie Byron recently reunited with director Olivia Wilde on one of the most anticipated films of 2022, Don’t Worry Darling, where she created a glamorous look for a 1950s experimental, utopian suburban community. Come hear about Byron’s collaborations, working with directors, and designing the perfect look, feel, and shape of a utopian realm.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, In Conversation with Dean Fleischer Camp, Director
Friday, October 7 – 1:00pm via VIFF Connect
In 2010, Dean Fleischer Camp, an award-winning filmmaker and New York Times bestselling author, along with Jenny Slate, created a short film about Marcel, an endearingly cheerful talking shell with one eye and little shoes. The little character became a viral hit, leading to a feature adaptation produced by A24. We’re excited to hear Fleischer Camp share his singular process about creating a feature film that combines elements of narrative, documentary, improvisation, and two forms of animation.
The 2022 Vancouver International Film Festival runs September 29th to October 9th.
