All Souls at Mountain View Cemetery 2012

Mountain View is Vancouver’s only cemetery and around this time of year, it’s bustling with activity. From being a major stop on the Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tour to hosting its own series of workshops and events called All Souls.

Photo credit: olfiika on Flickr

In many cultures around the world, the days at the end of October and the beginning of November are an important time for honouring the dead in our lives, through ceremony and celebration, and the practical maintenance of the family gravesites, including cleaning and decorating graves, feasts, flowers, lanterns, and candles.

All Souls at Mountain View Cemetery was created to provide opportunities for the public to commemorate their dead with a family-oriented community art event. Artists and community come together to create a sanctuary for remembrance and reflection. The event takes place in the cemetery at the end of October each year.

8th Annual Night for All Souls at Mountain View Cemetery
When: Saturday, October 27, 2012 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm
What: An atmosphere of contemplative beauty with music, warming fires, and fragrant teas to comfort the living, and public shrines to remember the dead.

All Souls – Threshold Choir Performance
When: Sunday, October 28, 2012 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
What: The all-women Threshold Choir honours the ancient tradition of singing at the bedsides of people who are struggling, some with living, some with dying.

Documentary film screening: “Forever”
When: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
What: Screening of the 2006 documentary “Forever” about Pere-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris

Orkestar Slivovica Balkan Brass Band Performance and Procession
When: Thursday, November 1, 2012 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
What: The Orkestar Slivovica Balkan Brass Band performs at Vancouver’s Mountain View Cemetery and leads a procession through the shrines to honour the dead.

All of these events take place at the Mountain View Cemetery Celebration Hall at 5445 Fraser Street (entrance at 39th Ave).