Saturday October 29

Talk & Walks

Walking Tour
HISTORY ON THE VERGE – SHINING LIGHT ON OUR OLD EAST END HOUSES
with James Johnstone
Saturday October 29, 10am-12pm
Meet at NW corner of Dunlevy and Railway

James Johnstone is a Strathcona-based house history researcher and blogger, history walk guide and heritage advocate. On this tour James highlights Vancouver’s oldest houses and the stories of the people who lived in them. This informative tour is made all the more interesting as James brings a number of ‘before’ pictures of the 1880s and 1890s houses that we will see along the route. Every old house has a history. You will be amazed at some of the stories that wait to be discovered behind those beat up old doors. $10 for non-residents, pay what you can for local residents

Walking Tour
MOMENTS OF COMMUNITY HISTORY with Jean Swanson
Saturday October 29, 11:30am
Meet at entrance to SFU Woodwards, 111 W. Hastings

Join Jean Swanson of the Carnegie Community Action Project on a walk through the Downtown Eastside where moments in community history will be marked. Learn about the actions of the WoodSquat, the Women’s Memorial March, Canada’s first Safe Injection Site, camping for CRAB Park, redressing the Head Tax, and the death of Olaf Solheim, and the impact and consequences on the Downtown Eastside community of these historical moments. This is the first tour of a planned commemorative plaque project. $10 for non-residents, pay what you can for local residents

Click for photo and video coverage of this event.

History Talk
TALES OF POWELL STREET
Saturday October 29, 1pm-2pm
Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall, 487 Alexander

Powell Street was the pre-war business centre of the Japanese Canadian community in Vancouver. From boarding houses to baseball games, here is your opportunity to learn about this vibrant history and to see a new permanent exhibit in the foyer of the Language School. You will hear about other projects to preserve Japanese Canadian history. Presented by the Japanese Canadian National Museum and the Vancouver Japanese Language School. Guest speakers. Free


Workshop
BURNING ISSUES with Nicola Harwood
Saturday October 29, 10am-1pm
Public welcome at 12:30pm
Aboriginal Friendship Centre Theatre Room, 1607 E. Hastings

This workshop brings together youth and elders from the Aboriginal Friendship Centre to explore issues of importance, and to build connection between the youth and elders. Facilitated by Nicola Harwood (Twin Fish Theatre, Nelson), a collaborating artist with The Squaw Hall Project: A Community Remembers. The workshop participants will share their work at 12:30pm when the doors will be open to the public. The Festival is pleased to partner with our friends urban ink productions and Twin Fish Theatre on the presentation of both the Burning Issues Workshop and The Squaw Hall Project film presentation and discussion. This workshop is one in a series of workshops and community-engaged events produced in conjunction with the Storyweaving Project. For more details see the Thurs Nov 3 event page. Free

Workshop
GUIDED MEDITATION
Saturday October 29, 11am-1pm
Radha Yoga, 728 Main 2nd floor

Renew yourself and explore meditation practices to bring awareness and to calm the mind in this two hour workshop. Take the opportunity to reflect and listen to your inner voice. Please bring a journal. For more information: 604-605-0011 or www.radhavancouver.org. Pay as you can.

Community
HALLOWE’EN AT OPPENHEIMER PARK
Saturday October 29
11am-2pm For Kids
2pm-4pm Rock ‘n’ Roll
Oppenheimer Park, 488 Powell

What better way to have fun on the Saturday before Hallowe’en than spend the day at Oppenheimer Park. Join Park staff for children’s activities of crafts, treats, food, workshops, and spooky decorations – whoooooooo! At 2pm we will hear some good old rock ‘n’ roll with SCOW and the Oppenheimer Music Jam Program, with special guests The Jay Sea Band. That’s singer/songwriter Joe Chow on guitar, Arnold Penniard on bass and Richard McDonald on drums. Skulls will roll – it is Hallowe’en! Everyone welcome! Free

Click for photo and video coverage of this event.

Community Celebration
SENIORS CELEBRATING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF VANCOUVER AND THE CHINESE CANTONESE OPERA
Saturday October 29, 11:30am-5pm
Chinese Cultural Centre, 50 E. Pender

Seniors from the Asian Canadian Benevolent Association for the Elderly and the Vancouver Seniors’ Singing Club Association join with senior artists and musicians to present this special performance celebrating both the 125th anniversary of the City of Vancouver and 125 years of Cantonese Opera and Chinese culture in our city and community.  This performance is presented with support from the City of Vancouver’s 125th Anniversary Grants Program and the participation of the Government of Canada. Tickets at the door: adult $10, seniors $8

Film & Discussion
THE SQUAW HALL PROJECT
– A Community Remembers
Saturday October 29, 2pm
Aboriginal Friendship Centre Theatre Room, 1607 E. Hastings

The film Squaw Hall – A Community Remembers captures the memories of Secwepemc and Tsilhqot’in elders about being young and growing up in the Cariboo Chilcotin. The festival is thrilled to welcome some of the youth and writer Sage Birchwater from Williams Lake who participated in the creation of this community building film. Following the screening we’ll have a conversation about the experience of connection and reconnection. A powerful element of the film is the connection between youth and elders, when the elders speak powerfully to their youthful interviewers, with words of wisdom directed to all First Nations youth of today. A Storyweaving Project event: for details see the Thurs Nov 3 event page. The Festival is pleased to partner with our friends urban ink productions and Twin Fish Theatre on the presentation of both The Squaw Hall Project film presentation and discussion, and the Burning Issues Workshop. Everyone welcome. Free

Music in the Streets
CARNEGIE STREET BAND
Saturday October 29, 2:30pm-4:30pm
Starts at Carnegie Community Centre, 401 Main

Look out, can you hear them coming? It’s music in the streets with the Carnegie Street Band. Led by multi-instrumentalist Brad Muirhead on sousaphone, the band is formed again and ready to play. Favourite dance and marching tunes are the repertoire so brush up on your moves. Free

Click for photo and video coverage of this event.

Film & Conversation
SOMEWHERE ELSE IS HERE
Saturday October 29, 4pm-5:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main

Austrian artists and filmmakers Marina Leblhuber and Jasmina Hirschl were in the Downtown Eastside in 2008 and spent a lot of time talking with local artists and residents about their home and their work. The result: the powerful documentary Somewhere Else Is Here which shows the DTES through the residents’ eyes rather than from the outside looking in. The Festival showed a rough-cut of this film in 2009 and we are honoured to debut the final version. All the best to Marina and Jasmina who are now back in Europe; we thank them for producing a film that portrays our community with dignity. Participants in the film will attend the screening. Free

Click for photo and video coverage of this event.

Community Celebration
4th ANNUAL FAMILY HALLOWE’EN DANCE
Saturday October 29, 6:30pm-9pm
Strathcona Community Centre Gymnasium, 601 Keefer

Dance the monster mash, decorate some ghoulish cookies and have your face painted at this spooktacular all ages event. This community event is organized with love by neighbourhood parents and has become a favourite Strathcona family tradition. For more information or to volunteer contact: milisa@strathconaevents.ca or call 604-713-1838. Admission by cash or food donations to support the SCC Food Security Programs.

Music
HAISLA with NASTY, BRUTISH & SHORT
Saturday October 29, 7pm-9pm
Raven’s Eye Studio, 456 E. Hastings

Last year a landmark mural project was painted on the west wall of the newly-renovated Orwell Hotel. Inspired by the creative energy of the artists working together, the Vancouver Native Housing Society moved forward to open the Raven’s Eye Studio in the same ground floor location. Come hear music from one of the mural artists, Haisla Collins and her acoustic blues band – Haisla with Nasty, Brutish & Short. Specializing in blues and ballads with flavours of gospel, jazz and country, Haisla is joined by Lorenzo Watters on lead guitar and mandolin, the Reverend Gabriel Hebert on slide guitar and banjo, and Father Theo on rhythm guitar and twelve-string. That’s urban blues! See you there! Free

Click for photo and video coverage of this event.

Electronic Music and Media Arts
HALLOW2EEN, W2 BLACK LIGHT SERIES
Saturday October 29, 11pm
W2 Media Café, 111 W. Hastings

W2 presents the Black Light Series, four separate events that showcase distinct and artistic directions of electronic music and media arts, and feature emerging and established artists and producers from Vancouver and abroad. Tonight W2 presents Yours Truly No. 3 with resident DJ Prison Garde and special guests. For more information visit www.creativetechnology.org. $20, $45 for 4-night Black Light Pass.

Click for photo and video coverage of this event.


Film & Taiko Drums
CHIBI TAIKO and FUSION OF THE HEARTS: ISHIZUE
Saturday October 29, 2pm-3:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main

In 2010, thirteen young Canadian taiko drum players, most with roots in Japan, travelled to Onomichi, Japan for a cultural exchange with a traditional, inter-generational Japanese taiko group. The young Nikkei Canadians, aged 6-23 years at the time, are part of the group Chibi Taiko based here in the Lower Mainland. Filmmaker Linda Ohama, who lives part time in Vancouver and part time in Onomichi,  captured what happens when two different cultures with shared roots meet and interact. The resulting film is Fusion of the Hearts: Ishizue. What did they learn? As one of the taiko players says: “Reconnecting with your roots is important because it gives you a chance to see what makes me ME!” Members of Chibi Taiko will be at the screening and will share some thoughts about their experience. We will end with a performance of live taiko drumming. What could be better? We love taiko! Everyone welcome. Free

Click for photo and video coverage of this event.


Open House
ST. JAMES’ ANGLICAN CHURCH
Saturday October 29, 12pm-4pm
St. James’ Anglican Church, 303 E. Cordova

Open Houses at St. James’ are a wonderful opportunity to see first hand this heritage building and to take in a variety of parish activities!
12pm-4pm Photo Exhibit/Church Treasures Display
Artists in our Midst: Chris Loh and Christine Hatfull – a photographic exhibit featuring the interplay of light and architecture. Curated by Anne Kennedy.
Take in this rare opportunity to see the ancient Ethiopian processional cross up close and admire its detailed engraving. View the vessels used in celebrations of Holy Communion. Learn what patens and chalices are and how they are cared for.
12:30pm Guided Tour
Long-time parishioner Allan Duncan leads a guided tour of the Church that includes fascinating details, century-old artifacts and intriguing stories about the parish and the construction of the church.
1:30pm A Sermon by John Donne
Hear a stirring sermon of one of the greatest English-speaking preachers. Professor Paul Stanwood offers a dramatic presentation of John Donne’s Second Prebend Sermon on Psalm 63:7. Donne’s striking language and imaginative figures will challenge and surprise you. Find out how the gospel was preached and what people flocked to hear in seventeenth century England.
3pm A performance by members of the Saint James’ Music Academy, which offers free high quality classical music training to children living in the Downtown Eastside.
Get in on one of the best good news stories to come from the neighbourhood. Everyone welcome! Free


DOCUMENTARIES FOR THINKERS
Saturday October 29, 6pm-9:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main

Five years ago, in association with Humanities 101, Colleen Carroll established a free film series especially tailored for the Downtown Eastside. Documentaries for Thinkers has become a regular Saturday evening program at Carnegie. The Festival is pleased to collaborate on this evening of thought-provoking films. Free

6pm-6:50pm
The Spirit of Nihonmachi (in process 2011)

Join filmmaker Greg Masuda for the test screening of a rough cut of The Spirit of Nihonmachi. Once every year for the last thirty-five years, the Powell Street Festival has celebrated Japanese-Canadian culture and heritage in the neighbourhood where the community first took root nearly 100 years ago. This film touches on the relationship between the long-running festival and the spirit of the neighbourhood volunteers that have helped make it successful through the years. Following the film, help Greg with the final version by providing feedback via a simple questionnaire. A Powell Street Festival Society production.

7pm-7:10pm
My Grandmother Ironed the King’s Shirts (1999)

Animator Torill Kove’s grandmother often told her stories. One story in particular revolved around ironing shirts for the King of Norway. And what if that intriguing detail was just the tip of the iceberg? Perhaps she also worked covertly in the Norwegian resistance… Maybe she even spear-headed a campaign to create an unprecedented brand of guerrilla warfare! Sharp and whimsical, Kove’s story combines her grandmother’s tales with historical events and fantasy, and shows how a cherished anecdote can come to acquire a mythical status. (10”, NFB)

7:15pm-7:50pm
Something to Eat, a Place to Sleep & Someone who Gives a Damn: A film about homelessness (2008)

Filmmakers Les Merson and Ken Villeneuve didn’t have a lot of experience with homeless people. In fact, the two middle-class, middle-aged men often ignored those they saw sleeping outside. But when Merson saw one of his close friends spiral out of control and end up on the streets, it opened his eyes to a new world. Frustrated by government inaction and his own ignorance, he enlisted Villeneuve and the two set out to make a film to show people that the road to living on the street is a lot shorter than most suspect. Merson says, “You’re afraid of things you don’t understand. And that’s why I decided to do this film, to explore an issue that I didn’t understand that needs to be dealt with.” Director Les Merson will be in attendance. (34”)

8pm-8:20pm
The Road Forward (2010)

This beautiful and inspiring film of a musical live performance recaptures the Aboriginal political and social movements of British Columbia and envisions a road forward where no one will be left behind. Created and directed by Marie Clements, the film features Tuscarora singers Pura Fe and Jennifer Kreisberg, singer Leela Gilday and performer Michelle St. John. Also featuring the renowned dancer/choreographer Byron Chief-Moon, playwright/actor Kevin Loring, hip hop artist OsTwelve and Independent Spirit Award winner Evan Adams. If schedules allow, performers and filmmakers hope to attend. (10”, Frog Girl Films)

8:30pm
Poor No More (2010)

We were always told, “If you work hard things will get better.” But hard-working Canadians have only seen things get worse. Corporate profits soared, but only the rich got richer. The recession took away jobs and piled up more debt, leaving people poor, or insecure. Poor No More offers solutions to Canada’s working poor. The film takes three Canadians to a world where people do not have to beg, where housing is affordable, and university education is free. They ask themselves: if other countries can do this, why don’t we? Hosted by TV and film star Mary Walsh, the film offers an engaging look at Canadians stuck in low paying jobs with no security and no future. The film offers hope to those who have to work two jobs a day and to those who cannot even find work…there is a way out. (53”, Deveaux Babin Productions)

 


One Comment

  1. Pingback: your halloween hq - yoyomama | yoyomama

Comments are closed.