Word Vancouver returns September 21-25, presenting the city’s free festival of reading and writing. Canadian authors and book, magazine, and comics exhibitors all gather to share their love for the written word. Look forward to 100 readings, 150 authors, and 20 workshops, for literature and literacy lovers of any age.
Word Vancouver
Venues
From Wednesday, September 21 to Friday, September 23, experience author readings and events at these venues: Banyen Books & Sound, CBC Studio 700, Christianne’s Lyceum, The Cottage Bistro, The Emerald, and, Historic Joy Kogawa House. On Saturday, take part in free professional development workshops at The HiVE and Carnegie Centre.
Authors in Attendance
Lynn Johnston, Joy Kogawa, Anosh Irani, Ujjal Dosanjh, Paul Yee, Ronald Wright, Yasuko Thanh, Jen Sookfong Lee, Bif Naked, Carmen Aguirre, bill bissett, Daphne Marlatt, Wayde Compton, Caroline Adderson, Lorelei Bachman, Renée Sarojini Saklikar, Faith Erin Hicks, and many more.
Word Vancouver Main Event
Where: Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library (350 W Georgia) When: Sunday, September 25, 2016 from 11:00am to 5:00pm Admission: Free!
Family activities, entertainment, and reading venues can be found outside on the Robson side of the library. There will be a scavenger hunt, colouring stations, and lots of hands on activities for kids.
Inside the library, check out workshops, comics and chapbooks presentations and exhibitors, downstairs. In that same area there will be writing consultations.
Along Homer Street, there will be fiction and non-fiction readings, magazine presentations, and panels. Look for poetry readings in the Sunrise Suite and in the library promenade, pop into the new magazine lounge at Blenz.
Roving site entertainment throughout the day will include Circus Lab, En Route: All Bodies Dance Project, LARP and Cosplay, sword fighting demonstrations, and new Poetry in Transit poems.
Follow Word Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter, and check out the full schedule with a daily breakdown of activities and events.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Review — This is not a paid post. Views are my own. I was supplied media review tickets courtesy of the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
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Whenever we have family or friends visiting us in Vancouver I always try to do two things: Get them up a mountain and then get them out on the water. From both vantage points they can immediately scope out the landscape, get their bearings, and get a unique introduction to the city. These were the reasons that I jumped at the chance to book an architecture tour in Chicago for my first visit.
Upon booking my first trip to Chicago (that would take me outside O’Hare International) I asked everyone what I should do and there was a consistent reply: Do the architecture tour! On social media, in person, and by text messages with family in the Midwest, it was the #1 most recommended activity so I had to give it a try. With the river cruise tour you get a fantastic introduction to the city’s neighbourhoods, its amenities, skyline, cultural and commercial history – exactly what I look to give my guests in my home city.
Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise
Duration: 1.5 Hours
Times: The tours run essentially all day, and in the afternoon there are tours every half-hour from 1:00-5:30pm
Departing From: Southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Dr. It was easy to spot the blue awning marking the stairway entrance.
I booked my sister, sister-in-law, and myself on the 3:00pm tour on Sunday. As we made our way to Dock 3 to board our river cruise, we passed Susan Pappas, the docent that would be leading our tour (we didn’t know that yet). She welcomed us warmly and asked from where we were visiting, then we joined the queue.
All of the CAF-certified volunteer docents who lead the 90-minute tours interpret more than 50 buildings.
My sister-in-law turned and said, “Should I ask her why this is the best tour?” of course I encouraged her as I was curious too. The lineup moved briskly and soon my sister-in-law returned with the answer: This is the only Chicago architecture river cruise tour that is officially hosted and presented by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. It’s also focused on facts and history – not anecdotes and folklore – so you get the most accurate information about how Chicago went from being a small settlement into one of the world’s largest cities in less than 100 years. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Celebrate our local waterways at World Rivers Day, a free day of family fun at the Burnaby Village Museum. Enjoy entertainment, demonstrations, displays, tours, plus lots of activities for children and adults.
World Rivers Day at Burnaby Village Museum
Where: Burnaby Village Museum (6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby) When: Sunday, September 25, from 11:00am to 4:30pm Admission: Free!
Children’s entertainers include the vibrant and fun ventriloquist Kellie Haines with her menagerie of puppets. Her engaging style and antics are fun for all ages. The Nylon Zoo will be back with their brightly coloured costumes and stories in the ‘whale’. Their high energy parades are always a hit with kids and their parents. Watch for Squiddy, a friendly giant squid roaming the village singing his fishy songs. Be here early to start your day with a giggle. The Stories on Wheels first set is at 11:15am.
The Kerplunks, multi-award winning children entertainers, headline this year’s musical program. This talented foursome has a wide variety of musical styles that appeal to multi-generational audiences. Be prepared to participate!
The all-day fun also includes face-painting at the Volunteer Burnaby tent, button-making with the Burnaby Public Library folks, and completing the World Rivers Day Passport activities.
Over 25 environmental exhibitors with hand-on activities, demonstrations, and educational sessions will be on-site. Evergreen BC has great information on caring for urban streams and watersheds. Again this year, they will be leading small groups to help remove invasive ivy growing on the banks of Deer Lake Brook. Interested volunteers should ‘bring your boots’.
Join an Aboriginal Medicinal Plant Tour lead by Coast Salish educators. There are a variety of plants that have grown naturally in the area for millennia. Learn how to identify these plants and how they have traditionally been used.
The Britannia Creek Clean Up’s lego model of the creek and their water cleaning demonstrations are always popular. Check out the displays from Reptile Rescue, O.W.L. Orphaned Wildlife, and the Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society.
Need a break? The Ice Cream Parlour will be open for lunch. The special of the day is a Salmon Burger BBQ. Other light meal options and treats will also be available.
Be sure to pause on the bridge that crosses Deer Lake Brook to take in the beauty of this ecologically significant waterway that runs through the village site. For the past two years, Coho salmon have been returning to this brook.
Leave time to stroll through the Village and into Burnaby’s past. Explore the interurban tram, chat with the clerk at the General Store, watch the blacksmith demonstrations at the forge and hear the printer working the Platen Press. Grab a seat in the Central Park Theatre where a special rivers day themed documentary will be screened and a take spin on the vintage C.W. Parker Carousel (rides are $2.60 each).
World Rivers Day is celebrated by millions of people around the globe. The event was created by Burnaby resident and internationally renowned conservationist, Mark Angelo. Mark will be onsite and speaking during the ‘Welcoming Remarks’ at 1:00pm. In 1993, the City of Burnaby was the first municipality in BC to proclaim BC Rivers Day. Special thanks to event sponsors: CIBC Metrotown and the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
More event details are available on the Burnaby Village Museum website. Follow along on Facebook and Twitter for information about this event and more.
September is Big Brothers Big Sisters Month and to celebrate how mentoring matters, Mayor Gregor Robertson has officially proclaimed September 18th as Big Brothers Big Sisters Day, and BC Place will light up purple.
September is Big Brothers Big Sisters Month
Become a mentor and get a life changing experience
This celebration of why mentoring matters might have you thinking, how can you start something big for your community’s youth? This school year, you can make a big difference in someone’s life! Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland is currently looking for volunteer mentors for its Big Sisters, Study Buddy, and Go Girls! mentoring programs throughout the BC Lower Mainland.
If you enjoy working with young people and would like to help young girls achieve success in school and life, then consider volunteering with Big Sisters. You’ll not only feel like a hero, you’ll be inspired and uplifted by your Little Sister. What you give will be returned in bundles, and here’s just a bit of what’s given when you become a mentor:
Boost in confidence: 92% of Littles feel confident, 96% say they’re happy and are less likely to have anxiety
Success in school: 63% of mentoring recipients have post secondary education and students who meet regularly with their mentors are less likely than their peers to skip school
Less risky behaviour: Teens who are mentored are less likely to engage in binge drinking, drug use, daily cigarette use, alcohol use, or bullying
Future achievement: Mentoring recipients have more financial literacy, higher paying jobs, and are more likely to hold senior leadership positions
The most important goal of their programs is to positively shape the lives of girls by helping them reach their full potential. Currently, there are over 130 Littles waiting to be matched with a Big Sister. Areas in most need are Surrey, Tri-Cities, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Vancouver East Side.
More information on Big Sisters mentoring programs can be found online and the volunteer application is also available online. Follow Big Sisters BC Lower Mainland on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the 2016 Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland Volunteer Recruitment Campaign
This weekend Miss604 is proud to sponsor the free Surrey Youth Fest, happening all day Saturday at the Guildford Recreation Centre. It’s the city’s largest, free event just for youth! This listing and more below, and if you see any events missing, send in the info anytime to Miss604.com/contact.
Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend
Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green.
Never miss my TOP PICKS for events in Vancouver! Receive this event list right to your email inbox by signing up for the Miss604 Weekly Events Newsletter below:
