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Social media is being re-defined by younger generations as a tool for positive activism, and the movement inspired mother-daughter team, Tanya and Julia Kyi, to write the children’s book Better Connected (Orca Books Publishers, 2022). “The good things I saw Julia and her friends accomplish on social media sparked the idea for this book,” explains…
Climate change is a problem that is both multifaceted and universally impactful to the current and future generations of society. Learning about this ongoing crisis and drawing lines to minimize our community’s carbon footprint is what the Vancouver Public Library and UBC Climate Hub’s workshops are all about. “We believe connection is crucial for bringing…
Greek Heritage Month is back in full swing this year with a street festival, an art showcase, and live comedy. The June-long program (from Jun. 3-26) celebrates traditional Greek art, culture, food, and history, bringing together the Hellenic diaspora with diverse audiences from across the Lower Mainland. “Since they first settled in Vancouver more than…
Harpo Mander has always said, “You can’t become what you can’t see.” That’s why when she found herself working at an unfulfilling job, where she wasn’t able to fully express herself, she quit and created a space whereshe could. Now she is the host of Brown Girl Guilt, a multilayered podcast that delves into the…
Even though Reconciliation can be a daunting and confounding subject, Port Coquitlam’s Riverside Secondary School’s art department decided to engage with it after hearing about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. The school asked students to work collaboratively on one call to action, and to come up with one way that they as…
In 2017, the Canadian government amended the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Canadian Criminal Code to protect individuals from discrimination and hate crimes based on gender identity and expression. Prior to the 2021 Census, some individuals indicated that they were not able to see themselves in the two responses of male or female on…
Cities are increasingly important refuges for critical pollinators, including bees. May 20 has been designated World Bee Day and home gardeners have their part to play in their survival. According to the Nature Conservancy, Canada has over 800 bee species (450 species in British Columbia alone) from carpenter bees to sweat bees. Climate change, pesticide…
Looking to connect with her Métis roots, Donna Lee started Bannock Queen Bakery in 2016 to share her culture. Alongside her husband Ray and son Michael, the family-run business operates from Lee’s home in Surrey, where her knowledge of baking bannocks takes her from one farmers’ market to another. “I learned so much about Métis…
Various religious communities of Metro Vancouver are observing the Holy Week, this month, which starts on Palm Sunday and culminates in the Easter celebration on Apr. 17, this year. The Christian Easter period begins with the Great Lent, a 40-day period preceding Easter, which is the longest fasting period of both the Eastern Orthodox Church…
Skateboarding is becoming the best option for youth with autism to get involved in sports. The fun and inclusive environment fosters community between one kid and another. Blair Durnan, the executive director of Spectrum Skateboard Society, is spearheading this initiative. The organization offers safe and exciting camps for neurodivergent children. “The future of Spectrum Skateboard…
In Metro Vancouver, some 30,000 Iranian Canadians live in flourishing cultural neighbourhoods. Iranian tastes and smells fill the shops and restaurants, and Farsi signs and newspapers catch the eye in places like Lonsdale Ave. On Mar. 20, the Persian community will be celebrating its New Year, Nowruz. According to the 2016 Census, 210,405 Iranians reside…
Julia Nakamura, a graduate student at the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) health psychology program, is working to improve the health and well-being of a rapidly aging population, one step at a time. Nakamura’s research is focused on how positive psychological factors (like purpose in life) and pro-social behaviors (volunteering, helping behaviors) might reduce the…
Forests have been an integral part of the fabric of Earth and human society since the beginning of time, a fact that often goes unnoticed in daily life. According to the United Nations (UN), sustainable forest management and the use of resources are key to combating climate change and contribute to the prosperity and well-being…
