Solidarity with animals in the city

What would a truly cosmopolitan city look like? Does the diversity we aspire to extend beyond humans to other species? Hande Gurses, visiting assistant professor of literature at Simon Fraser University (SFU), will answer these questions and more when she hosts Standing Together: Human-Animal Encounters in Istanbul and Athens, on Feb. 27 at SFU Harbour…

An italian meal to support mental health

Chef Tyler Uguccioni, along with a variety of current and past students from the Coast Mental Health Culinary Program will be serving a dinner benefitting the program at Social Crust Café on Feb. 27. The menu will consist of four courses, including hand-rolled pici pasta with mushrooms as well as flank steak with gremolata and…

Mining and morality: upcoming lecture at UBC’s Green College

B.C.’s dependency on mining is set to increase in the future, creating a moral dilemma. The need to continue increasing the output of the mining sector for different materials, clashes with protecting the environment and culture of the areas where the materials are mined. Three associate professors from different schools within the university will come…

Hot chocolate, anyone?

“I wanted to create something that wasn’t your regular coffee shop,” says chef Elena Krasnova, owner of Mon Paris Patisserie. Krasnova’s shop will be participating in the Hot Chocolate Festival for the fourth time in a row. The Festival features 44 “Chocstars” with 114 flavours. This year Krasnova is presenting hot chocolate lovers with three…

Argotian: learning English in virtual reality

A partnership, between the English Language and Culture Program at Simon Fraser University and the tech start-up Virtro, results in a pilot program integrating artificial intelligence and virtual reality into a language acquisition classroom. The department sees hundreds of international students coming to SFU to learn English and continuing on to undergraduate studies. Virtro is…

Heritage buildings of Gastown: The Dominion Building

This time, the focus of this column is on a building situated in the heart of the city’s financial district, across from Victory Square: The Dominion Building, previously named the Imperial Trust Building. The Dominion can be easily spotted from anywhere in Gastown or the area around it due to its unique architecture and style.…

Heritage buildings of Gastown: Hotel Europe

Gastown, a Vancouver neighbourhood beloved by many for the restaurants, bars and pubs. But to connoisseurs of history, Gastown stands out as the foundation stone of the city. Everything here is dipped in heritage: the cobbled roads, the lamps that light up its nightlife and the buildings. For this series of articles, the focus will…

Vancouver: hand in hand with nature

Join Canada’s foremost experts in a panel discussing Vancouver’s West Coast Modern architecture and city-building with nature in Thinking Forward: Building With Nature. The upcoming discussion features Vancouver-based architect James Cheng and will be held Nov. 27 at the Vancouver Central Library. Due to exploding city populations, the art of city-building has taken on unprecedented…

Beyond noodles and spices: An Interview with Meeru Dhalwala

Vancouver owes its glowing reputation as a diverse city in part to its varied cuisines. However, what do we really mean when we talk about a global cuisine? Meeru Dhalwala, chef, author and co-owner of Indian restaurant Vij’s in Vancouver, talks about what the future of a cuisine away from home might be like. Simon…

Empathy trumps conflict

Conflict and confrontation can be a daily occurrence in everyday life. They can be incited by a difference of opinion, religious belief, social conduct or even parking disputes. Though these disconcerting moments can be frequent, many people are not properly equipped to navigate or deal with these uncomfortable moments. Kimberly Jackson Davidson is the director…

Including all of Vancouver

In Alden Habacon’s view, diversity is a fact of Canadian work. Most workplaces in Canada will include people who bear dissimilar appearances, backgrounds, and beliefs. Yet inclusion – ensuring that every member of a workplace team feels welcomed and valued – is a goal that bears its own challenges. “It’s an aspect of Canada that’s non-negotiable. But,…

P.E. Moskowitz: The ‘plastic straws’ of gentrification

New Orleans-based author and journalist P.E. Moskowitz (who identifies as queer) has written for The New Yorker, Slate, and the New York Times. They will speak about their research surrounding the topics of both free speech and gentrification on Oct. 19 at Christ Church Cathedral. Moskowitz’s new book, How to Kill a City: Gentrification, Inequality, and…

(Em)Powering up for winter

As winter looms ahead again, people bring forth woollens and knits. However, what precautionary measures are they taking for their houses? Deborah Wong, communications coordinator of the Empower Me program, talks about saving energy, money and the environment over the winter through simple tips that help make homes more energy efficient. Weathering the move Immigration…