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…

The rich history, isolated present and hopeful future of Vancouver’s Black community

Every February, people across Canada and the U.S. celebrate Black History Month to honour and uplift the legacies of Black communities. This year, advocacy groups, like Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS) and University of British Columbia’s Black Student Union (BSU), are not only highlighting Black voices, but also Vancouver’s history of anti-Black racism. Hogan’s Alley, from…

Building bridges of empathy and understanding: Theatre Terrific champions inclusivity in performance art

Part 1 in a series highlighting the intersection between disability and arts in Metro Vancouver. For almost four decades, Theatre Terrific has been pioneering inclusivity through performance art. Through classes, workshops and productions, the Vancouver-based theatre group leads an inclusive approach to theatre performance, not just for its audiences, but for performers with a range…

Chinese Canadians tell ‘small stories that make up a big history’

Chinese Canadians make up a significant part of Canada’s history, but this fact is often forgotten when people talk about Canadian heritage. To remedy that oversight, the Chinatown Storytelling Centre exists to inform the public about this important part of our past and its contemporary legacies. Situated in the middle of Chinatown, the Storytelling Centre…

Chinatown-based non-profit organization integrates seniors into society

There are often many barriers that prevent seniors from living their best lives. Health complications are one part of the picture, but loneliness, advocating for one’s needs, and a lack of agency are challenges as well. For immigrant seniors who might face a language barrier, that can make all of those things even trickier to…

Langara College, AFOA Canada & BC Celebrate their first cohort of Indigenous graduates in financial management

The graduation of an inaugural Indigenous cohort with a Financial Management certificate paves the way for a new generation of Indigenous financial leaders. Last month, snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College, AFOA Canada and AFOA BC announced the graduation of their first cohort of Indigenous students with an AFOA Indigenous Financial Management Certificate. “The program has always…

A welcoming invitation for Truth and Reconciliation Day

For upcoming Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30, the Nisga’a Ts’amiks Vancouver Society sends out an open and inclusive invitation to all for hope, healing, celebration of culture, tradition and storytelling. Held at John Hendry Park, Trout Lake from 1 pm, the event will commence with a land acknowledgment and opening remarks with a…

Indigenous Cultural Programming at Britannia – Building a safe, comfortable place, cultivating Identity, belonging and respect for all

As we move forward to a new season, the Fall 2023 Program Guide is out for the Britannia Community Services Centre in the Grandview-Woodland area of Vancouver. The centre is a space aiming to promote values of fostering identity and belonging, diversity, social justice, reconciliation and sustainability for residents of its locale and the larger…

Microplastic pollution: Plants could be the answer

Could plants be the answer to the looming threat of microplastic pollution? Scientists at UBC’s BioProducts Institute found that if you add tannins – natural plant compounds that make your mouth pucker if you bite into an unripe fruit – to a layer of wood dust, you can create a filter that traps virtually all…

Wellstream: Safe strategies for youth and teens

Although population data studies indicate the prevalence of mental health and substance use among youth and teens has been relatively stable over the past years, there has been a worrying increase in the harms related to substance use. In the face of these challenges, Wellstream: The Canadian Centre for Innovation in Child and Youth Mental…

Cognitive challenges tackled – a youth’s perspective

Opportunities for high schoolers to gain experience in university labs are few and far between. However, after reaching out to Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (INN), Advaith S. Iyer, an eighth-grade student from Alpha Secondary School’s BETA Mini School program, had the chance to conduct his experimental study—testing the cognitive load…