The #CHVCatchUp is a monthly series featuring the latest updates and news from Covenant House Vancouver (“CHV”). Miss604 is proud to be the Official Blog Partner of CHV. This month’s post has been written by Jason Bosher.
Happy Pride Month from Covenant House Vancouver!
The Origin of Pride Month
Although Pride Month is considered by many as a celebration, it is important to remember that the origins of Pride began with an uprising against oppression and discrimination; namely the Stonewall Uprising (often referred to as the Stonewall Riots).
Jaden’s Journey
There is insidious disinformation out there that problematizes and pathologizes trans folks. What is armchair philosophy to some folks ends up resulting in harm for trans folks, here and around the world.
At age eight, Jaden ran away from home. Being a trans youth in South Asia was extremely challenging. Jaden was caught and brought back to the family home, where they were hidden from society. Moving to Canada did not change things. Jaden was not allowed to have many friends, and when they wished to express themselves through art, supplies were purchased and brought to the family home. The family thought that they were protecting Jaden, but they were doing the opposite.
Jaden came to CHV from a hospital setting, as they were dealing with their psychosis and suicidality that stemmed from family not allowing Jaden to be transgender. At that time, Jaden’s art was very dark — black and white compositions full of dead or decaying images.
Over time, Jaden came to the realization that they identified as male and female. Now, Jaden looks at their gender as an expression of how they feel that day. Jaden has now moved to the female-identified floor of Rights of Passage. Even early on in their stay at CHV, Jaden stated that “CHV was the best thing that ever happened to me!”
Jaden takes pamphlets that pertain to the trans community, when they meet with family, to try and help them understand. Jaden has learned to have conversations around the pamphlets via text messages, because if the messages are upsetting, Jaden can simply delete them.
A regular occurrence at CHV is teatime, hosted by Kadee, Lead Spiritual Care Practitioner at CHV. It’s a time for youth to gather with Kadee, have tea and chat in a very casual setting. Kadee has noticed that Jaden had begun to practise self-care. Kadee said: “It’s wonderful to see that in a non-dictating space that we provide, Jaden is exploring who they really are. For some, being trans is a linear process where the internal self and the external self align, but I can see that having both a male and a female presence, is very true to who Jaden is. It’s a privilege to see someone trust their own voice and trust their own sense of what they need and who they are.”
Last year, Jaden was able to celebrate Pride for the first time. Their Pride artwork was made into posters and pins. Jaden’s artwork has gone from black and white to a flourish of colour and celebration. Jaden, who is quite shy, is now reaching out to other 2SLGBTQAI+ groups to meet other young people. Jaden wants to take their experiences and work with, and support, other youth.
Jaden’s mental health is stable. It’s been a year since they’ve had an episode of psychosis. Jaden has used their artistic talents to create a comic book in order to help parents understand what it’s like to live as a transgender person. Feeling liberated enough to express themselves has been a huge success for Jaden.
Recently, Jaden met with family and told us that their family called them Jaden for the first time! That was the first expression of acceptance that Jaden has received from their family.
*Name and identifying details have been changed for privacy reasons.
Family rejection is the most common cause of 2SLGBTQAI+ youth homelessness
2SLGBTQAI+ youth are much more likely to struggle with mental health concerns
Organizations, like CHV, that support queer youth are important in the community because, as Kadee puts it: “We see the difference it makes to have a hospitable place for trans, non-binary, and other youth across the gender spectrum. If you believe in helping young people flourish, then supporting all youth is important, across society. For youth to have the experience of ‘I am loved, I am welcomed, I am respected, not in spite of who I am, but knowing exactly who I am,’ is something that they take from here, that serves them for the rest of their lives. And then, they advocate to make that true for others.” If you’d like to help youth flourish, click here.
How do you celebrate Pride? Follow Covenant House Vancouver on their social channels and share the ways that you embrace inclusivity.
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Day of Music is back for its 4th year with over 100 free concerts of various genres on 13 stages around Vancouver on June 10th. Enjoy 12 hours of free music all throughout the city and online!
VSO Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Facebook Photo
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Day of Music
When: June 10, 2023 from 10:00am to 10:00pm
Where: 13 Locations
Admission: FREE
Now in its fourth year, the VSO’s annual Day of Music brings music to people across the province in a way that is unique, celebratory, and best of all, free!
Day of Music embraces the joy that music brings and its power to create meaningful connections with others, while showcasing the range of talent and artistry in the community.
Audiences can enjoy performances across 13 stages, including the Orpheum, Pyatt Hall at the VSO SoM, and the Annex. Additionally, pop-up venues at YVR, Bill Curtis Square in Yaletown, the Vancouver Convention Centre, and the Deloitte and TELUS Garden office buildings on West Georgia Street. Furthermore, those outside the Lower Mainland are able to watch over 20 shows on-demand on the Day of Music website, including a live broadcast of the VSO’s concert at 8:00pm.
“At the VSO and VSO School of Music, we love breaking down barriers and helping new audiences discover orchestral music, along with music of all genres! This is the perfect opportunity to sample everything that the Vancouver music scene has to offer including our phenomenal orchestra, plus music from diverse genres and musical traditions!”
Angela Elster, President & CEO of the VSO and VSO SoM.
The day will culminate with the full Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of VSO Music Director Otto Tausk, playing a free 8:00pm concert at the Orpheum. This special free concert has been curated to appeal to a broad variety of musical palettes.
To honour the VSO’s ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, the concert includes selections from Ancestral Voices, composed by the late VSO Music Director Emeritus Bramwell Tovey, and sung by special guest mezzo-soprano Marion Newman. Also, the concert features some of the most beloved orchestral repertoire around, with music by Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Dvořák, and even an intergalactic Imperial March or two by John Williams.
Day of Music is the VSO’s annual free community celebration of music and musicians. The first celebration took place in 2019 and welcomed over 14,000 people to 100 free performances in celebration of the VSO’s 100th Anniversary.
Tonight at BC Place, in front of a crowd of over 20,000 fans, Vancouver Whitecaps FC defeated CF Montréal 2-1 to win the Canadian Championship and raise the Voyageurs Cup for the second year in a row.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Win Canadian Championship for 2nd Year in a Row
Brian White scored in the 58th minute and Ryan Gauld got the second goal off a penalty shot in the 66th minute to secure the lead – and the win. This is Vancouver’s third Voyageurs Cup win, with the first in 2015 and second in 2022.
Best Young Canadian Player: Ali Ahmed
George Gross Most Valuable Player: Julian Gressel
With the championship in hand, the ‘Caps also become the first MLS club to qualify* for the revamped 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. The Concacaf Champions League, the region’s premier men’s club competition, will be known as the Concacaf Champions Cup starting in 2024.
Of the 27 teams total, up to 10 MLS teams can qualify via different pathways:
MLS regular season and Audi MLS Cup Playoffs: 5 teams (guaranteed)
Leagues Cup: 3 teams (must qualify on merit)
US Open Cup: 1 team (champion only)
Canadian Championship: 1 team (champion only)*
The Concacaf Champions Cup will continue to be played in a direct elimination knockout stage format and will be composed of five rounds: Round One, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final.
The first four stages will each include home and away play, while the Final, where the region’s Champion will be crowned, will be played as a single-leg match on a weekend date. Of the 27 clubs that will participate, 22 will begin play in Round One and five will receive a bye to the Round of 16.
The competition provides a qualification route to the new and expanded FIFA Club World Cup, which begins in 2025.
The BC Achievement Foundation launched its 2023 Call for Nominations for the 17th annual Polygon Award in First Nations Art, which will be open until June 30, 2023.
Polygon Award in First Nations Art Nominations 2023
The Polygon Award in First Nations Art (FNA) program recognizes BC First Nations artists for excellence in traditional, contemporary or media art. The Award is designed for artists from BC First Nations who have demonstrated a commitment to their art practice; have accumulated a body of work; and who are recognized in their communities as artists.
“First Nations art in BC holds immense cultural significance, representing traditions and histories that connect the people to this land. The Polygon First Nations Art Award is one of the earliest provincial programs to recognize the contributions of these artists through an achievement-focused lens,” said Walter Pela, Chair of the BC Achievement Foundation.
Nominations are invited from throughout the province from BC First Nations artists who practice traditional or contemporary visual art in fields such as, but not limited to, carving, photography, beading, weaving, jewellery, painting, masks, sculpture, stonework, printmaking, basketry, textiles, and media art.
“Anytime you can do artwork and put it out there and make the Indigenous presence in these areas known, that could inspire a young Indigenous person to pursue their traditional art and culture,” said Qwul’thilum Dylan Thomas, 2022 FNA Award recipient.
The 2023 Polygon Award in First Nations Art marks the 17th year of the program, which stands on the excellence of 95 recipients and the philanthropic community that supports BC Achievement’s programming.
Recipients will be announced in October, with an exhibit of their selected works taking place November 15-22 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre in downtown Vancouver.
About BC Achievement
BC Achievement is an independent foundation established in 2003 that celebrates the spirit of excellence in our province and serves to honour the best of British Columbia. By recognizing the accomplishments of our province’s entrepreneurs, artists, community leaders, youth and volunteers, its award programs pay tribute to exceptional people, doing exceptional work, while carving a path forward for others to follow.
The BC Achievement Foundation launched its 2023 Call for Nominations for the 19th annual Applied Art + Design Award, which will be open until June 30, 2023.
Applied Art + Design Award Nominations 2023
Presented since 2004, the Applied Art + Design (AAD) Award program celebrates British Columbians who excel in creating functional art. The program recognizes artists who work in mediums such as furniture, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, weaving, glass, fashion, to industrial design.
“The Applied Art + Design Award program honours creators and makers – those whose innovative work contributes directly to both the cultural and economic fabric of the province. Their artistic yet purposeful designs ensure that there is a sense of wonder and beauty to everyday items that are in every way extraordinary,” said Walter Pela, Chair of the BC Achievement Foundation.
Applying for an award serves as a platform to communicate an artist’s work, vision and creativity. The process invites an opportunity for critical artistic reflection and exposes artists and designers to a wider audience. The program welcomes submissions from those who produce work that has a practical or functional application.
Nominations and self-nominations are accepted from June 1-30, 2023.
“It is important to draw attention to the work of craftspeople in applied arts and design by honouring them with these kinds of awards for excellence in their field. It is a public endorsement and reminder of the value of handcrafting which celebrates individual achievement over mass manufacturing which dehumanizes it,” said Robert Anderson, 2022 Award of Distinction recipient.
Recipients will be announced in October, with an exhibit of their selected works taking place November 15-22 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre in downtown Vancouver.
About BC Achievement
BC Achievement is an independent foundation established in 2003 that celebrates the spirit of excellence in our province and serves to honour the best of British Columbia. By recognizing the accomplishments of our province’s entrepreneurs, artists, community leaders, youth and volunteers, its award programs pay tribute to exceptional people, doing exceptional work, while carving a path forward for others to follow.
