Freedom March Vancouver is hosting the Emancipation Day March, taking place Saturday August 1, 2020 at Jack Poole Plaza in Vancouver.

Emancipation Day March in Vancouver

Those wishing to participate in the march are reminded to take COVID-19 precautions and to wear masks, socially distance, and monitor for possible symptoms in the two weeks after.

August 1st marks Emancipation Day in Kanata (Kanata is an Indigenous Canadian word meaning “village” or “settlement”). The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 ended slavery in the British Empire on August 1, 1834, and thus also in Canada. Emancipation Day is a day to commemorate the abolition of slavery in Canada.

Following the JUNETEENTH March that took place on June 19th that drew a massive crowd of thousands to downtown Vancouver, members of the community have advocated to continue to march in unity; it is not only emotionally expressive but holds immense power, history and tradition, and is a powerful tool to create change and express community values in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Organized by Vancouver-based Nova Stevens and Shamika Mitchell, The Emancipation Day March will take begin at Jack Poole Plaza at 1:00pm, Saturday August 1^st. The march route will begin from Jack Poole Plaza, heading south along Thurlow Street, west on Beach Avenue, and will complete at Sunset Beach Park.

Following the march, a stage will be set up at Sunset Beach Park where Black artists and speakers will be performing and addressing the crowd. Black-owned businesses will also be at the site to showcase local Black culture, soul food and more.

Enjoy Vancouver’s open air art museum this summer with a series of Vancouver Biennale BIKEnnale/WALKennale tours. For six Sundays, starting July 26th, people of all ages are invited to put on their sneakers, or hop on a bike and discover the city like never before.

BIKEnnale/WALKennale

Date: 2 New routes unveiled every Sunday starting July 26^th to August 30^th
Time: Self-paced  
Registration: $5 minimum donation for individuals or $15 for COVID families (3-6 people). Book online here.

When you’re used to visiting a place about 20 times a year (more than, in my case, my hair stylist) you form a connection. When that place represents adventure, experiences, family, and homecomings, that bond becomes stronger. I have missed being at the YVR this year (because of what that represents) so I would like to give the Best Airport in the World – with the best airport social media team in the world – a shout out for a very Happy 89th Birthday with an archive photo roundup.

Happy 89th Birthday, YVR Airport

“Vancouver’s original airport was a 16-hectare piece of land south of what is now Alexandra Road leased to the city. Planning began for a new airport began in 1928, with Sea Island selected as the site, a decision made by Vancouver Mayor W.H. Malkin and the Vancouver Board of Trade.” [Source]

The Museum of Anthropology (“MOA”) at UBC presents Kent Monkman’s timely solo exhibition Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience, on display from August 6, 2020 to January 3, 2021. This exhibition takes you on a journey through the past 150 years of Canada. It is a journey that reclaims and reinserts Indigenous voices into the collective memory of our country, challenging and shattering colonial ideas of our history.

MOA Presents Kent Monkman’s Exhibition on Canada’s Colonial Legacy

Where: MOA (6393 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver)
When: August 6, 2020 to January 3, 2021
Admission: Pre-booked timed-entry tickets to MOA (which includes admission to this exhibition) will be required.

A searing critique of Canada’s colonial policies over the past 150 years, the large-scale exhibition prioritizes First Nations’ perspectives during a pivotal moment in the ongoing global discourse on systemic racism. Curated by Monkman — a contemporary Canadian artist of Cree ancestry — the provocative exhibition features roughly 80 pieces, including the artist’s own paintings, drawings, installations, and sculptures, in dialogue with historical artifacts and artworks borrowed from museums and private collections from across Canada. MOA is the final stop on the acclaimed exhibition’s three-year, cross-country tour.

“The last 150 years have been the most devastating for Indigenous peoples in this country,” says Monkman. “And yet I could not think of any historical paintings that conveyed or authorized the Indigenous experience in the art history milieu. Where are the paintings from the 19th century that recounted, with passion and empathy, the dispossession, starvation, incarceration, and genocide of Indigenous peoples? Shame and Prejudice activates a vital dialogue about the impact of European settler cultures on Indigenous peoples and about Indigenous resilience.”

The artist’s gender fluid, time-travelling alter-ego, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, is the narrator of this story, told through the lens of Indigenous resilience. Miss Chief leads us from New France and Confederation to the urban environment of Winnipeg’s North End and contemporary life on the reserve.

Guided by Miss Chief’s excerpted memoirs, visitors will embark on a time-travelling journey through Canada’s history — from the fur trade and confederation to the rise of residential schools and impoverished realities of contemporary urban life. Nine distinct chapters explore themes of colonization, incarceration, loss, violence, and resilience through Monkman’s visceral representations of historical traumas and injustices, which continue to impact Indigenous communities today.

While Monkman employs satirical humour to undermine the white-washing of Canada’s past, his commentary takes a poignant tone when exploring the loss and violence experienced by Indigenous women and children. One of the main themes running throughout the exhibition is the historical Indigenous experience of moving from a state of plenty to a state of deprivation. 

Lauded for his fearless commentary on critical issues relating to life for Indigenous people in Canada, Toronto-based Monkman is one of Canada’s best-known contemporary artists. 

Win Passes

I have a pair of passes to give away to this exhibition at the MOA, here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. The winner will be able to attend on the date of their choosing between August 6, 2020 and January 3, 2021.

UPDATE The winner is Wade!

The Chilliwack Sunflower Festival returns for 2020 as the Chilliwack Sunflower Experience with a newly reimagine concept that keeps COVID safety measures in place for this big-space attraction.

Chilliwack Sunflower Experience

When: Mid-August to Labour Day
Where: 41310 Yale Road (entrance off Royalwood Drive)
Tickets: Available online starting August 7, 2020. Ticket prices vary; children two and under are admitted free.

This year, in order to ensure everyone’s health and safety, the usual components of the festival have been reimagined. While there may not be a formal festival in 2020, festival presenters Tulips of the Valley are pleased to bring you the Chilliwack Sunflower Experience, offering plenty of safe, family-friendly ways to see the sunflowers — and take some cherished memories (as well as your own sunflowers) home with you. 

The fields will be alive with 25 different varieties of sunflowers, and more than 50 varieties of dahlias. Plus, this year the team has planted an array of colourful gladiolas. From mid-August to Labour Day, roam more than three kilometres of pathways throughout the fields. Strict social-distancing guidelines will be in place for you and your loved ones’ peace of mind, including:

• the fields’ capacity will be limited to 25%
• directional pathways that are 3 to 5 metres wide
• hand-sanitizing stations and safety notices placed where needed
• staff will be sanitizing high-touch areas throughout the day
• tickets will be sold online only, per one-hour block
• limited hands-on photo-op props
• no playground, picnic tables or lawn games this year

In addition to the breathtaking flower fields, guests can expect freshly cut flowers and local Chilliwack corn for sale. Cool off with an individually wrapped frozen treat or enjoy a delicious meal to-go from a food truck (located in the parking lot, off the fields) or a local Chilliwack eatery.

Tickets for the Chilliwack Sunflower Experience go on sale Friday, August 7. Please note that due to this summer’s unusually chilly weather, Tulips of the Valley can’t yet provide an official opening date, but mid-August is the aim. Keep an eye on Facebook for updates.