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Gladys Andreas, founder and first president of the B.C. Ukrainian Cultural Festival (BCUCF) is delighted to be celebrating the festival’s 20th anniversary this coming April 18 and 19, but it wasn’t an overnight process. Ukrainian immigration began when the Canadian government, through the British Parliament, invited Europeans to move to Canada. On April 6th, 1895…
Cherry blossoms throughout Vancouver have been blooming early this year, giving Vancouverites a great reason to go outdoors, stroll the petal-lined streets and take photographs of the blossoms with friends, family and neighbours. The trees not only beautify the city this time of year, but also provide an occasion for citizens to get together and…
The traditional Hindu festival of colours, Holi, is well known for its iconic imagery: participants celebrate the coming of spring by cheerfully dousing one another with brightly coloured water and powder. However, many may be unaware of the festival’s deeper significance – the event fosters a message of brotherhood and unity for all participants, and…
The annual Coastal First Nations Dance Festival, presented by Dancers of Damelahamid in partnership with the UBC Museum of Anthropology, celebrates the stories, songs and dances of the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast of North America. From March 3–8, the festival will showcase the First Nations communities of the Northwest Coast, through an artist…
Tet Nguyen Dan (Tet), the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration, is a highly anticipated multiple day event that includes traditional Vietnamese foods, dance, and song, and celebrations galore. This year, the Vietnamese community is trying to involve more Vietnamese youth in the festivities. The celebrations come with a variety of events happening across the Lower…
Purple potato and sake. Yes, these are the new hot chocolate flavours created for the 5th annual Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival, on until Feb. 13. This 30 day event is hosted in 24 cafés throughout the city, as well as in Burnaby and North Vancouver. A walking map on the event’s website shows you the…
The inaugural Vancouver Turkish Film Festival (VTFF) is capitalizing on an extraordinary year that at once celebrated the centennial of Turkish cinema, as well as delivered an unprecedented calibre of recognition and the highest number of films ever made in an industry that merges eastern and western aesthetics. “Turkey has [always] been a bridge between…
Every year, Iranians and Central Asians living all over the world celebrate Yalda Night, an ancient tradition marking the passing of the longest night of the year. This holiday originated when most people in Iran were practicing Zoroastrianism, an ancient Iranian religion that existed centuries before Islam. On Dec. 21 in Port Moody, the Tri-City…
Vancouver-based filmmaker Karen Lam’s works are often rooted in non-fiction , specifically criminal court cases. Her latest film, Evangeline, is no exception. Lam’s main inspiration for this revenge fantasy film was Vancouver: Pickton and the Highway of Tears served as part of the backdrop. Evangeline will be shown as part of the Vancouver Asian Film…
From Oct. 21–26, Vancouver welcomes the Writers Fest, an event that brings people of all backgrounds together to share stories, cultures and languages. One such storyteller is Congo-born, Gibsons-based writer and poet Jean-Pierre Makosso, who readily switches from one language to another as “the griot of human culture.” The Source : How were you introduced…
Politicians play puppets in their campaign to impress voters, students cosplay as their favorite puppet characters, and a superstar puppeteer drives a Ferrari. These are street scenes in Taiwan, and Vancouverites will have a rare opportunity to see this puppet art form at the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) Nov. 4, when the Ouxi Taiwanese Puppetry…
On Oct. 18 along the White Rock waterfront pier, members from the Sanatan Cultural Society of British Columbia will host the city’s first annual Diwali by the Sea, a festival of light and culture. Story, music and dance performances from individuals from a wide array of cultural backgrounds will be on hand to celebrate the…
It’s the second year for LiterASIAN: A Festival of Pacific Rim Asian Canadian Writing. The organizers of the Vancouver Asian Writers’ Workshop will host the event from Oct. 9 to 12. Although there are mainstream literary festivals that recognize diversity and inclusiveness, says Jim Wong-Chu, LiterASIAN organizer, he feels there is a need to feature…
