The Arts Council of New Westminster is hosting Expressions of Reclamation, an Indigenous artists talks series on now until August 12th. Join Indigenous Artists as they share their art, their stories and celebrate their journey of reclamation through art.
Expressions of Reclamation
- When: June 29 to August 12, 2021
- Where: Queen’s Park, Centennial Lodge, New Westminster
- Tickets: Free. All in-person events take place in Queen’s Park with limited capacity. Registration is required for in-person events.
These free artist talks provide a safe and welcoming space for the community to learn from and be inspired by diverse Indigenous practices and creative expressions. A short Q&A session will follow each showcase presentation.
Artist Lineup
June 21st, Medicine Wheel making with S^yowah (Timothy Elijah) (Archived on Facebook)
June 29th, Coffee Story, Theatre with Cameron Peal (Archived on Facebook)
Cameron Peal is a Vancouver-based artist hailing proudly from the Nisga’a Nation. He acts, writes, directs, paints and writes poetry. His one-man show, The Coffee Story, is a humorous reflection on family, the effects of colonialism, and coffee. Contains mild swearing.
July 24, 12:00pm – Lady’s Fancy Shawl dancing demonstration with Fawnda Bullshields
RSVP on Eventbrite to attend
Fawnda Bullshields is from the Blood reserve in Southern Alberta. She works for Squamish Nation as a social justice social worker and teaches powwow lessons and beading. Watch Fawnda teach her students the beautiful, athletic, Lady’s Fancy Shawl Dance, where graceful dancers wear colourful fringed shawls that sway with each movement.
July 29, 12:00pm – Ribbon Skirt Making with Elder Christy David
RSVP on Eventbrite to attend
Elder Christy David grew up in British Columbia and is a survivor of the Sixties Scoop. An esteemed keeper of knowledge and traditions, she will be sewing an orange ribbon skirt to honour the children and lives lost in Residential Schools. Come listen to the stories and meanings in the fabrics.
July 30, 6:30 pm – Stand-Up Comedy, Poetry and Storytelling with Mitchell Saddleback
RSVP on Eventbrite to attend
Mitchell Saddleback is a Vancouver-based actor, writer, comedian and storyteller from the Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, Alberta. He co-wrote and starred in The Bannocking, a horror web series featuring an all-Indigenous cast on CBC Gem, and has featured in films and theatre shows including Cold Pursuit, Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish, and Pawâkan Macbeth. Mitchell’s stand-up comedy and poetry night offers brand new poems with insights on pursuing the arts while Indigenous. Join us for a delightful night of wit, empathy, and reflection.
August 12, 12:00pm – Fabric Designs with Kaija Heitland (Online only)
Kaija Heitland is a Vancouver-based tattooer, beadworker and fabric artist from the Cowichan Valley Métis Nation. Her designs showcase the unique patterns, arts, culture, and history of her people. Her company, Indigenous Nouveau, brings greater visibility for her people in British Columbia. Join Kaija online as she shares her design process and watch her incorporate Indigenous values into all aspects of her fabric production.
Follow the Arts Council of New Westminster on Facebook for more information and to watch the videos from this series.
Now in its fourth year, the Chilliwack Sunflower Festival is opening up and organizers are excited to offer an expanded experience for visitors starting at the end of July and running until Labour Day.
Chilliwack Sunflower Festival 2021
- When: July 26 to September 6, 2021
- July 26 – August 15: Thurs-Mon: 8am to 7pm; Tues & Wed 10am to 7pm
- August 16 – September 6 (Labour Day): Thurs- Mon: 8am to 6pm; Tues & Wed: 10am to 6pm
- Where: 41310 Yale Road (entrance off Royalwood Drive), Chilliwack
- Tickets: Available for one-hour time slots and go on sale Friday, July 16. Prices vary; children 2 and under are admitted free. Purchase online.
The Chilliwack Sunflower Festival boasts more than three kilometres of pathways throughout the fields, bursting with 42 varieties of sunflowers planted in each of the three display gardens, plus more than 50 varieties of dahlias, eight varieties of gladiolas, and a large bed of wildflowers. The fields are planted in stages so that all of the flowers can be enjoyed throughout the season, just in different locations around the fields. There will always be between 5 and 8 acres of flowers in full bloom throughout the season.
In addition to the flowers themselves, capture lasting memories of the day at a variety of onsite photo opportunities, including: a windmill; three vintage bicycles; a 1950s Morris convertible; a horse carriage; seven swing sets; a three-wheeled Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and much more. Guests can also enjoy the many outdoor lawn games available to play.
This year also sees the return of “U-pick sunflowers” as well as a field-side store with fresh-cut and potted sunflowers, sunflower seeds and bulbs (tulips, daffodils and hyacinths) for planting, souvenirs, ice cream, snacks, cold drinks, fresh Chilliwack corn, and local garlic. A local food truck will be also onsite daily, and two on weekends.
In order to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests, there will be limited hourly capacity, as well as hand-sanitizing stations positioned throughout the premises, and staff will frequently sanitize high-touch areas. Keep an eye on Facebook for updates.
The Summerset Music & Arts Festival returns to Langley and Penticton in August and September with live, in person concert experiences at two picturesque outdoor locations.
Summerset Music & Arts Festival – Langley
The Summerset Music & Arts Festival Langley takes place August 27-29,2021 inside the palisades of the Fort Langley National Historic Site (TBC).
The three-night event, presented by Envision Financial and produced by Red Door Events, headlines JUNO Award winning foot-stompin’, Americana bluegrass group Tim & The Glory Boys, Langley’s own radio-hit-making, award-winning country act Tyler Joe Miller, and iconic singer-songwriter Daniel Wesley. Old Soul Rebel, Omar Khan and Shylo Sharity round out the musical line up.
Summerset Music & Arts Festival – Penticton
The second festival will be September 17-18, 2021 on the beautiful shores of Skaha Lake in south Penticton.
Guests will enjoy world-class music, art and mouth-watering local food and beverages right on the water as the sun sets. The two-night series features an evening of music by multi-platinum songwriter Andrew Allen, and a one-of-a-kind intimate ‘Acoustic Evening With….’ night of music by JUNO Award-winning duo Dear Rouge.
In Penticton there will also be the Saturday Family Afternoon, a special mid-day event geared towards the whole family which features a performance by multi-award-winning family entertainer Ginalina as well as fun activities, food and beverages.
Both locations will be adhering to current provincial COVID-19 protocols and procedures and will have limited capacity to ensure the safety of all attendees, performers, and staff.
Tickets
Langley tickets $39.99 + GST/SC to $99.00 + GST/SC. Penticton tickets $39.99 + GST/SC for single tickets to $739.00 +GST/SC for overnight VIP packages. Tickets for the Penticton Family Afternoon are $19.99 + GST/SC. Children under 12 are free but must be accompanied by an adult.
Subscriber Early Bird Sale begins Tuesday, July 13 at 10:00am until Thursday, July 15 at 10:00pm. Public Sale starts Friday, July 16, 2021 at 10:00am. All tickets can be purchased through the festival website.
At the end of summer, the Westin Bayshore will be home to The Lifted Festival featuring multi-platinum award-winning Country music superstar Dallas Smith along with Canada’s brightest emerging talent. The festival welcomes the return of live performances in Vancouver and brings music and fans back together to lift the human spirit while experiencing live music from the comfort of their own private balcony.
The Lifted Hotel Festival
- When: September 17-18, 2021
- Where: Westin Bayshore (1601 Bayshore Dr, Vancouver)
- Tickets: On sale July 13, 2021 starting at $699/night (200 tickets available each night)
- Purchase of a ticket includes one night stay at the Westin Bayshore for a max of 4 people per room and the full festival
Presented by SiriusXM Canada and Sponsored by 93.7 JR Country, the two-day hotel festival features an all-Canadian line up including Andrew Hyatt, Danielle Ryan, JoJo Mason, Kelly Prescott, and Shawn Austin, along with host and headliner Dallas Smith.
All proceeds from the Lifted Hotel Festival will go toward Lifted, a Dallas Smith Charitable Organization.
Lifted is a non-profit organization committed to ensuring that mental health services are accessible to all. Created Country music star Dallas Smith, Lifted strives to raise funds and gain community support towards destigmatizing mental health issues and championing local organizations to offer and provide assistance and resources to anyone in need.
It’s really nice to see festival season ramp up in Metro Vancouver, as we’ve moved into Step 3 of the Restart Plan. There are food, dance, arts events and many more things to do in Vancouver this weekend, check out the list below:
Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend
Friday, July 9, 2021
Sponsored by Miss604: Burnaby Village Museum
Stanley Park Train
Greek Summer Food Fest
Coastal City Ballet presents Incubator
Indian Summer Festival
Dancing on the Edge Festival
Family Fun at Maan Farms
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