Whenever I put a rainy photo in my Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend post, there ends up being a gloriously stretch of sunshine Friday to Sunday. However, after months with no significant rainfall, and plenty of clouds with droplets appearing in my weather app, I hope this is an accurate representation of the next few days! But fear not event lovers, there’s still plenty to enjoy even if we need to dust off our Gore-Tex:
Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend October 21-23
In honour of Small Business Week in BC (October 17-21) the YMCA of Greater Vancouver is launching a free self employment program. This is designed to support for people who are unemployed and under-employed who have decided to take on small business operations as their next career step.
Free Self Employment Program from the YMCA
Unemployment numbers continue to be low, with many returning to work post-pandemic, though some remain unemployed or underemployed due to a myriad of disruptions in the economy. Through the pandemic, many have re-evaluated what they want for their career. Self employment provides an option to those who may need flexible work hours, to take care of their family and themselves.
Small Business Week is an opportunity to celebrate entrepreneurs and spark innovation. However, not everyone has the same access to the tools and resources to get their idea off the ground. The YMCA’s Self-Employment Program bridges this gap.
This 48-week, online program includes living supports up to $638 per week while in the program, and gives you the tools to launch your own business.
“Thousands of people have accessed our services in the 36 years of delivering Self-Employment Programs, and we know that with the right framework and support, people can build successful and sustainable careers,” says Kirsty Peterson, Director of Employment & Training, YMCA of Greater Vancouver.
The program takes participants from business concept, all the way to running day-to-day business operations. A highly skilled team of experts will provide blended support through one-on-one coaching, email, and the use of a Learning Management System. The YMCA’s Teams will coach participants to translate business concepts into viable business launches and each participant will create and deliver a comprehensive business plan at course completion.
Following the digital pivot of the company’s annual storytelling project, Zee Zee Theatre returns to a free, in-person model with The Rainbow Elders & Allies Collection. Co-curated by Allan Morgan, Melanie Ray, Alysha Collie, and Dallas Yellowfly, this year’s theme amplifies the stories of 2SLGBTQI+ elders whose histories have led to the advancements of Vancouver’s queer history, and future.
Zee Zee’s 12th edition of this community engagement project provides the opportunity for event-goers to speak one-on-one with a Rainbow Elder to break down their ideas of difference, twenty minutes at a time.
The Rainbow Elders & Allies Collection
When: November 5-6 and 12-13, 2022
Where: Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch (350 W Georgia St)
Admission: No RSVP necessary. Sign up at the door of the Third Floor Atrium
“The stories of our Rainbow Elders come from the perspective of a singular experience in the history of the world. Many of us navigated through a time where being homosexual was diagnosed as a mental illness, and societal disdain rampant and dangerous” says co-curator, Allan Morgan. “The changes we have witnessed and advocated for have changed the landscape immensely. Through these simple tales from our elders shared one-on-one with another human, we can help weave the tapestry of our rainbow cloth.”
Meant to build intergenerational understanding and dismantle misconceptions, Producer Jordy Matheson reminds audiences that this event “consists of storytellers of diverse sexualities, genders, and lived experience sharing true stories from their lives. As an audience participant you get the chance to sit across from one of these storytellers in a 20 minute one-on-one experience. Because so much of LGBTQ2SI+ history has not been documented, it is vital to listen to the people who hold this history, to remember them, and to carry these stories forward. Some are painful, others heartwarming, but all deserve to be told.”
Through these explorations of story, division is tackled head on in a safe, and accessible space in order to find common ground, and narrow the ideological gaps that divide us. As Vancouver’s Rainbow Elders battled power structures in order to live proudly today, The Rainbow Elders & Allies Collection reminds us that there is empowerment in experience, and perspective, as knowledge of our histories can only lead to a prouder and louder future.
For more information about Zee Zee’s upcoming events, follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Vancouver Opera is opening its 2022–2023 season this month with a full-scale production of Georges Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers and you can enter to win tickets!
This dramatic opera tells the tale of two devoted friends and the woman that comes between them. The famous “friendship duet”, Au fond du temple saint, is one of the most beautiful and recognizable pieces in the opera repertoire.
Vancouver Opera Presents the Pearl Fishers
When: October 22 and 27 at 7:30pm; October 30 at 2:00pm
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre (630 Hamilton St, Vancouver)
Tickets: Single tickets for the 2022–2023 season start at $50 and are available now through the Vancouver Opera box office online or at 604-683-0222. Those who want to become a member of the Vancouver Opera family can be come a subscriber. Choose from one of five subscriptions to experience Vancouver Opera with the best seats at the best price and a flexible refund policy.
From the composer of Carmen, The Pearl Fishers’ transcendent beauty, lush orchestration and Bizet’s trademark melodies will transport audiences. This is the first production of this classic opera in 28 years! It is directed by Vancouver favourite Rachel Peake, and Conductor Kamna Gupta will make her Vancouver Opera debut.
Cast in the tenor role of Nadir is Aaron Blake, making his Vancouver Opera debut. Singing the baritone role of Zurga is Canadian Phillip Addis who has performed all over the world. Audiences will remember him from Vancouver Opera productions of La Bohème and The Marriage ofFigaro. Canadian-Lebanese soprano, Miriam Khalil sings the role of Leila in her Vancouver Opera debut. Canadian-Armenian bass-baritone, Vartan Gabrielian performs the role of Nourabad.
Win Tickets
I have a pair of tickets to give away to the performant on October 27th, here’s how you can enter to win:
The Pearl Fishers is sung in French with English SURTITLES™ projected above the stage. You can learn more about the story on the website before you go. Follow Vancouver Opera on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by ZenSeekers Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
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Rural BC islands will inspire your next eco-travel adventure in our province’s beautiful backyard! These small islands have big climate conservation stories to tell, and my friends at ZenSeekers have captured an incredible chapter on each in their latest series featuring Quadra, Cortes, Cormorant, Gabriola and Hornby Islands.
5 Photos to Inspire Your Eco-Travel Adventures to Rural BC Islands
Melissa Renwick is a photographer and writer based in Tofino. She is interested in documenting the complicated interrelationship between the coastal landscape and those who inhabit it. Through her intimate style of portraiture and long-term storytelling, she aims to capture the different ways people live in remote regions of the country.
Melissa Renwick for ZenSeekers – Cortes Island
1. Cortes Island – Klahoose, Tla’amin, and Homalco Traditional Territory
Renwick selected this image of a calm morning because it really highlighted what they’re trying to protect on the island. But beyond the serene coastal sights, there’s also the sounds. George Sirk, known by beloved nickname “Nature Boy”, has been running a show on the local Cortes Radio where he showcases nature recordings he’s captured around Cortes Island. He plays these sounds for listeners with the intention of familiarizing them with the creatures and animals that they live with on Cortes. Sirk encourages listeners to take audio recordings from their own backyards so he can interpret them on the airwaves. He hopes listeners develop an appreciation for the natural world and the habitat they share with nature.
Melissa Renwick for ZenSeekers – Quadra Island
2. Quadra Island – Wei Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum Traditional Territories
On her trip for ZenSeekers, Renwick captured photography of Quadra Island’s intricate web of trails used for mountain biking, climbing, hiking. That’s where she met volunteer John Barclay, who moved to Quadra in 2003. Barclay is in his 70s and loves getting his hands dirty out in the forest, surrounded by nature and the younger generations who bring energy to the trails, the environment and the greater community. He’s a vital part of the island’s ecosystem, just like the roots and branches that cover the trails. He told Renwick: “When you’re in nature, you’re a part of nature, and that encourages you to protect it.”
Melissa Renwick for ZenSeekers – Cormorant Island
3. Cormorant Island – Kwakwaka’wakw Traditional Territory
Sunrise taken from the The Cabins at Alert Bay owned and operated by the ‘Namgis First Nation on Cormorant Island. The grounds at the cabins lead down to this viewing platform that overlooks the ocean. Renwick captured a stunning sunrise with golden light with yellow, orange, pink, purple hues. “You just feel like you’re on the edge of the world. That morning as we were standing on the platform you could just hear the echoes of whales coming up for air. Birds were hovering the surface of the ocean, enjoying a morning feeding like the whales. It just felt like you were right there with them. It was just a really special moment.”
Also on the island, you’ll find the U’mista Cultural Centre, one of the longest-operating and most successful First Nations cultural facilities in BC. It was founded in 1980 as a ground breaking project to house potlatch artifacts which had been seized by government during an earlier period of cultural repression.
Logan Moore for ZenSeekers – Tribune Bay Outdoor Education Centre
4. Hornby Island – K’ómoks Traditional Territory
The Tribune Bay Outdoor Education Centre prioritizes preservation and stewardship of Tribune Bay on Hornby Island. Known for its vast, white, sandy beaches and aquamarine water, Tribune Bay is a place where visitors can connect with the landscape through activities, such as rock climbing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. Kate Ortwein, the Centre’s business manager, said that through sharing their stewardship priorities, she hopes guests walk away with teachings they can apply in their own backyards.
Logan Moore for ZenSeekers – Gabriola Island
5. Gabriola Island – Snuneymuxw Traditional Territory
The Gabriola Lands and Trails Trust was created to provide visitors with opportunities to connect with the natural world. By giving people the chance to explore the remote island through these trails, Rob Brockley, Trust president, said they’re able to develop an appreciation for the wonders of Mother Nature. One of the most densely populated Gulf Islands, the trails offer visitors a chance to step off the beaten path into undisturbed areas and soak in the magic of the forest.
