The Vancouver Art Gallery reopening is set for June 15, 2020 after closing due to COVID-19. The Gallery aims to provide a welcoming and safe environment so that all visitors can enjoy exhibitions with ease.

Vancouver Art Gallery Reopening

To salute our frontline workers, the Gallery will be offering two mornings or free, early access admission during the first week of reopening. The first week of reopening will look like this:

• Monday, June 15, 2020 10:00am to 5:00pm – special reopening day for members, artists and donors.
• Tuesday, June 16, 2020 10:00am to 12:00pm– special hours and free entry for frontline workers and their families; 12:00pm to 5:00pm open to the public; 5:00pm to 8:00pm by donation
• Wednesday, June 17, 2020 10:00am to 5:00pm – open to the public
• Thursday, June 18, 2020 10:00am to 5:00pm – open to the public
• Friday, June 19, 2020 10:00am to 12:00pm – special hours and free entry for frontline workers and their families; 12:00pm to 8:00pm open to the public (new Friday hours)

A full outline of safety measures and protocols can be found online here.

Exhibitions

The Gallery reopens with an exciting exhibition line-up. Shuvinai Ashoona – Mapping Worlds and lineages and land bases have been extended to August.  New exhibitions that were slated to open in March will now open on June 15th: The Tin Man Was a Dreamer: Allegories, Poetics and Performances of Power and NEXT: Matilda Aslizadeh – Moly and Kassandra. The much-awaited exhibition Modern in the Making: Post-War Craft and Design in British Columbia, which was scheduled for a May opening, will now open on July 18th.

Extended:

• Rapture, Rhythm and the Tree of Life: Emily Carr and Her Female Contemporaries. On view through December 13, 2020.
• Shuvinai Ashoona – Mapping Worlds. On view through August 30, 2020.
• lineages and land bases. On view through August 30, 2020.
• NEW: The Tin Man Was a Dreamer: Allegories, Poetics and Performances of Power. June 15, 2020, to November 1, 2020
• NEXT: Matilda Aslizadeh – Moly and Kassandra. June 15, 2020, to November 1, 2020.

In order to avoid large group gatherings, all public tours, onsite school and adult programs and special events have been postponed until further notice. This includes all social events, FUSE and exhibition openings. Art Connects and Art At Home online programs will continue to be offered weekly.

The Museum of Vancouver and Vancouver Maritime Museum are reopening on June 11th with new protocols and procedures in place that allow the public to safely enjoy the galleries and exhibitions on view.

Vancouver Maritime Museum Reopening

• Location: 1905 Ogden Ave, Vanier Park, Kitsilano, Vancouver
• Tickets: Purchase online in advance here. Tickets will be sold in 15 minute intervals to avoid congestion. The volume of people in the museum will be limited to 50 people at any given time. This includes staff and visitors.
• Hours: Thursday to Sunday from 10:00am to 5:00pm
• Read full COVID-19 Safety Measures

Some of the current VMM exhibitions include:

Lessons from the Arctic: How Roald Amundsen Won the Race to the South Pole (a free outdoor exhibition). VMM partnered with the Norwegian Embassy to bring back a popular exhibition. As a gift to the community, the VMM has displayed the exhibition in the windows of the St. Roch shelter so the public can safely enjoy it while remaining outdoors.

Climb Aboard the St. Roch: Explore one of the world’s great Arctic explorers and a National Historic Site of Canada. The St. Roch was the first vessel to traverse the Northwest Passage from west to east (1940-1942), the first to complete the passage in one season (1944) and the first to circumnavigate North America.

And just for the reopening, VMM will feature the exhibition By The Shore: Maritime BC in Paintings, featuring works by Emily Carr, E.J. Hughes and more. There will also be a Virtual Birthday Celebration for the VMM on June 11th.

Museum of Vancouver Reopening

• Location: 1100 Chestnut Street, Vanier Park, Kitsilano, Vancouver
• Tickets: Purchase online in advance here
• Hours: Thursday to Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm
• Read full COVID-19 Safety Measures

Some of the current MOV exhibitions include:

Acts of Resistance: On view until July 2020, showcasing the artwork of seven indigenous artist activists from the Pacific Northwest, whose designs flew from the Iron Workers Memorial bridge on July 3, 2018 to protest the Trans Mountain Expansion Pipeline project.

Haida Now: On view until December 2020, MOV in partnership with Haida Gwaii Museum, presents a visual feast of innovation and tradition with, Haida Now. Guest curated by Haida Curator Kwiaahwah Jones in collaboration with Viviane Gosselin, Co-curator and Director of Collections & Exhibitions at MOV, this exhibition features an unparalleled collection of Haida art, boasting more than 450 works.

c̓əsnaʔəm: the city before the city: Known to archaeologists variously as the Eburne Midden, Great Fraser Midden, and Marpole Midden, recently made headlines when ancient burials were uncovered through urban development and the Musqueam strove to protect them. This collaborative project aims to generate public discussions about heritage and Indigenous history, and to raise awareness of the significance of c̓əsnaʔəm for the Musqueam people and for the City of Vancouver.

Related: Virtual Museum Tours in Vancouver

While we are all staying close to home right now, you can still explore a world of culinary options right here in Coquitlam. Known for its diverse population, and variety of restaurant options, Coquitlam is an excellent place to experience cuisines spanning the globe.

If you’re getting tired of cooking at home – and perhaps more specifically, the constant cleanup – why not support a local business and order takeout or dining at a Coquitlam restaurant? Coquitlam’s new Foodie 101 series explores different cuisines, offering tips on different dishes to try and some fun facts about each.

Foodie 101: Taste the World in Coquitlam

Foodie 101: Filipino Cuisine

Filipino cuisine is rich, colourful and aromatic. We highlight three of the most popular dishes in our Foodie 101 series, and you can order each of these from Coquitlam’s Kulinarya Filipino Eatery:

• Crispy Pata: This Filipino delicacy is a pork hock/leg that’s simmered with spices for three hours then refrigerated overnight and deep-fried. The meat is moist and succulent and the skin is golden and crispy. It’s served with vinegar, onions and a soy sauce mix.
• Kare Kare: A beef and vegetable stew dish with thick peanut sauce and served with shrimp paste on the side.
• Pork BBQ Skewers: This is a Filipino street food and often served at parties. Skewered pork slices are grilled and marinated in two main ingredients: sugarcane vinegar and banana ketchup.

The Jessie nominees for excellence in Vancouver theatre this season were announced online tonight in a live event hosted by mother daughter duo Amanda Sum (seen this season in Chicken Girl and East Van Panto) and Linda Leung.

The Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards 2020

View full list of nominees here

The 38^th Annual Jessie Awards represents excellence in large and small venues alike, with a total of 53 theatrical productions.  Every year the cultural vastness and abundance of talented artists continues to expand boundaries and insights into other viewpoints, cultures and experiences touching individuals, in our city and beyond. 

The awards are divided into three categories:  Large Theatre, Small Theatre, and Theatre for Young Audiences along with other special awards. Here are some of the highlights of the nominations.  

The Large Theatre Category had a total of 23 innovative and varied productions nominated.  Kuroko by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre is the big winner scoring a total of 9 nominations including Outstanding Production, Amiel Gladstone for Outstanding Direction, Lou Ticzon for Supporting Role, Outstanding Original Script by Tetsuro Shigematsu, the Critics’ Choice Innovation Award, and double nominee Christine Reimer for her Costume Design in Kuroko (and Noises Off).

The Arts Club Theatre Company received a total of 12 nominations for four productions, with Noises Off receiving 8 nods that include Outstanding Production and  Scott Bellis for Outstanding Direction.  In addition, the Arts Club Theatre Company partnered  with other theatre companies for five productions acquiring another  11 nominations, of those, Matilda, in partnership with Citadel Theatre and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and A Thousand Splendid Suns, in partnership with Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, each nabbed three nominations, Cost of Living, (in partnership with Citadel Theatre) received 2, and Cipher (in partnership with Vertigo Theatre) received 2, and The Wedding Party (in partnership with Prairie Theatre Exchange) received one for the performance of Todd Thomson. 

Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival collected a total of 12 nominations for its unique and bold productions.   Coriolanus garnered 5 of those, including Moya O’Connell for her Outstanding Lead Performance, All’s Well That Ends Well followed with four nods that include a Critics’ Choice Innovation Award and Charlie Gallant acknowledged for his dynamic performance in Shakespeare in Love (he was also nominated for Noises Off). 

Pacific Theatre’s remarkable production of Best of Enemies earned 7 of its 9 nominations with incredible performances by actors Robert Salvador and Celia Aloma in lead roles and Anthony Santiago and Rebecca deBoer in supporting roles.  In the other Pacific Theatre productions Erla Faye Forsyth was nominated for her performance in The Cake and Anita Wittenberg for Mother of the Maid. 

Inheritance: A Pick-The-Path Experience by Alley Theatre and Touchstone Theatre (in association with Vancouver Moving Theatre and Community Partnership with Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre)  received three nods: Darrell Dennis for his performance, Outstanding Production and Significant Artistic Achievement. Savage Society’s Skyborn: A Land Reclamation Odyssey’s was acknowledged for Significant Artistic Achievement and Itai Erdal for Lighting Design.

Other companies who received a nomination are Firehall Arts Centre’s two productions – House and Home’s supporting actor Sebastien Archibald and Talking Sex on Sunday, for Outstanding Production of a Musical.   Two additional companies garnering a nod were Théâtre la Seizième (in partnership with Théâtre DuBunker and le Collectif Nous Sommes ici  (Quebec) Le NoShow Vancouver for Outstanding Audience Engagement Through the Use of Technology and the musical, Holiday at the Elbow Room Café for Outstanding Production by Zee Zee Theatre & The Cultch.

The Small Theatre Category hada total of 20 productions nominatedthat spread across the board. Here are just a few highlighted.  This category was tied with two shows each receiving eight nominations. One is the period piece, The Sea by Slamming Door Artist Collective. Actors selected were Genevieve Fleming, Stephen Aberle,  and Elizabeth Kirkland, along with Celeste English for Lighting Design and Sandy Margaret for Set Design.   The other show is The Search Party’s inaugural production of the tragic farce, The Father.   Actors Kevin McNulty and Jillian Fargey’s performances were recognized along with the creative team.    

Ensemble Theatre Company received a total of 8 nominations for three productions that include the delicious and vivacious production of Superior Donuts leading with five nominations noting performances by David Nykl and Chris Francisque;  Born Yesterday actors Paul Herbert and Alexis Kellum-Creer were acknowledged for their performances along with Darcey Johnson’s role in The Drawer Boy.  

Patrick Street Production’s dark and comic one man musical cabaret, Herringbone, nabbed 5 nominations.  Peter Jorgensen and Luisa Jojic who alternated performances in the lead role were both nominated for their performances, Kayla Dunbar for Direction, Sean Bayntun for Musical Direction and was also selected for Outstanding Production of a Musical.  Another nomination for Outstanding Musical is Raincity Theatre’s production of Sondheim’s Company  that earned 4 nods with the entire cast nominated for Significant Artistic Achievement and Chris Adams for his direction. 

There were 4 companies that each received 3 nominations.  They include a unique production by rice & beans theatre (in partnership with Playwrights Theatre Centre)  Chicken Girl, along with a nod for Outstanding Original Script, Lungs by Saint FiFi Collective’s, Deep into Darkness by Third Wheel Productions, and Anna Bella Eema by Sol Theatre Collective.   There were an additional nine theatre company productions in this category that received nominations, all of which are included in the complete list of nominations included below. 

For Significant Achievement Artistic Achievement – Small Theatre, Raincity Theatre is nominated for Outstanding ensemble performance; Third Wheel Productions is nominated for Outstanding transformation of space and audience immersion for Deep Into Darkness; Patrick Street Productions is nominated for Outstanding musical direction for Herringbone; and Zee Zee Theatre and The Frank Theatre (in partnership with Firehall Arts Centre) are nominated for Outstanding integrity in casting for Transcripts, Part I: The Women.

In the Theatre for Young Audiences category, Carousel Theatre for Young People led the category garnering a total of 6 nominations for their production of Bad Hats Theatre’s Peter Pan with both Marlene Ginader and Kelli Ogmundson acknowledged for their performances, along with Steve Charles for musical direction and a nod for Outstanding Production. Chelsea Rose earned a nomination for her performance in Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish by Axis Theatre Company, also included was Jay Havens for Set Design and a nod for both Outstanding Production and Significant Artistic Achievement. Green Thumb Theatre received two nominations – Scott Button for Outstanding Performance in New Canadian Kid and Paige Fraser in What If.  Additional companies who received nominations for Outstanding Production were Love You Forever and More Munsch by Beach House Theatre and Iron Peggy by Vancouver International Children’s Festival and Boca del Lupo. 

There will also be a number of additional awards and prizes presented at the award ceremony.  The list includes:  the Vancouver Now Representation and Inclusion Award, the Patron of the Arts Award, the Mary Phillips Prize, the Ray Michal Prize for Emerging Director, the Sam Payne Award for the Most Promising Newcomer, the John Moffat & Larry Lillo Award, the Critics’ Choice Innovation Award, and the GVPTA Career Achievement Award.

A full list of nominees will be available soon on the Jessies website.

Tune in for the Awards Show

This year The Art Left will be producing the first ever livestream Jessie Awards from the Firehall Arts Centre on Monday, June 29, 2020 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Follow the Jessies on Facebook for the latest updates.

UPDATE I am live-Tweeting the awards here #Jessies2020. I will have a full list of winners after 10:00pm Pacific tonight.

UPDATE Here is the list of winners!

The first two online events were such a success (with hundreds of registered participants) that BC and Alberta Guide Dogs are hosting a full Virtual Trivia Summer Series in June, July and August!

Virtual Trivia Summer Series for BC and Alberta Guide Dogs

This online event series will raise funds for Guide Dogs, Autism Service Dogs and PTSD Service Dogs for those in need.

When: June 26; July 24; August 14, 2020
Where: Online! Register here for $20 to participate

Please note that as the game takes place across Canada, the game’s start time will vary based on where you live. BC players start at 6:00pm Pacific Time, Albertans at 7:00pm Mountain Time and 9:00pm for those in Eastern Canada. You will need to purchase a separate ticket for each person joining in the game. Each player will need access to their own computer or mobile phone. If purchasing more than one ticket, please provide a name and email address for each player.

June Theme

The June theme is CANADA! Kicking off Canada Day celebrations with questions on a variety of topics based on our beautiful country. There will be six rounds: Music, History, Food, Animals, Geography, Random Canadiana. Registration is now available online.

The live game guide and game link will be sent to your email on registration, so you’ll be able to just click and play. No app download is necessary! Prizes will be announced soon.

About BC and Alberta Guide Dogs

BC & Alberta Guide Dogs is a registered charity that breeds, raises and professionally trains Guide Dogs for individuals who are blind or visually-impaired, Autism Service Dogs for children ages 3-10 with autism and their families, and PTSD Service Dogs for Veterans and First Responders living with an Operational Stress Injury. It takes two years and upwards of $35,000 to produce one certified dog, provided free of charge to the recipient.

Miss604 is a proud media sponsor of this virtual event series. For more information and updates, follow along on Twitter and Facebook.