Arriving to the “Wetcoast”
It’s a go! Departure day is set for the great trek to the Canadian West: April 10th 2011. I’m excited. My daily Paris grind is going to totally change. And the timing is perfect: I need a breath of fresh air.. [Read more…]
Our cities on the campaign trail – focus on Vancouver
On November 19, BC voters will be electing their respective municipal councils. Well, some voters at least, will take advantage of the opportunity. Municipal elections have a historically dismal participation rate. One of the most interesting races will, of course, take place in Vancouver. [Read more…]
Spencie’s View
Violence Against Women: a global problem
Abuse against women happens every day. Regardless of skin colour, race, creed or ethnicity, abuse is an international issue that knows no boundaries, and every October, the YWCA Metro Vancouver takes up the cause with their Week Without Violence campaign. [Read more…]
Vancouverites search for their umbrellas
Robinson Crusoe made a parasol on his deserted island. Gene Kelly, in Singin’ in the Rain, danced with a brolly. And France’s President, Nicolas Sarkozy has an armor-plated bumbershoot to protect himself from attackers. [Read more…]
Shambhala centre teaches dignity
The Buddhist teachings at the Shambhala Centre on Heather St. and 17th Ave., don’t come from your typical monk in crimson coloured robes. Instead the Universal teachings of dignity, intelligence and diversity come from Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan meditation master who taught thousands, smoked cigarettes and created (and led) his own army; at times doing all three while wearing full military regalia, creating paradoxes wherever he set foot. [Read more…]
Battling divisions in theatre production of Us and Them
The fundamental question explored in the play Us and Them by co-directors David Diamond and Kevin Finnan, is “if it’s only us here, who are the ‘they’ we are creating?” Us and Them, showing at The Cultch (Historic Theatre) on Venables Street, is a production which merges traditional and formal theatre. [Read more…]
Words come to life at annual Writers Festival
This year’s Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival will have a collaboration of the world’s best writers. Running from Oct. 18–23, the festival will allow for undiscovered and unpublished Canadian writers to congregate with award nominated writers like Esi Edugyan, Lynn Coady, Patrick de Witt, David Bezmozgis, Marina Endicott and Andrew Mikiforuk, just to name a few. [Read more…]
Reflecting on 30 years
TOutside the Vancity Theatre, home to the Vancouver International Film Festival Centre, we see the logo of the VIFF. Its “eyes” are looking out to the world perhaps reflecting on the past 30 years of the festival and pondering the future. [Read more…]
Spicing up the traditional Canadian Thanksgiving
Turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, home made buns and pumpkin pie topped with ice cream. If you’re salivating and thinking Thanksgiving, you’re exactly right. These are the perfect ingredients for your typical Canadian Thanksgiving dinner – and no, we didn’t copy the celebration from our cousins in the United States. It’s our very own. [Read more…]
Vancouver: “a bed time flight”
It’s only been a month since I landed in Vancouver. It’s a special place, and I should know; I’ve been all over the world. I was born in Israel from Argentinean parents who moved me back to Buenos Aires, when I was just 5 years old. I worked in Colombia for 6 months and slowly made my way north to the American east coast before surrounding myself by mountains. Things are a lot different in this wonderful land called Vancouver. [Read more…]
NDP’s Leadership Race: To Be Managed Carefully
IThe NDP’s leadership race has hardly begun and it’s already promising, at least in its excitement. For now, the race is led by candidate Brian Topp, the only officially registered contender. [Read more…]