Blossoms Squared by Terry Aske. | Photo courtesy of West Vancouver Community Arts Council
I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to the spring season! Spring in Vancouver is a lively and inspiring time, offering the perfect opportunity to dive into the city’s rich cultural scene. With an exciting lineup of performances, thought-provoking exhibits and a variety of artistic experiences, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re drawn to theatre, music, film or dance, April is filled with events that capture the spirit of the season and invite you to try something new. Plus, with Earth Day coming up this month, it’s a great time to consider eco-friendly ways to get around. Why not take the bus, bike or enjoy a scenic walk as you explore all the city has to offer?
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Cherry Blossoms: A Textile Translation 2025
April 9–May 4
www.westvanartscouncil.ca/event-6048083
Spring is here with the return of Cherry Blossoms: A Textile Translation, the 16th annual exhibition of textile art inspired by the cherry blossom. Marvel at the over 30 beautiful and intricate works of art in a variety of mediums and techniques including quilting, embroidery, dying, felting, sculpture, appliqué, weaving and more. The talented artists on display explore diverse interpretations and meditations on the cherry blossom’s meaning and beauty through contemporary and traditional approaches and styles.
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2025 Verses Festival of Words
April 10–19
www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/about-verses
Canada’s largest alternative literary arts festival, Verses Festival of Words offers up dynamic programming celebrating a broad definition of literary arts, including spoken word poetry, storytelling, page-based poetry, singer-songwriters, improvisers and more. Come be swept away in a wave of word-bending wonder, where activism and art take centre stage. Experience the transformative power of words: written, spoken and sung. Check out their website for details and more information.
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National Canadian Film Day
April 16
Launched in 2014, CanFilmDay has brought together hundreds of thousands of Canadians, to celebrate our stories and the incredible achievements of our filmmakers. Whether you host a screening or attend one, watch from the comfort of your home or join the party on social media, CanFilmDay is your day to feel connected to our cultures and shared values. What inspires you to keep going? To stand up for what matters? These days, we need that more than ever, and Canadian filmmakers have an incredible way of giving us a sense of connection, strength and hope. There will be 60 stories that remind us what it means to dream, to fight for your beliefs and to find strength in community.
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Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade
April 19
Every April, millions of Sikhs world-wide celebrate Vaisakhi Day, a day that marks the establishment of the Khalsa order by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (10th Sikh Guru). Considered one of the most important days in the Sikh calendar, parades celebrating the event are held in Sikh communities around the world. The largest Vaisakhi Parade in the world occurs in Surrey, where approximately 500,000 people attend the annual Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade. For details and more information, check out the parade’s website.
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Stuart Little
April 23–May 11
www.carouseltheatre.ca/season/stuartlittle
Carousel Theatre for Young People’s production of Stuart Little is coming to the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island from April 23 to May 11. Celebrating 75 years since the book’s first publication, this enchanting play, adapted by Joseph Robinette, brings E.B. White’s timeless tale to life in this intimate and captivating telling. As Stuart, the endearing little mouse with a great big heart navigates a world built for humans, the play unfolds with a perfect blend of whimsy and heartwarming moments. Robinette’s adaptation skillfully captures the essence of White’s original work, highlighting Stuart’s courage and resilience in the face of a world not built for such a little mouse. His adventurous exploits encompass racing a toy boat in Central Park, retrieving his mother’s ring from a drain and crawling inside a piano to repair the keys for his brother. He embarks on a quest to find his beloved Margalo, a little bird who is frightened away by the ferocious family cat, Snowbell. With a delightful mix of humour, adventure and poignant moments, Stuart Little is one little big adventure you won’t want to miss!
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Diptych (The Missing Door and The Lost Room)
April 24–26, 8 p.m.
https://dancehouse.ca/event/peepingtom
Recalling the shifting surrealism of filmmaker David Lynch, the paired works of Diptych (The Missing Door and The Lost Room) bring together a collection of odd and archetypal individuals and subjects them to a corkscrew journey of extraordinary proportions. Founded by Gabriela Carrizo and Franck Chartier, the Belgium-based Peeping Tom obliterates the border between theatre and dance, roping together a hyperrealist aesthetic with real-world settings to fashion a disquieting mix of performance genres. With elements of film noir, dark comedy and foley-effects, the work undermines the seeming solidity of actual places (a ship’s cabin, a banal hallway) with nightmare logic. Within the slip and slide of altered perceptions and an unreliable narrative, the characters act out a series of increasingly bizarre scenarios. Coherence and stability fracture, then shatter, as theatrical conceits are revealed to be just that. As the story shapeshifts in real time, peeling back the layers of cinematic convention to pose unsettling questions about the nature of reality, nothing is as it seems.
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Whisky & Words
April 25, 7–11 p.m. (VIP) and 8–11 p.m. (general admission)
Raise a glass to the art of storytelling and fine whisky! Every year, the Vancouver Writers Fest presents Whisky & Words, an extraordinary whisky-tasting event you won’t want to miss. Delight in unlimited pours of exceptional whiskies from around the world, alongside artisanal craft spirits and local brews. Indulge in mouthwatering bites and explore rare whiskies and unique experiences at their exciting silent auction. Join them for a remarkable evening filled with indulgence, community and celebration– all in support of the transformative power of storytelling.
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9 to 5: The Musical
April 25–May 11
www.royalcitymusicaltheatre.com
The Royal City Musical Theatre will present 9 to 5: The Musical from April 25 to May 11 at New Westminster’s Massey Theatre. Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers – office manager Violet, frazzled divorcée Judy and sultry secretary Doralee – concoct a plan to get even with the “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot” they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, the ladies live out their wildest fantasy – giving their boss the boot, their workplace a dream makeover and taking control of the company that had always kept them down. Hey, a girl can scheme, can’t she? For cast, tickets and showtimes, visit the theatre’s website.
