Lantern Festival lights up darkest night of the year

On the darkest night of the year, Vancouver’s annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival brings beauty and creativity to five neighbourhoods in anticipation of the sun’s return and longer daylight hours. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice is the time when the Tropic of Cancer is farthest away from the sun, marking the shortest day of the year, usually around Dec. 21.

Canadian Films a Must-See at VIFF

Two B.C.-born, Vancouver-based film-makers are turning heads at this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival. Actor and producer Chad Willett, 41, is showing his latest film Becoming Redwood, which just took Best Canadian Feature at the Edmonton International Film Festival.

Japanese drummers perform at last year's Powell Street Festival. Photo courtesy of the Powell Street Festival

Traditions return to Powell Street

“[The PSFS]… is very much connected to the history of Japanese-Canadians… Powell Street is the heart of the Japanese-Canadian community in Vancouver, so the festival was started there and it speaks to that history.”

Shivangi Bhayana, performer at the City of Bhangra festival. Photo courtesy of the performer.

City of Bhangra Festival engages all cultures

Bhangra, a Punjabi genre of music and dance will be showcased at the 8th Annual HSBC City of Bhangra Festival. The festival will also include an array of world music, hip-hop, rock, flamenco, and percussion instruments.

Cerry blossoms. Photo by Aki Salminen

Cherry blossoms are here – time for celebration

The spectacular cherry tree-lined boulevards in the West End are the first signs of spring. And April is the month to celebrate the cherry blossoms. “For [the] Japanese, cherry blossoms are the symbol of new entrance and hope,” says Mari Honma, principal of Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall. [Read more…]