Infectious Gratitude is a series of free, feel-good, arts-based events popping up at local parks and public spaces this summer. Vancouver non-profit Instruments of Change invites Vancouverites to “pop up shout outs” of Infectious Gratitude, showing support and gratitude to local businesses and spaces as a thank you for services provided to our communities.
Infectious Gratitude, Pop Up Shout Outs
When: July 10th to August 5th 2021
Where: Various parks and spaces
July 10 at Trout Lake
July 17 at Riley Park
July 19 at Kits Beach
July 26 at Second Beach
August 3 at Locarno Beach
August 5 at David Lam Park
This initiative is intended to spread gratitude instead of fear, as we emerge from this collectively challenging time, more hopeful and connected.
Infectious Gratitudeartists Laura Barron and Wen Wen Lu invite the community to appreciate and advocate for their local assets (businesses, services, green spaces) in creative ways (story, drawing, poetry) at safe, (socially distanced) weekly, pop-up booths in various well-trafficked Vancouver parks.
Asking participants: “What would you like to see “thrive” in your community?” they will facilitate a creative process in which community members can express their gratitude through “urban love letters”, haiku poetry and/or visual art.
All creative work will be documented on a digital map, as well as distributed throughout the city in surprise installations that are intended to “virally” spread gratitude throughout the city that we all love.
Through our arts-based community development projects, which serve youth and adults in school, community centre, and prison settings, Instruments of Change creates meaningful experiences that employ a variety of artistic modes to give both their facilitating artists and their participants opportunities to build confidence, and enhance collaboration and communication skills, while fostering cross-cultural understanding.
Afro Van Connect has announced the Black Spaces Symposium Virtual will take place July 22-24th. The Black Spaces Symposium unites artists, activists, professionals, and educators within the African Descent community to honour heritage, inspire the future, and build strong community connections.
Black Spaces Symposium Virtual
When: July 22-24, 2021
Where: Online
Tickets:Available online now. Subsidized tickets are available to any community member who is interested in attending.
The Black Space symposium consists of a series of speakers, panels, interviews, live performances, workshops, exhibitions, and community honours. Participants are invited to explore new approaches and modalities that will inspire everyone to activate, mobilize, and create change. View the full agenda here.
Black Space Jam 2021
The Black Space Jam gives African Descent youth a safe space to discover their authentic voices through telling their stories through poetry, music, dance, and more. Featured performers:
Buni Kor aka Kor Kase
Grizzy Wynter
Janelle Reid
Shoyan Wright
Jason Bempong
ebonEmpress
DJ Clichy
From the organizers: “We established the symposium to create opportunities for youth of African Descent to access equipment, education, training, networks and opportunities. Empowering our community to creatively and economically flourish, building on our unique gifts and perspective from our heritage and cultural experiences.”
For more information, follow Afro Van Connect on Facebook and Instagram.
Brewery & the Beast is back! After a one-year pause during the pandemic, one of Western Canada’s most popular and perennially sold-out food, drink and entertainment festivals will make its triumphant return with intimate and elevated events in Victoria and Vancouver.
Brewery and the Beast 2021
Where: Victoria – Starlight Stadium (1089 Langford Pkwy)
When: Sunday, September 12, 2021 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Tickets: $145.95 plus tax/fees, available through the website starting July 7, 2021 at 9:00am
Where: Vancouver – Concord Pacific Lot (180 Pacific Boulevard)
When: Sunday, September 26, 2021 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Tickets: $165.95 plus tax/fees, available through the website starting July 14, 2021 at 9:00am
With a focus on ethical, sustainable and natural farming practices and showcasing talented chefs, renowned restaurants and the very best of BC’s food and beverage scene, Brewery & The Beast provides guests with an all-you-can-enjoy, food-and-drink feast for the senses featuring a variety of dishes and preparations, from barbecue and smoked to grilled and slow-cooked, along with beer, wine, cider and spirits.
Partial proceeds from ticket sales for both of this year’s events will be donated to the Chefs’ Table Society of BC, which — in keeping with the core goal of Brewery & The Beast itself — aims to inspire, nurture and showcase chefs, producers and the local food industry in BC.
Austin Heights is a walkable Coquitlam neighbourhood filled with everything from great places to eat and parks to play, to community festivities like the annual Daisy Day. This spring Beedie Living launched West, 194 new homes (a selection of studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom options) including the new Beedie-built Safeway grocery store in Austin Heights.
West in Austin Heights
Starting in the mid-$300,000’s, Westhomes are perched atop a hill, providing mountain or water views from every floor, maximized by floor to ceiling windows.
More features of this build:
Called Beedie by Design, thoughtful and unexpected details are in place throughout the homes, maximizing the living experience. An example of this is the expansive private balconies that feature over-height railings to enhance views when seated.
Interiors designed by award-wining Bob’s Your Uncle Design, homeowners choose from three refined colour palettes.
Durable laminate flooring flows throughout the living, dining and bedroom spaces, with roller shades to maintain privacy and energy efficient air conditioning ensures optimal climate control.
High-performance kitchen with Fisher & Paykel integrated appliances for gourmet cooking, along with modern, flat-panel, soft-close cabinetry.
Functional and relaxing bathroom designs feature large-format matte porcelain tile, deep drawers and recessed sconce lighting and a frameless glass shower with adjustable shower wand.
With modern, west-coast inspired architecture by Chris Dikeakos Architecture.
Indoor multi-sport court and fitness centre, a social and co-working lounge and a cozy fireside outdoor lounge with kitchen, built-in BBQ, wet bar, harvest dining table, and a fully furnished guest suite for friends and family to stay the night.
State -of-the-art parcel lockers and a building entry system with video enterphone and digital security cameras ensure safety and comfort.
This new condo development by Beedie Living is currently in pre-construction at 505 Nelson Street, Coquitlam. It is scheduled for completion in 2024. West will join its sister tower The Heights as a part of Austin Heights’ truly unique tight-knit neighbourhood that features an abundance of locally owned small businesses, along with the walkable conveniences needed for everyday life.
Austin Heights Community Giveaway
To celebrate West coming to the neighbourhood, I have an Austin Heights prize package to give away that includes gift cards for local shops and restaurants:
$150 Safeway (located at the base of West so residents will have a grocery store an elevator away)
Click below to RT to enter to win on Twitter (1 entry)
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win an Austin Heights prize package (value $350) featuring gift cards to local shops and more courtesy of West by @BeedieBuilt http://ow.ly/xaGQ50Fpatx” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm Monday, July 12, 2021. Update: The winner is Harjit C!
Eastside Culture Crawl Society (“ECCS”) recently announced its rebranding and name change to Eastside Arts Society (“EAS”), in recognition of the organization’s ongoing commitment to build and strengthen capacity for artists and arts organizations within the geographic region of Vancouver’s Eastside.
In support of this overarching vision, the Vancouver Foundation has awarded EAS $300,000 over three years—the largest funding gift the society has received in its 25-year history—to develop a strategic plan for the implementation of a designated Eastside Arts District (“EAD”).
Eastside Arts Society
Vancouver’s Eastside is home to the highest concentration of artists in any neighbourhood across Canada and the birthplace of the popular annual Eastside Culture Crawl, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in November 2021.
The three-year project will offer collaborative solutions for strengthening capacity and dedicated workspaces for artists, it will expand programming initiatives to complement and enhance opportunities for artists across all disciplines, and it will propose policy changes and new funding models to better sustain the development of the EAD.
