2024 Heart of the City Festival Schedule
Most Festival events are free. Donations are gratefully accepted. Tickets must be purchased for some events, and some events require registration.
Consult each event description for ticket information.
Please contact our box office with any questions: boxoffice.heartfestival@gmail.com
Friday October 31
Festival Opening Celebration
Friday October 31, 1pm – 3pm
Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Free
Step into the spirit of the season as we open the 22nd Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival!
This afternoon Festival celebration welcomes warmth, mischief, and kinship, and features many fantastic Festival artists! Expect haunting poetry from Lady Die, cast members from the runaway hit Mayor of Oz of the Carnegie Learning Centre, spectral puppetry by Gerardo Avila from Spirit Encounters, music by DTES darling Heidi Morgan, and poetry by Vancouver Poet Laureate Elee Kraljii Gardiner. With opening welcome and remarks from Carnegie Elders-in-Residence Marr Dorvault and Leslie Nelson, words from VMT Board President Ann McDonell, the Carnegie Community Centre, and hosted by Heart of the City leadership, Lalia Fraser and Alexandra (Ali) McDougall, this gathering invites us to honour Dignity in Community — and celebrate the creative heart of the Downtown Eastside.
All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.
Drag Storytime Singalong
Friday October 31, 4pm – 6pm
MacLean Park, 710 Keefer Free
Featuring the Legion of Flying Monkeys, Magic Triangle with host Drag Satan!!!
Come to the Park and dance in your costumes to the high-energy jazz stylings of Magic Triangle, then join up for lifetime membership in the completely harmless* singalong corporation of the Legion of Flying Monkeys.
*Caution: children and adults will be exposed to socialist and secularist lyrics!
Halloween Festival Kick Off, with BODY PROOF
Friday October 31, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Free
Kick up your heels and get ready for a spooky time at the DTES Halloween Festival Kick Off! Wear your best costume, walk the red carpet, enter the costume contest to win awesome prizes, and gear up for disco-ball dancing with DJ Maxi and crew spinning tunes.
With a special appearance — here comes BODY PROOF! Five Vancouver choreographers in residence at MascallDance join the fun at the Heart of the City Festival Kick Off. Dance with Marisa Gold, Ysadora Dias, Tobias Macfarlane, Nick Miami Benz and Mario Matias, who will throw their mix of favourite dance moves and fragments of their ancestries onto the dance floor.
It’s a Halloween night of masquerade magic, dance and community fun for friends and families alike — a party to remember! Refreshments provided, everyone welcome! Hosted by the one and only DJ Maxi, aka Lance Lim of the Pigeon Den Art Collective.
Famous Last Words
Friday, October 31, 7pm – 9pm
SFU Djavad Mowafaghian World Arts Centre
149 W. Hastings Free
Tickets FamousLastWordsHeartofthecity.eventbrite.ca
In Famous Last Words, poets participate in a faux competition where they ‘battle’ in a series of rounds, ‘judged’ by Uni the Unicorn, the host, and the audience. A spoken word comedy show with a puppet poetry round, a unicorn interpretive dance, and much more. Come in costume, let’s have fun! Free chocolate! Featuring Grace Kwan, Marlo Browne, RC Weslowski, Sean McGarragle, SJ Valiquette, Spillious the Ridiculous One, and Uni the Unicorn. Presented by Death Rides a Unicorn with SFU and the Heart of the City Festival.
Saturday November 1
Big Sights in Little Chinatown Walking Tour
Saturday November 1, 10am – 12:30pm
$0 – $25. Registration required.
Tickets: chinatown-walking-tours.eventbrite.ca
Also Wednesday November 5, 11am
A walking tour of Vancouver’s historic Chinatown that takes you on a journey from its origin to present day, highlighting the big sights in little Chinatown. Based on both historical research and community ties and involvement, your guide Larry Chin, will immerse you in the historical significance, place of continuance, cultural practice and heritage in the community. Larry is an award-winning filmmaker, photographer and community historian. Walk with a new perspective on one of most historic cultural spots in the city and enjoy local Chinese treats along the way! For more information visit: Chinatown Wonders – Walking Tour. You will receive the meeting point upon registration.
Voices of the Street — Gravity: Hope as Resistance in Hard Times
Saturday November 1, 12pm – 1:30pm
Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Free
Join local writers as they read from the 15th edition of Megaphone’s Voices of the Street anthology, titled this year “Gravity: Hope as Resistance in Hard Times”. The writers will share their work and the inspiration behind their pieces. The anthology of poetry and prose is produced through a series of community writing workshops for individuals facing intersecting barriers in the Downtown Eastside.
First Saturdays Open Studio
Saturday November 1, 12pm – 5pm
Various locations in the DTES Free
First Saturday Open Art Studios is a monthly event found across the Lower Mainland, Victoria, and the Gulf Islands. During the Heart of the City Festival, visit studios in the Downtown Eastside where individual artists and art collectives open their workshops. Learn about the artistic process, explore working studios and hear amazing stories behind the work. See a diverse range of mediums including painting, assemblage, jewelry, fibre art, woodworking, collage, photography and more. Be inspired by original art or purchase directly from a local artist. Plan an art adventure! Learn who will be open on Nov 1st, visit www.firstsaturday.ca.
Grains & Grooves: Open Studio Saturday
Saturday, November 1, 12pm – 5pm
Chapel Arts 305 & 304 Dunlevy Free
Celebrate creativity at Chapel Arts during the Heart of the City Festival and First Saturday Open Studios! Our studio opens its doors for shop tours, custom-made furniture, and projects blending art and design. Explore contemporary, modern, and live-edge tables, bar tops, and coffee tables in progress. This Saturday, enjoy pakoras, special sales on finished items, community spirit, and a live performance by The Bugs Buddy Show, a family-friendly rock band — all inside our historic Art Deco buildings nestled between Chinatown and Japantown.
FIRSTS: Open Studio Saturday
Saturday November 1, 12pm – 5pm
Paneficio Studio, 800 Keefer Free
“FIRSTS” a series of baseball card portraits of the first Black ballplayers to integrate each of the original 16 major league teams, with each player’s position memorialized as “First.” The source material of these paintings are baseball cards as they were originally created, including offensive cultural depictions. To omit the racist stereotypes would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed. www.paneficiogallery.com
Spontaneous Poetry in the DTES
Saturday November 1, 1pm – 2:30pm
Corner of Main & Hastings Free
Meet poet, writer and activist Gilles Cyrenne and poet extraordinaire, Fiona Lam, on Main and Hastings for a cup of hot chocolate and a spontaneous poem. Do you have a memory that you want to see on paper? An idea, a care, memory, or feeling about something you are experiencing that you’d like to express? Drop by and take home a spontaneous poem created by two of the best poets in our midst. Marshmallows included!
Water Workshop
Saturday November 1, 1pm – 4pm
Left of Main, 2nd floor, 211 Keefer Free
Come and spend a Saturday afternoon with dance artists Jennifer Mascall and Kelly McInnes at Left of Main, exploring the body’s fluid system. This workshop is an opportunity for anyone who’d like to honour, explore and celebrate water, and our interconnections with it. No dance experience required!
How We Could End Homelessness in the DTES
Walking Tour
Saturday November 1, 2pm – 3pm
Balmoral Lot, 159 E. Hastings Free
The Carnegie Housing Project estimates that over 3,500 people in Vancouver are homeless. Your hosts will lead a tour of Downtown Eastside sites that could be used to stop the loss of low-income housing, build new housing that low-income people can afford, or shelter people who have no housing in the meantime. Be part of the conversation about important policy solutions, learn about the city’s upcoming plan to gentrify the neighbourhood, and how we can work to get our governments to end homelessness.
Dia De Los Muertos Ofrenda Workshop
Saturday November 1, 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Carnegie Learning Centre, 3rd floor, 410 Main Free
Cultural Facilitator CJ Santana and the good people at the Learning Centre call up your loving light to help build a Dia de Los Muertos Ofrenda. Join the collective community creation in elevating the spirits of those we’ve lost, share some deadly treats and meet new friends!
Gluk: A Stone Soup Video History
Sunday November 1, 3pm – 4:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main Free
Gluk is a video history that focuses on Stone Soup, a Karen Jamieson Dance performance work that spanned 1995-1997 and toured British Columbia. The video is a result of a multi-year Body to Land Project. The shocking realization that this video history of Stone Soup speaks directly to issues of truth and reconciliation has deepened the project far beyond expectations, and is dedicated to Doreen Jensen whose spirit lives on. With special thanks to Loretta Todd for her advice in honouring Doreen and permission to use her footage. Karen Jamieson Dance was given permission by each nation and each speaker to record and present all events and performances, both during the 1995-1997 Stone Soup tour and for the 2024 creation of Gluk. Q & A to follow the video presentation.
Space is Place
Saturday November 1, 4pm – 5:30pm
SFU Djavad Mowafaghian World Arts Centre, 149 W. Hastings
$0 or by donation.
Tickets space-is-place.eventbrite.ca
Space is Place is an improvised participatory performance cultivating stillness within the body through sound, vibration, and presence. Using crystal bowls, intuitive composition and abstract projections, it invites participants to breathe and reconnect with a sense of inner stability. Artist and facilitator Lorri Clark shares a moment of restoration and reminds us that sanctuary exists both within us and in community. Please bring a yoga mat, water, and a blanket if you’d like to get cozy! Some yoga mats will be available to use.
Theatre in the Raw: A night of unusual, awakening one-acts
Saturday November 1, 7pm – 9pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main Free
Theatre in the Raw presents staged readings of two award-winning plays from their 12th and 13th Biennial One-Act Playwriting Contests.
Wednesday’s Children by Ron Davies, with Angie Nolan and Cecilia Splendiferous, directed by Teresa Vandertuin. In this well-crafted and powerful play two sisters meet for the first time in twenty years; despite one sister’s hopes to reconcile, will her sister’s painful memories of childhood sexual abuse keep them apart?
An Evening with Oscar and Noël by Thomas Mason and Craig Mason, with Allan Morgan and Mackenzie Gray, directed by Jacques Lalonde. What would happen if two of the greatest, most influential and hilarious playwrights met in the afterlife? Come to the reading and you’ll find out!
Nechako: It Will Be a Big River Again
Saturday November 1, 7:30pm – 9:30pm
SFU Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema, 149 W. Hastings
$0 – $20. Tickets nechako.eventbrite.ca
The Festival is honoured to present Nechako: It Will Be a Big River Again, a stirring documentary by award-winning Stellat’en filmmaker Lyana Patrick. Once a lifeline for the Stellat’en and Saik’uz Nations, the Nechako River in northwestern BC was diminished when the Kenney Dam diverted 70% of its waters, displacing the Cheslatta T’En, and disrupting wildlife, land, and culture. Through stories of resistance and resilience, Nechako reveals a decades-long fight for justice and renewal. Screening followed by a special talk-back with Lyana Patrick. Presented in partnership with SFU, with film provided courtesy of the NFB.
Sunday November 2
Recycling Stories: Walking with Vancouver’s Binners
Sunday November 2, 11am – 12:30pm
SFU Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Centre, 149 W. Hastings
Free. Tickets binners.eventbrite.ca
Walk alongside Vancouver’s binners – informal recyclers who champion inclusion, sustainability, and community resilience. Join Binners’
Project for a workshop introducing their mission and programs, then explore the laneways where binners work. Experience firsthand the challenges they face and the impact of community-driven waste diversion in the heart of the city!
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.
Tour of St. James’ Anglican Church
Sunday November 2, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
St. James’ Anglican Church, 303 E. Cordova Free
Also Wednesday November 5, 7pm
Here is your golden opportunity to tour the historic St. James’ Anglican Church with guide PJ Janson, and to learn about the fascinating architecture and beauty of this unique building. Constructed in 1935 by the famed British architect Adrian Gilbert Scott, the church is designed in a style that combines Romanesque Revival, Art Deco, Byzantine Revival and Gothic Revival architecture.
The Carnegie Dance Troupe & Karen Jamieson Dance
Sunday November 2, 3pm – 4pm
SFU Djavad Mowafaghian World Arts Centre
149 W. Hastings By donation
In a work-in-progress performance, the dancers demonstrate the power of collective artmaking that is always grounded in community. Since 2006, the principle supporting the Carnegie Dance Troupe is absolute inclusivity. Performances are created through processes of collaboration, seeking to connect us to our body, to our breath, to the energy of the earth, to each other and to our diverse communities. The Carnegie Dance Troupe is part of Karen Jamieson Dance, with support from Carnegie Community Centre and Simon Fraser University. www.kjdance.ca
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.
Epigone – a work in progress by Electric Company Theatre
Sunday November 2, 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Left of Main, 2nd floor, 211 Keefer
Free. Tickets epigone.eventbrite.ca
Join Electric Company artists for a staged reading of excerpts from Epigone, a new play exploring a family’s navigation of grief and loss, complicated by the stigmas surrounding mental health, addiction and isolation. Come take a peek inside the Electric Company laboratory and witness the early stages of a new play’s development. This event is held on the second floor, accessed by a flight of approximately 20 stairs.
Death Café: Dignity in Community
Sunday November 2, 5pm – 7pm
Left of Main, 2nd floor, 211 Keefer
Free. Tickets death-cafe2025.eventbrite.ca
Guided by photographer and filmmaker Tallulah, this year’s Death Café follows the performance of Epigone at Left of Main and invites participants to share tea, snacks, and engage in open, respectful conversations about death and dying in a warm and inclusive space. Rooted in compassion and curiosity, the Death Café creates space for dialogue that is rarely found in daily life. Reflect on dignity, community, and the connections that make life meaningful. This is a non-religious event, and is held on the second floor, accessed by a flight of approximately 20 stairs.
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
A Day of the Dead Celebration / Una Celebración del Día de los Muertos el Domingo
Start the day with a mask-making workshop, join the community procession to visit local ofrendas, peruse the art market for unique finds, and enjoy the evening at Spirit Encounters.
Catrina & Catrin Mask Workshop
Sunday November 2, 11:30am – 1pm
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell
Free. Limited capacity
Register: mask-workshop.eventbrite.ca
Join artist extraordinaire Gerardo Avila and make a Catrin or a Catrina mask for the Day of the Dead Celebration (Día de los Muertos). Learn the tradition and history of the Catrinas/Catrinos with a warm invitation to join a community procession to visit different altars (ofrendas) in the Downtown Eastside following the workshop. All materials provided.
Taller de máscaras de Catrín y Catrina
El 2 de noviembre a las 11:30 am, los invitamos al Russian Hall (600 Campbell Street), a crear una máscara de Catrín o de Catrina para el Día de los Muertos. Después de platicar sobre la tradición de las Catrinas/Catrinos, los invitaremos a participar en la Procesión que visitará varios altares de ofrendas en el centro de Vancouver Eastside. La procesión empezará después del taller. Todos los materiales serán proporcionados.
12 participantes como máximo, se requiere registrar de antemano.
Day of the Dead Community Procession
Sunday November 2, 2pm – 3:30pm
Meet at Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Free
“Day of the dead, a celebration of memory and a ritual that privileges remembrance over oblivion.”
Giant Catrinas will lead a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) community procession beginning at 600 Campbell, stopping along the way to visit the ofrendas in the community, including in the Russian Hall, Listening Post and Carnegie Community Centre. The ofrenda is a Mexican and Latin-American tradition that is intended to welcome the deceased to the altar setting, with photos, food, flowers, drinks and special objects. Photos of your deceased family members are welcome. Let’s celebrate the living by honouring the dead!
Procesión a altares de ofrendas por el Día de los Muertos
El 2 de noviembre a las 2pm, los invitamos a unirse a la Procesión del Día de los Muertos, siguiendo las Catrinas Gigantes, y visitando varios altares de ofrendas en la comunidad de Vancouver Eastside. La Procesión saldrá del primer altar ubicado en el Russian Hall (600 Campbell Avenue), para luego visitar otros altares en el Listening Post y en el Carnegie Community Centre. Los altares están dedicados a familiares y amigos difuntos y adornados con flores, comida, agua, y objetos especiales. Las fotos de sus difuntos son bienvenidas. ¡Celebremos la vida honrando a los muertos!
Spirit Encounters
Sunday November 2, 7pm – 8:30pm
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell
Free. Tickets spirit-encounters.eventbrite.ca
On the Day of the Dead, when the veil between the living and the dead is lifted, join the celebration at Spirit Encounters. Gerardo Avila’s latest theatrical performance celebrates the living by honouring the dead, featuring shadow puppetry, comedy, Flamenco and Mexican dance, and music. Historical personages from Mexican and other cultures will join the festivities. Presented with puppeteers Hazel Bell-Koski and Dana Wilson, storyteller Steven Schwabl, dancers Maria Avila and La Zarmari, and musicians Anna Lumiere, Peter Mole, and Graham Ord.
Encuentro con Espíritus
2 de noviembre, de las 7 pm a las 8:30 pm en el Russian Hall, 600 Campbell
Entrada Gratuita
regístrate en: spirit-encounters.eventbrite.ca
En el Día de los Muertos, cuando el velo entre los vivos y los muertos se levanta, la celebración en Spirit Encounters (7pm), la más reciente presentación teatral de Gerardo Ávila, que incluye teatro de sombras, comedia, flamenco, danza mexicana, y música. Presentado con las marionetistas Hazel Bell-Koski y Dana Wilson, el narrador Steven Schwabl, las bailarinas María Ávila e La Zarmari y los músicos Anna Lumiere, Peter Mole y Graham Ord.
Tuesday November 4
RayCam Seniors Story Sharing Circle
Tuesday November 4, 11am – 1pm
RayCam Cooperative Centre, 920 E. Hastings Free
The RayCam Seniors Story Sharing Circle has been meeting since 2023 to share experiences and develop storytelling skills. This special open session highlights the stories and songs the group has developed, and celebrates the display, Friends & Neighbours: Tales from the RayCam Seniors Story Sharing Circle. In Cantonese and English (interpretation provided). Lunch is included; please register by calling 604-257-6949.
Artist Meet and Greet at the Health Centre
Tuesday November 4, 1pm – 4pm
Downtown Community Health Centre, 569 Powell Free
Come join the artists for a creative afternoon at the Downtown Community Health Centre. Artists will exhibit some of their work, and you’ll have the chance to talk with them about themes and techniques. Some pieces will be available to purchase. The Health Centre runs an inclusive arts program that supports people in the Downtown Eastside.
Short Films from Embodied Filmmaking Workshop
Tuesday November 4, 7:30pm – 9pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main Free
All Bodies Dance Project (ABDP) presents a screening of short dance films created by artists from the ABDP Carnegie dance community. The films were shot and collectively edited through an experimental project facilitated by Rianne Svelnis and Sophia Mai Wolfe in Spring 2025 with original sound scores by Matthew Ariaratnam. Film screening with panel discussion and Q & A.
Virago Nation: What Reconciliation Looks Like!
Tuesday November 4, 7:30pm
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell
$0 – $30. Tickets virago-nation.eventbrite.ca
Virago Nation is a collective of Indigenous artists creating performance through burlesque, theatre, song and spoken word as well as workshops, and community networks rematriating Indigenous sexuality. Founded in May 2016, Virago Nation is on a mission to reclaim Indigenous sexuality from the toxic effects of colonization. Through humour, seduction, pop culture and politics they will show that Indigenous women will not be confined to the colonial virgin-whore dichotomy but will design a new dynamic and multi-faceted sexual identity rooted in their own desires. This is our reconciliation.
Lo Wah Kiu (Theatre of the Oppressed) Performance Workshop
Tuesday November 4, 3:30pm – 6:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Free. Registration lo-wah-kiu.eventbrite.ca
Also Saturday November 8, 4pm
Join us for a participatory theatre workshop inspired by the work of Downtown Eastside documentarian and organizer Sid Chow Tan! From organizing with the Head Tax and Exclusion Redress movement to documenting countless actions against gentrification and displacement, Sid’s art of activism captured a spirit of class-consciousness, humour, and solidarity. His vast archive depicts four decades of the struggles, victories, celebrations, and everyday lives of DTES and Chinatown communities and organizers. In the two introductory workshops, participants will learn theatre techniques that will connect themes from the Sid Tan video archives to our lives and neighbourhood issues today.
Free admission and no theatre experience necessary! Pre-registration required. Refreshments will be served. Cantonese and Mandarin interpretation will be provided. These workshops are presented with gratitude and in solidarity with the many friends, organizers, community television volunteers and staff who made possible the production, broadcast, and archive of Sid’s videos.
老華僑劇場（系列工作坊）
日期：11月4日(週二) 下午 3時半 至 6時半 和 11月8日(週六) 下午 4時至7時
加麗基社區中心
誠邀您參加本次「參與式劇場系列工作坊」！本次工作坊的靈感來自活躍於溫哥華市中心東端的紀錄片導演兼社區組織者 周明輝（Sid Chow Tan）。他的行動經歷相當廣泛——從組織華人人頭稅和排華政策平反運動，到紀錄無數反對社區貴族化與逼遷的行動。周明輝以社會行動的藝術，展現了深厚的階級意識、幽默感與團結精神。他龐大的影像檔案，完整呈現了四十年來東端與華埠社群及行動者的奮鬥、勝利、慶祝時刻與日常生活。在本次的系列入門工作坊中，參與者將學習劇場技巧，探索周明輝的影像檔案中所紀錄的話題，並連結到我們當下的生活，以及社區面臨的議題。
本次活動免費，無需任何劇場經驗！須事先報名。現場將提供茶點，並備有廣東話與普通話翻譯。本次系列工作坊特別鳴謝並致敬眾多好友、組織者、社區電視義工與工作人員——正因為有他們的努力，周明輝的影像作品才能被製作、播出並得以保存。
Shelter X Crab Park X DTES Art Sale: An Evening of Art, Painting and Community
Tuesday November 4, 5pm – 8pm
312 Main lobby, 312 Main Free
It’s an incredible day! Join artists and painters, organizers and friends in the lobby of 312 Main. There will be amazing art for sale; you have to come!
SHELTER
This original community-engaged art show features high-impact and striking visuals reflecting on housing and homelessness. With twenty marginalized, culturally and socially diverse Downtown Eastside artists, the exhibit includes city-wide transit shelter ads featuring large-scale individually-created artworks and an art exhibition and art sale at 312 Main. The project is led by Gunargie Ga’axstasalas O’Sullivan and produced by Radix Theatre, in partnership with the Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival.
Live Painting and DTES Art Sale
Head to 312 Main and see some of the City’s best graffiti artists in action and get a chance to purchase your own original. Featuring Smokey D, Sober, Ken Foster, Dempsey, Elvo and more.
Crab Park + The Ayx Cooling Bus: Dignity on the Go!
Tour tickets: crab-park-bus.eventbrite.ca
The Ayx Community Cooling Bus team aims to answer the question, “But where are we supposed to go?” in more than one way. Learn more about the AYX Cooling Bus (for example, Ayx is Squamish for “crab”), and take a one-of-a-kind DTES Toilet Tour. Hop on board for mini-tours of local washrooms and grade them on a “Restroom Report Card” destined for City Hall — from sparkle factor to stall space! Tours at 5:30pm, 6:30pm, and 7:30pm. Space is limited, register early! Come meet the team, have some fun, and discover how the bus brings care and safety to the community. Bus painted by Smokey D, Sober, and Kirstine Fuhman.
Wednesday November 5
Big Sights in Little Chinatown Walking Tour
Wednesday November 5, 11am – 1:30pm
$0 – $25. Registration required.
Tickets chinatown-walking-tours.eventbrite.ca
Also Saturday November 1, 10am
A walking tour of Vancouver’s historic Chinatown that takes you on a journey from its origin to present day, highlighting the big sights in little Chinatown. Based on both historical research and community ties and involvement, your guide Larry Chin, will immerse you in the historical significance, place of continuance, cultural practice and heritage in the community. Larry is an award-winning filmmaker, photographer and community historian. Walk with a new perspective on one of most historic cultural spots in the city and enjoy local Chinese treats along the way! For more information visit: Chinatown Wonders – Walking Tour. You will receive the meeting point upon registration.
The Art in the Park Project Art Talk
Wednesday November 5, 2pm – 3:30pm
Exhibition runs October 30 to November 29
Carnegie Gallery, 3rd Floor, 401 Main Free
Join Elder Marr, Elder Les, and Big Top in an interactive discussion and celebration. This year’s residency ended with a final project that invited the community to collaborate on the story of False Creek, to name and paint the plants and animals that make False Creek their home. The Art In The Park Project is a summer-long creative residency in Andy Livingstone Park led by Community Centre Elders in Residence Elder Marr Dorvault and Elder Les Nelson, in collaboration with artist collective Big Top Art Tent.
Honouring Richard Shorty: Memorial Mural and Reception
Wednesday November 5, 1:30pm – 3pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main Free
Join us in celebrating the life and art of Richard Shorty, and witness the unveiling of one last collaboration with his friends. The Memorial Mural was created by Haisla Collins, Jerry Whitehead, Sharifah Marsden and Brandon Gabriel, and features never-before-seen imagery designed by Richard Shorty. Richard Shorty was a Tutchone artist from Whitehorse, Yukon. His elegant and detailed Northwest Coast formline landscapes and animal renderings inspired generations of artists and enchanted the public. Share a story and enjoy a reception in his honour.
Hump Day Karaoke
Wednesday November 5, 5pm – 8pm
Culture Saves Lives, 30 W. Hastings Free
Sing your heart out at InterUrban’s Karaoke Night! Hosted by Elder Mary and Culture Saves Lives, this joyful evening invites you to belt your favourite tunes. Come for the music, stay for the shared meal, and connect with friends old and new. All voices are welcome—whether you’re a crooner, a comedian, or just here for the food and fun!
Stand Up for Mental Health Comedy Show
Wednesday November 5, 4pm – 5:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main Free
What’s so funny about mental health? As far as Stand Up for Mental Health is concerned, everything! Join award-winning counselor and stand-up comic David Granirer, with special guest Brenda Prince, along with comedians from Stand Up
for Mental Health, to look at the lighter side of taking meds, seeing counselors, getting diagnosed, and surviving the mental health system. Stand Up for Mental Health teaches stand-up comedy to people with mental illness as a way of building confidence and fighting stigma. The Festival is tickled to welcome Stand Up for Mental Health and Brenda back to the Carnegie stage.
Saint James Music Academy Open House
Wednesday November 5, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
St James’ Anglican Church
303 E. Cordova (entrance on Gore) Free
All are welcome! Join Saint James Music Academy (SJMA) for a mid-semester glimpse of students’ rehearsals. SJMA is a community-based, grassroots organization that provides free, high-quality, classical music education to children living in and around Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Through choirs and orchestras, and so much more, students from grades 2 to 12 experience the joys and challenges of learning to make music together – and of playing an important part in something beautiful that is larger than themselves. To learn more about the program or to get involved, visit www.sjma.ca or call 778-709-7731.
A Joyful Noise!
Wednesday November 5, 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Listening Post, 387 Main Free
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Listening Post, join Karen Thorpe and friends for a potluck and music jam. Bring some songs, your instruments and food to share. Help us make a joyful noise and celebrate!
10th Annual Sandy Cameron Memorial Writing Contest Award Ceremony
Wednesday November 5, 6:30pm – 8pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main Free
An exciting and inspiring event, this award ceremony is live in the Carnegie Theatre! A number of the award-winning writers will read work that they submitted to the contest. In its tenth year, the writing contest was established to honour Sandy Cameron, one of the best-loved writers to publish work in the Carnegie
Newsletter. Sandy consistently contributed essays and poetry, sharing stories of the low-income neighbourhood’s over one hundred-year struggle for human rights. The contest supports local writers and encourages never-before-published writers to submit their work for publication. The free twice-monthly Carnegie
Newsletter is available online at www.carnegienewsletter.org. Everyone is welcome.
Tour of St. James’ Anglican Church
Wednesday November 5, 7pm – 8:30pm
St James’ Anglican Church, 303 E. Cordova Free
Also Sunday November 2, 12:30pm
Here is your golden opportunity to tour the historic St. James’ Anglican Church with guide PJ Janson, and to learn about the fascinating architecture and beauty of this unique building. Constructed in 1935 by the famed British architect Adrian Gilbert Scott, the church is designed in a style that combines Romanesque Revival, Art Deco, Byzantine Revival and Gothic Revival architecture.
Art Market at the Russian Hall
Wednesday November 5, 6:30pm – 9pm
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell
Also Sun Nov 2 & Sat Nov 8
One of the DTES’ best-kept secrets is the incredible art coming out of the art collective at the Downtown Health Clinic. Audiences attending To Mum
with Love XO at the Russian Hall will have a special treat and be able to shop at an Art Market in the lobby before and after the show. Original local artwork for sale includes Native carvings, beaded earrings, paintings, badges, cards, decorations and more!
To Mum with Love XO: A theatrical triple bill
Wednesday November 5, 7pm – 9:30pm
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell
$0 – $30.
Tickets: moms-moms-moms.eventbrite.ca
How I Met My Mother is Jonathon Paterson’s award-winning comedy about caregiving. An irresponsible bachelor answers the call to care for his ailing mother, while reckoning with his rambunctious past. Will his newfound skills be enough? It’s a true story of love, family, and the power of redemption.
The Unbreakable Popsicle Stick Gang, One mom, four kids, more love than you can fit in several oceans; together they can never be broken. Join Jacques Lalonde on a fantastical journey into love, miracles, music, tears, and laughter.
How I Learned to Sing Having a musical mother involves gifts and challenges. In this twisting tale, East Vancouver-based storyteller Jim Sands explores the ups and downs of his musical upbringing in the search to find his own voice.
Thursday November 6
Winter Jasmine — Good Spring
Thursday November 6, 12:30pm – 1pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main Free
Since 2020, women at the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre have gathered bi-weekly to practice Chinese dance, including fan dancing. Ranging in age from 60 to 87, the group includes retired women from diverse regions of China with backgrounds in traditional, Latin, and modern dance—or simply a love of movement. Participants come from the Strathcona Tai Chi Group, Stephen Wong Lion Group, DEWC Peer Program, and Chinatown Community Policing Centre. Instructor Eva Cho, a lifelong dancer and former Saskatchewan dance teacher, leads the group in routines set to traditional music and Cantopop, celebrating culture, joy, and community.
自2020年以来，唐人街东区妇女中心的女性们每两周聚会一次，练习中国舞，包括扇子舞。她们的年龄从60多岁到87岁不等，包括来自中国不同地区的退休女性，她们有的拥有传统舞、拉丁舞和现代舞的背景，有的只是热爱舞蹈。参与者来自斯特拉斯科纳太极拳团、Stephen Wong狮子团、唐人街社区警务中心（DEWC Peer Program）和唐人街社区警务中心。指导老师Eva是一位终身舞者，曾任萨斯喀彻温省舞蹈老师，她带领团队在传统音乐和粤语流行音乐的伴奏下进行舞蹈表演，以庆祝文化、欢乐和社区。
World Poetry Cafe Radio Show
Thursday November 6, 1pm – 2pm
Co-op Radio CFRO 100.5FM Free
The World Poetry Cafe Radio Show, hosted by Ariadne Sawyer has been broadcasting on CFRO FM, Vancouver for 26 years. The radio show reaches the world through weekly shows every Thursday at 1pm and is streamed in 188 countries. Each show features guests, including poets, book and album launches, community workers, artists, musicians, and others. Tune in and listen to voices that otherwise may not be heard.
Downtown Eastside Writers Celebrate Dignity
Thursday November 6, 1pm – 2:30pm
Carnegie Gallery, 3rd Floor, 401 Main Free
Dignity comes from the Latin word meaning worthy. Every one of us, no matter what station in life we occupy is worthy of respect, care, and compassion. For this writing workshop, Elee Kraljii Gardiner, founder of the Thursday’s DTES Writing Collective and Vancouver’s Poet Laureate, will lead the workshop in writing and sharing about the dignity of our community and its incalculable worth in Vancouver’s fabric. Join in celebration of the writing, creativity, worthiness, and dignity of our vibrant community.
The Harmonics!
Thursday November 6, 1:30pm – 2pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main Free
Enjoy the unique rhythms of The Harmonics!, a dedicated team of music lovers who share their passion at local community events through captivating performances in multiple languages, including English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
我們是一群熱愛音樂的人，透過以英語、粵語和普通話演唱中西歌曲，將歡樂分享給社區內的長者和居民。
Bells of St. James’ Anglican Church
Thursday November 6, 2pm – 2:15pm
St. James’ Anglican Church, 303 E. Cordova Free
At 2pm come to the corner of Gore and E. Cordova, or stop outdoors in the surrounding neighbourhood, and listen for the ringing of the bells at St. James’. With a full octave range, the bells were cast in 1937 in Loughborough, England, and continue sounding to this day. The tenor bell, weighing two tons, is the bell that’s heard tolling, and all eight bells play together for special occasions.
Hybrid Memoir Writing Workshop, with Angela Gray
Thursday November 6, 3pm – 4:30pm
Carnegie Learning Centre, 3rd Floor, 401 Main
Free. Women’s Only Event
Are you interested in writing your life story as a means to inquire about broader societal issues? Join Angela Gray, an emerging Black writer and visual artist in a writing workshop, where participants will gain insights on how to tell a story within a story and explore applying a hybrid, mixed genre approach to their writing, using archival documents, research, photos, and poetry. Supplies provided.
In Loving Memory Workshop
Thursday November 6, 5pm – 7pm
Carnegie Seniors Lounge, basement, 401 Main
Free. Registration info below.
Join us for a hands-on session to honour our collective ancestors and beloved dead through shrine making and community ritual. Facilitated by Marina Szijarto, a lifelong professional artist who started the Loving: Memory Shrines, a community project of remembrance and reverence. Marina is also the co-creator of “Night For All Souls,” held in the last two decades at Mountain View Cemetery. Register in-person at the Carnegie Library or call 604-665-3010 ext. 0
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.
Muriel’s Journey Poetry Prize
Thursday, November 6, 6pm – 7:30pm
Listening Post, 328 Main Free
Join us for a celebration of this year’s Muriel’s Journey Poetry Prize in memory of Muriel Marjorie, poet, activist, and actor well known in the DTES. It is held once again at the Listening Post, the DTES’s “oasis” of quietness and reflection. Meet the DTES winner, Ghia Aweida, as well as other winners as we muse poetically on the topic of humanity. Join us for an open mic, especially if you have poetry on the topic!
NEPANTLA Exhibition, Alexa Black – Opening Reception
Thursday November 6, 6pm – 9p
Exhibition runs Nov 6 to Nov 29
Gallery 881, 881 E. Hastings Free
NEPANTLA is an 80-image series created through wet plate photography by Alexa Black, a multidisciplinary artist of Nahua, Maya, and Irish heritage. Rooted in cartomancy and inspired by queer Chicana theorist Gloria Anzaldúa, the work explores identity, power, and transformation within liminal spaces. Layered with feminist theory, the project invokes ceremonial imagery and symbolic language to reclaim fragmented identities, offering pathways toward healing, spiritual reconnection, and collective transformation. Gallery hours: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm, and Saturday 12pm to 5pm; and by appointment.
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.
Requiem for All Souls
Thursday November 6, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
St. James’ Anglican Church, 303 E. Cordova Free
At this service, we shall remember all who have died, among them all who have died of opioid overdose, all who died at Residential Schools, and our own loved ones. Plainsong pervades this Missa pro defunctis (Requiem Mass), both as cantus firmus and paraphrase, but often in very subtle ways. The overall effect acknowledges the poignancy of loss while providing profound solace. Everyone is welcome!
Poetry Cabaret, with Ghia Aweida
Thursday November 6, 8pm – 9:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main Free
The Downtown Eastside is alive with writers, poets, and storytellers! The Poetry Cabaret is a monthly open mic night that showcases this vibrant talent, featuring original spoken word, music, and even the occasional joke. DTES writer, activist Ghia Awieda, hosts the evening, guiding us through an eclectic mix of performances from familiar faces and surprise first-timers. Whether you’re a writer or an audience member, this is a space to celebrate the creative spirit of the DTES. Drop in and witness the passion and artistry of the neighbourhood!
Return of the B.L.O.B. (Better Landlords Organizing Buildings) Town Hall and Community Theatre
Thursday November 6, 6pm – 8pm
Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall, 487 Alexander Free
A town hall and community skit where you’ll learn about the City’s plans to gentrify the Downtown Eastside, what community members want that would actually improve the Downtown Eastside, how the current zoning keeps land values low and enables the social housing we need, and about the City’s consultation report that documents community concerns about the gentrification plan. Presented by the Carnegie Housing Project in partnership with Heart of the City Festival. Refreshments provided.
Friday November 7
The EWMA Experience
Friday November 7, 12pm – 4pm
EWMA Studio, 800 E. Hastings
Free. All genders welcome
Join EWMA for a fun-filled afternoon of art workshops and socializing. The workshops are beginner-friendly, no prior experience is required. Tools and supplies are provided, as well as light refreshments. Participants are encouraged to take home their creations.
12pm – 2pm Intuitive Collage for Self-Discovery, with Rosina Santillana
Join Rosina for a guided, hands-on workshop where you’ll tap into intuition and uncover deep layers of your authentic self. Using images, textures, and spontaneous selection, intuitive collage helps bypass the thinking mind and gives voice to the subconscious. You’ll create a visual map of your inner world – revealing insights beyond the surface and beyond social conditioning.
2pm – 4pm FIMO-Clay Jewelry Making, with Iris Seltzer
Iris will lead a hands-on workshop focused on polymer clay, an oven-bake modelling clay used to create jewelry, figurines, and other decorative items. You’ll learn how to condition, shape, bake, and finish polymer clay creations. This class is fun and fabulous!
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.
Mayor of Oz
Friday November 7, 1pm – 2:30pm
Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Free
Also Saturday November 8, 1pm
Back by popular demand! Enjoy this hilarious and poignant community-led, grassroots play developed by Carnegie Learning Centre volunteers with support from Capilano University and the Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival. Reimagining Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz through the lens of the DTES, Mayor
of Oz explores housing instability, climate collapse, the toxic drug crisis, and gentrification, while celebrating resilience, solidarity, and community strength. This project is presented with support from the Community Arts Council of Vancouver.
Open House at Bill Reid Gallery
Friday November 7, 2pm – 5pm
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, 639 Hornby
Free
Drop by the Bill Reid Gallery to visit the current exhibitions and enjoy crafts, songs and storytelling with members of the Carnegie Cultural Sharing Program and the lexwst’i:lem Drum Group. This is an opportunity to meet and connect with Elders, engage with Indigenous culture, and be part of a lively, creative community experience. Current exhibits: Kihl ‘Yahda: Christian White (to Feb 1, 2026), the first major solo exhibition of Haida artist Kihl ‘Yahda, Christian White (Yahgulaanas Raven Clan); and the solo curatorial debut of Amelia Rea (Haida), NDN
Giver (to Feb 22, 2026), an exhibition that explores the layered meanings of gifts that circulate through the potlatch.
Dispatches
Friday November 7, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Free
Set in 2013, before the official “opiod crisis” began, Dispatches offers a personal window into a young woman’s journey through addiction. Written by Jenny Simpson, a new Vancouver emerging playwright, the play explores the role of the caregiver in the face of a confusing and inadequate system. An unflinching look at the costs of addiction, the gaps in our systems of support, and how resiliency takes shape. Directed by Arthi Chandra, with Kimberly Invik, Ally Rafter, Taea Rattlesnake, Mariska Van Vreumingen, and Nick Wangersky. A panel discussion with Sarah Blyth and Nicole Marcia will follow the reading. On-site mental health support will be available throughout this performance.
Dance Floor Memoirs
Friday November 7, 5pm – 6pm
SFU Djavad Mowafaghian World Arts Centre
149 W. Hastings Free
When a sudden city-wide ban threatens to cancel Truth Creek’s biggest community dance, a group of friends band together to stand up for their right to dance. This isn’t just about a party; it’s a heartfelt exploration of why we move. From childhood robot dances to defiant waltzes, and from the liberating power of individual expression to the profound joy of shared connection, Theatre Terrific’s Dance Floor Memoirs celebrates the universal human need to dance, no matter the circumstance!
Architecture Without Borders, The Polish-Canadian Architectural Exhibition – Opening Reception
Friday November 7, 6pm – 9pm
Exhibition runs November 5 to 16
The Gallery George, 140 W. Hastings
Free. Tickets thegallerygeorge.com
The exhibition pays tribute to the outstanding architects and projects that have influenced the development of Vancouver over the years, as well as other cities around the world. The exhibition demonstrates how the collaboration of Polish and Canadian architectural circles globally has influenced architecture and urban planning, with a focus on the contributions of Polish architects in Canada. Observing Poland’s National Independence Day on November 11 from 12pm to 5pm.
The Evening Harold Experience, featuring Heidi Morgan
Friday November 7, 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Free
The Evening Harold band has been making headlines since July 2025. Fronted by our DTES darling vocalist, Heidi Morgan, Pat Axe on guitar, Paul Lundh on harmonica and vocals, Bob Skaper on bass and Steve Cornock on drums, this is one band you will want to write home about. Come enjoy covers of blues, soul, and a little rock & roll from the 50s, 60s and 70s mostly. Bring your friends and family! The band can’t wait to entertain you!
Ashtrey Forever: A Short Film Series Tribute with Nat Canuel | Friday November 7, 7pm – 8:30pm
SFU Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema, 149 W. Hastings | $0 – $20. Tickets ashtrey-forever.eventbrite.ca
A not-to-be-missed night to honour, laugh, and celebrate a Downtown Eastside hero and legend, featuring Trey’s funny, eye-opening film shorts. Some of his closest friends will talk about a man whose creativity knew no boundaries and dedication left behind a legacy. Host Nat Canuel will explain the creative process behind their collaboration that made viral videos and give an exclusive look at shorts that have never been shown publicly.
Maraschino Tonight with Reveal Yourself
Friday November 7, 8:30pm – 10pm
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell
$0 – $30. Tickets maraschino-tonight.eventbrite.ca
A fabulous evening of entertainment that has it all! In this timeless variety show, host and enigmatic entertainer Cherry Maraschino is accompanied by a ragtag crew of artists, puppets, and nefarious rascals. Part bygone house party, part community theatre, Maraschino Tonight is a playful interrogation of contemporary nostalgia.
Reveal Yourself, a lo-fi freak music duo, uses trashy drum samples, distorted bass loops, and zany guitar hooks to capture audiences with its vocal laments and feminist satire. Reveal Yourself’s avant-pop hijinx offers a compact mirror from which to view this strange, shit-stained world.
Saturday November 8
Black Strathcona Walking Tour & Storytelling
Saturday November 8, 10am – 12:30pm
$0 – $30. Limited Capacity. Tickets strathcona-walking-tour.eventbrite.ca
Join Yasin M Kiraga from the African Descent Society on a popular heritage walking tour of Strathcona, on a trip through a very interesting history. Enjoy the 2.5 – 3 hour walk around the neighbourhoods from where blacks historically settled and made into vibrant communities, to their tragic removal with the construction of the Georgia Viaducts. You will receive the meeting place when you register.
Dignity in Community Photo Walk + Workshop
Saturday November 8, 12pm – 2:30pm
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell
$0 – $25. Tickets photo-walk-workshop.eventbrite.ca
Join photographer and filmmaker Tallulah for a photo walk that explores composition, history, and storytelling through black-and-white film. After an introduction and slideshow, participants will walk through the neighbourhood with disposable film cameras, capturing their own perspectives. Photos will be shared with the participants, and featured on the DTES Heart of the City Festival website! With support from Rocket Repro and Treck Hall.
Three Amigos Walking Tour
Saturday November 8, 1pm – 2:30pm
$0 – $30. Limited Capacity.
Tickets three-amigos.eventbrite.ca
The Three Amigos Return! The Festival is excited to present a Chinatown walking exploration with the powerhouse trio of John Atkin, Bob Sung and Hayne Wai. The trio bring a unique insight to the neighbourhood’s history, culture and architecture. Along the way you’ll discover what’s in the herbal stores, the fight for neighbourhood preservation and bbq’d meats as well as its architecture. John is a civic historian and heritage consultant, Bob hosts cultural and culinary tours of Chinatown, and Hayne is a long-time Chinatown researcher and advocate. You will receive the meeting place when you register.
Mayor of Oz
Saturday November 8, 1pm – 2:30pm
Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Free
Also Friday November 7, 1pm
Back by popular demand! Enjoy this hilarious and poignant community-led, grassroots play developed by Carnegie Learning Centre volunteers with support from Capilano University and the Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival. Reimagining Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz through the lens of the DTES, Mayor
of Oz explores housing instability, climate collapse, the toxic drug crisis, and gentrification, while celebrating resilience, solidarity, and community strength. This project is presented with support from the Community Arts Council of Vancouver.
Znayte Sviy Holos / Finding My Own Voice
Saturday November 8, 3pm – 4:30pm
SFU Djavad Mowafaghian World Arts Centre
149 W. Hastings Free
Znayte Sviy Holos / Finding My Own Voice, is a work-in-progress by Beverly Dobrinsky telling the story of inter-generational suffering and the possibility of healing for all generations, past, present and future. Told in the form of a ‘folk opera’, the story focuses on a grandmother who endured considerable trauma in the first wave of Ukrainian immigrants to Canada and her granddaughter who becomes aware of the impact on her own life. She strives to untie this traumatic knot, releasing them and healing their lineage. Beverly and her fellow artists read excerpts from the work, share visuals, and perform original music for female voices and bandura, followed by discussion and Q + A.
Знайте Свій Голос / Finding My Own Voice
Субота, 8 листопада, 15:00 – 16:30
SFU Djavad Mowafaghian World Arts Centre
149 W. Hastings
Вхід вільний
“Знайте Свій Голос / Finding My Own Voice” – це робота в процесі створення, яка розповідає історію міжгенераційної травми та можливості зцілення для всіх поколінь – минулих, теперішніх і майбутніх. Ця історія, у формі “народної опери”, фокусується на стосунках двох головних персонажів – бабусі та онуки.
Будучи частиною першої хвилі українських іммігрантів до Канади, бабуся зіткнулася з великими труднощами та повторюваною травмою. Коли онука усвідомлює, як ця травма впливає на її власне життя, вона прагне розв’язати цей травматичний вузол, вивільняючи їх обох і зцілюючи увесь рід.
Lo Wah Kiu (Theatre of the Oppressed)
Performance Workshop
Saturday November 8, 4pm – 7pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Free by registration lo-wah-kiu.eventbrite.ca
Also Tuesday November 4, 3:30pm
老華僑劇場（系列工作坊）
日期：11月4日(週二) 下午 3時半 至 6時半 和 11月8日(週六) 下午 4時至7時
加麗基社區中心
For full workshop description, go to Tuesday November 4 pages.
Art Market at the Russian Hall
Saturday November 8, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell
Also Sun Nov 2 & Wed Nov 5
One of the DTES’ best-kept secrets is the incredible art coming out of the art collective at the Downtown Health Clinic. Audiences attending Rhythms of Thunder: An Evening of Taiko at the Russian Hall will have a special treat and be able to shop at an Art Market in the lobby before and after the show. Original local artwork for sale includes Native carvings, beaded earrings, paintings, badges, cards, decorations and more!
Rhythms of Thunder: An Evening of Taiko
Saturday November 8, 7pm – 9pm
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell
$0 – $30. Tickets rhythms-of-thunder.eventbrite.ca
Enjoy the rare opportunity of a full evening of taiko for the Festival closing concert! This spectacular array of Vancouver taiko artists showcases a unique and thrilling lineup of Japanese drumming styles.
Performances by Uzume Taiko, Canada’s first professional taiko group, who have developed a dynamic fusion of old and new styles of drumming with a flair for the dramatic; GO Taiko and Taiko 55, the only intergenerational taiko group in BC, who combine a youthful, energetic approach with the power of older adults through their love of the rhythms of the taiko songs; and Onibana Taiko, Nikkei veterans who draw from Japanese traditional arts, festival drumming, folk music and dance, with a feminist, queer, punk kick-ass taiko aesthetic.
Your hosts for the evening are Teresa Vandertuin and Rika Uto. Join us and feel the rhythm and thunder of taiko!
Literary
Workshops & Skill-Sharing
Film & Media
Neighbourhood Walks
Visual Arts + Exhibitions
Community Celebrations+ Dialogues