The Future Arts Network is launching its inaugural mentorship workshop for emerging writers and artists of colour. The free, low-barrier, and accessible program will be held online this month and applications for the program are now open through January 9th. Open to all BIPOC women and other marginalized genders, the program will run January 23 to February 15, 2023, focusing on how to engage with the literary arts and publishing industry.
Future Arts Network Society Mentorship Workshop
Future Arts Network Society was established in 2022 by co-leads Kristin Cheung and Michelle Ha. The organization was built on the groundwork laid by “The Future is you and me”, the country’s first and only interdisciplinary arts mentorship program for women of colour that was co-founded by Cheung and Megan Lau.
Over five years, the initiative hosted annual professional development workshops, produced an online symposium in 2020, and co-developed a community research report in 2021 with Cineworks titled “A Seat at the Table: Black, Indigenous & Women of Colour in Metro Vancouver’s Film and TV Industry Speak”. The project was officially sunset in 2021, but the mission to support and develop women of colour leaders in the arts remained a priority, which is why the Future Arts Network Society was founded.
“Future Arts Network Society supports BIPOC, trans, and non-binary cultural workers to be creative, artistic, and innovative leaders,” says Cheung. “There is currently a lack of training that addresses the unique lived experiences of racialized women. Our programs serve as strategic interventions to reduce systemic barriers. We hope that by connecting emerging and industry professionals, we can build a meaningful community of future leaders that better reflect the make-up of Canada.”
The inaugural workshop will be focused on the literary arts, with mentorship sessions on pitching book proposals, grant writing, marketing, and more. Participants will also develop a collaborative book that will be published in spring 2023. Speakers currently include former Room magazine publisher and poet Molly Cross-Blanchard, co-creators of Hungry Zine Kathryn Gwun-Yeen and Kyla Pascal, award-winning author Jessica Johns, author and journalist Doretta Lau, Hugo Award-winning editor and writer Chimedum Ohaegbu, and more.
How to Apply for the Program
Applicants must be 18 years or older and while no experience is necessary, they must have a keen interest in writing and the arts. Each participant will receive an honorarium of $500 at the end of the program. Apply online until January 9, 2023.
The is monthly series features the latest updates and news from Covenant House Vancouver. Miss604 is proud to be their Official Blog Partner. This month’s post has been written by Jason Bosher of Covenant House Vancouver.
Covenant House Vancouver 2022 Impact Wrap Up
Looking back on 2022 it was a year of change and growth for Covenant House Vancouver. They moved into a new 10-storey, purpose-built facility in downtown Vancouver, and their programs and services expanded.
At Covenant House Vancouver, young people are greeted without judgment — with unconditional love and with absolute respect — often for the first time in their lives. Community support makes it possible for their frontline staff to develop meaningful relationships built on trust with the youth who access their programs. They work to meet each young person’s unique needs by providing them with individualized programming, wraparound services, and relentless support.
Covenant House Vancouver
Covenant House thanks everyone who has stood behind and shown support for each of the resilient and inspiring young people who needed a helping hand last year.
Here are just a few ways that their community of supporters and volunteers made an impact on the youth at Covenant House Vancouver in 2022:
121
Every day an average of 121 youth found love and support at Covenant House Vancouver
154
154 youth successfully secured or maintained independent housing
510
510 youth accessed warm meals, a safe place to rest, and one-size-fits-one support in the Drop-in Centre
631
The outreach team connected with 631 individual youth
25
The 25 youth living in the Rights of Passage program stayed for an average of almost 20 months
258
258 individual youth stayed in the Crisis Program
93%
93% of youth said that they feel Covenant House Vancouver has helped them
85%
85% of youth maintained or improved their mental health
80%
80% of youth said they feel more confident about their future
As you head into a new year remind yourself of all the good you have accomplished. What have you been able to overcome? How far are you from where you started? What are you most proud of?
Because of the incredible support from the community, the youth who come to Covenant House Vancouver can have the same reflections. They can look back and be proud of where they are today.
Because supporters, donors, volunteers, and staff believe in them the young people start to believe in themselves. And when they start to believe in themselves, their futures are limitless.
Thank you for helping to make 2023 brighter for thousands of young people!
Since 1997, Covenant House Vancouver has been providing love and hope to youth experiencing homelessness. They are the premiere service provider of residential and outreach services for homeless and at-risk youth ages 16 to 24 in Vancouver. Follow Covenant House on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more info.
E-Comm, which handles 99 per cent of BC’s 9-1-1 call volume at its two emergency communications centres, has released its annual Top Ten list of calls that don’t belong on 9-1-1.
E-Comm Photo
E-Comm call taker Mark Kolomejac has responded to many nuisance calls during his time as a police call taker. He says that although general questions and complaints might not seem like a significant burden, their impact on public safety can be detrimental. The worst part? The problem is preventable.
“Nuisance calls never belong on emergency lines, but it’s extremely concerning how often callers know their non-urgent concerns aren’t an appropriate reason to call 9-1-1. We regularly get callers stating ‘I know this isn’t an emergency, but I didn’t know who else to call,’” explains Kolomejac. “If you have a flat tire or a broken windshield wiper for example, we can’t help you on 9-1-1, but a towing company or roadside assistance will be able to get you the support that you need.”
Top Ten 9-1-1 Nuisance Calls of 2022
The nozzle wasn’t working at the gas station
They had a flat tire
People were playing basketball on a public court at night time
Someone wasn’t picking up after their dog
Someone was using their garbage bin
Complaining about children drawing with chalk at a playground
Their phone was stuck in a bench
Looking for an update on a nationwide telco outage
Someone called 9-1-1 because they had a broken window wiper
Someone cut in line at the car wash
E-Comm answered a total of 2,109,440 calls on 9-1-1 in 2022, marking the busiest year in the organization’s history with a 1.8 per cent increase from 2021. Of these calls, 98 per cent were answered in five seconds or less – surpassing both E-Comm’s contracted service level and industry standards for 9-1-1 call answer. Despite a publicly recognized rise in demand for all emergency services, E-Comm call takers continue to field nuisance calls on 9-1-1, diverting critical resources from British Columbians in real emergency situations.
By making the right call, you can help ensure that your loved ones get the assistance that they need in an emergency. It can be confusing to know the right resource to reach out to, so E-Comm has a comprehensive list of alternative resources on its website.
E-Comm is encouraging British Columbians to commit to a resolution that they can keep—protecting the province’s critical emergency resources by keeping 9-1-1 lines free for police, fire and ambulance emergencies.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by FestivalSeekers Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
The Vernon Winter Carnival is a continuing tradition that brings the community together and keeps everyone connected through shared and memorable experiences. From February 3 to 12, 2023, enjoy over a hundred events from the legendary parade and ice sculpture competition to dining, dancing, games, and fun for the whole family. As you plan around your Carnival calendar, here are a few things to know:
Balloon Glow – Vernon Winter Carnival Photo Submitted
Learn more from FestivalSeekers how has all of the details, and some great stories about the Carnival and don’t miss out on the Carnival Raffle. There are over $28,000 in prizes up for grabs in support of the festival and its legacy, enter today and experience the best of Vernon all year round!
5 Things to Know About the Vernon Winter Carnival
1. The first Winter Carnival in Vernon was held on Long Lake (Kalamalka Lake) February 23, 1893 and the first annual Carnival (as we know it today) was held January 27 to February 5, 1961. You can read about the early days of the festival in this interview I did for FestivalSeekers.
2. What is a Jopo? As in the Jopo Swim at the Vernon Aquatic Centre on February 5th. Jopo (and Jopette) is a made-up name for Carnival jesters first introduced in 1966.
3. The first Polar Bear Swim was in 1976. You can join this year’s Polar Bear Swim on February 11th at Paddlewheel Hall, and don’t miss the Polar Bear Market happening there as well.
4. The Carnival has had many unique events over the years, like Jam Can Curling, and they continue to come up with fun and innovative activities. New events this year include Bubble Tea Making Class, Pokemon Habitats, a Snowmobile Scavenger Hunt.
5. Fire and ice! From the heat of the hot air Balloon Glow lighting up the night sky, to roasting s’mores at Carnival Days at O’Keefe Ranch, to snow sculptures at Silver Star and the incredible Snow Globe Concert with the Reklaws February 10th. The two extremes blend together harmoniously for heaps of winter fun during the Carnival.
Vernon Winter Carnival Ice Slide – Photo Submitted
To learn more on the history to one of Canada’s longest – and biggest – winter celebrations, please have a read to this FestivalSeekers story. Follow the Vernon Winter Carnival on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for information and inspiration.
Welcome 2023! Enjoy holiday activities, new festivals, returning events, and lots of cheer to ring in the new year. Here is the BIG list of January events in Vancouver (and beyond). It’s updated daily so bookmark it and check back often:
