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 Supports Young People As Cost of Food Rises
Covenant House Vancouver
Feeling the Pinch
This year, the 14th edition of Canada’s Food Price Report predicts that all provinces may experience price increases of up to 4.5%, across all food categories, with some categories like bakery, meat, and vegetables, to increase in price between 5% and 7%. These increases are attributed mainly to the rising costs of producing food, transporting it, and the detrimental effects of climate change on crop yields.
Food Is a Basic Need
Along with water, clothing, sleep, and shelter, food is a necessity for survival. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs illustrated and explains how basic needs must be met, before other needs like relationships or careers can be realized. Unhoused or precariously housed people are in survival mode. Their basic needs are not being met, so they cannot just “go out and get a job” to solve their problems. If only life was that easy.
After forty years, one of the most recognizable totem poles in Stanley Park (and Vancouver) will be relocated to the Museum of Anthropology (MOA). In early September the Kakaso’las totem pole carved by celebrated Kwakwaka’wakw artist Ellen Neel will be returned, following the conclusion of a loan agreement between MOA and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation dating back to 1985.
Kakaso’las Totem Pole in Stanley Park Moving to MOA
Any protocols or ceremony that may need to take place for the pole’s relocation are being decided by the family of Ellen Neel. Additionally, the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations are being kept informed through the Stanley Park Intergovernmental Working Group.
The relocation from Brockton Point to MOA is scheduled for September 4, 2024.
The relocation of the pole back to the museum is happening in close coordination with MOA and Ellen Neel’s family, due to the age and condition of the pole. Based on an assessment of the pole, the Neel family decided that the pole should return to MOA where it can be preserved into the future and continue to tell the history of Ellen Neel and her legacy. The Neel family, including Ellen Neel’s granddaughter, Lou-ann Neel, is supportive of, and advocated for, this return so that the pole can begin the next chapter of its life at MOA.
The Kakaso’las totem pole was carved by Ellen Neel in 1955. It stands six metres tall and features prominent figures including the Thunderbird with a whale on its chest, followed by a Sea-Bear holding a killer whale, a man holding a frog, Bak’was (the Wild Man of the Woods), Dzunuk’wa (Giant of the Woods), and a Raven at the base.
It was one of five poles commissioned by the Woodward’s Department Store and initially installed at their Westmount Mall location in Edmonton, Alberta. The pole was carved at Neel’s Ferguson Point Studio in Stanley Park, with assistance from her sons Robert, Dave, and John (Ted Jr.) Neel. Woodward’s donated the pole to MOA in 1984, where it was restored by Robert Neel before being installed at Brockton Point through the long-term loan agreement in 1985.
It’s not quite time for back to school as we have many more summer events happening around Vancouver this weekend – and the PNE is just getting started! Miss604 is proud to sponsor the summer season at Burnaby Village Museum, Sounds Like Summer at Deer Lake Park on Friday, and Summer Cinema free outdoor movie (Barbie) at Civic Square on Friday as well. Find these events and many more things to do around Vancouver listed below.
The Book of Mormon is returning to Vancouver this November for the first time since it had a sold out one week run in 2018.
Sam-Nackman and Sam McLellan in The Book of Mormon – Photo by Julieta Cervantes
Since opening in 2011, it has become one of the most successful shows in Broadway history, breaking the Eugene O’Neill Theatre house record more than 50 times. In addition to nine Tony Awards including Best Musical and the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album, The Book of Mormon won five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the Drama League Award for Best Musical and four Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Musical.
The Book of Mormon in Vancouver
Dates: November 12 to 17, 2024
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre (630 Hamilton St, Vancouver)
American Express Cardmembers can get Front Of The Line® Presale access to tickets from August 13 to 14, 2024.
With the book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (of South Park fame) along with Robert Lopez, The Book of Mormon has been performed on three continents and has won over 30 international awards. The musical has smashed long-standing box office records in New York, London, Melbourne, Sydney and in cities across the United States and the world.
“The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is going to be a landmark Games for the Paralympic Movement, and an incredible showcase of sporting excellence, disability pride, and the radical power of inclusion,” says Josh Vander Vies, co-chef de mission, Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team.
Team Canada at the Paris 2024 Paralympics
A team of 126 athletes, including competition partners, will represent Canada competing in 18 sports in Paris: wheelchair basketball (24 athletes), Para swimming (22), Para athletics (20), sitting volleyball (12), wheelchair rugby (12), Para cycling (7), goalball (6), boccia (5, including one competition partner), Para canoe (3), Para equestrian (3), Para triathlon (3), wheelchair fencing (3), Para archery (1), Para badminton (1), Para judo (1), Para rowing (1), Para table tennis (1), and wheelchair tennis (1).
