2025 Cultural Connections
Borshch & Bannock
Sunday November 2, 12pm – 3pm
Ukrainian Hall, lower hall, 805 E. Pender
Lunch $12, at the door
Enjoy an afternoon lunch at the Ukrainian Hall with a hearty seasonal meal of Borshch and Bannock, two intangible cultural symbols that represent hospitality, resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. Enjoy a hearty bowl of borshch from the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians, and delicious bannock from Indigenous family-owned Big City Bannock. Spend a little time eating, meeting and sharing conversations with your neighbours.
Day of the Dead at the Listening Post
Sunday November 2, 2:30pm – 4pm
Listening Post, 382 Main Free
On November 1 and 2, the Listening Post celebrates a Mexican and Latin American tradition to set up altars – ofrendas – decorated with candles, flowers, harvest vegetables, alcohol, tobacco, sugar skulls, food and photos – to invite the spirits of the departed to join us before returning to the other side. The Listening Post’s street front window will feature a community ofrenda. This is a space of reflection and connection in the swirl of Main and Hastings. Visitors are welcome to come inside, light a candle, and remember those they’ve lost.
Hearts Beat 2025
Sunday November 2, 4pm – 7pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Free. Ticket information below
Experience a vibrant celebration of cultures with Hearts Beat, a musical journey exploring the rhythms, songs, and dances shared by Indigenous and Irish traditions. Enjoy live performances from the lexwst’i:lem drum group, Ceól Abú Irish musicians, and other thrilling acts. Hearts
Beat is honoured by the participation of Mary Point of the Musqueam Nation. This unique afternoon inspires, fosters intercultural understanding, creates new connections, and lifts both heart and spirit. Presented in collaboration with Carnegie Community Centre Indigenous Programs, Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival, Irish Women’s Network of BC, the Consul General of Ireland, and Carnegie Community Centre; this is an experience not to miss.
Join us for an afternoon of music, drums, poetry, song, and community, and witness a lively fusion of artistic and cultural expression!
Ceól Abú members: Denise Dalton, Tony Dalton, Sal Gallagher, Peter Kratoska, Rick McDougall, Jennifer White, and missing Eilis Courtney (currently travelling the world).
lexwst’i:lem drum group members: Marr Dorvault, Sam McKay, Pat Mah, Egor Marov, Les Nelson, Nicole Bird, Raphael San-Luis, Louisa Starr, Priscillia Tait.
This is a ticketed event. Tickets are available after October 27 at the Carnegie Community Centre Program Office, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. For inquiries, contact Nicole Bird at nicole.bird@vancouver.ca
Etuamptmumk / Two-Eyed Seeing: Ways of Being and Seeing “Winter”
Thursday November 6, 3pm – 5:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main Free
Etuaptmumk/Two-Eyed Seeing: Ways of Being and Seeing (TES) is a process-based project by Lara Aysal and Rosemary Georgeson. Now in its third year, TES presents a documentary video, Winter, featuring Lynn Power and Nicole Bird. Amplifying Indigenous knowledge holders and youth, fostering dialogue on ecological crisis, decolonization, and Indigenous-led collaboration across knowledge systems anchors the film, recorded during winter 2025 at Carnegie Community Centre. With generous support from The Only Animal, British Columbia Arts Council, and Zeic.
Indigenous Exhibition and Celebration
Thursday November 6, 6pm – 8pm
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Free
Join us for an evening of dance, drumming, and community for all ages at the Indigenous Exhibition and Celebration. This gathering brings together Indigenous dancers from many Nations, including Larissa Healey (2Spirit Grass Dancer), Pavel Desjarlais with Dancing Spirit, who share vibrant cultural performances. The evening also features shared food and an Indigenous art market with handmade goods. Open to all — everyone is welcome!
5:30pm: Come early for the Indigenous Vendors Market.
Tree Drum
Friday November 7, 2pm – 4pm
SFU Djavad Mowafaghian World Arts Centre
149 W. Hastings Free
Scooped from family at age three, theatre artist and Elder Bill Beauregarde (Cree/Enoch) tells the story of making his first drum at nine years old. Called by a crab apple tree whispering from the backyard of a group home, “I want to be a drum,” Bill listened. In collaboration with friend and artist Susanna Uchatius (Eastern European), Bill shares his story of self-discovery through storytelling and live drum-making — keeping the drum’s spirit alive.
