The Vancouver Writers Fest is gearing up to once again bring a stellar lineup of Canadian and international authors to the city from October 17–23, 2022. This year, the Writers Fest celebrates its 35th anniversary with 75+ in-person events on Granville Island.
Photo Submitted
Vancouver Writers Fest 2022
Some of the authors visiting this year include: Jonathan Escoffery, Wayne Johnston, Guy Gavriel Kay, Marsha Lederman, Dr. Gabor Maté, Noor Naga, Tom Perrotta, Danny Ramadan, Eliza Reid, Iain Reid, Bill Richardson, John Elizabeth Stintzi, Douglas Stuart and Joshua Whitehead.
Explore themes of home and community, identity and storytelling. Featured events will discuss the state of modern journalism, the loss of reproductive rights, the rise of Indigenous storytelling and the ongoing climate crisis, while also offering festival goers their fill of debut novels, poetry and youth programming.
In addition to festival favourites Literary Cabaret, Sunday Brunch and Afternoon Tea, this year’s Writer’s Fest will also feature an in depth discussion on the complexities of family with Kathryn Gretsinger, Chelene Knight, Lisa Moore and David A. Robertson; An Evening with Billy-Ray Belcourt, whose debut novel A Minor Chorus is longlisted for the Giller Prize; a conversation with Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo author, Booker Prize-winner Douglas Stuart;and a look into terrifying wildness of the Anthropocene with John Elizabeth Stintzi. For a full list of events on offer this year, please visit thedigital program guide.
More Featured Events/Authors:
Francine Cunningham, appears in Short Stories, Expansive Worlds on 23 October, 2022.
Chelene Knight, appears in The Alma Lee Opening Night Event: Family Matters on 18 October, 2022.
Bob McDonald, appears in The Future is Now, with Bob McDonald on 23 October, 2022.
What Home Means, curated and moderated by Guest Curator Omar El Akkad on 18 October, 2022.
Latin American Brilliance, moderated by Vancouver’s own Carmen Rodríguez on 19 October, 2022.
Fabulous Historical Fantasy — Featuring literary powerhouses J.M. Miro (a.k.a. Steven Price) and Guy Gavriel Kay on on 19 October, 2022.
Tara McGuire, appearing in Writing The Self and Blending Genres on 21 October, 2022 and 22 October, 2022.
Brian Thomas Isaac, appearing in The Power of Story on 20 October, 2022.
Adriana Barton, appearing in The Afternoon Tea on 23 October, 2022.
The Pacific National Exhibition (“PNE”) has just announced that it will host the most unique winter celebration in BC, the brand new PNE Winter Fair.
PNE Winter Fair
When: December 14-23, 2022 from 4:30pm to 10:30pm each night.
Tickets: $15 for the Winter Fair (does not include admission to the nightly concert).
Concert tickets range from $39.00 – $69.00 each concert ticket DOES include Winter Fair admission. All entertainment elements, outside of the nightly concerts, in the Winter Fair are free with admission!
The ten-day event features guest favourites from the PNE Summer Fair and the PNE has translated them into a unique winter holiday experience including nightly indoor concerts by your favourite artists, holiday themed food and beverages, an outdoor Holiday Marketplace, carollers, a Holiday Theatre with live kids show and local performing groups, nightly tree lighting ceremony, a Christmas edition of Duelling Pianos, WinterLights walk through light display, and holiday-themed ice skating in the Agrodome featuring live music.
“We are very excited to announce the inaugural PNE Winter Fair, building on the 112-year summer Fair tradition we believe that our new winter event will be a place where British Columbians will build memories celebrating the holiday season,” says PNE President and CEO Shelley Frost. “After 2 years of COVID drive through winter events, it was important for us to define our permanent place in the holiday event landscape. This event will be a significant annual addition to the PNE’s year-long programming and will mean that hundreds of new jobs will be created and millions of dollars in positive economic impact will be generated into the regional economy.”
Holiday Night Concerts Lineup
December 14
The Kat & Dave Show Starring David Foster & Katharine McPhee
December 15
The Tenors
December 16
Tom Cochrane with Band
December 17
Dallas Smith
December 18
Jann Arden
December 19
Holly Cole
December 20
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox: A Very Postmodern Christmas
December 21
Dionne Warwick and the Sounds of Christmas
December 22
Johnny Reid
December 23
A Boy Band Christmas: An Evening of Holiday and Hits Featuring Jeff Timmons, Drew Lachey and Justin Jeffre from 98 Degrees, James Jones of All 4 One, Trevor Penick from O-Town, and Ryan Cabrera
Tickets for PNE Winter Fair and the Holiday Night Concerts on sale at 10:00am October 6th through TicketLeader.
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.
World Homeless Day Facts and Stats
The 10th of October marks World Homeless Day and it’s a chance for the global community to acknowledge those experiencing homelessness. World Homeless Day draws attention to the needs of those experiencing homelessness locally and internationally, and provides opportunities for the community to get involved in responding to homelessness.
20% of Canada’s1 homeless population consists of young people between the ages of 13 to 24,2 and at least 6,000 young people experience homelessness every night.3
40% of homeless youth first experience homelessness before the age of 16.4
Over 50% of homeless youth indicated abuse at home contributed to their homelessness.5
Real Youth Overcoming Homelessness
During this time of year, Covenant House Vancouver reflects on the amazing feats young people have accomplished. To honor the resilient young people they see every day, they share their stories: meet Tara.
Tara arrived like many young people do, struggling to make ends meet, and not sure where to turn for help. CHV welcomed her into their Crisis Program and began to connect her with resources.
Tara recently said: “I owe so much to Covenant House Vancouver for helping me with so much. Four months ago, I had no self-confidence, and the staff here keep telling me I can do anything. Now I am very confident and feel like there is nothing I can’t do.”
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.
Gaetz, S., Gulliver, T., & Richter, T. (2014). The State of Homelessness in Canada: 2014. Toronto: The Homeless Hub Press
Gaetz, S., Dej, E., Richter, T., & Redman, M. (2016). The State of Homelessness in Canada 2016. Toronto: Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press
Gaetz, S., Dej, E., Richter, T., & Redman, M. (2016). The State of Homelessness in Canada 2016. Toronto: Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press
Gaetz, S., O’Grady, B., Kidd, S. and Schwan, K. (2016). Without a Home: The National Youth Homelessness Survey. Toronto: Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press.
Gaetz, S., O’Grady, B., Kidd, S. and Schwan, K. (2016). Without a Home: The National Youth Homelessness Survey. Toronto: Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press.
Following their recent fall opening, Surrey Art Gallery is continuing to collaborate with the Black Arts Centre to present three events this fall related to the Black Arts Centre’s two exhibits at the Gallery, Concealed Cultures: Visualizing the Black Vernacular and I see; I breathe; I am!.
Black Arts Centre at Surrey Art Gallery – Fegor Obuwoma, In Memory of Who We Were, 2021, film. Photo by Four Eyes Portraits.
Black Arts Centre Events at Surrey Art Gallery This Fall
Where: Surrey Art Gallery (13750 88 Ave, Surrey at Bear Creek Park)
Admission: Free
On October 8, the Black Arts Centre presents a film screening and performance. The program features works by Concealed Cultures exhibiting artist Ogheneofegor Obuwoma alongside a performance by Chipo Chipaziwa. Obuwoma’s and Chipaziwa’s works highlight themes of Black identity, spirituality, ritual, and female agency. The screening will be followed by a conversation between the Black Arts Centre curator Olumoroti (Moroti) Soji-George and the two artists.
On Saturday, October 29, the Black Arts Centre curators Arshi Chadha, Olumoroti (Moroti) Soji-George, and Vanessa Fajemisin will lead a guided tour of Concealed Cultures: The Black Vernacular and I see; I breathe; I am. Learn more about their process of curating these two exhibitions and how they bring together themes of community, language, racial violence, voyeurism, spirituality, Black agency, erasure, and cultural reconnection.
On Saturday, November 12, the three curators will lead an interactive workshop about creation in spoken form. Participants will be invited to engage with mediums of spoken word such as poetry, rap, song, and literature as they interact with the boundless and changing ideas surrounding the visualization of Blackness and cultivate art inspired by language.
About the Black Arts Centre
Located in the heart of Surrey directly beneath Surrey Central Station, the Black Arts Centre exists to support and celebrate Black art and artists across a variety of disciplines at a local, national, and international scale by hosting exhibitions, performances, events, workshops, and other diverse programming. The Black Arts Centre is a response to our community’s need for a Black-friendly art and gathering space that is culturally relevant and accessible. The Centre not only conceptualizes art in an everyday sense, but also aims to foster mutual, transformational relationships that connect our community to artistic and cultural Black experiences year-round.
About Surrey Art Gallery
Founded in 1975, Surrey Art Gallery presents contemporary art by local, national, and international artists, including digital and audio art. Recognized for its award-winning programs, the Gallery engages children through to adults in ongoing conversations that affect our lives and provides opportunities to interact with artists and the artistic process. The Gallery is located at 13750 88 Avenue in Surrey on the unceded territories of the Salish Peoples, including the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), and Semiahma (Semiahmoo) nations. Surrey Art Gallery gratefully acknowledges operating funding from the City of Surrey, Province of BC through BC Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and the Surrey Art Gallery Association.
Western Canada’s most highly anticipated Halloween event, Fright Nights at Playland, is back this autumn with new attractions on select nights from October 7 to October 31, 2022. Playland will once again transform into a terrifying Halloween-themed experience with seven haunted houses, 19 hair-raising rides, creepy decor, roaming monsters and gripping live performances.
Fright Nights Resurrection at Playland 2022
Warning! Not recommended for ages 12 and under, seniors 65+, people with sensitivity to strobe lighting or fog machines, people with high blood pressure, heart conditions, pregnant women or scaredy-cats. Absolutely no guest costumes or guest costume face make up allowed.
Opening Scaremony
Witness the Fright Nights RESURRECTION with a nightly Opening Scaremony complete with all of the creepy cast members emerging from the fog to welcome Fright Nights guests in a completely unique immersive performance not to be missed! (nightly at 6:00pm at the entrance to the park)
Early Access Pass
Guests at Fright Nights have the option to purchase an Early Access Pass, which includes an expedited line for park entry (beginning at 5:00pm nightly) and early access to three houses (Hollywood Horrors, Keepers Doll Factory and Darkness) for a $15.00 additional cost.
Carnevil Scare Zone
This brand-new area features three shows nightly including the incredibly popular Caravan of Curiosities.
Fright Nights 2022 Features Seven Terrifying Haunted Houses
Don’t miss the chance to experience one of the most popular houses in Fright Nights history, Hollywood Horrors, where killers stalk the halls patiently awaiting victims. This is the last chance to experience this house, as it will retire at the end of Fright Nights 2022. From a dark corner, a bladed glove glistens in the flickering light. Hidden in the shadows lies a cannibalistic genius. The sound of a rusty chainsaw echoes through the hallways of Hollywood Horrors.
Another highly anticipated haunted house is The Bloodshed. This family of mutated murderers and sadistic aberrations feed on your fear, and your insides. The house foundation is built on the blood and bones of their victims. They’ll kidnap and mutilate anyone who dares visit The Bloodshed. Enter at your own risk!
Other houses for 2022 include:
Darkness
Fear
Materia Medica
Keepers Doll Factory
Haunted Mansion
Admission includes unlimited access to all seven haunted houses, shows and 19 rides. (There is an additional charge for the Revelation).
Due to the overwhelming demand and to ensure a quality guest experience, Fright Nights is putting a cap on the number of tickets sold per day. Tickets must be purchased for a specific date. Event nights have limited availability and may sell out.
Food Options
In addition to all the usual Triple O’s, Pizza Pizza, Buen Gusto, Coaster Dogs, FunDunkers, What the Fudge, POP, and Treat Thyself options, Playland will be offering a number of themed seasonal items such as the Bloody Orange Sunday, Zombie Fingers, Vampire Cookies, Charcoal Cone, and more.
Family-Friendly Alternative
Tricks & Treats at Playland (Get Tickets) October 29 & 30 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm Admission for all ages: $31.50 (includes taxes and fees) Includes some rides, access to 3 Haunted Houses (recommended for ages 13+) and candy scavenger hunt. Kids 3 and younger are free with adult accompaniment.
This brand new experience is ideal for kids and scaredy-cat adults. It takes place during the day at Playland and includes rides, games, a candy scavenger hunt, and other surprises along the way. Costumes are welcomed and encouraged.
