The year 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of The Source newspaper, our community’s own “beacon,” as our very first issue called it – a paper dedicated to reflecting, anchoring and connecting the myriad cultures of Vancouver. From the beginning, the paper has embraced the diversity that defines our city and proudly serves as a platform for stories that resonate across languages and cultures.

In that spirit, we look back on some of this past year’s interesting stories, capturing moments that echo the paper’s vision of building bridges between communities. From covering stories of underrepresented peoples to examining personal, societal or environmental challenges that bring us together, this retrospective reflects our enduring commitment to documenting Vancouver’s cultural mosaic and inviting you, our readers, to be a part of that story.

Winter: From Chinatown to the beach

Back in January, in the first issue of the year, reporter Prisca Tang went to the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, whose mission is to highlight the often overlooked history of Chinese Canadians. She captured the voices of community members, particularly content producer Ramona Mar, emphasizing the significance of personal narratives in understanding identity and heritage. Mar illustrated how these evolving stories contributed to a broader understanding of the community’s struggles and hopes for the revival of Chinatown as a vibrant cultural hub.

“Chinatown used to be like a mini-Hong Kong. It was bustling. You couldn’t find parking and you had to jostle your way through. It was exciting. You cannot picture it now, but in the ’50s, it was super exciting,” Mar said.

In February, reporter Bonnie Gill showcased the Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS) and its efforts to empower artists of all abilities to create, record and perform music using adaptive technology. Gill spoke with program manager Graeme Wyman who emphasized their role in facilitating musical creativity rather than providing music therapy, supporting artists through lessons, recording sessions and live performances. By sharing client stories, Gill illustrated VAMS’ dedication to placing music at the forefront and creating a nurturing atmosphere.

In March, reporter Cherie Tay spoke with environmental student Helen Wong and her efforts to merge community advocacy with environmental science through her thesis on microplastics. Wong successfully enlisted over 20 volunteers to gather sand samples from Vancouver’s beaches, spotlighting the significance of community involvement in environmental research and to further understand how microplastics appear on our beaches. Wong’s hopeful outlook on climate action illustrated her dedication to fostering change.

“[Climate anxiety] is not something that only young people feel but literally anyone who cares about the environment,” Wong said. “Events like this not only expose people to what fieldwork is like, but they get to do something cool outside.”

Theatres and museums in springtime

In April, reporter Elaha Amani spoke with the team behind I Know Your Secret, a play exploring the dangers of social media and the loss of privacy. Director Valerie Methot championed positive social change through free, collaborative theatre projects that connect youth with professional mentors. She told Amani that working with youth writers, such as Ciara Wilkinson, helped her understand the darker side of the Internet. Wilkinson, who played the complex antagonist Angelique, credits the company’s supportive community with helping her grow as an artist and hopes initiatives like these theatre projects grow alongside Vancouver’s broader arts scene.

Reporter Drew Stewart highlighted the Burnaby Village Museum’s efforts to share underrepresented stories about B.C.’s South Asian community through its May exhibits. One of the exhibits explored the lives of South Asian families in early 1900s Burnaby through photographs, documents and possessions, while another addressed caste discrimination in Canada through first-hand accounts. These exhibits used interactive and visual elements to engage audiences, but, despite their impact, the exhibits are temporary, prompting calls for a permanent space to preserve and share these important histories for future generations.

In June, reporter Alison MacDonald went to the Museum of Vancouver to explore how thoughtful urban design could address social inequities within communities. One of the people she spoke with was UBC School of Architecture interdisciplinary fellow Young-Tack Oh, whose work focuses on the concept of “repair.” His work emphasizes rethinking what it means for spaces to be “broken” and how repair can evolve beyond the status quo to create meaningful change. By engaging communities, building trust and fostering spatial literacy – particularly among youth – Oh aims to inspire hope and reimagine how spaces can serve everyone equitably, emphasizing accessibility, diversity and inclusion.

“[We often do not] use space as designed, we personalize it, make it our own,” Oh said. “Everyone is their own architect with their own individual level of understanding based on personal lived experience that is nevertheless crucial to a broader understanding of space.”

Chess, math and Ukraine in the summer

In July, reporter Sava Rozsnyai examined the post-pandemic resurgence of chess among youth, highlighting its appeal as both a mental challenge and a social activity. Rozsnyai explored how online platforms and renewed interest in classic games contributed to the chess boom, particularly during periods of isolation. Rozsnyai spoke with educators and players who emphasized the game’s cognitive and emotional benefits, including improved focus, critical thinking and resilience, and showcased how the game evolved into a vibrant and accessible pastime for a new generation.

In August, reporter Curtis Seufert spoke with the Ukrainian diaspora in Vancouver on the occasion of the Ukrainian Independence Day, which is celebrated on Aug. 24. Seufert spoke with the president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress’ Vancouver Branch, Elvira Mruchkovska, who spent many years advocating for Ukrainian human rights. Since the Russian invasion in 2022, she described how she and her fellow community members assisted refugees with their settlement in Canada, fleeing the war. She hoped that Canadians can celebrate together with their Ukrainian newcomers on that day to spotlight the best of both cultures.

In September, reporter Katrianna Desante explored the enduring legacy of the abacus, highlighting its relevance as both a cultural artifact and a practical tool for learning. Desante spoke with Nikkei Museum workshop leader Norie Ikoma, who noted the abacus’ historical significance in Japanese culture and its ability to develop mental math skills and foster concentration, especially with those who are neurodivergent. By showcasing its adaptability and timeless appeal, Ikoma underscored the abacus’ unique and lasting place in a rapidly evolving
technological world.

“A student once told me that the abacus shows you the beauty of precision,” Ikoma said. “It does; it embodies the beauty of math.”

Autumn: Literacy and sustainability

For UNESCO’s 2024 Global Media and Information Literacy Week in October, reporter Sandrine Jacquot spoke with Ori Tenenboim, an assistant professor at UBC’s School of Journalism, on the role of digital technologies in fostering critical thinking and combating misinformation. With news information being blended in with other content on social media, it is harder than ever for people to gain the skills to develop news literacy and navigate today’s complex media landscape responsibly. Tenenboim said it is incumbent on news organizations to be transparent of the sources they use and the process which they use to produce the news in order to foster trust between producer and consumer.

In November, reporter Amélie Lebrun explored the Eastside Culture Crawl’s focus on sustainability, looking at artists who repurpose and upcycle old materials to create innovative works. Lebrun showcased how artists like Corinne Leroux, Sei Campbell and Arnt Arntzen combine creativity with environmental awareness, transforming discarded items – used clothing, stained glass and reclaimed wood – into meaningful art, inspiring others to see the potential in reused materials.

“One of the most sustainable things you can do is to design and build objects that will last many generations and not become dated,” Arntzen said.

We hope our stories inspire in you the values of diversity, community and love of culture, as much as it does in us. On behalf of everyone at The Source newspaper, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season and an amazing new year – we will see you in 2025!