Discover the stories of an LGBTQ2+ community that fought back! Local walking tour company Forbidden Vancouver and the Vancouver PRIDE Society have brought back the Really Gay History Tour this summer. The tour takes guests from downtown to the historic Davie Street Village to discover the stories, landmarks, and icons of Vancouver’s LGBTQ2+ community. You will meet a history of outrageous drag queens, book store bombings and the unsung heroes who forever changed the social fabric of our city.
The Really Gay History Tour of Vancouver
When: Sundays at 2:00pm, July to November During Vancouver PRIDE the walking tour runs every day between July 27 and August 7, 2019.
Tickets: Buy online or call (604) 227-7570. Suitable for ages 14+.
Where: Meet outside the entrance to Vancouver City Centre SkyTrain station on W Georgia. The tour ends at Jim Deva Plaza on Davie Street, near a multitude of bars and restaurants to choose from for a post walking tour cocktail.
The walking tour was researched and developed by Forbidden Vancouver storyteller Glenn Tkach, with support from company founder Will Woods. Dressed head to foot in pink, Glenn cuts a dashing figure as he leads groups along bustling downtown streets:
“The tour covers some dark history, including the persecution of queer people by government agencies and police right into the 1990s. But overall the experience is a celebration, not just of our community’s success in achieving equality, but a celebration of the brave people who fought back against a hostile society, whatever the consequences.”
The tour has begun, every Sunday in June through November with extra dates around Pride Week. Extra tour times for The Really Gay History Tour from July 30 – August 2 at 10:00am and 2:00pm. Tours meet outside the entrance to Vancouver City Centre Canada Line station. Tickets are $29 for adults, $26 for students and seniors.
This month’s guest post is written by Kushi Opi Mani Wi, Starla Bob – Eco Monitor, Environmental Tech, Ethnobotanist, Indigenous Consultant with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”). Kushi Opi Mani Wi, Starla Bob, is a West Coast Salish woman of the Cowichan Tribes, Snuneymuxw First Nation peoples who was raised in Squamish Nation territories.
Indigenous Plants Uses and Reconciliation Through Restoration of Spapeyeq (Stanley Park) Ecosystems
Stanley Park Ecology Society’s Conservation Department conducts invasive plant removal throughout Spapeyeq (Stanley Park). Spapeyeq, “the way the water flows around”, is the original name for this area and is the traditional and unceded land of the Musqueam, Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation people. Strategically planting native plants to replace the invasive species restores Spapeyeq’s natural ecosystem and returns some of the Indigenous food sources to Spapeyeq.
Spapeyeq has an abundance of salal (Gaultheria shallon) which is a super food full of vital nutrients for the body and soul. The salal berries have significantly high levels of antioxidants and tannins. In fact, this little berry has the highest levels of antioxidants and tannins on the planet according to recent scientific studies. I have been advocating for these berries for years through my Indigenous Plant Walks, sharing the health benefits of these healthy little bites. Collected in the wild, they are organic and do not contain any genetically modified organisms making them little gems for your mouth and your health. The salal berry is delicious, and the leaves can also be used as a diuretic in the form of tea.
Salal berries. Photo: Darren Giles. Creative Commons.
These soft berries grow all over Spapeyeq and the Lower Mainland. As they tend to grow in abundance, they would be a great source of food for the public if they were to be farmed.
The huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium) is another delicious plant that SPES Conservation teams strategically plant throughout Spapeyeq. After invasive plant removal takes place, the native plant species will also grow back on their own given the right growing conditions. The huckleberry plant is a cute little shrub that grows to be over 1 meter tall and plays an important role in nature and for us. The berries are a good source of vital nutrients and traditionally Coast Salish people used the leaves for pain medicine. The huckleberry reminds me of the delicate Scales of the astrological sign Libra: they don’t like to have too much shade or too much sun, but always need a steady supply of water to thrive.
Red Huckleberry. Photo by Michael Schmidt.
Colonialism forced the removal of Indigenous people to reservations where many West Coast Salish became dependent on government subsidies for food because they were not allowed to traditionally hunt and gather. Since this change in diet, the increase in obesity and diabetes rates among Indigenous people has affected most populations. Accessing traditional food sources is part of the solution.
Reconciliation is like the four directions of the sacred medicine wheel – looking at it from all aspects of healing. In order to fully reconcile with Indigenous communities, we have to respect the traditional food sources of the land and water.
Removing Invasive English Ivy in Stanley Park. Photo by Don Enright.
I love the idea of reconciliation through vegetational restoration. We as a people are working together on reconciliation and this is one of the key pathways to healing through the restoration and de-colonialization of ecosystems. Part of seeing the world through an Indigenous lens mean respecting the Land together with Air, Water and Fire. In Stanley Park, we are encouraging this Indigenous perspective with SPES through conservation and education.
If you would like to participate in SPES’s habitat restoration events, you can join a weekend EcoStewards event here. To learn more about Indigenous uses of plants in Stanley Park, check the SPES Events Calendar for the next Indigenous Plant Walk.
About SPES Saturday
As a member of the Stanley Park Ecology Society, Miss604 wanted to offer the organization an opportunity to share their news, events, so we created the “SPES Series” years ago. This is where SPES can contribute and share stories with the Miss604 audience once a month. Follow SPES on Facebook for more information.
The latest IMAX® documentary from IMAX Entertainment, Cosmic Picture and presenting sponsor Mars Petcare, Superpower Dogs, will open in the OMNIMAX® Theatre at TELUS World of Science on June 29, 2019. I’m giving away the chance to see the exclusive Vancouver preview along with a family pack of tickets to enjoy Science World!
Superpower Dogs at Science World
From the filmmakers behind the acclaimed documentaries Jerusalem and Journey to Mecca, Superpower Dogs takes audiences on an immersive IMAX® adventure to experience the life-saving superpowers and extraordinary bravery of some of the world’s most amazing dogs. The film is narrated by Chris Evans (Captain America: The First Avenger, Gifted).
Superpower Dogs follows six real-life working dogs from around the world, as well as their human partners, as they brave earthquakes and avalanches, protect endangered species such as rhinos and elephants and transform the lives of people with special needs.
Audiences will discover the amazing abilities of different breeds and the astonishing science behind their superpowers. We’ll never look at our best friends the same way again! Meet the stars ofSuperpower Dogs here:
Halo, a rookie puppy training to join one of the most elite disaster response teams in America;
Henry, an avalanche rescue expert saving lives in the mountains of British Columbia;
Reef, a Newfoundland lifeguard in the Italian Coast Guard;
Ricochet, a surf and therapy legend in California, who heals people with special needs;
Tipper and Tony, bloodhound brothers leading the fight to save endangered species in Africa.
“Science World is thrilled to bring Superpower Dogs to British Columbia. This fun-loving film celebrates the bravery, courage and determination of some of the world’s most heroic animals, taking audiences behind the scenes of their fascinating lives,” said Dr. Scott Sampson, President and CEO, Science World.
Superpower Dogswas filmed using IMAX® cameras and mixed in immersive IMAX® 12.0 channel sound. With the clearest picture on the largest screens and immersive, heart-pounding audio, The IMAX Experience® will put audiences in the heart of the action and highlight the profound connection people have with dogs. This family-friendly film has a run time of 45 minutes.
Win Passes
I have a family 4 pack of passes to the exclusive preview of Superpower Dogs at Science World! The lucky winner and their guests will get to see the film (before the rest of the public) at 10:00am on June 29th, participate in a Q&A session with Daniel, Ian and Henry, and at 11:10am meet and greet paw-tographs with Henry and his handler Ian.
The prize also includes 4 Ultimate Passes for Science World valid to use right after this special event for the rest of the day on June 29th. Here’s how you can enter to win:
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Click below to post an entry on Twitter
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win passes to the @SuperpowerDogs premiere at @ScienceWorldca along with a family pass http://ow.ly/CSmh30oYUoT” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, June 25, 2019. Follow Science World on Twitter and Facebook for the latest event information.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Views and opinions are my own. Resort media stay was courtesy of Sooke Harbour Resort. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
The sign on our kitchen counter advised that if we were cooking crab for dinner, we should use the burner on the barbecue on our main balcony. My niece Alexis and I had just arrived at Sooke Harbour Resort and I knew immediately that the ocean would play a big part in our stay.
Located just 40 minutes from Victoria, Sooke is a community defined by its proximity to water – whether that’s the Sooke River (home to the famous Sooke Potholes Regional Park) or the harbour that leads out into the strait between Vancouver Island and Washington State.
Latin American Week in Vancouver (June 27 to July 4, 2019) is a celebration of the diversity and dynamism of Latin American culture, with an incredible array of music, dance, visual art, sports, and culinary delights. Signature events this year include:
The whole week culminates with Carnaval del Sol, the Pacific Northwest’s largest Latin-themed festival, which returns for its 11th year to Concord Pacific Place Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, 7, 2019.
Concord Pacific Place will be transformed to resemble a vibrant urban plaza in Latin America, full of sound, colour, tempting aromas, and thousands of smiling faces.
The 2019 edition of this family-friendly event boasts more than 450 artists, who have come from around the world to entertain the masses at the Carnaval’s main stage and plazas – all of which incorporate the festival’s theme this year: “Sharing our Indigenous and Afro-Latin American roots. Let’s shine together.”
Win VIP Flamenco, Tango & Wine Tickets
Where: Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St, Vancouver) When: Thursday, July 4, 2019 at 6:30pm Tickets: $25 online, $35 VIP which includes wine tasting
I’m giving away two VIP tickets to the Flamenco, Tango & Wine event, which includes a preferred seating and tasting of Argentinian wines selected by an on-site sommelier. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Click below to post an entry on Twitter
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win VIP tickets to Flamenco, Tango & Wine during Latin American Week in Vancouver http://ow.ly/24pt30oYxnO @CarnavaldelSol #CSOL #ShineAllTogether” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, June 27, 2019. Must be 19+, please enjoy responsibly.
Follow the event on Facebook and Instagram and share your experience using the hashtags #CSOL and #Shinealltogether.
