Beating back plastic together Local undergrad spearheads community effort to understand microplastics at Vancouver’s beaches

Helen Wong has found a way to blend community advocacy with greater environmental understanding. The environmental science student at Simon Fraser University (SFU) brought in over 20 volunteers to aid her undergraduate thesis project, which looks to learn more about the impact and extent of microplastics on Vancouver’s coasts. After winning a $1500 Ocean Actions…

A legacy beyond art New exhibit showcases the impactful work and life of Tseshaht artist George Clutesi

GEORGE CLUTESI: ḥašaḥʔap / ʔaapḥii / ʕc̓ik / ḥaaʔaksuqƛ / ʔiiḥmisʔap is a retrospective exhibition currently premiering in Vancouver until Jan 19, 2025 at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art. The exhibition explores the life and legacy of George Clutesi, a Tseshaht First Nation artist, actor, writer and ambassador for Canadian Indigenous culture, recognized…

DakhaBrakha lends a melodious voice to Ukraine

Over the last 20 years, DakhaBrakha has established itself globally as a unique artistic force, bringing some of Ukraine’s most stylish and fantastical music to the world stage. But more recently, the group has used their international fame to help raise awareness about Russia’s invasion of their country, with their Tour for Ukraine project. This…

Vishtèn Connexions Sharing love, legacy and Acadian culture

The diversity of traditional Acadian music is vast and exciting, and Vishtèn Connexions looks forward to showcasing classic pieces with their own creative nuances. The Acadian multi-instrumentalist duo celebrates the vibrancy of francophone culture at Festival Du Bois, which takes places March 8 to 10. “Our passion for our roots has always been a driving…

Roots and words: Exploring the mirroring of language and ecosystem through art

In their first exhibition in Canada, Chinese visual artist and storyteller Shen Xin explores how languages act like an ecosystem. The installation, titled but this is the language we met in; 我们在这个语言中相遇, includes a film, Grounds of Coherence #1, and four paintings, all created by the artist. Shen is particularly interested in the existence of language in humans…

Elle Sofe Sara centres on land and reclamation in Sámi dance

Inspired by Sámi culture and history, spiritual dance performance Vástádus eana – The answer is land centres themes of community, reclamation and the importance of land. The Sámi people are Indigenous to Sápmi, also known as northern Scandinavia, and, similar to Indigenous peoples in Canada, have suffered cultural assimilation and violence from colonialism. “I think our performance…

The building blocks of a good life

As a B.C. and Lower Mainland-based organization that has been providing Canadian newcomer-immigrants with settlement services for 45+ years, MOSAIC has had a long and storied history. Yet, the organization is still venturing to shuffle government priorities for improved support regarding immigrant welfare. On Nov. 17 2023, MOSAIC CEO Olga Stachova spoke to the House of Commons…