Festival unifies roots and communities

The 11th annual New Westminster DiverseCity Festival kicks off May 18 with food, art, entertainment, and history.

Kendra Johnston, executive director of the Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Association (BIA), says the idea of the festival started with a group of local business owners who wanted a family oriented outdoor festival along the boardwalk.

Vancouver jumps into Persian New Year

This year marks the 23rd Annual Persian Fire Festival in Vancouver. With popularity growing rapidly in recent years, organizers are expecting more participants than ever to turn up and take part in the traditions.

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.”