Sparkle Brighter at McArthurGlen

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport presents the return of Sparkle Brighter, its much-anticipated annual holiday kick off on Friday, November 12th with the lighting of over 275,000 twinkling LED lights and a 52-foot Christmas tree.

McArthurGlen JOy christmas
Photo submitted

Sparkle Brighter at McArthurGlen

  • When: Friday, November 12, 2021 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm
  • Where: 1000-7899 Templeton Station Rd, Richmond
  • Admission: All festivities for the evening will be available free of charge for guests of the centre and the general
  • public, and with covered walkways to the main entrance, this event will take place rain or shine.

Now in its seventh year, the annual Sparkle Brighter event will feature an abundance of holiday themed performances and characters to light up the night.

Families and shoppers are invited to sing along to Christmas carols with CCIM youth choir, show off their dance moves with the ShowStoppers, and visit Santa’s workshop to get a special treat from Santa himself. Please note, due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions photos with Santa will not be permitted.

And to help celebrate the season for those perfect Instagram moments, the centre will bring back its life-size Nutcrackers and introduce new decorations like a giant ornament walkway and an illuminating, giant gift.

For those looking to get their holiday shopping done early, select brands including, Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, Adidas, Calvin Klein, Moose Knuckles, Tommy Hilfiger, Columbia Sportswear, L’Occitane, Lindt Chocolates and more, will have special deals and offers throughout the night. With over 70 luxury, premium and lifestyle brands to choose from, this will be the perfect time to cross everyone off your shopping list.

Schedule of Events November 12th

  • 4:00pm to 7:00pm Holiday Themed Stilt Walkers
  • 6:00pm to 6:25pm Local youth choir performing Christmas carols
  • 6:30pm to 6:55pm Holiday performance by ShowStoppers
  • 7:00pm to 7:15pm Special appearance by Santa Claus & Tree Lighting
  • 7:15pm to 8:00pm Special treats handed out at Santa’s workshop
McArthurGlen Bauble Christmas

About McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport is a joint venture between McArthurGlen, Europe’s leading owner, developer and manager of designer outlets, and Vancouver Airport Authority, a community-based, not-for-profit organization that operates Vancouver International Airport. McArthurGlen Vancouver is one of the 25 designer outlets managed by McArthurGlen Group and is home to the most sought-after premium and lifestyle brands, offering fashion-loving customers year-round savings in vibrant, high-quality shopping environments.

Dance in Vancouver 2021 Win Tickets

Comments 6 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Dance Centre presents the 13th biennial Dance in Vancouver, celebrating BC’s contemporary dance scene, November 24 to 28, 2021 and you can enter to win tickets to a double bill! Produced every two years Dance in Vancouver showcases Vancouver’s diverse and creative dance ecology. It is unique for its concentrated focus on promoting the province’s contemporary dance talent, not only to local audiences, but also to dance promoters and curators from across Canada and around the world.

Dance in Vancouver
Tasha Faye Evans photo Erik Zennstrom; Kelly McInnes photo Sophia Wolfe; Dumb Instrument Dance Justin Calvadores photo David Cooper; Mahaila Patterson-O’Brien photo Sepehr Samimi

Dance In Vancouver

  • When: Wednesday, November 24 to Sunday, November 28, 2021
  • Where: Various venues around Vancouver
  • Tickets: Available online now for $15-$30 with a lineup of free events, and online events

Highlights include a world premiere from The Biting School; performances by Dumb Instrument Dance, Kelly McInnes and Mahaila Patterson-O’Brien; installations by Anouk Froidevaux and Action at a Distance; showings of works in process by Tasha Faye Evans, Zahra Shahab; free presentations in non-theatrical locations by MascallDance and Co.ERASGA; and a wide-ranging selection of ticketed and free events at locations around the city.

The 2021 edition has been co-devised by Melbourne, Australia-based guest curator Angela Conquet with Michelle Olson and Starr Muranko, Artistic Director and Artistic Associate respectively of Vancouver’s Raven Spirit Dance. The curators have imagined an unusual edition conceived as an invitation to experience dance as a ritual of being and sensing together. Indigenous worldviews anchor the vision for this edition which privileges intimate audiences, unusual locations and surprising formats, both live and digital.

The program includes IndigeDIV, co-produced with Raven Spirit Dance, which celebrates the unique worldview that Indigenous artists bring to the global conversation with inspirational keynotes centering Indigenous knowledge, alongside live performances, digital offerings, video installations, and a delegates’ program. Firmly grounded in, and bravely echoing, the times that we are in, Dance In Vancouver aims to connect, inspire and provoke.

Executive Director Mirna Zagar explains: “Dance In Vancouver works on many levels. It’s a great opportunity for audiences to experience work by local artists; our artists get to build their networks beyond the local context; and the presenters become more informed about our dance scene. While travel restrictions mean we won’t see our international visitors in person in the numbers we are used to, we look forward to using the digital space to connect with our colleagues around the world.” 

View the full schedule of ticket events, free events, and virtual events online now and follow The Dance Centre on Facebook for more information.

Enter to Win

I have a pair of tickets to give away to this double bill: Kelly McInnes: Blue Space & Mahaila Patterson-O’Brien: Mid-Light: A Translucent Memory on stage at the Scotiabank Dance Centre Friday November 26, 2021 at 8:00pm. Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Copy/paste the following on Twitter (1 entry)
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to Dance in Vancouver presented by @dancecentre #DIV2021 http://ow.ly/mPJq50GJNbn” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. Update: The winner is Catherine!

Burrard Arts – Emerging From Architecture

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Burrard Arts Foundation (“BAF”) in collaboration with The Architecture Foundation of British Columbia (“AFBC”) presents Emerging From Architecture, an exhibition that highlights notable emerging architecture practitioners as exemplified by past and present winners of the AFBC’s annual Emerging Firm Award.

Burrard Arts - Emerging From Architecture
Image submitted

Emerging From Architecture

  • Reception: November 18, 2021 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm
  • Exhibition: November 18 to December 18, 2021; Tuesday to Saturday 12:00pm to 5:00pm
  • Location: Burrard Arts Foundation (#2 – 258 East 1st Ave, Vancouver)
  • Admission: Complimentary
    • BAF has a COVID-19 safety plan in place to ensure gallery visitors are safe, including capacity limits. Proof of vaccination is required to visit the Gallery. 

By showcasing significant concepts and projects from the firms’ portfolios, the exhibition will reveal how each firm’s practice has evolved from inception, highlighting core principles that have remained consistent through the continued development of their work. The exhibition aims to bridge the seeming gap between the early conceptual thinking of emerging architects and the practical knowledge gained by working firms. 

The exhibition will showcase the work of the recently announced 2021 award recipient, STARK Architecture, as well as past award winners, including: Measured Architecture, D’Arcy Jones Architects, MA + HG Architects, and Leckie Studio Architecture + Design.

“This Award recognizes the development, success and contributions of emerging architectural firms. It is given to firms that have shown exemplary promise, clear vision, and defined goals in the practice of architecture,” says Kim Barnsley, Chair of the Awards Committee at AFBC. “It also celebrates and encourages newly-established firms that have embraced broader, contemporary types of practice reflecting the changing nature of the profession. “

BAF’s Founder and Board President Christian Chan (a developer and former student of urban design and architecture) says, “Arguably more than any other art form or creative practice, architecture impacts our daily lives; it literally shapes the places in which we reside, work, and interact with one another, and greatly influences the overall experience of our cities.”

Emerging From Architecture is part of a new series of special exhibitions at BAF that reaches beyond the organization’s mainstay of contemporary visual art to highlight other creative practices that contribute to the cultural identity of Vancouver and BC. Chan adds, “BAF’s mission is to amplify creative culture in pursuit of collective inspiration, and we are delighted to highlight the work of those who seek to answer the question of how our built environments can support a healthy, creative, and inclusive life for all citizens.”

Burrard Arts Foundation is a registered Canadian charity driven by a deep belief that arts and culture have the power to measurably contribute to better cities and healthier communities. BAF envisions a future where cities develop, evolve and thrive with arts and culture at their core, bridging cultural divides, promoting social cohesion and inspiring people to open their minds to new perspectives.

Related: Burrard Arts Foundation Announces 2021 Artists in Residence; Burrard Arts Foundation: Annie Briard, Sandeep Johal and Josephine Lee; Burrard Arts Foundation: Russna Kaur, Cara Guri and Olivia di Liberto

Massy Books Children’s Author Reading Series Fundraiser

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Massy Books is hosting a three-part reading series with local children’s authors in November and the beginning of December to raise funds for ekw’i7tyl doula collective.

Massy Books Reading Series Fundraiser

Massy Books Reading Series Fundraiser

When: Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 11:00am
Where: Massy Arts Society (23 East Pender St, Vancouver)
Register: ekw’í7tl Fundraiser with Nicola Campbell, Jami Gigot & Jordan Scott

This weeks event includes readings from Nicola Campbell (Shi Shi Etko, Stand Like a Cedar, Spilexm: A Weaving of Recovery, Resilience, and Resurgence, Shinchi’s Canoe, A Day With Yayah), Jami Gigot (Starboy, My Daddy Can Fly!, Imagination Vacation, Seb and the Sun, Mae and the Moon) and Jordan Scott (I Talk Like a River).

When: Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 10:00am
Where: Massy Arts Society (23 East Pender St, Vancouver)
Register: ekw’í7tl Reading Series Fundraiser w/ Jen Sookfong Lee & Hasan Namir

This weeks event includes readings from Jen Sookfong Lee (Finding Home), Hasan Namir (The Name I Call Myself).

When: Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 10:00am
Where: Massy Arts Society (23 East Pender St, Vancouver)
Register: ekw’í7tl Reading Series Fundraiser w/ Bree Galbraith & Tiffany Stone

This weeks event includes readings from Bree Galbraith (Hold That Thought!, Wednesday Wilson Gets Down to Business, Usha and the Stolen Sun, etc.) and Tiffany Stone (Little Narhwal, Not Alone, Wood Could, Tree Song).

Your tickets = a donation so pick your price:

  • $25 Meet the authors, get a free book
  • $75 Meet the authors and get signed copies of ALL the books
  • $500 Sponsor a Family. Get signed books from ALL the authors from the entire series, a free Signed Julie Flett Print, AND 30% off everything you buy at Massy Books until the end of the year!

Proof of vaccination and masks are required to attend events at Massy Arts Society and Massy Books. 100% of all tickets and donations will go to the ekWi7tl collective. All books have been donated by PRH, Orca, Greystone, and Massy Books.

All attendees have the chance to win: signed copies from all of the authors at the event, 30% off at Massy Books, and a Julie Flett print.

By supporting this series and fundraiser, you are actively engaging in the work of reconciliation and directly impacting the lives of Indigenous families.

About the Cause

The Doulas for Aboriginal Families Grant Program (“DAFGP”) provides funding for Indigenous families to access doula care in BC. In Vancouver, Indigenous families who live in the city and who travel to the city from rural and remote communities under the birth evacuation policy rely on the DAFGP to access doula support. However, the DAFGP recently announced that they have run out of money until the new fiscal year (April, 2022). As a result, there is no funding for families trying to access doula services between now and April.

Currently, members of the local ekw’i7tyl Indigenous doula collective are serving several families impacted by the DAFGP outage.

ekw’í7tl, pronounced ah-quay-tull, which means family in the Squamish language, works with midwives, doctors and birth workers to provide full-circle mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual support to mothers and families during pregnancy, labour, birth, postpartum care and beyond. They connect Indigenous doulas with Indigenous families for culturally relevant and holistic birth work.

Massy Books is a 100% Indigenous owned, independent book store. Their hope is that the fundraiser will raise enough to support twenty families. Follow Massy Books on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for information about the reading series fundraiser and more events coming up this season.

Martha Wainwright at the Massey Theatre – Win Tickets

Comments 12 by Rebecca Bollwitt
Disclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by the Massey Theatre Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.

The Massey Theatre is kicking off its live season with performer and songwriter, Martha Wainwright, gracing the Massey stage as part of the tour of her new album Love Will Be Reborn for one night only — and you can enter to win tickets!

Martha Wainwright at the Massey Theatre

  • When: Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 7:30pm
  • Where: The Massey Theatre (735 Eighth Avenue, New Westminster)
  • Tickets: Available online now for $45
    • All safety protocols including a vaccine card will be in place prior to entering the venue.
Martha Wainwright Press Photo
Martha Wainwright – Photo for Media

Relish the return of live music and also enjoy opening act Bernice, the indie pop band from Toronto, fronted by singer and songwriter Robin Dann. Twice nominated for the Polaris Music Prize, most recently for Eau de Bonjourno, the band’s other core members are keyboardist and guitarist Thom Gill, bassist Dan Fortin, vocalist Felicity Williams and percussionist Phil Melanson. 

This is Wainwrights’ first record in five years, she has called it her “middle coming of age album”.  Love Will Be Reborn captures Wainwright’s heart in transition.  The album follows recent years of loneliness and clarity in search of optimism and joy. Wainwright wrote the first song—and what would become the title track—a few years ago. It was a very dark time, she says, but the positivity and luminosity of Love Will Be Reborn signalled what was to come. The song simply poured out of her.  

Martha Wainwright’s role as an artist has always been to embrace her wildness and sketch out her raw depth. This edge is what makes Wainwright uncompromisingly herself and continues to draw in an audience two decades on.  Music and song writing are virtually in her blood. Martha comes from a prestigious musical family.  She is the daughter of American folk singer and actor Loudon Wainwright III and Canadian folk singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle and sister of vocalist and composer Rufus Wainwright.  As part of this iconic musical family, she has had to fight her way through the raft of applause and accomplishments of her parents and brother to claim a clear space for herself. 

Love Will Be Reborn was made during a global pandemic. Back in Montreal, the basement of her brand-new cafe, Ursa, serving as a studio, Wainwright got to work. She enlisted the help of Toronto musicians Thom Gill, Phil Melanson and Josh Cole, and producer Pierre Marchand. The process, both freeing and infuriating, offered Wainwright a new way of creating. She let go a little more, giving way for Marchand to play around with her vocals, emphasizing the beauty in its inherent scratchiness and edge. This record, Wainwright jokes, is her Canadian record, as she’s back in Montreal, working with musicians from Toronto, and Marchand as producer.

Get your tickets now and enjoy the return of live music with this incredible performer! Follow the Massey Theatre on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information about this show and their full schedule of events and performances.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to what will be an incredible night of live music. Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Like/comment on this post on Facebook (1 entry)
  • Copy/paste the following on Twitter (1 etnry)
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to see Martha Wainwright @WainBright live at the @MasseyTheatre in New West on November 16th http://ow.ly/Cp9W50GHJkB” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Saturday, November 13, 2021.
UPDATE the winner is Esther Steven!