On Tuesday, it was announced that a new major all-season mountain resort — Bridal Veil Mountain Resort — has been proposed for Chilliwack through an Expression of Interest filed recently with the Mountain Resorts Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development. Today, Cheam First Nation Response has issued a response:
Cheam First Nation Response to BVMR
“Cheam First Nation is deeply concerned about and surprised by the recent announcement from Bridal Veil Mountain Resort Project (“BVMR”) proponents contemplating a large industrial ski resort located on our traditional territory. This project was formerly known as Resorts West and in a very similar fashion was originally proposed back in 2003. Cheam First Nation firmly rejected this proposal for a myriad of reasons. The proposal was also soundly rejected by the wider community and the City of Chilliwack. Cheam First Nation has only recently been made aware of the revival of this project proposal, and we have yet had a chance to be included in their process, despite their plans and its potential impacts on our traditional territory and land. As it stands, Cheam First Nation continues to decisively reject this proposal.
For the last five years, Cheam First Nation has been developing our own non-motorized eco-tourism/cultural tourism project, the Cascade Skyline Gondola Project.”
Cascade Skyline Gondola Project – Photos via the Cheam First Nation
Cascade Skyline Gondola Project
“The Cascade Skyline Gondola Project is an eco-cultural tourism amenity similar to the very successful Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish. It is fundamentally a “celebration of nature and natural spaces” with non-motorized activities for a range of abilities and interests. It will provide accessible transportation above the Fraser Valley in the Cascade Mountains in our traditional territory.
At the summit, guests will be able to enjoy a variety of low-impact, nature-based activities including sight-seeing, hiking, cultural tours, paragliding in summer and snowshoeing, sledding, cross-country and backcountry skiing in winter. The project has been through years of studies, extensive community and First Nation stakeholder consultation and engagement which has resulted in overwhelming community support throughout the region.
We have been following due process with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (“FLNRORD”) for almost four years now under the Adventure Tourism process. We are invested partners in this project and have widespread support from the City of Chilliwack, Tourism Chilliwack, Tourism Industry Association of B.C., Chilliwack Economic Partnership Co., Mayor and Council of the District of Kent, and many other business leaders and community leaders. We are shocked that this competing proposal, on our traditional territory and lands, would be considered by any jurisdiction given the past record of failures and controversies of its proponents, and their lack of respect for our own project on our own lands.
The Cascade Skyline Gondola Project has been a collaborative project since the beginning. As equity owners and partners in this project, we are committed to preserving the cultural and environmental interest of our community and membership, and continuing to work in consultation with other First Nations. We believe this project will bring long-term and sustainable benefits not only to Cheam, but also to the surrounding communities. It will help create a sustainable local tourism-based economy that aligns with the values we hold as Cheam First Nation. Along with economic benefits, it will also create additional management and protection of our cultural and traditional resources. Our project reflects the values and long-term goals of Cheam First Nation and its development will create a positive impact to the surrounding communities.”
This weekend, while temperatures climb and the cherry blossoms beckon, there is a hearty lineup of arts programming, festivals, music, and entertainment happening online. Register for the final Virtual Spring Trivia Night in Support of BC Alberta Guide Dogs happening Friday, and check out more things to do in Vancouver this weekend below:
Join an immersive virtual wine experience in support of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland as the GrapeJuice Wine Auction and Tasting goes online this year. Enjoy the online program, along with tasty local grazing boards, while you bid on rare wine finds and raise much needed funds for Big Sisters BCLM.
GrapeJuice Wine Auction and Tasting
When: Thursday May 6, 2021 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Where: Online
Tickets: Tickets are $50 (book online here) for access to the virtual program, and packages start at $135.
Each package includes event and auction access, a Ready-to-Assemble Grazing Board from Legends Haul and fun wine swag.
This event also offers an opportunity for wine aficionados and amateurs alike to sip unique wines presented by local wine legend DJ Kearney, Select Wines top wine ambassador Samantha Rahn and Mission Hill winemaker Corrie Krehbiel. There will be a unique auction featuring collectable and hard to find wines as well as grazing boards from Legends Haul. Enjoy all the evening has to offer while supporting Big Sisters and the 800+ youth they serve in our community facing increased challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guests will have the chance to hear about the importance of mentorship in the lives of young people in our community and participate in a live telethon opportunity to sponsor a Big and Little Sister match and have a lasting impact on a child’s life.
Over GrapeJuice’s 13-year history, they have raised over $1,000,000 to support Big Sisters’ mentoring programs. Founded in 2007 by Sarah McNeill and Cheryl Nakamoto of McNeill Nakamoto Recruitment Group and Cameron McNeill of MLA Canada , this event has traditionally been exclusive to a small audience. With the transition to a virtual platform, the event is now open to all wine lovers.
Since 1960, Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland has been changing the course of young lives by igniting the inherent potential of the girls they support. Big Sisters is doing its most important work right now. The youth they serve are among the hardest hit by the social, financial and educational impacts of the pandemic with many coming from low-income and immigrant families. A positive mentoring relationship gives these youth a chance to realize their full potential despite the adversities they face. This relationship helps build resilience so youth can face challenges today and in the future, ensuring that all have the opportunity to reach their full potential
Miss604 is a proud media sponsor of the GrapeJuice Wine Auction and Tasting
Upintheair Theatre Company will present the 2021 rEvolver Festival over three weeks this summer, with 12 artist presentations expressly designed to showcase new work in development. Aimed at tapping local audiences into the creative process, the festival is made up of an eclectic combination of digital and audio experiences, conversations and workshops.
2021 rEvolver Festival
When: Wednesday, May 19 to Sunday, June 6, 2021 Where: Online Tickets:Available online soon. All festival presentations are by donation.
rEvolver festival’s presentations will provide an artistic platform for reflection. The group of artists has been provided pre-festival access to studio time with the opportunity to deep dive into creation. During the festival, audiences are invited into a discussion of what the creative and performing arts might look like in the post-COVID world.
Project and Artist Information
Presentations include community workshops, an interactive website, play readings, role playing games, and a visual EP to investigate themes such as activism, climate change, disability, fortune-telling and media.
Anna Saves the Marsh, by Adam Schwartz*
Catfish, by Simran Gill, Jess Amy Shead
Collider, Single Thread Theatre Company, by Shelby Bushell, Chloe Payne, Liam Karry*
Hwatu, by Romi Kim / Skim, Jaewoo Kang / James Q Parker, Gray Park / Count Cupid
messier objects EP (working title), by Stéphanie Cyr
Not So Stupid, by June Fukumura, Daniela Atiencia, Sue Jutson
Shadow Sign for Bedroom Protest: What I Dare To Do In The Dark, Art Action Earwig, by Minah Lee, Wryly Andherson
Szepty/Whispers: Dialogue, concept by Veronique West
The Frontliners, by Zahida Rahemtulla
Real Talks @ rEvolver Festival, in partnership with Gateway Theatre
*All artists are Vancouver-based with the exception of Adam Schwartz (Winnipeg) and Single Thread Company (Kingston/Vancouver).
Co-artistic producers Daniel Martin and David Mott and Resident Curators Davey Caldedron and Kayleigh Sandomirsky curated the lineup to provide an output for emerging and mid-careers artists to focus on transition and building capacity, flexibility and resilience — looking ahead to what artistic presentations could be like in our post-pandemic existence.
The Powell Street Festival Society is proud to announce its stewardship of 360 Riot Walk created by artist Henry Tsang. This multilingual interactive self-guided walking tour invites participants to trace a layered history of Vancouver’s labour politics, anti-Asian racism, and community resistance in what is today the Downtown Eastside. This unique project interweaves the narratives of racialized communities, reclaiming how and what histories are told.
360 Riot Walk is an interactive walking tour of the 1907 Anti-Asian Riots in Vancouver. It utilizes 360 video technology to trace the history and route of the mob that attacked the Chinese Canadian and Japanese Canadian communities following the demonstration and parade organized by the Asiatic Exclusion League in Vancouver. Participants are brought into the social and political environment of the time where racialized communities were targeted through legislated as well as physical acts of exclusion and violence.
The soundtrack is available in four languages of the local residents of the period: English, Cantonese, Japanese and Punjabi. You can stream the project on location with a mobile device and headphones or remotely on a web browser. There are 13 stops on the tour.
If you decide to take this self-guided tour on location*, start at Maple Tree Square in Gastown. You will need wireless data and about 2 hours to complete the tour; feel free to stop at any point and resume anytime later.
*Please be aware that the area has a higher density of vulnerable and marginalized people – it may be a good idea to go with someone. Because you will be aiming your device in every direction, you may be perceived as taking photos of local residents, which may cause a reaction. Be courteous, and take the time to let them know that you are watching a recorded video.
Powell Street Festival Discussions, Tours
Combining historical images with contemporary surroundings, 360 Riot Walk participants are confronted with Vancouver’s ongoing legacy of racism. The Powell Street Festival Society sees this project as having the potential to build upon inter-community relationships, creating allyships with other racialized groups and shared community responsibility. It will be partnering with 360 Riot Walk team to host online panel discussions and live walking tours from May to September 2021. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden has also joined as a community partner to build greater awareness of the project.
Panel Discussions May, June, & July
Reflections on the Tour- with former participants of the walking tour
The Challenge of Translation- with the translators of the Japanese, Cantonese and Punjabi versions
The Context of the Riots- with the writers of 360 Riot Walk blog posts
Self-Guided Tours & Reflections July – September
July 24 and 25, Weekend Prior to the Powell Street Festival
July 31 and August 1, Powell Street Festival Weekend
September 11, Memorial of the 1907 Anti-Asian Riots
