Community
SUSTENANCE FESTIVAL
October 13 to 25
Various locations throughout Vancouver
Join the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation for a city-wide festival with local food-inspired workshops, exhibitions, talks, walks, dances and more – all taking place in community centres and public spaces throughout Vancouver. Founded in 2009, Sustenance is about food, art, sustainability, celebration, discussion and food security. It’s dynamic, creative, delicious, educating, and timely. The theme of Sustenance 2015 is “As we are, together…” For more information go to www.sustenancefestival.ca or visit the Strathcona Community Centre.
Live Recording
CARNEGIE TV – DOWNTOWN VARIETY SHOW
Friday October 16, 7pm – 9:30pm, doors open 6:45pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Free
Join the studio audience! See how a television program gets made!! Be part of the ACTION! Attend a live recording of the Downtown Variety Show on Carnegie TV slated for broadcast on SHAWTV during the Heart of the City Festival. Cheer on local favourite musicians and spoken word artists, including Les Nelson, Dalannah Gail Bowen, Owen Owen Owen, Brad Muirhead, Terry Hunter, Gary Wildeman, Diane Wood, Muriel Marjorie Williams, Bob Sung, Mike Richter, Steve Edwards, magician Merlin Cosmos and your host Mr. Sam Snobelen. Join us for posterity!
Community Celebration
THE HELLO NEIGHBOUR PROJECT
Saturday October 17, 10am – 6pm
Oppenheimer Park, 488 Powell
Free
Drop in to Oppenheimer Park and join Union Gospel Mission and friends to build understanding and to get to know your Downtown Eastside neighbours. It’s free and open to any who wants to join in. Come with an open heart, ready to learn, and explore a vibrant, but often-misunderstood neighbourhood. Enjoy games, stories, art and music, and watch exhibition soccer games between 11am to 2pm. Sign up in advance for a Neighbourhood Walk: www.ugm.ca/haw/sign-up/. Sponsored by Save On Meats, A Better Life Foundation and Vancouver Street Soccer League.
Convention
SRO TENANT CONVENTION
Sunday October 18, 10am – 5pm
Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall, 487 Alexander
Free
The SRO Collaborative is organizing the second annual SRO Tenant Convention at the Japanese Hall. From 10am-12pm, you can obtain help filing BC Housing applications, ask questions of City inspectors, and connect with other service providers. This is also your opportunity to get snack bags and stamps for the cash draws! The afternoon 12pm-5pm is full of activities: Elders Ceremony, performance by lion dancers, presentation by the SRO Collaborative, open mic of most pressing problems, eviction prevention workshop, collective decision-making about next year, and a cash draw. Don’t miss the Wheels of Misfortune performance by CCAP volunteers at 4.30pm! Everyone welcome.
Workshop
FLOURISH
Monday October 19, 2pm – 4pm
Gallery Gachet, 88 E. Cordova
Free
Time to Flourish! Transform the humble bottle cap into beautiful art! Your creations will be used to decorate the children’s playground at Oppenheimer Park.
Storytelling
SHARON SHORTY
Wednesday October 21, 1:15pm – 3pm
Strathcona Community Library, 592 E. Pender
Free
The Vancouver Public Library is pleased to present
Sharon Shorty, speaker of the Teslin Tlingit Council and award-winning playwright and actor, as the 2015 Aboriginal Storyteller-in-Residence. Sharon has deep roots in the storytelling tradition of the southern Yukon, and has fused this tradition with her acclaimed performance on stages around the world. She says “I am fortunate to have the mentorship of my grandmothers and be part of an unbroken series of oral traditions.” Sharon will present two storytelling sessions at the Strathcona branch: 1:15pm-2pm and 2:15pm-3pm. Suitable for approximately ages nine and up, including adults.
Workshop
COAST SALISH SINGING & DRUMMING with Russell Wallace
Wednesday October 21, 7pm – 9pm
Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Centre, SFU Woodwards, 149 W. Hastings
Drop-in. Free
Everyone welcome! Join us to learn social songs, drumming and dance with instructor Russell Wallace. Russell is a board member for Warriors Against Violence Society and is a composer, producer and a traditional Lil’wat singer. Currently Russell works and teaches at the Native Education College, and works for the Office for Aboriginal People for which he holds these Singing & Drumming workshops. This is a monthly workshop – watch for it again on November 25. Free and open to the public on a drop-in basis.
Exhibit & Reception
PIGEON PARK PROUD Photos by Tom Quirk
Wednesday October 21, 7pm – 9pm
InterUrban Gallery, 1 E. Hastings, entrance on Carrall
Exhibition October 21 to 31, Gallery hours 1pm to 5pm
Free
Images and Reflections: Pigeon Park Proud is an exhibition of photo-portraits, art and photo-documentation that celebrates the people of the historic Pigeon Park and the community of the Downtown Eastside. Through art, the photographic eyes of Tom Quirk and Anthony Zdansky, and the reflections of DTES residents on the phrase “An elder once told me…” we connect with the diversity and exceptional sense of strength, power and support that makes this community special. Presented by Vancouver Moving Theatre/Heart of the City Festival in partnership with Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts, and in cooperation with Portland Hotel Society and Culture Saves Lives.
Workshops
WOMEN’S ZINE WORKSHOP SERIES
Thursday October 22, 29, November 5 & 12, 2pm – 4pm
EWMA Studio, 800 E. Hastings
Free
The workshop series, facilitated by artist Whess Harman, provides women the opportunity to tell their own stories while exploring this year’s Heart of the City Festival’s theme “Nourished by Community.” Women who attend are encouraged to bring drawings, photos, stories, journal entries or poems to share. Each workshop will cover different binding techniques including construction of unique layouts and designs. The results will be showcased at Atira Women’s Resource Society: Enterprising Women Making Art Eastside Friday Cultural Crawl Celebration on November 20th, 3:30pm-6pm.
Radio
ARTS RATIONAL
Thursday October 22, 9pm – 11pm
Co-op Radio 100.5FM
Jay Hamburger of Arts Rational leads a live interview with ….
Excerpts from “Muse of Fire”
Kids
MACLEAN PARK PUMPKIN PATCH PARTY
Saturday October 24, 12pm – 3pm, or until the pumpkins are gone
MacLean Park, 710 Keefer
Free
For the children of the Downtown Eastside. Lots of fun things to do – free pumpkins, face painting, arts and crafts, pumpkin carving and refreshments. Come dressed in your Hallowe’en costume. Don’t be disappointed, come early! Only one pumpkin per family. A Strathcona Community Centre program. Rain or shine!
Community Celebration
6th ANNUAL FAMILY HALLOWE’EN DANCE
Saturday October 24, 6pm – 9pm
Strathcona Community Centre Gym, 601 Keefer
Admission by cash or food donation
Come dance the monster mash and have your face painted at this spooktacular all ages family dance. Organized by neighbourhood parents, this community event has become a favourite Strathcona must-go-to family tradition. Get into costume and party with your neighbour-ghoul families! Admission by cash or food donation to support the Strathcona Food Security Program for families.