Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s Places that Matter will host a Militant Mothers of Raymur Celebration in time for Mother’s Day on May 7th, featuring the 91st plaque presentation to commemorate the history of the location.
Militant Mothers of Raymur – Places that Matter
When: Saturday, May 7, 2022 from 11:00am to 2:00pm
Where: 600 Raymur, Vancouver
Festivities: Plaque presentation, live music, storytelling. More info here »
When the Raymur housing project opened in 1971 parents were dismayed that their children had no option but to cross the railway tracks to get to school. After months of meetings and no action, mothers took actions into their own hands.
On January 26 1971, newspapers reported that: “twenty five women, the ‘Militant Mothers of Raymur,’ blockade the train tracks between Raymur and Glen demanding a safe crossing for Seymour students who have to cross the busy and dangerous tracks every day to get to school.”
Tents were pitched across the tracks, placards were hoisted with slogans such as “Petitions Don’t Work” and “Children Before Profits” and the news media showed up. In short order the city agreed that an overpass would be built across the tracks at the foot of Keefer Street. Not trusting the City, the “Mothers” kept a vigil on the tracks until construction actually began in March of 1971.
In 2019, the City of Vancouver officially changed the name of the bridge from the Keefer Street Pedestrian Overpass to the Militant Mothers of Raymur Overpass in honour of these women.
The Places That Matter Community History Resource website is an information-rich website that expands on the original Places That Matter plaque program – a project created in 2011 to celebrate Vancouver’s 125th anniversary as an incorporated city. PTM has helped recognize 125 community-nominated sites, covering some of the people, places and events that tell the story of Vancouver’s history. Each of the 125 sites is profiled with their own webpage exhibiting the plaque text, historic research, oral histories, contemporary and historic photos, as well as opportunities for community contribution.
Miss604’s Rebecca Bollwitt was on the Places That Matter to Vancouver selection committee in 2011.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by Urban Roots Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
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In early March of 2020 I was given a plant, and not having the best track record with keeping leafy things alive in my home, I promised myself that this one would make it. I’m happy to report that two years later it’s thriving, and I think I also managed to grow a green thumb in the process. Not really knowing where to go from here, expanding from my office window sill to perhaps my balcony, I was happy to be connected with the pros at Urban Roots Garden Market. They have eleven pop-up locations all around Metro Vancouver this season, open from April to July.
PNE Location of Urban Roots
Urban Roots Garden Market – Community Garden Centres
I arrived at the PNE location, just across from the entrance to Playland on Hastings. Little league teams were playing baseball, there was a random pipe band rehearsing in the field, and families were flocking into the pop-up garden shop on a sunny spring morning. That’s where I met Ron Murphy, Operations Manager at Urban Roots.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by the City of Burnaby Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
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Enjoy activities, art, flowers, talks, tours, and more all month long when Burnaby Blooms returns for the first time since 2019. It all kicks off Saturday, May 7th with a festival at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts at Deer Lake Park.
Burnaby Blooms – Photo Submitted
Burnaby Blooms Festival
When: Saturday, May 7, 2022 10:00am to 4:00pm
Where: Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (6450 Deer Lake Ave)
Festival highlights include an eco-art installation curated by local Burnaby artist Nickie Lewis, educational and cultural walking tours, gardening workshops and plant sales, a speaker series, roving performers, live music and a fabulous kid’s stage featuring free family-friendly entertainment all day.
Enjoy workshops about everything from felted wool to poetry, natural dyes to en plein air painting. Take a tour around the Burnaby heron colony, hear an Indigenous woman’s perspective of spring on the waters of the BC coast with Rosemary Georgeson or learn food preservation from Lucette Wesley of the South Burnaby Garden Club. There will be over 15 performers on stage throughout the day as well!
Be inspired by stunning art displays made of flowers, plants and natural materials while enjoying the beauty of Deer Lake Park.
Weekend Events
This activity series promotes the long-term sustainability and the ecological health of the community in a fun and creative environment. Enjoy Burnaby Blooms across the city with micro-events each weekend:
Confederation Park
Saturday, May 14: Workshops include beeswax candle making, fish leather tanning, a forest walk and more
Central Park
Saturday, May 21: Make your own terrarium jars, grow your own food, paint en plein air, be sure to pre-register for workshops that pique your interest
Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
Saturday, May 28: Make pine cone owls, do an eco-sculpture activity or learn the art of Shibori, take a photography tour and learn Indigenous history with John Priessl
Vancouver Opera is hosting a free live simulcast of HMS Pinaforeprojected onto a large screen in šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn (formerly the QET Plaza) on May 7th while the live event is performed inside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. All are welcome to attend the event which will also feature dance performances and children’s activities.
Free Vancouver Opera Event and Screening of HMS Pinafore
When: Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 6:00pm
Where: šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn (formerly the QET Plaza – 695 Cambie St, Vancouver)
Admission: Free! This event is weather dependent and will not proceed if it is raining
“Presenting this inaugural simulcast of HMS Pinafore at is a great way for us to celebrate opera with a new audience,” said Tom Wright, Vancouver Opera General Director. “Alongside the evening performance of HMS Pinafore, we are hosting entertainers and events accessible to everyone before the performance and during the intermission. Our goal is to make this a fun celebration of the arts and provide new audience members a glimpse into the magic created by Vancouver Opera on the Queen Elizabeth Theatre stage.”
Families will enjoy the stilt walkers and get fun images using nautical themed props in the photo station and purchase food from Mama’s Fish and Chips.
FakeKnot will present a 10-15 minute nautical themed drag set at the intermission of the production. Events will start at 6:00 p.m. and be held at šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn (formerly the QET Plaza). Vancouver Opera encourages attendees to bring blankets or lawn chairs to watch the simulcast.
Gilbert and Sullivan’s comedic tale, HMS Pinafore, is a delightful combination of forbidden love across class divides and the shenanigans that take place along the way. Poking fun at social hierarchies and packed with absurd characters, this wildly popular operetta delivers plenty of laughs and memorable music.
Building on thewitty word play and comedy of this production, writer and comedian JD Derbyshire collaborated with director Brenna Corner to adapt the libretto for a modern audience. Rosemary Thompson makes her Vancouver Opera conducting debut with an all-star cast including soprano Caitlin Wood, tenor Ernesto Ramirez, baritones Jorell Williams, Peter McGillivray and Marcus Nance along with mezzo-soprano Megan Latham. HMS Pinafore is sung in English with English SURTITLES™ projected above the stage.
Tickets to the performance are on sale through the Vancouver Opera box office either by phone at 604-683-0222 or online.
The Got Craft Spring Market is celebrating the organization’s 15th as one of BC’s largest curated market of makers, designers, and small shops! Attendees will have the opportunity to browse from a wide variety of goods including ceramics, clothing, bath and body goods, jewelry, food and beverage, homewares, greeting cards, art, and so much more.
Got Craft Spring Market
When: Saturday, May 7 & Sunday, May 8, 2022 10:00am to 5:00pm
Where: Croatian Cultural Centre (3250 Commercial Dr, Vancouver)
Limited tickets will be available at the door. Each ticket sold online will be entered to win a handmade prize pack. Full health and safety protocols will be in place.
The market will feature 80 local makers and small shops, a mini makers area with kidpreneuers aged 5-13 years old, and food carts including NaMi Vietnamese. Shop small this Mother’s Day weekend and support a diverse community of independent small businesses.
Enter to Win
I have a prize pack loaded with items from market vendors including:
Winner must pick up the prize pack at Got Craft on May 7 or 8, 2022 from 10:00am to 5:00pm at the Croatian Cultural Centre. Due to the handmade nature of the prizes, Got Craft reserves the right to replace any item with a different item of equal value.
