The Vancouver Podcast Festival, presented by DOXA, returns for a one-day, virtual experience on Saturday, November 20th. The focus for 2021 is on education in the form of workshops and panels, serving the local and national podcasting community. The conference-style day will feature two social/networking events, two masterclasses, and two roundtables.
One-day festival features acclaimed creators, hosts, and producers including Garvia Bailey, Nana aba Duncan, and Hannah Sung (Media Girlfriends), Liv Albert (Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby), Laura Palmer (Island Crime), and Paul Bae (The Black Tapes, The Big Loop).
“Our focus this year is on bringing together the local podcasting community, while also creating opportunities to learn from experienced podcasters across the country,” says Hannah McGregor, Vancouver Podcast Festival programming committee member. “We’ve all been craving connection, so we’re making sure everyone will have plenty of opportunities to interact with our fabulous presenters, and each other.”
Masterclass: Why We Started A Podcast Company In A Pandemic with Media Girlfriends
What does it mean to bet on yourself? That’s what Hannah Sung, Garvia Bailey, and Nana aba Duncan did when they started Media Girlfriends, a podcast production company led by women of colour working towards more inclusion, diversity and perspectives in media. Between the co-founders, they have half a century of award-winning journalism and storytelling excellence with CBC, The Globe and Mail, Hot Docs, The Walrus Lab, Huffington Post, MuchMusic, RBC, Historica Canada and more. This masterclass is a unique opportunity to hear Media Girlfriends discuss their origin story, share insights, and answer questions about radically reimagining new futures in media.
Masterclass: Building An Audience for Your Indie Podcast
With Liv Albert (Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby) and Laura Palmer (Island Crime). So you’ve started a podcast, and now you need to figure out how to build an audience. Learn about the approaches that actually work from BC-based indie podcasters Liv Albert and Laura Palmer, who have turned their passion projects into successful shows with massive fan-bases.
Panel: Podcasting Climate Change (free to the public)
The events of this summer (heat, fires, floods, storms) have brought home the reality of climate change like never before and the urgency to make media addressing the crisis couldn’t feel greater. But how do we talk about the climate emergency in ways that move us away from despair and disaster coverage? How can podcasts shift the conversation in ways the mainstream media cannot or refuses to do? How do we talk about climate justice, Indigenous sovereignty, and de-colonizing media? Hosted by Below The Radar’s Am Johal.
Panel: The Expanding Universe of Podcasting with Kelly&Kelly Adaptations of podcasts continue to explode — developing into scripts, movies, and digital series. We’ve watched the first waves of Hollywood adaptations (Homecoming, Dirty John, The Shrink Next Door) but what does development look like for our local podcasting scene? How is the world of IP development, podcast creation and adaptation evolving — and what should creators know? Join Kelly&Kelly’s Lauren Bercovitch and special guests Paul Bae and Allison Brough for an in-depth panel conversation.
For podcast creators, fans, businesses, and other attendees looking to connect further with the community, the Vancouver Podcast Festival will kick off the day-long program with a VanPodFest Virtual Welcome and end the day with the VanPodFest Virtual Happy Hour hosted by Hannah McGregor (Witch, Please and Secret Feminist Agenda) and Andrea Warner (Pop This!). These events will provide a fun online hangout opportunity for attendees and guests to get to know each other.
Chor Leoni Men’s Choir returns to live performance with Breathe in Hope, the ensemble’s 30th annual Remembrance Day concerts at the spectacularly renovated St. Andrew’s-Wesley United church in Downtown Vancouver.
Breathe in Hope offers a program full of beauty and consolation to all who have experienced loss. The emotion-packed program features six world premieres from the choir’s Composer-in-Residence Don Macdonald as well as from Katerina Gimon, Ken Cormier, Marques L.A. Garrett, Melissa Dunphy, Shruthi Rajasekar.
Chor Leoni photo by David Cooper
Chor Leoni Breathe in Hope
When: November 10 at 7:30pm and November 11 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Where: St. Andrew’s-Wesley United church (1022 Nelson St, Vancouver)
Chor Leoni’s most beloved tradition, singing for Remembrance Day, is also the choir’s longest. Chor Leoni’s very first concert commemorated the day and began a tradition of singing on Remembrance Day that has resonated across Canada.
“Remembrance Day contains opportunities for many types of reflection,” says Artistic Director Erick Lichte. “It offers a chance to not only contemplate wars and those who fought in them for our wellbeing, but also to consider the world each of us makes with our actions and attitudes. This year, as we all grieve the time, connection and lives lost in this pandemic, I wanted to create a musical offering which honours those lost in war as well as tend to some of the shared and unprocessed grief many of us are still holding in our hearts. I hope that with this concert, all who attend might breathe in hope and exhale some of the fear and pain of the past 19 months.”
Breathe in Hope will be the first public concerts in downtown Vancouver’s spectacularly renovated St. Andrew’s-Wesley, the choir’s new home. Completely revitalized with state of the art lighting and easily reached by transit, the light-filled venue boasts comfortable chair seating and is the perfect venue to enjoy Chor Leoni.
Chor Leoni adheres to all COVID Public Health Orders, including required masking and proof of double vaccination upon entry. Capacity is currently limited to 50 percent of the venue’s capacity, and a full list of Chor Leoni’s COVID protocols is available on the choir’s website. Full of soaring music, connection, and emotion, Chor Leoni’s Breathe in Hope offers an opportunity to reflect and remember as we commemorate Remembrance Day together.
Known internationally and loved locally, JUNO-nominated Chor Leoni is recognized as one of the vanguard male vocal ensembles in North America. Founded by the late choral luminary Diane Loomer and now led by Artistic Director Erick Lichte, Vancouver’s Singing Lions have enriched and transformed people’s lives through singing for thirty years. With stylistic grace and an adventurous spirit, Chor Leoni performs in many languages, styles and genres, always aiming to communicate, engage, and entertain.
Win Tickets
I have a pair of tickets to give away to the opening performance on November 10th. Here’s how you can enter to win:
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[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to @chorleoni’s return to live performance! Breathe in Hope is November 10 & 11 for Remembrance Day http://ow.ly/pImS50GxY5N” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Monday, November 1, 2021 at 12:00pm. UPDATE The winner is Fiona!
On October 30th, the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice Gift of Time Gala, presented by Nicola Wealth, returns for an inspiring evening and engaging gala in support of children and families across BC and the Yukon. Here are a few ways you can support this event, and Canuck Place.
The 2021 Gift of Time will feature both an exclusive in-person experience and an engaging virtual broadcast.
Registration for the Virtual Event is by donation and all gifts over $10 will be eligible for a tax receipt.
Auction
Get a head start on bidding with the Gift of Time auction when you register. There are vacation packages, private dinners, show tickets, exclusive experiences, artwork and so much more – over 900 items – all for a great cause.
Hear from a Canuck Place Family
Sharon Bulger will share her Canuck Place story during the evening program. I am always so moved when I hear family stories – their strength and love is incredible.
Live Entertainment
Attendees can enjoy a performance from Goh Ballet (live and online) and Langley Ukulele Orchestra (live). The orchestra is celebrating 40 years of music this year!
Hospitality Partners
Have you checked out the amazing month-long promotions being run by Gift of Time Hospitality Partners? They have each developed a special menu item in support of Gift of Time with a portion of sales being donated back to Canuck Place until October 31st. It might be too late to get it for the gala but it isn’t too late to still show your support:
Once again Legends Haul is offering a delicious cheese or veggie charcuterie board in support of Canuck Place.
Gift of Time 2019
Your support of Gift of Time will give short lives the gift of great days.
If you are unable to attend, you can definitely still support the cause with a donation.
Gift of Time Gala
Over the past 16 years, the Gift of Time Gala has raised over $14.5 million to support care at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. Your support will provide critical care to over 800 children living with life-threatening illnesses and the families who love them. When children and their families come to Canuck Place, the end of the story is already known. But the journey to get there has yet to be written.
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the Gift of Time since 2013
It’s a bright spot on those dark and dreary winter nights in Downtown Vancouver. The Lights of Hope display at St. Paul’s Hospital will shine nightly throughout the holiday season, with hundreds of donors recognized for their support with shining stars and more than 100,000 sparkling lights illuminating Burrard Street.
St. Paul’s Lights of Hope. Photo Submitted.
Lights of Hope at St. Paul’s Hospital
When: Starting November 18, 2021, open all season long Where: 178 – 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver
New for 2021 is a Selfie Station at the display – it’s the perfect spot for this year’s holiday photo with friends and family. Tag @helpstpauls to show your support. Limited edition Hope at Home star lanterns are once again available to purchase and hang in your window at home, symbolizing well wishes and support for patients and residents. Be sure to check the website before you visit for the latest information on how to enjoy the lights safely in accordance with Provincial Health Office guidelines.
Donors to St. Paul’s Foundation have an impact on every patient, resident, visitor, and department, and support the work of St. Paul’s Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, St. Vincent’s: Brock Fahrni, St. Vincent’s: Honoria Conway-Heather, St. Vincent’s: Langara, and Youville Residence.
Your donations help make it possible to save lives, to provide warm clothing to patients in need, to fund research initiatives that change the way we diagnose and treat disease. Gifts to Lights of Hope enables St. Paul’s Foundation to meet the greatest needs of patients and residents. Give hope for today and tomorrow by making a donation online.
The VanDusen Festival of Lights and Stanley Park Bright Nights Train are set to sparkle this holiday season starting November 26, 2021.
VanDusen Festival of Lights
The 37th annual Festival of Lights event dazzles with more than one million lights decorating 15 acres of VanDusen Botanical Garden, and features themed areas, unique light features, and holiday music. While for the past 24 years, Bright Nights has delighted passengers on its holiday-themed train ride timed to music, lights and decorations.
Both cherished holiday events shifted to online virtual tours last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, but with new safety measures in place, guests can once again experience these magical winter wonderlands in person.
“We are delighted to welcome visitors back to two of Vancouver’s premier and longest-running holiday events. We really appreciate all the work that staff put into bringing them to life, and it’s truly the perfect way to ring in the holiday season.” said Vancouver Park Board Chair Camil Dumont.
Festival of Lights tickets go on sale November 1, 2021. Tickets will only be sold online, and will specify an entry time. All guests 12 years and older will need to provide proof of full vaccination to enter. Masks are mandatory indoors at all times except for children under the age of 5, and recommended outdoors in the garden.
In order to reduce touch point features and limit gathering within the garden, some activities from previous years, such as the carousel and photos with Santa, will not be offered; however, there will be new features for guests to experience including an illuminated rose garden display, a Santa letter-writing activity for kids, and plenty of food options.
Stanley Park Bright Nights Train
Online tickets for the event are now available for purchase. Due to capacity restrictions, passengers must board the train in their specified time slot. Although proof of vaccination is not required at this time, masks are recommended. The train has been fitted with plexiglass dividers between the benches.
To limit contact, the farmyard and Santa’s North Pole area will be closed. Food and beverage trucks will be on site offering touchless payment methods.
VanDusen Festival of Lights is partnering with Make-A-Wish Foundation for the 20th year. Sales from the glow star necklaces, as well as donations made in the garden’s candle grotto, have raised more than $523,000 for Make-A-Wish since 2001.
The Bright Nights Train is the single largest fundraising event for the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, which provides life saving, life supporting, and life enriching services to burn survivors from across the province. The Park Board has donated more than $1.5 million to the Burn Fund since the event partnership began in 1998.
Find more holiday fun under the Miss604Holidays section of this site.
