See nature shine at Bear Creek Park Lights this year with illuminated landscapes, whimsically lit creatures, and stunning photo opportunities at this free event November 3-17, 2023.
Photos by Tanya Cowin
Bear Creek Park Lights
Date: November 3 to November 17, 2023
Closed November 11 for Remembrance Day
Time: 4:30pm to 9:00pm
Entry times are available every 30 minutes.
Location: Bear Creek Park (13750 88 Ave, Surrey)
Admission: Free! Tickets are required for entry, book online now.
Bear Creek Park Lights invites families to explore a one-kilometre walking loop adorned with enchanting light displays that beautifully enhance the park’s natural landscape.
Visitors can also take the opportunity to enjoy the free 30 minute guided Nature at Night Walk, shedding light on how animals thrive at night. Not all nature sleeps at night. Look for signs of nocturnal animals such as salmon, squirrels, and owls. These guided walks take place Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30pm and 7:00pm throughout the duration of the event.
In addition to the luminous displays and guided walks, an activity tent with family-friendly programming will be available. On Wednesdays, Surrey Libraries will host story time from 4:30pm to 7:30pm, providing a cozy atmosphere for young minds to explore the world of literature. November 4 and 12, enjoy the lively beats of a DJ at the children’s dance party. Food trucks will be onsite on select nights as well. For more information visit City of Surrey online.
Metropolis at Metrotown has announced Decathlon, the world-renowned French sporting goods brand, will open April 27, 2024.
Decathlon at Metropolis at Metrotown
The 38,000 square-foot space will be the 19th Decathlon location in Canada, expanding the brand’s footprint from coast-to-coast across the country. The newest flagship store will offer a wide selection of sporting goods alongside knowledgeable in-store experts.
Opening April 27, 2024, Decathlon at Metrotown is 2 storeys of sporting goods. The space features zones that highlights specific sports, with a focus on Vancouver staples such as hiking, camping and trekking. Local winter sports including skiing and snowboarding. Cycling and mountain biking in urban mobility and a water sports section. Decathlon features a year-round hiking and camping showroom, cycling showroom, play zones for table tennis, and workshop for tune-up and bike repairs. On display is a Vancouver-inspired mural painted by local artist Andrew McGuire celebrating athletes.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by Lumière Festival Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
The Lumière Festival in Downtown Vancouver is celebrating its tenth year of illuminating dark nights with captivating artworks, projections, free performances, interactive workshops.
Photo submitted
Lumière Festival Around Downtown Vancouver
Date: November 2 – 6, 2023
Admission: Free
This year, the free and accessible Lumière Festival will showcase a variety of artists and their works of art, including international artists from France, Poland and the United States. The interactive, light-based pieces will be displayed in locations across downtown Vancouver, the West End, Yaletown, and Gastown neighbourhoods, including:
Popstar (Tybot Laboratories)Telefunkin Stage (Soluna Productions by Alejandro Samper)
1800 Davie Plaza / Morton Park
The Tunnel (Big Art by Paul Magnuson)
Life Is A Circus (Sandra Bérubé)
West End Community Centre (Denman at Haro)
Magic Crystal Ball Kaleidoscope (Foxlight Labs)
Robson and Cardero
(Un)comfortable Environments (Eos Lightmedia)
Vancouver Art Gallery (North and South Plazas)
Aqua Olimpia (Artur Grycuk)
Harmonia (Roy “thewiz” Trammell)
Ember Arts Fire Show (The Ember Arts Society)
Radiant Contours (Knowhere Design)
Lot 19 (855 West Hastings)
Club Cloud (Laryssa Gervan)
Iridescent Dreams (Shadow Puppet Pavilion)
Fairy Lantern Workshop (Imaginarium Events)
Lux Dragon (Nickie Lewis)
Tubspace (Kick Off The Truck Collective)
Bentall Centre (505 Burrard)
Synergies (Grégory Lasserre & Anaïs Met Den Ancxt)
Urban Light Contacts (Grégory Lasserre & Anaïs Met Den Ancxt)
The Door(S) (Big Art)
Helmcken Plaza (338 Helmcken)
Ethereal Gates (Eatart Foundation By Sam Carter)
Jellyfish Forest (Pxl Lab By Zac Bensing)
Submerged Sanctuary (The Aquarium) (Madeleine Chaffee, Kenji Eu, Gina Teichroew)
Waves in A Shell (Will Donaldson & Linfeng Zhou)
Bill Curtis Square (1198 Mainland)
This Velvet Light (Scott Keva James)
Opening Night
To kick off the festivities, an open-air spectacle at šxʷƛ̓ ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (Vancouver Art Gallery, North Plaza) is planned for the evening of Thursday, November 2nd and will feature dynamic performances from Ember Arts, Elektric Collective and more.
“The 10th anniversary of Lumière represents a decade of artistic expression, community engagement, and the joy of experiencing our city in a new light,” says Deb Beaudreau, curator of the 10th annual festival. “I am honoured to be part of the journey this year, and can’t wait for everyone to see the incredible works of art and performances we have in store this November.”
Megaphone Magazine’s 2024 Hope in Shadows Calendar launched at the Carnegie Community Centre last Thursday. Hope in Shadows is a photography project that shares the stories of people living in extreme poverty through their own lens. Finalists were celebrated at the 21st annual event, and street sales of the calendar by low-income and homeless vendors began.
Hope in Shadows Calendar Launch – Photos by Amy Romer
2024 Hope in Shadows Calendar
This year, Megaphone’s Hope in Shadows Calendar engaged a record of 150 Downtown Eastside (DTES) community members to take photos of hope and resolve in the face of poverty with a disposable camera. The 2024 theme being: “A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood“.
Over 2,500 images were pared down by a community jury and voted on by the public over the summer. Last week, the 13 finalist images were awarded in a public forum and then the calendar went on sale to low-income vendors for $10 who sell it on the street for $20, keeping the profit.
The project challenges the stigma that surrounds poverty by making space for marginalized people to share their own experiences and perspectives. Additionally, it is a way for people with multiple barriers to traditional employment to generate a meaningful income, develop soft skills and act as ambassadors for the DTES community.
Since 2004, the Hope in Shadows project has put more than $1.7 million directly into the pockets of low-income vendors in BC.
Local volunteer and community member, Ali Kenny, won the cover photo for this year’s contest. Her image, “Friendship” features two DTES locals outside of The Drinkers’ Lounge, a community-managed alcohol program in the Downtown Eastside that supports those with alcohol use disorder.
Lisa Curry, Megaphone’s executive director, says the community shows up in force every year eager to express themselves through photography. “Over 5 days, 150 participants went out into the streets with a disposable camera in hand. We were elated by the response and even heard stories of friends and family being reconnected through this project. Hope in Shadows has a profound and immeasurable impact on the community.”
Get Yours Today
Megaphone street vendors in Vancouver are now selling the calendar. You can find and pay vendors directly with their smartphone using the Megaphone App, available for free download from the Apple and Google Play stores. You can also purchase the calendar, magazine, and notecards online and receive them via mail or in-person pick-up through Megaphone’s online store.
Miss604’s Rebecca Bollwitt has been a columnist for Megaphone since 2020.
A beloved East Vancouver tradition, the legendary Parade of Lost Souls, is happening Saturday, October 28th with a whimsical blend of art, music, and dance.
Parade of Lost Souls 2023
Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
Time: 6:30pm to 10:00pm
Location: Britannia Library (1661 Napier St, Vancouver)
New this year, “choose-your-own-adventure” parades are happening at 7:30pm and 8:30pm, where you will have to choose between three bands going in three different directions.
TheLost Souls After Party will take place at The Wise Hall (1882 Adanac St) following the parades at 10:00pm, soaring into the witching hours and rejoicing in the magical blend of the night. This is a 19+ event.
Do the Time Warp Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm Britannia Community Centre (1655 William St) Learn the original, super fun, and very simple choreography to “The Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For ages 15-75.
Thriller Flash Mob Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm Cafeteria – Britannia Community Centre (1661 Napier St) Let’s party like it’s 1899…learn the original choreography of Michael Jackson’s record setting break out hit Thriller. For ages 15-75.
Witches Dance Workshop Sunday, October 22, 2023 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm (the last of four sessions) Cafeteria – Britannia Community Centre (1661 Napier St)
Happy Hour Drop-In Friday
Join The Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret on Friday October 20th at 2050 Scotia St (entrance at loading bay) where you can do a variety of things, including: make a costume; buy a costume; contribute to set decoration preparations; meet potential collaborators; perform karaoke on the custom LED dance floor; get a tour of the space; volunteer with the team; and more!
Through this diverse array of workshops leading up to the grandeur of the Parade of Lost Souls, participants are not just attendees but become an integral part of the performance, immersing themselves in dance, music, and artistry.
Every soul is invited to help turn the community into a canvas of expressive art, echoing the unison of spirits and the enigmatic whispers of Halloween. Follow on Facebook for more information.
