Walking Tour
THE JADE PEONY WALKING TOUR with John Atkin
Sunday November 9, 10am (approx. 2 hours)
Meet at Chinese Cultural Centre courtyard, 50 E. Pender
$10, pay what you can for local residents
The novel The Jade Peony, by Strathcona/Chinatown-born and raised writer Wayson Choy, is much loved by Strathcona and Chinatown residents. The stories in the book are under our feet in the streets, homes and shops throughout our neighbourhood. Join John Atkin, author, historian, DTES/Strathcona resident and walking-history-encyclopedia on this walking tour that brings alive the stories and places of The Jade Peony.
Presentation & Demonstration
URBAN CLOTH PROJECT: Terroir
Sunday November 9, 1pm – 3pm
Hastings Urban Farm, 58 W. Hastings
Free
“What fibre lies at my feet? How do I name it, gather and process, so cloth can spin from my fi ngertips, and cover my skin. Where do I begin?”
Join the Urban Cloth Project research artists, dancer and choreographer Mirae Rosner, cedar/fibre Squamish spinner and weaver Tracy Williams, community eco-artist Sharon Kallis, and community participants, as they perform a work-in-progress gestural dance. Through the dance they share what they have learned so far about growing plants, foraging, harvesting and processing flax for linen.
The Urban Cloth Project weaves together First Nation gathering traditions, early settler agricultural methods and contemporary environmental art practices, through shared investigations for urban cloth production. They’re exploring connections between labour, land and community as the growing season has inspired their dances.
This ongoing project is building layers as they continue towards next spring. The Arts Trust of the Community Arts Council of Vancouver has provided funding for this project. More information on the project can be found at the Terroir website.
Sharon Kallis – woven canoe in CRAB Park
Music In The Streets
HASTINGS STREET BAND
Sunday November 9, 1:30pm & 2:30pm
Starts at Ray-Cam Cooperative Centre, 920 E. Hastings
Free
Get your dancing shoes ready. It’s music in the streets with the Hastings Street Band and their upbeat New Orleans-style jazz and blues. Led by multi-instrumentalist and composer Brad Muirhead, the Band is comprised of enthusiastic Downtown Eastside involved amateur and semi-pro musicians playing with professional musicians from across Vancouver.
Theatre
THE RAYMUR MOTHERS They Wouldn’t Take No For An Answer
Closing Matinee Sunday November 9, 2pm
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell
See Wednesday October 29 for full description and ticket information.
Community Celebration
UKRAINIAN HALL COMMUNITY CONCERT & SUPPER
Sunday November 9, 3pm, Supper follows
Ukrainian Hall, 805 E. Pender
Tickets $25
The festival ends on a high note at the East End’s historic Ukrainian Hall with lively music, high energy dance, haunting harmonies, exquisite costumes and cultural sharing at the Ukrainian Hall Community Concert & Supper. This annual favourite, produced with the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians, features the Barvinok Choir led by choral director Beverly Dobrinsky, the Vancouver Folk Orchestra – one of the oldest and largest folk orchestras in Vancouver, and the award-winning Dovbush Dancers.
Special guests include: Vancouver’s own Slavic soul band Zeellia (led by Beverly Dobinsky) playing songs and dances from Ukraine, Balkan states and Canadian Prairies; emerging rising stars Jamie Elliott and the Downtown Eastside’s own Hannah Walker perform as Twin Bandit with strong harmonies and original songs; and The Git Hayetsk Dancers (People of the Copper Shield) led by Mike and Mique’l Dangeli with ties to the Haida, Tlingit, Haisla, and Musqueam Nations. Sam George (Tse-at-sul-tuxch) of the Squamish Nation will open with a Welcome song. After this cultural feast, we gather downstairs for a delicious traditional Ukrainian Supper! Concert and supper $25. Be sure to book your tickets in advance for this very popular event. For tickets call 604-254-3436.