SEPTEMBER 7-13 // 2017
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NEWS // ISSUES
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INSIDE THIS WEEK
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RANT//RAVE
email: rantrave@westender.com ALL RANTS ARE THE OPINION OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND DO NOT REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF THE WESTENDER. THE EDITOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT FOR CLARITY AND BREVITY, SO PLEASE KEEP IT SHORT AND (BITTER)SWEET.
LANDLORD APPEALS
Re:“Vacate clause at root of city’s‘renovictions,’”Aug.24,2017 Forcing landlords to continue renting at what have become well below market rates will just incentivize them to sell their rental properties to developers to tear down or convert to condos. Instead of punitive actions, we need to find ways to make it appealing for a landlord to rent at lower rates. –Peggy Papez Re:“Pets find warm welcome atYaletown’s Pet-a-palooza,” Aug. 24, 2017 Be prepared to pay a lot more rent if you expect to have landlords accept pets. As a landlord, why should I have to pay the extra costs of damage and cleaning to the suite? Not to mention noise. If you want to have a pet then perhaps think about owning your own place. –MsBAF
KINDNESSOFSTRANGER
A great big thank you to the honest, thoughtful stranger who picked up my wallet after I dropped it getting out of a
cab at Davie and Burrard on Aug. 14. I retrieved it that afternoon – credit cards and cash inside. It’s wonderful to know there are people out there doing good deeds. I’d thank you in person, but you didn’t leave your name. I hope your kindness is returned. –Erin Ellis
HOLLOW LEGACY
Re:“Hollow City,” Aug. 24, 2017 Judging by this article, the matter of middle-income affordability should be solved with more development. Maybe the real issue is to stop foreign ownership of residential property in Canada, so that Canadian citizens can afford to buy and live in their own city/country.Why are we allowing foreigners to purchase land in Canada?What legacy are we leaving for our children? Many new developments are marketed to foreigners first. Canadians get the leftover units that they now cannot afford. I hope Canadians with children love them a lot, because they will be living with you for the rest of your lives. –Lynda
Poem of the week
Welcome to Poetic Licence – a weekly poetry forum, hosted by us, featuring words by local poets. This week? Russell Thornton.
WILDFIRE: PHOTOS Light laying out a new dead field. Drought level 3, drought level 4 — smoke floating across a lake, fire lurching down a hillside of homes: instead of the invisible wall separating a town from fire, an immense off-the-grid face revealing itself close-up. It is now that residents rush to find photos — old volumes spilling prints, colour, black & white; they are grabbing what is left in stone-lined pits. Extended families, forbears, are the millet sown in spring and harvested in summer, the wheat and barley sown in fall and harvested in spring — it is now that the suddenly starving eat, feed the slow-burning carbon of their cells, unroll the old film there like a prophecy. Homeless, they turn their faces to rain, the film develops, and they dream the albums they could not save, the golden grasses, the storehouses full of grain. Russell Thornton is author of six collections of poetry, including Birds, Metals, Stones & Rain (2013), shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award for Poetry and the Raymond Souster Award. The Broken Face is due out in 2018.Thornton
lives in North Vancouver. To submit your own poetry to Poetic Licence, email editor@westender.com with Poetry Column in the subject line. Include your poem, full name, contact details and bio. Only those selected for the column will be contacted. W
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Strathcona BIA launches walkable street campaign. Kellan Higgins / Strathcona BIA photo
East Hastings on the rise
Walkability and transportation in neighbourhood assessed in anticipation of more housing and businesses Thousands of kilos of edible fruit fall from Vancouver fruit trees to rot. But not all of it... iStock
Got fruit? Want fruit? Call the Fruit Tree Project Grant Lawrence Vancouver Shakedown @GrantLawrence
’Tis the season where the branches of trees all over Vancouver flex under the weight of the fruits of their labour: Apples, figs, grapes, pears, plums, quince and even kiwis can all grow in great abundance on trees in our backyards, boulevards and parks. All of it is edible and most of it is mouth-wateringly delicious, but even in these times of food banks struggling to keep up with demand, so much of that healthy, ripe fruit falls to the ground and rots. That’s where the Vancouver Fruit Tree Project Society (VFTP) comes in. Since 1999, this volunteerrun non-profit charitable society has dutifully gathered an army of more than 200 volunteer pickers to spread out and harvest unwanted or unpicked fruit from Vancouver yards and parks.They then share the fruit with community centres, neighhourhood houses, shelters, daycares and assisted living facilities. Pretty amazing, eh?
We’re talking, on average, 4,000 pounds (or more than 1,800 kilograms) of perfectly edible fruit from Vancouver trees picked every summer. Harvey LaRochelle has been a volunteer fruit picker for 15 years. He read something about the society in the paper and has been volunteering ever since. “It’s a mystery to many of the volunteers as to why people wouldn’t want their fruit,” says LaRochelle. “Some don’t like it that their apples have worm holes, so they say they’ll just buy apples at the store. Cut around the worm hole and that apple will still taste five times better than what’s in the store.” Maddie Hague sits on the board for the VFTP and has been volunteering for a number of years. According to her, some backyard trees produce so much fruit that there’s no way the owners could eat it all. “There are so many healthy, fruit-bearing trees in Vancouver that we just can’t keep up,” she says. “We have [more than] 150 tree owners in our database, and 30 picks on the wait list, but the problem is finding volunteer pick leaders. It’s about a four-hour commitment that involves
organizing a vehicle, ladders and equipment.” Because of the backup, the VFTP asks that if you want your tree harvested, make sure it’s heavy with fruit. “We just organized a pick, went to the place, and there was one single, solitary apple on the tree,” laments LaRochelle. “That was a big disappointment.” Luckily, all was not lost. LaRochelle knew of a strip of roadside apple trees on East 17th near Clark Drive.The crew boxed more than 300 apples in an hour. “I love getting up into the branches of the trees,” says LaRochelle. “There’s a primal satisfaction I get when I’m picking fresh fruit from the high branches. And the fruit isn’t sprayed. It’s organic, healthy and tastes great.” Hague agrees. “We recently visited a yard in Kits and boxed up [more than] 500 pieces of fruit from an old tree. It’s absolutely incredible how abundant one tree can be, and how much a single tree can provide. It’s important that we not waste it.” Amen. • To harvest your unwanted fruit so it doesn’t go to waste, visit vancouverfruittree.com. W
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A coming influx of residential and commercial developments to the Downtown Eastside and Strathcona neighbourhoods is partly behind the Strathcona Business Improvement Association’s move to assess walkability and transportation issues in the area. “There are a number of developments that haven’t been made public yet, but are still in the planning stages,” says Strathcona BIA executive director Joji Kumagai. “Right now there are a few low-rise buildings that have residential on the upper stories, but for the most part they are generally commercial spaces on the ground floor,” Kumagai says, adding that he anticipates more rezoning for residential is on its way. For years, the stretch of East Hastings Street from Heatley Avenue to Clark Drive has sat mostly in an industrial zone. Now several zoning exemptions have been made to allow for market residential housing. The Strathcona Village development just east of Campbell Avenue – the first in Vancouver, and possibly North America, to combine condos with light industrial – is set to welcome residents this fall, according to its website. Strathcona Village’s three towers will add around
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280 market condos and 70 social housing units to the 900 block of the neighbourhood. Residential developments are also likely in the works for the 800 and 1000 blocks of East Hastings. “What’s really unique about this walkability concept is that it brings it down to a scale that everyone can relate to and understand as the community changes,” says Kumagai, who adds that the Strathcona BIA’s walkability plan is focused on how the community is connected, rather than looking at individual projects. The Made in Strathcona: Most Walkable Street 2021 plan launched earlier this year with a series of tours, pop up shops and a survey that collected data from more than 200 residents on issues such as neighbourhood amenities, safety, accessibility and social connectedness. The Strathcona BIA is also looking at transportation in the lead-up to expected increases in pedestrian foot traffic and commercial vehicles along East Hastings as the area grows. “We’ll have 40-foot container trucks trying to negotiate pretty narrow roads, because a lot of this community was built before ours existed,” says Kumagai, referring to Strathcona’s roots as Vancouver’s oldest residential neighbourhood. Joe Chaput, who co-owns Les Amis du Fromage in the 800 block of East Hastings, says he has seen an increased number of pedestrians around their store, along with more awareness about that part of Vancouver in general. “It’s certainly a hot area to live in,” he says. “It’s really central – sandwiched between Hastings-Sunrise, China-
town, Gastown, Railtown and the [Commercial] Drive, and minutes from the Highway 1. You’re right in the middle of all these great places.” The relative affordability of commercial and residential spaces in the Downtown Eastside – known for being one of Canada’s poorest postal codes – and Stathcona is likely adding to the allure. “A lot of property seems in transition along East Hastings,” observes Chaput, “at least from us [800 block] to Clark [Drive].” Last July, Strathcona Beer Company opened its doors on the 800 block of East Hastings. And this April the nə́c̓a?mat ct Strathcona branch public library opened on the 700 block, along with 21 units of affordable housing for single mothers. The City of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Plan lists creating more social housing and rentals for low- and moderate-income households as a goal for revitalizing the area, along with attracting new and retaining local businesses. “The whole strip is changing,” notes Barbara Borchardt, creator of the ILiveInEastVan blog. “The city keeps growing and people need places to live.” Trendy businesses are popping up just east and south of East Hastings and Clark Drive, she adds, where you’ll find a Starbucks between the No Frills grocery store and Gourmet Warehouse, and a recently opened Earnest Ice Cream shop – additions that likely add to the appeal of neighbouring areas. Putting all this change into context is one of the goals of the Strathcona BIA, says Kumagai, along with maintaining an open dialogue about the community’s future. W
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YOUR CITY Reimagining the cemetery with artists, wild meadows and walking tours Amy Logan Hidden City
@AmySnowLogan Glen Hodges sees the modern cemetery as a place not only to honour the dead and remember their stories, but also to build community by connecting past and present lives. As manager of Mountain View Cemetery
on Fraser Street, he sees the cemetery as a “place of endless possibilities.” From a colourful wildflower meadow to a rooftop of beehives, historical walking tours and hosting a composer in residence, his cemetery is becoming a hub of creativity. As Hodges puts it: “I’m trying to be quite innovative. In some ways my job is easy. I just say ‘yes’ when someone comes up
with an interesting idea.” Since Hodges became manager 15 years ago, the cemetery has thus undergone a radical shift. When an artist or community member comes up with a project, Hodges listens, often with remarkable results. “There have been many happy accidents,” he says. Mountain View’s unique, urban location, surrounded by neighbourhoods, has meant
“a different level of community involvement.” Many of the art and community projects have grown organically. One artist proposed planting and harvesting willow, then weaving it into fish sculptures. They are now placed throughout the cemetery as memorials. The Armenian community wanted a way to commemorate the Armenian genocide of early 20th century
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Europe, and a delicate metal sculpture was commissioned and set up at Mountain View as a place to honour those they have lost. An older gentleman who often walked through the cemetery and took photos was requisitioned to be a photographer-in-residence. Meanwhile, the cemetery’s composer-in-residence writes and plays music for various events, inspired by the stories that surround him. The artist-in-residence program led to All Souls, which has since become an annual series of events in late October that allows the public the chance to honour those who have passed. Through contemplation, artwork and handmade shrines, the events offer a beautiful space to contemplate loss and life. After witnessing how magical the event was, “I got really involved in it,” says Hodges. “I saw the feedback from the community and it just opened things up, made me wonder what else we can do.” A few neighbours had beehives, and Hodges agreed to place them on the operations yard roof. A plant specialist was hired for horticultural development, including “nomow” meadow planting to provide a natural habitat and draw pollinators. Free walking tours led by the genealogical society tell the stories behind many of the graves, from early pioneers and citizens to wellknown Vancouver figures like Joe Fortes. “With 150,000 people buried here, each one of them has at least one interesting story,” Hodges says, noting he recently met a man who came to visit his grandfather’s grave. It turns out he was a stonemason on the Lions Gate Bridge. “It keeps you connected to the past,” Hodges adds.
Perhaps the most poignant sections of the cemetery is the infant area. In the late 1800s, infant death was common. At that time, Hodges explains, they would take the baby away and bury it. The parents were told to take a holiday and try to get over it. In recent years, “we’ve learned better ways to deal with it,” Hodges says. Every cemetery has a section for these graves. At Mountain View, they were buried in common graves containing 30 to 40 infants. But years later, relatives started to come back. People wanted a place to remember. Logistically, it was impossible to mark each grave, but Hodges knew it was important to have a physical space devoted to the infants, so they came up with the idea of planting landscaped grass areas to honour their memory. Staff then handpicked 6,610 river stones in memory of each of the infants who are buried there. Each one is placed along the dry stream bed that runs over the gravesite. Hodges constantly seeks to expand the role of a cemetery, to “open up the discussion, get people talking and make them more comfortable.” The goal is to “let people know the cemetery is more than just a place to bury a body.” It is, after all, a place to celebrate life, to build connections, and to tell the stories of the past and find gratitude in the present. • Amy Logan is a Vancouver writer, editor and English instructor with an ear for trends in the arts, community and environment. She is a regular contributor to Metro News, and joins the Westender to explore the artists, creatives, environmentalists and adventurers who make Vancouver tick. W
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Mountain View Cemetery’s manager, Glen Hodges, aims to show that final resting places are rich source of stories, creativity and contemplation. Amy Logan photo
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Bus Lines: 99 problems? A bus ain’t one
JAN ZESCHKY @jantweats
The lines painted on the sidewalk just outside Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain station probably made sense at one point, but subsequent repavings and scattershot bubblegum markings have turned them into a mosaic that might have been created by a disturbed mind. Surprisingly, though, their original intent is still clear, as what remain of the white squiggles herd commuters into three separate queues to board Vancouver’s ubiquitous 99 B-Line bus. It was a necessary move to bring order to the scrums that used to occur amongst those waiting to board what, according to the City of Vancouver, is the busiest bus route in North America, traversing the city from the indie streets of East Vancouver all the way to its bastion of higher learning, the University of British Columbia (and inspiring its fair share of YouTube tributes and Reddit threads along the way). It’s a claim that becomes apparent soon after I join the queue for the front door, which is policed by Transit Security staff at busy times. The 99 carried almost 17.3 million passengers in 2016, according to a recent TransLink Service Performance Review. Packed into this bendy can, it kind of feels like all 17.3 million are right here. Yet, at a shade after 8 a.m., it’s surprisingly quiet. Almost funereal. I guess everyone’s mourning their lost sleep. Gauging commuters’ opinions about this route is clearly going to be tricky. As another batch of passengers squeeze on at Main, I finally manage to catch they eye of a woman with pink hair standing beside me. “Busy, eh?” “Yeah.” “Is it always this busy?” “Yeah.” Well, she’s not wrong. That said, the bus empties a little at Cambie, and that holiest of 99 grails is offered up: a free seat! Cue the awkward, very Canadian few seconds of everyone being too polite to The stops are strategic, covering the city’s principal cross streets. In fact, the bus route holds its place in the Vancouver lexicon thanks, in large part, to the fact that almost every resident will need to ride it at some point (and, feeling emboldened by the dense crowd, eventually attempt to ride it for free). You already know there are dozens of interesting stores and places to eat around Main, Fraser,
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Hillary Clinton’s election tell-all, What Happened, is out in Canada on Sept. 12. Contributed photo
What feminists are asking Hillary Clinton The 99 B-Line crowd wasn’t much for talking on this earlymorning commute. Jan Zeschky photo Cambie and Granville, while stops at MacDonald, Heather and Alma put you within walking distance of Kitsilano and its beaches. UBC, of course, offers a huge range of attractions: the Museum of Anthropology, Pacific Spirit Regional Park and the, er, sights at Wreck Beach, to name just three. Seriously, when was the last time you were out here? I disembark at Point Grey Village, a curious part of the city that’s always intrigued me. This short stretch of West 10th is ostensibly here to serve the richest of Vancouver’s uber-rich, but it doesn’t quite come across that way. It’s a mix of the curiously dated and high end, with slightly shabby pharmacy storefronts nestled beside luxury interior design and jewelry outlets. The Safeway here looks like it hasn’t had an external redesign since the 1960s, right down to its retro roadside sign. The Diner, a greasy spoon that also looks a bit faded, offers a tantalizing full English breakfast for $10. A few doors down, I peek inside The Mix and glimpse stacks of freshly baked goods. (There’s a Starbucks on West 10th, too.) It’s a relatively peaceful part of the city. And it’s here, waiting to board the 99 again (you never have to wait long, with service every three minutes at peak times) that I finally get passengers to offer up some opinions about the line. A student freshly arrived from New Jersey loves the frequency of the service and the fact he can load his bike on the front. Another student is, understandably, not so keen about being pressed so closely against his fellow humans. There’s also a bus driver waiting for the bus to take him to work to drive a bus.
(Bonus points for not taking the car.) He says he’s driven the 99 in the past and thinks it’s a fairly fuss-free route for drivers and commuters. “People get irritated if there’s a delay or if they’ve waited for three buses and they still can’t get on,” he adds. “But that’s not such an issue with the 99 because it’s so frequent.” His hairiest moment on the 99 was almost hitting a guy who was “out of it” when he stepped into traffic. Our chat turns to the proposed SkyTrain extension along Broadway. With it, the 99’s days appear numbered, at least as far as Arbutus – the location of the first planned terminus of the new rapid-transit line that’s currently set to be in place by 2025, before further expansion west. “SkyTrain will put me out of some work, but it’s a good idea,” the driver says. “The buses used to be almost empty west of Arbutus, but that’s no longer the case.” It’s probably a stretch to say regular commuters will miss the crush, let alone the scintillating conversation. • Bus Lines is a twice-monthly series featuring stories from Vancouver’s most interesting bus routes. Stay tuned for the next installment: the 20. W
TRANSIT TALK The 99 B-Line
Terminus stations: Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain station to UBC Exchange Length of route: 12.4 km Estimated route time: 47 minutes Max. passengers: 120 Number of Starbucks en route: 12
With Clinton’s upcoming visit to Vancouver, these local women have tough questions TESSA VIKANDER @tessavikander
Hillary Clinton didn’t win the presidency, but she is dropping a new book about it. Oh, and if you can rustle up $89, you can hear her talk live when she stops inVancouver on Dec. 13 as part of her book tour. In light of her visit, we asked several prominent local women – involved in politics, media, business, advocacy, activism – what they’d like to ask Hillary Clinton and why. Here’s what they said. Elizabeth May Leader of the Green Party of Canada and MP for SaanichGulf Islands “What are the most effective things concerned global citizens can do to push back on Trump’s agenda?” Elaine “Lainey” Lui Co-host of CTV’s THE SOCIAL, ETALK senior correspondent and founder/editor of laineygossip. com “In your new book, you talk about moments from the campaign that “I wish I could go back and do over.” In a world that teaches us to “regret nothing,” how do you manage your regrets? Also, you say in the book, in reference to Donald Trump stalking you during the debate, that “maybe I have overlearned the lesson of staying calm, biting my tongue, digging my fingernails into a clenched fist, smiling all the while, determined to present a composed face to the world.” This seems to be the conundrum of women – stay too calm and they accuse you of being an ice-cold bitch, show
emotion and they say you’re too unpredictable to lead. Where do you find the balance between composure and justified rage?” Erin Shum Business owner and Vancouver Park Board trustee “How are the challenges different for young women today, as compared to those you experienced during your life and career? Hillary Clinton has spoken often about the challenges for women - in society, in politics, and in the workforce. I’m curious what she thinks has changed for the better, what has changed for the worse, and what has stayed the same.” Natalie Cartwright Co-founder and COO finn.ai “As a founder of a tech company, I am surrounded by wonderful men who want to support women. Despite this, it can be hard to overcome unconscious biases and for men to know what they can do in tangible terms to support women. In your opinion, what are the best strategies to engage men in supporting gender equality?” Susanna Quail Labour lawyer, Allevato Quail and Worth “I would want to ask her what she sees as the role for white progressives in this moment of racial crisis? I think that the execution of the 2016 presidential election was a disastrous failure under her leadership and, in many ways, has lead to this terrible moment that the U.S. is in now. I wonder what kind of responsibility, as a white person, she feels on her shoulders and what she sees as the way forward?” Cybele Negris Co-Founder & CEO Webnames.ca “As a female founder and CEO of a technology com-
pany I constantly get asked about what is it like to be one of very few women in STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering and Math) and how to change that. I talk often about the changes necessary in society to remove both conscious and unconscious bias, the need for women to change their own mindset to get over ‘imposter syndrome’ and to get both male and female mentors to help in a woman’s career. I would love to see how Hillary would answer a similar question for women in politics. What changes are needed to remove both conscious and unconscious bias women in politics face and has she experienced ‘imposter syndrome’ herself?” Morgane Oger Chair, Trans Alliance Society “You’ve had a very significant political career ranging from progressive advocacy, to elected office, to being married to a president, to being Secretary of State, to campaigning for the U.S. presidency yourself. What would you recommend to women entering politics today that they do differently than you did, to make their own journey easier or more powerful than yours has been so far?” Erin Arnold City of Vancouver Women’s Advisory Committee, Women’s Rights Committee for the BC NDP “How do you persevere despite misogyny and stay grounded and driven as a profound women’s leader? Do you have mentors, counsellors or self care practices that keep you centred? As an activist, I find burn out and negative people are a challenge over time to continue to stand up against and be assertive with.” • Hillary Clinton Live takes place on Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. at theVancouver Convention Centre. Tickets $89-$3,000. W
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EAT // DRINK
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DINING OUT Slickity Jim’s new hours, Mexican market, sturgeon dinner and more Anya Levykh Fresh Sheet
@FoodGirlFriday
A rendering of Mrkt East, one of the eight restaurants and lounges soon to open inside Parq Vancouver. Parq image
Parq rolls dice on Vegas-style dining Casino offers eight unique restaurants and lounges in one Anya Levykh Nosh
@FoodgirlFriday Vancouver isn’t traditionally known as a high-roller destination. Sure, we have a handful of casinos scattered throughout the city and GreaterVancouver, but these are, for the most part, smaller operations geared mainly to moderate gamblers.The food and beverage programs are just OK, with the notable exception of Sea Harbour at the River Rock, which last year won Best Dim Sum in the Diners’ Choice category of the Chinese Restaurant Awards. That’s all about to change. Wife-and-husband team Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla (the latter a James Beard Award nominee) are the pair behind the soon-to-open Parq behemoth inVancouver’s stadium district. In addition to housing the relocated Edgewater Casino, two hotels, a rooftop park and oodles of event and meeting space, the $640-million entertainment destination will contain five restaurants and three lounges. As the driving forces behind
Parq’s food and beverage portfolio, Blau and Canteenwalla are no strangers to this kind of project. It’s thanks to Blau that chefs like Daniel Boulud and Jean-Georges Vongerichten were lured to Las Vegas, and why her and Canteenwalla’s own Sin City restaurant empire is a force to be reckoned with. ButVancouver is in the middle of a serious staffing shortage when it comes to hospitality jobs. And, with eight different restaurants and eateries scattered throughout the property, it’s no surprise that food and beverage staff account for almost half of the 1,000-plus jobs needed to open Parq. Where did they get the bodies? “We came into the project knowing about [the staff shortages],” says Blau. “We’re seeing it across the U.S., in NewYork, specifically with cooks.We went into this very nervous and apprehensive.We’ve made a lot of restaurant friends over the last five years that we’ve been visiting here, so we wanted to be respectful and not take away an entire staff from a single restaurant,” she continues. “We’ve been aggressive with social media and our job fairs. And we didn’t focus just on downtown Vancouver, but widened to the whole Lower Mainland.” They also partnered with VCC to train new talent.
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“Vancouver Community College has been great,” says Blau. “We worked with the college on a joint-venture training program to do four-week hospitality cohorts. “Almost all of our executive chefs are fromVancouver and all of the positions have now been filled,” she adds. So barring a small amount of construction that still needs to be completed and the training of the staff, the operation should be ready to open Sept. 29. Now it just remains to be seen howVancouver, that most terminally casual of cities, will take to the new high-stakes outfit. With two restaurants that are arguably on the fine-dining end of the spectrum, it could be seen to be a gamble of a different sort. TheVictor is a steak and seafood restaurant that will focus on premium steaks from Alberta, the U.S. and Japan (yes, that means Kobe), alongside locally sourced seafood. 1886 is a Cantonese fine-dining restaurant that will incorporate Szechuan, Hunan and Shanghainese elements. Blau insists, however, that both are still approachable. “The trend we see here is a move away from traditionally stuffy fine dining. But I think everyone likes to dress up a little on the weekends to go out.TheVictor is, to me, a fun and celebratory restaurant. It’s perhaps a bit more finer dining
than the other restaurants in the portfolio, but not stuffy or restrictive.We want things to be approachable.” The other dining experiences include Honey Salt, featuring regional farm-totable cuisine alongside regional beers, spirits and cocktails; BC Kitchen, offering classic comfort food; the Singapore night market-inspired Mrkt East; the cocktail-forward Centre Bar, which overlooks the gaming floor; the nightlife-friendly D/6 Bar and Lounge, which boasts a fireplace, pool table, and indoor/outdoor sky bar adjacent to the rooftop park; and the serene LotusWhiskey andTea Lounge. Part of the emphasis on approachability can be seen in the duo’s noted enthusiasm in working with local growers and producers. Down the road, there are also plans to incorporate on-site herb gardens and potentially develop an off-site farm. An OceanWise partnership has yet to be confirmed, but Blau and Canteenwalla are meeting with Ned Bell, executive chef for theVancouver Aquarium and the OceanWise program, in the next week. Vancouver’s social landscape is changing.We’re growing up as a city and attracting a more international, and well-heeled, clientele.We’ll just have to see if we’re ready for this level of entertainment and hospitality – and if they’re ready for us. W
Slickity Jim’s has extended its hours at both its Main Street and West 7th Avenue locations past its standard breakfast and brunch menu. It’s now offering dinner Tuesday to Sunday, along with a happy hour 4-7 p.m. daily and late-night offerings from 10 p.m. until close. The happy hour menu includes $4 highballs, $5 braised short rib sliders, barbecue pulled pork tacos and cauliflower lettuce wraps, as well as nachos, burgers and breakfast dishes. Dinner items include vegetarian quinoa “meatballs,” short rib skillet, white cheddar and gruyere mac and cheese, and nightly features. skinnyfatjack.com On Sept. 16, Market Mexico, a free outdoor market, will pop up on the lower plaza of UBC’s Robson Square from 11:30 a.m. to midnight. The market will feature food, drink, music, film, arts, crafts and artisan goods. Enjoy tacos, tortas, horchata, pastries and churros, sip agua fresca and agave spirits, purchase dried goods, produce and more. marketmexico.ca On Sunday, Oct. 1, El Santo will host its annual charitable dinner fundraiser in support of the Canucks Autism Network. In addition to the seven-course meal, the evening will also feature live music and entertainment, guest speakers and silent and live auctions. Tickets $135 available at the restaurant or via Eventbrite. elsanto.ca The third annual Judg-
ment of B.C. results have been announced. The annual competition pits 12 B.C. wines against 12 acknowledged global benchmarks, focusing on two heavily planted (in B.C.) varietals. B.C.’s CheckMate Black Rook Merlot ranked first in the Merlot flight. B.C. wines also placed third (50th Parallel), fifth (Grey Monk) and sixth (Arrowleaf) in the Pinot Gris flight.
On Tuesday, Oct. 3, legendary local chefs Vikram Vij and Robert Clark will collaborate on a five-course sturgeon dinner at Vij’s South Surrey restaurant, My Shanti. Featuring local, sustainable and certified organic white sturgeon from Northern Divine Aquafarms in Sechelt, the dinner will see the chefs not only collaborating on multiple courses, but also educating diners about this “living fossil.” Tickets $125 per person. Email namaste@ myshanti.com with the subject line “This Whole Sturgeon.” myshanti.com On Saturday, Oct. 14, Whistler Search and Rescue Society will hold its 18th annual Wine’d Up gourmet dinner and auction at Dusty’s Bar and Grill in Whistler Creekside. The multi-course event will see five top Whistler chefs creating a dish paired with a premium wine from California. Participating chefs include Isabel Chung from Fairmont Chateau Whistler, James Walt from Araxi, Dean Hossak from Nita Lake Lodge, and others. Proceeds go to support the society’s search and rescue operations. Tickets are $180 and include dinner, wine pairings, reception and live and silent auctions. Call 1-800-766-0449 ext. 2. whistlersar.com W
With over forty craft beers available, we’ve got your brew. 1218 west pender, vancouver • 604.685.1212 coalharbourliquorstore.com
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EAT // DRINK
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COCKTAILS, CRAFT BEER & WINE Drink in some education with fall’s cocktail books before you go exploring the tasting rooms, cocktail bars and boozy boutiques. On shelves: Sept. 19.
Joanne Sasvari The Alchemist
@TheAlchemistBC School days, school days, dear old golden rule days – nope, don’t miss ’em. But there’s still something about September that makes you want to learn something new. It’s even better if that something new has a boozy kick to it. So why not pick up one of the season’s new cocktail books and drink in some liquid education? Start with these spirited volumes. The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks in 150 Recipes edited by Megan Krigbaum (Ten Speed Press) A roundup of the best classic and modern cocktail recipes from PUNCH, the online drinks magazine. On shelves: Now. The Art of the Bar Cart: Styling & Recipes by Vanessa Dina & Ashley Rose Conway with Antonis Achilleos (Chronicle Books) Roll a bar cart into a room and it immediately adds a louche elegance. This book showcases 20 beautifully styled bar cars – from vintage chic to perfectly punchy
– and offers loads of tips, recipes and photos to inspire your own look. On shelves: Sept. 12. Cocktails FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About the Drinks, the Bars, and the Legends by Cheryl Charming (Backbeat Books) This handy little tome is filled with fun facts and anecdotes to amuse your guests at your next cocktail party.Want to know about distillation techniques, cocktail history or how to create the perfect ice cube? It’s got you covered. On shelves: Sept. 13. High-Proof PDX: A Spirited Guide to Portland’s Craft Distilling Scene by Karen Locke (Overcup Press) Your essential guide to the city that (reportedly) has more artisan distilleries than any other. It provides everything you need to know
Distillery Cats: Profiles in Courage of the World’s Most Spirited Mousers by Brad Thomas Parsons (Ten Speed Press) The James Beard Awardwinning author of Bitters and Amaro offers purr-fect profiles of more than 30 distillery cats, with cheeky little “interviews,” hand-drawn portraits, stats and recipes. On shelves: Sept. 19. Three-Ingredient Cocktails: An Opinionated Guide to the Most Enduring Drinks in the Cocktail Canon by Robert Simonson (Ten Speed Press) It takes three to make a trend, they say. Seems it also takes three to make a classic, at least when it comes to cocktails. This book is an ode to the simple perfection of three-ingredient cocktails, both historic and new, from the classic Bees Knees to the contemporary Little Italy. On shelves: Sept. 26. Good Together: Drink & Feast with Mr. Lyan and Friends by Ryan Chetiyawardana (Frances Lincoln) The ultimate guide to throwing a great party, written by the creative
cocktailian behind London’s celebrated White Lyan and Dandelyan bars. He pairs recipes from restaurants around the world with cocktails, and demonstrates how to make cocktails part of any event. On shelves: Sept. 26. Road Soda: Recipes and Techniques for Making Great Drinks, Anywhere by Kara Newman (Dovetail Press) No matter where you are, whether you’re camping in the wilderness or making do with a hotel mini-bar, you can still make a good cocktail – at least if you follow this fun and useful guide. On shelves: Oct. 3. Meehan’s Bartender Manual by Jim Meehan (Ten Speed Press) If there is one book every cocktail lover needs to own this season, it’s going to be this one. Jim Meehan is not only one of the most influential bartenders in the world – best known for his work at NewYork’s groundbreaking PDT speakeasy – he’s also a mentor, journalist, consultant and author of 2011’s The PDT Cocktail Book. His new book is sure to be an indispensible guide to everything you need to know about modern and historic cocktails. On shelves: Oct. 17. W
A-brew-cadabra: The magic of fresh-hopped beers Robert Mangelsdorf The Growler
@TheGrowlerBC There’s something truly magical about a fresh-hopped beer. In terms of flavour, the use of fresh hops – that is, hops that have been picked that day and put immediately into the brew – imparts wonderfully floral aromatics and intense bright flavours. But that’s only part of the appeal. Because fresh-hopped beers need to be brewed immediately upon harvesting the hops, there’s only a narrow window in which to make them – three to four weeks in September at most. The compounds that produce those incredible aromatics are also incredibly volatile, so fresh-hopped beers have to be drunk as fresh as possible. Once it’s a couple weeks old, all that magic is gone. “The absolute seasonality of fresh-hopped beers is so, so awesome,” says Iain Hill, brewmaster at Strange Fellows Brewing in Vancouver. “You have to make it the day it’s picked… and then you have two weeks to drink it and that’s it. It lives for such a short time.” While many people as-
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sociate hoppy beers with the intense bitterness of West Coast IPAs, fresh-hopped beers don’t have that burn. “The hop flavour is more intense and perfume-y, but it’s not more bitter,” Hill explains. Traditionally, hops are kiln-dried, then pelletized, vacuum-sealed and frozen to extend their shelf life, that way brewers can brew with hops year-round. The tradeoff, though, is that some of the volatile compounds responsible for the intense aromatics can be lost. The key to capturing the essence of the fresh hop is a tricky process, however. Along with those intense flavour brewers want, fresh hops can also bring tannins and other compounds that can give a beer a vegetal flavour, if you’re not careful. (Imagine soggy green pepper that’s been left in the fridge for a week.Yuck!) More often then not, fresh-hopped beers fall somewhere on the pale ale or IPA spectrum. Hills says he prefers them to be well attenuated, with little residual sweetness and malt character, in order to provide a blank canvas for the hops. “It’s all about the hops,” he says, “so you don’t want anything competing with those flavours.” Since the hops have to go into the brew immediately, brewers are forced to use hops
that are grown nearby. In the case of Strange Fellows’ Hopdevil, the Cascade hops Hill uses are picked early in the morning at Maple Bay Hop Farm on Vancouver Island, sent over on the ferry, and by the early afternoon they are added to the brew. Weather conditions have a huge impact on harvest times, so Hill might only get a couple days’ notice that his hops are coming, if he’s lucky. “You have to be ready for them when they get here,” he says. By forcing brewers to source their hops locally, fresh-hopped beers are amongst the best examples of terroir in craft beer. “You can’t use Vic Secret, or some fruity Australian hop; you have to go local,” Hill says. “That allows you to make something that’s pretty unique and it’s a great way to connect with the land.” For the most part, you’re only going to find freshhopped beers like Strange Fellows’ Hopdevil in the tasting room. Driftwood was the first B.C. craft brewery to offer a bottled fresh-hopped beer with its Satori Harvest IPA, but, if you’re lucky enough to snag a bottle, make sure you drink it immediately! There is a third option, however. Go to the source! Donna Dixson is the brains behind the B.C. Hop
Fest, which takes place Sept. 30 in Abbotsford, on an actual working hop farm. The festival features 36 B.C. craft breweries, each pouring a fresh-hopped creation, so it’s easily the best place to experience the magic of this ephemeral beer. “It’s a pretty unique experience, because it’s right on the farm, so you can see where the hops come from,” says Dixson. There will be farm tours, displays on the history of hop production in the Fraser Valley (which used to be one of the largest hop-producing regions on Earth!), live music, food, vendors selling hop-related products, the whole works. Not surprisingly, people from across North America flock to the event. This year, 1,500 people are expected to attend. “Like a Beaujolais Nouveau, fresh-hopped beer is something you can only get once a year,” Dixson says. “And once it’s gone, it’s gone!” • The B.C. Hop Fest takes place Saturday, Sept. 30 from 1-6 p.m. at 1905 Cole Rd.,Abbotsford.Tickets at bchop.ca W The Fall 2017 issue of The Growler is out now! Find it a select private liquor stores, and on newsstands across the province.
Four wines that go against the mainstream.
Fringe wines Michaela Morris By the Bottle
@MichaelaWine
Humans, for the most part, are creatures of habit. We tend to seek comfort in what we know. For wine, that might mean a crisp, vibrant, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc or a deep purple, rich, full-bodied Malbec.We also usually prefer our whites clear, bright and pale lemon in colour while our reds still and served at room temperature. Anything that falls outside of these parameters may be regarded with suspicion. Yet on the fringes of the mainstream, a host of idiosyncratic wines beckon. Call them cutting edge, controversial or eclectic.Their appearance, flavours and even texture may be unfamiliar but they can offer a revelatory taste sensation. Besides orange-hued whites and sparkling reds these may be represented by unfashionable styles like pale, light reds or wines made from disparaged grapes. They are wines that required a sense of adventure and an open mind. Give them a chance and even a second try. As foreign as these may be at first, it’s possible that they will worm their way into your affection, cause you think and maybe even become part of your regular repertoire. Being fringe wines, it means you might need to go out of your way to track these down. Happy hunting! 2014 Tinhorn Creek, Innovation Series Kerner Orange Wine, B.C. winery only Tinhorn’s Innovation Series is an exploration of the periphery. This orange wine is made from the aromatic Kerner grape that sees three days of skin contact. Musky, floral and honeyed, it is dry and slightly tannic with mandarin, citrus tea and vanilla notes. Tiny quantities render it even too limited for Tinhorn’s wine club. As such, it is only being poured at the winery’s Miradoro Restaurant. In Vancouver, Cibo Trattoria, Uva and Wildebeest have it on their list.
2016 Paltrinieri, ‘Solco’ Lambrusco dell’Emilia IGT, Italy $28-30 Available at Kitsilano Wine Cellars, Liberty Wine Merchants & Village Liquor Store Bubbles in a red may be cause for concern but when the winemaker intended to make it sparkling, they can be a bonus. The Lambrusco family of grapes is typically crafted in this fashion, resulting in particularly mouth-cleansing elixirs. Bursting with violets, black raspberry and plum, the Solco is creamy, exuberant and a modest 11.5% alcohol. I dare you to try it the next time you have spaghetti Bolognese. Just make sure to chill it first. 2015 Wilhelm Walch, St. Magdalener DOC, Italy $27-28 Available at FireFly & New District Once upon a time, the prevailing opinion was that the deeper and fuller the red, the better. Thankfully appreciation for paler, lighter gems like this is slowly growing. St. Magdalener is based on the little-known Schiava group of grapes. What the wine lacks in colour and weight, it makes up in sheer chuggability. With super intriguing strawberry blossom, almond, cherry and red currants nuances, it’s juicy, bright and the perfect red to pair with salmon or tuna. 2014 Domaine Ramonet, Bourgogne Aligoté AOC, France $61 Available at Marquis Wine Cellars The fate of Aligoté has nothing in common with its relative Chardonnay.While both hail from Burgundy, the former enjoys none of the latter’s fame or fortune. It’s true that some examples can be excruciatingly tart and lacking flavour. However, when top Burgundy producer Ramonet gets his hands on it, Aligoté is a refreshingly delicious and complex beauty. Medium-bodied and succulent with intense lemon rind, earth, wet stone and green apple, it will even stand a couple of years in the cellar. • Prices exclusive of taxes W
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STYLE // DESIGN
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FASHION & HOME 5 essentials from Muji at Metrotown Aileen Lalor Style File @AileenLalor
Eight years ago I bought a pair of jeans from Muji. They were cheap, straight cut, mid blue, finishing on the ankle, and looked great with a boot, ballet flat or heel – your perfect basic jeans. But what’s really remark-
non-fashion-y basics that are really good quality – the very epitome of slow fashion. The shopping experience is generally not frenetic or overwhelming; a sea of quiet beige, though the newly opened Metrotown branch is likely to be busy for a while. And the sales staff are polite and helpful, but put on no pressure. Here are five pieces to buy now and wear forever. W
able about them is that I still have them and wear them regularly. They’re a little faded, a little saggy round the butt (though, aren’t we all?) but the knees and zipper are intact and they look good enough to wear to work, not just to slob round the house. Every piece I’ve ever bought from Muji – and there are a lot – is still a core part of my wardrobe. That’s what the Japanese brand does best:
Organic Cotton Stretch Denim Boyfit Ankle Length Jeans, $59
My Digs: Amanda Haines Jennifer Scott A Good Chick to Know
@Jennifer_AGCTK
It’s no surprise that Amanda Haines’ new digs are ultra drool-worthy, as she spends her days creating beautiful content for lifestyle brands. Having moved to the North Shore from Mount Pleasant, Amanda and her husband have curated a space to call home that satisfies their inner city spirit yet offers a personal oasis in which to decompress. Check out how a mix of carefully selected decorative pieces, vintage family heirlooms and travel treasures have become the heart of their home. What is it? A 1½-year-old, 1,008-square-foot, twobedroom, two-bathroom, two-level craftsman-style townhouse in Maplewood, North Vanc ouver.
Organic Cotton Broad Round Collar Shirt, $35
Wool Silk Long Cardigan, $99
Organic Cotton Wide Count Border Long Sleeve Dress, $59
Water Repellent Organic Cotton Slip-On Sneakers, $49
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CO M M U N I T Y A N D M E D I A S P O N S O R S PA R T E N A I R E S CO M M U N AU TA I R E S E T M É D I AT I Q U E S
Occupants: Amanda Haines, founder and head of creative at Reformation, a modern public relations agency for lifestyle brands; her fiancé Joel Lazeski, territory manager at Carlsberg Group; and their puggle (pug/beagle cross), Dexter. Major selling feature: The nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows.The natural light and ceiling height both lend such a spacious feel to our space.We fell in love with it the minute we walked through the door. It was bright, airy and felt just like home.We made an offer two hours later. First thing I changed: The closets. I’m borderline minimalist and hate clutter so I knew I wanted to keep things simple, especially when it came to furnishing the master bedroom. Instead of filling the space with dressers and other storage furniture, we hired Arbutus Furniture & Closets to install designer closets with built-in drawers, hampers, clothes-rails and plenty of shelving so we could keep all our clothing, shoes and personal items literally behind closed doors. Feature I brag about: We’re only 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver on a good traffic day, but we live next door to a farm.There is something magical about working in the city all day and coming home to total peace, quiet and the sound of horses and cows next door. I’m definitely a city girl, but I’ve come to appreciate the balance that our location offers, especially when I’m constantly on the go running a business.
Amanda Haines and her puggle Dexter. Dan Toulgoet photo That one conversation piece: I’m notoriously picky, so we went without artwork on our walls for more than a year. One day, I came across an image on Pinterest of typeset artwork in simple black frames and I knew it was the perfect look for our living room. I stole the wording, ‘Steady my soul/Ease my worry,’ from my favourite Ryan Adams song, laid it out in Adobe InDesign, and had it printed for $30 at a local print shop.The words are a good reminder to slow down and unwind – exactly what our home is all about. We get a ton of comments about it. The decor: Modern bohemian farmhouse.We really wanted to stay true to the design of the space, without going too rustic or kitschy. At the same time, since our lifestyle is so hectic, it was important to us to have a home that feels lived-in and comfortable. I worked with Kathleen Lin at The Cross Design & Decor to curate pieces that lend a breezy, laid-back feel, with lots of white, texture and greenery. It feels like a breath of fresh air every time we walk through the door. The story behind the art/antiques/collectibles: Joel and I love to travel (this year alone, we’ve been to four European countries and Mexico), so we try to bring pieces home from our favourite places around the world, like glass fish floats from Hawaii and ceramics from Amsterdam.We also like to incorporate vintage items from our families.The old Crown Cork & Seal Company crate in our living room was rescued from Joel’s parents’ backyard in Summerland, and the stacks of vintage books in both bedrooms came from my grandmother’s collection.
Some of them have names and notes written inside. I find it fascinating. Downsides: The commute downtown is challenging.We live and die by traffic reports to know when to drive and when not to drive.We also have a confused owl that has taken up residence in the trees behind us – he hoots all day and sleeps all night! That’s taken some getting used to. Neighbourhood haunts: Deep Cove Brewers and Distillers has become our regular Friday-night date spot.We love walking over, Dexter in tow, and grabbing a table on the patio to snack on fresh-baked pretzels, beer and cocktails made with their house-made vodka or gin. I often spend afternoons working from Buddha-Full at Northwoods – their Avo Smash is to die for! Compared to your last place: We rented our last home, a 750-square-foot penthouse in Mount Pleasant. It was a great spot, but it never truly felt like home.We love having more space, especially with a dog. The one thing we miss the most is our old patio.We had a 200-square-foot deck overlooking the False Creek Flats and North Shore mountains. It was incredible. Favourite apartment/house/ condo activity: Sharing our space with family and friends.We love entertaining and hosting dinner parties with our nearest and dearest.When we furnished our home, we made sure to choose a larger dining table and set up our second bedroom as a guest room so that we could have loved ones over as much as possible. It means the world to us to share it with them. W
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MUSIC | THEATRE | DANCE | FILM | COMEDY | ART | EVENTS Left: Nobody’s Boy. Painting by Brian Kokoska. Right: Everybody Dies in December. Olivier Surprenant photo
fall
Laughing in the face of death How Fringe artists are using comedy to explore mortality
TESSA VIKANDER @tessavikander
If death is a certainty in life, then letting out a big huge dead fart in the days after passing is also a sure thing. Thus, yes, death can be funny, says Nancy Kenny, the writer, director and actor behind the solo Fringe show Everybody Dies in December. The fictional play, which is inspired by the real-life stories of her funeral homeowning mother, features a scene about the noises and gases that come out of our bodies after we die. “Basically, the body farts,” Kenny says, casually. Dubbed an “intimate, weird little show” by its creator, Everybody Dies in December is an homage to the popular HBO series Six Feet Under. Kenny’s character, Claire, is named after the youngest and most rebellious sibling in the Fisher family, which owns and
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operates a funeral parlour in the TV show. In Kenny’s story, Claire continues with the family business and becomes an undertaker. As the audience observes Claire’s conversations with the dead bodies, she goes through a crisis of faith. “Does she want to live in a small town [where] she knows everyone who she comes across?” Kenny asks. Chock full of black humour, Kenny says her show is done with “a lot of heart.” Death, she says, “happens every day all the time to everyone. It’s the one certainty that we have in life…It’s the details surrounding it that we don’t [control].” Which could be why it’s emerged as a bit of a theme among this year’s Fringe Festival programming. Of the 100-odd shows on deck this Sept. 7-17, there are at least seven comedies exploring the subject of death, and a handful that are more serious. So, given our fascination with it, why haven’t us mortals learned how to talk more openly about death?
Death is something we “don’t want to look at, or are scared to look at,” says Kenny. And that’s where comedy comes in. Take Kevin Kokoska’s Nobody’s Boy, in which a father – a stereotypical alpha male disconnected from his feelings – tries to avoid the reality of his son’s pending death. As the solo show unfolds, the audience witnesses a series of therapy sessions involving the father, with some standup comedy sets woven in. Kokoska, who is a Vancouver-based therapist and performer, uses his show as a way of exploring how people both avoid and tune in to their emotions. “What I’ve done in [this and my] previous shows, and really just in my life, is try to get people to access their feelings… For some people feelings are like death, it’s such a scary thing to feel these big feelings unfold, that we do so much work to put stuff on top of it so we don’t have to feel them at all,” he explains. “That can be a way of us looking out for
ourselves in the short term, but in the long term [it’s] not so good.” Kokoska’s play shows the benefits of surrendering to and processing grief. “It’s not fun when you’re there in the moment and feeling sadness and grief, but there is a feeling that feels good at the end of it,” he says. You realize, “‘Oh yeah, I can feel this in full and I still survived it. I felt it, and not only did I not die, I felt a little bit better at the end of it.’” Kokoska’s says his use of comedy to explore death is partly inspired by the internationally acclaimed standup comedian Louis C.K., who encourages comedians to take people to dark places within themselves, and then make them laugh. “I’m definitely not trying to make light of death, it’s just a way of managing something big and scary like death,” he says. Comedian Bill Santiago is also exploring life and death at the Fringe. Now in his second year of touring, Santiago’s standup set, The Immaculate Big Bang, uses
the convergence of his father’s death and the birth of his daughter to explore the intricate workings of the universe. The show is an earnest exploration of quantum mechanics and religion, within which sits a central question: What happens after death? “There are so many different ways of looking at life and death and existence… religion gives you different options of how to think about life and death,” he offers, but “from Einstein’s point of view… there’s no difference between past, present and future, so you know that my father is still very much alive because of the space-time continuum. “And that brings very little comfort,” he adds, ruefully, “but it is a way of thinking about it.” Santiago says that losing a parent, or having a child, can stir up deep feelings in a person, including a longing for frank conversations about the afterlife, and frustration with the status quo. “You get a lot of sort of socially acceptable, mostly perfunctory superficial [con-
versations about] death,” says Santiago. But, as the person who’s lost someone, the conversations continue on in your head. “Are you going to accept that it’s over, they’re completely gone?... Or are they still somehow in your life?” he continues. “It’s a very vulnerable place to go and your conclusions, your thoughts on it, your exploration might be entirely different [from] what the other person is saying… you have to be extremely open and accepting of whatever comes up.” W • Everybody Dies in December runs at various times on Sept. 9, 11-12, 14, 16-17 at Studio 1398 (1398 Cartwright St.). Tickets $14. • Nobody’s Boy runs at various times Sept. 8-10, 13 and 15-16 at Studio 16 (1555 West 7th Ave.) Tickets $14. • The Immaculate Big Bang runs at various times Sept. 8-10, 12, 15 and 17 at Studio 1398. Tickets $14.
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13 The Musical: Bring On Tomorrow Co. presents this hilarious and clever coming-of-age comedy. Transporting audiences of all ages to the uncertain days of youth when fitting in was all that mattered, 13 The Musical is an uplifting reminder that true friendships can be found in unexpected places. Sept. 28-Oct. 8 at the Waterfront Theatre. Tickets at bringontomorrowco.com. Angels in America: Part Two: Lauded as one of the most influential works of 20th-century theatre, this poignant account of the AIDS crisis and the Reagan era weaves together the stories of eight core characters struggling to find harmony among their beliefs, desires, and the societal roles they feel obligated to uphold. Sept. 7-Oct. 8 at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Tickets and info at artsclub.com.
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Sound of Music: Experience this brand new production of the beloved musical story of Maria and the von Trapp Family, which will once again thrill audiences with its Tony, Grammy and Academy Award-winning best score. Sept. 12-17 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. More info at soundofmusicontour.com. Just Not That Woman: Making its world premiere at the 2017 Vancouver Fringe Festival, this insightful and thoughtprovoking play from award-winning Australian artist, Ali Kennedy Scott, takes a revelatory look behind the 2016 U.S. election. Sept. 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 16 at the Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets and info at vancouverfringe.com.
Dance Embrytrophic Caratina: Choreographed by Kokoro Dance directors and award-winning dance artists, Embrytrophic Caratina brings four dancers who will strip themselves bare — literally and figuratively — in breathless motion and stillness, embodying the rawness of humanity, while transcending all superficial layers of persona and ego in true butoh style. Sept. 20-23 and 26-29 at the Roundhouse Community
Arts & Recreation Centre. Tickets and info at kokoro.ca.
career. Sept. 30 at the Commodore Ballroom. Tickets at livenation.com.
Golden Lotus: Beijing Dance Theatre presents the North American premiere of the contemporary ballet adaptation of China’s most notorious banned novel. Forbidden in China for the past 700 years, the Vancouver presentation marks the first time this controversial work of corruption and eroticism will be performed outside of Asia. Sept. 21-22 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets and info at goldenlotusdance.com.
Tim Berne’s Snakeoil: Experience Tim Berne’s rare alto saxophone talent and his ability to channel rigorous structure while still breathing the rarefied air of freedom in his playing. These meticulous craftsmen and artful improvisers take music far beyond the written page and into an expressive sonic territory of exhilarating textural shifts, modular grooves, and serpentine melodies. Sept. 24 at the Western Front. More at coastaljazz.ca.
Saudade: Experience the powerful and emotional new ensemble that is Joshua Beamish’s Saudade. Merging elegant balletic lines with street-style dynamism and drive, the work conjures up fleeting intimacies in a series of ghostly solos, duets, and group passages, accompanied by Hildur Guðnadóttir’s hauntingly beautiful cello score. Sept. 20-23 at the Scotiabank Dance Centre. Info at thedancecentre.ca.
Music Blind Boys of Alabama with Ben Heppner: Hailed by Rolling Stone as “gospel titans,” the five-time Grammy award-winning Blind Boys will match soulful harmonies with the mighty vocals of Canadian tenor and UBC alumnus, Ben Heppner. In this pairing, the Wagnerian singer will join the legendary ensemble from the Deep South—whose music served a soundtrack to the civil rights movement. Sept. 23 at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC. For tickets and information, visit chancentre.com. Acis & Galatea: A Gender Liberation Opera: In this adapted version, follow the story of two women, Acis and Galatea, who have been caught off guard by their love for one another. But it is met with serious consequences of social persecution. Sept. 15-26 at the Annex Theatre. Tickets at acisandgalatea.bpt.me. Billy Bragg with guests: Fresh from touring the world, Billy Bragg is in Vancouver, strapping on his electric guitar and entering one-man Clash mode, performing songs from his 30-plus-year
Bike Songs: Be prepared to be entertained by songs about, inspired by, or performed on bicycles. Sept. 23 at Christ Church Cathedral. Learn more at thecathedral.ca. Baroque Duets of Love and Passion: Stephen Subbs leads an all-star ensemble of singers and instrumentalists, featuring soprano Amanda Forsythe and Vancouver’s own Colin Balzer in a programme of sensual Baroque duets of love and passion. Sept. 29 at Christ Church Cathedral. Tickets and info at earlymusic.bc.ca. Music on Main: Experience Music on Main, a musically adventurous euphonious series. They’re kicking off this new season with an Australian String Quartet at the Annex. Sept. 19. For more info, visit musiconmain.ca.
Comedy Let’s Get Awkward: Following his sold out Canadian Tour in January 2012 – Telling Jokes in Cold Places – as well as his headlining appearance on the 2014 Just For Laughs Canadian Comedy Tour, Demetri Martin returns to Vancouver to get awkward. Sept. 9 at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. Tickets at tickets.ubc.ca. 49th Parallel: Long time friends and frequent collaborators Lewis Black and Kathleen Madigan are coming to theatres across Canada to co-headline their new comedy show, 49th Parallel. Sept. 7 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. More at lewisblack.com and kathleenmadigan.com.
Ballet BC
The Quiz Show: Back by popular demand, Graham Clarke and Chris Bentzen are bringing a live hybrid of the American game show and the British panel show. Once a humble spoof on segments from game shows’ past, The Quiz Show has evolved into all original segments, featuring local comedians as contestants doing their best to make audience members laugh – and win prizes, of course. Sept. 9 at the Fox Cabaret. Tickets at bit.ly/ 2se4rcw.
Visual Arts Intangible: This dynamic exhibition will challenge preconceived notions of Coast Salish art, including large and small-scale works, vibrant blownglass sculptures and exquisite jewelry, experimental fibre textiles and hip-hop multimedia installations. Sept. 13-Dec. 10 at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art. More at billreidgallery.ca. City on Edge: A Century of Vancouver Activism: With more than 650 images of street demonstrations, protests, and riots from the early 1900s to present day from the archives of the Vancouver Sun and The Province newspapers, this exhibit captures emotionally raw and transformative moments in the lives of Vancouverites. Sept. 28-Feb. 18 at the Museum of Vancouver. More at museumofvancouver.ca.
SCOTIABANK DANCE CENTRE OPEN HOUSE
September 16
JOSHUA BEAMISH/MOVETHECOMPANY
September 20–23
HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLE
September 21
VANCOUVER TAP DANCE SOCIETY
October 12
COMPAÑÍA SHARON FRIDMAN
October 12–14
DEANNA PETERS/MUTABLE SUBJECT
Photo: JOSHUA BEAMISH/MOVETHECOMPANY R Craig Foster
October 27–28
DANCE IN VANCOUVER
November 22–25
FLAMENCO ROSARIO
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BE Gastown: This free, site-specific event that will capture, disrupt, and enhance the historic downtown district with activations that will push artistic boundaries, fuse genres, and take over the streets of Gastown. Sept. 21-22 at various locations. More at begastown. com. Feasting on Famine: One man’s journey through the extremes of body building and health fitness, Feasting on Famine explores the symmetry between the human body, the corporation, and the excess of capitalism in a world where one man consumes the daily caloric intake of a family of five. Sept. 27-30 at the Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at firehallartscentre.ca. Entangled: Two Views on Contemporary Canadian Painting: This exhibit offers an insight into two distinctly different modes of painting. The origins of both can be traced back to the 1970s, when the continued existence of painting was hotly debated. Sept. 30-Jan. 1 at the Vancouver Art Gallery. More at vanartgallery.bc.ca. Life in Colour: The Beaty Biodiversity Museum will be opening its new exhibition which features drawings by Angela Gooliaff and colouring by you! This exhibition explores keystone species in both the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, through a giant interactive colouring book mural. Sept. 21 at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum. Information at beatymuseum.ubc.ca/ events/event/beaty-nocturnal-life-incolour-opening/
lineup of local and international flamenco artists, with free workshops and ticketed performances throughout Vancouver. Sept. 11-24 at various venues. Details at vancouverflamencofestival.org. Word Vancouver: This free festival is bringing a multitude of reading and writing activities that will give you the opportunity to take part in free readings, panel discussions, writing workshops, and site performers, to name a few. Sept. 19-24 at various locations. More information at wordvancouver.ca. Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF): Celebrating its 36th annual festival, VIFF will be featuring more than 200 features and 100 shorts, showcasing the world’s most exceptional filmmaking. Sept. 28-Oct. 13 at various locations. Information at viff.org. Westward Music Festival: Rock out at Vancouver’s inaugural Westward Music Fest, with headliners including Vince Staples, A Tribe Called Red and Gov’t Mule. Sept. 14-17 at various venues. More at westwardfest.com. Mexico Market: Travel to Mexico with this free outdoor market in the heart of downtown Vancouver where you can enjoy staples such as tacos, tortas, and elotes (Mexican corn); indulge in sweet treats like horchata, pastries, and churros; sip on aguas frescas, agave spirits, and micheladas in the cantina; and purchase Mexican-inspired artisanal items, dried goods, and produce. Sept. 16 at Robson Square. More info at marketmexico.ca.
Interrupting the Interface: David Wilson’s latest series of paintings demonstrates the subtle interface between reality and filtered reality. It is an important distinction in the age of fake news and doctored images, but also a deeper comment on how the filters of memory or mood inform our everyday perceptions. Sept. 7-30 at the Kimoto Gallery. More info at davidwilson.ca.
Events
Bombay Black: 2017 Jessie Award and multiple Fringe Award recipient Rohit Chokhani delves into a blind man’s world as he reimagines Anosh Irani’s Bombay Black, a searing play set in the bitter reality of present-day India. Sept. 7-16 at the Vancity Culture Lab. Tickets available at http://bit.ly/2fnpGrG
Festivals Accordion Noir Festival: In its 10th year, Canada’s only alternative accordion fest presents a pantheon of international and local accordion talent. Sept. 7-10 at various venues. More at accordionnoirfest.com.
Stuff You Should Know: This awardwinning podcast, hosted by Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark, is coming to Vancouver this fall. Cracking open cases that delve into the mechanics, history and cultural and scientific impact of topics like Ouija boards, asteroids, and Barbie dolls has earned the podcast over 15 billion downloads by listeners around the world. Sept. 26 at the Vogue Theatre. Tickets at livenation.com. Kate Evans: Threads: Join Evans, the acclaimed author, cartoonist and activist, who will reveal accounts of hope and hardship from France’s Calais refugee camp as told in her 2017 graphic novel Threads: From the Refugee Crisis. Sept. 29 at the Telus Studio Theatre. Luxury Supercar Weekend: Be struck in awe at Canada’s Premier Luxury Lifestyle and Automotive Weekend Event, where classic and modern supercars will be staged for an expected 6,000 guests. Sept. 9-10 at VanDusen Botanical Garden. More at luxurysupercar.com.
Vancouver International Flamenco Festival: Now in its 27th year, the festival celebrates flamenco’s Spanish Gypsy Origins with a spellbinding
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New Bill Reid Gallery exhibition unfurls future of Coast Salish art
SABRINA FURMINGER @sabrinarmf
A new exhibition at the Bill Reid Gallery is shining a spotlight on the diversity within Coast Salish art and communities. Intangible – which begins an extended run on Sept. 13 – features contemporary works from six Coast Salish artists influenced by ancestral teachings. The exhibition highlights the diversity within Coast Salish communities, as well as intangible qualities that are often difficult to represent in visual art, says Sharon Fortney, an Indigenous scholar of Klahoose and German ancestry who programmed Intangible with Bill Reid Gallery curator Beth Carter. “Coast Salish is a really broad term that can be applied to more than 70 communities in Canada and the United States, and you can even extend it broader if you include Interior Salish as well,” says Fortney. The term Salish speaks to an ancestral connection with the language, where a lot of communities speak Salish languages that extend back to a single proto-Salish language, she notes. “There’s an ongoing relationship between communities, but at the same time, each community has their individual identity.” Intangible aims to highlight the aspects of culture that people don’t see, like “language and the way people think about their culture,” Fortney adds. “I think there’s
Blanket Dance by mixed media artist Roxanne Charles. Edward Westerhuis photo a sense of, ‘Oh, you’re Coast Salish, you all think alike, you all express yourself the same way.’That’s just not true.” While the artists presented in Intangible are rooted in Coast Salish traditions, they’re advancing them in new directions, says Fortney. “I think there’s a sense that you’re not traditional if you use new materials or you use your materials in a different way. I think they’re trying to break some of these stereotypes and raise awareness at the same time, [as well as] an appreciation for the artform.” To wit, Intangible features previously crafted and new works from six artists: Aaron Nelson-Moody (Tawx’sin Yexwulla), a master jewelry maker of intricate repoussé pieces from the Squamish nation;
graphic artist lessLIE (Leslie Sam), who will premiere a new piece entitled Culturally Correct Canuck and also display a print of a critically acclaimed deconstruction of the Starbucks logo; Marvin Oliver, an acclaimed Quinault/Isleta Pueblo sculptor who works in cedar, bronze, steel and glass; hip hop artist Ostwelve (Ronnie Dean Harris), born in the Sto:lo Territory of the Fraser Valley, who will premiere a new video installation “about his journey of self-discovery, thinking about the things his family taught him and the things he’s rediscovering through research about his family,” says Fortney; Tracy Williams (Sesemiya), a Squamish weaver and traditional technologist who Fortney describes as “branching out into a lot of
areas of traditional technology that stem from her family’s connection to the land and its resources;” and Roxanne Charles, a member of the Semiahmoo First Nation in Surrey, who will tackle Indigenous women’s issues and the fentanyl crisis in her mixed media and performance piece. Fortney hopes that visitors to Intangible will come away with “a deeper understanding of Coast Salish, and maybe change their ideas about what is authentic art,” she says. “Cultures change all of the time. Native people are contemporary people.” W • Intangible runs at the Bill Reid Gallery (639 Hornby St.) until Dec. 10. Details at billreidgallery.ca.
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BEGINNING AFTER | Cayetano Soto Sot New Work | Emily Molnar Bill | Sharon Eyal & Gai Behar
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have chosen this Thanksgiving to disclose some unexpected personal truths to the family. Oct. 5-Nov. 4 at the Granville Island Stage. More at artsclub.com.
Continued from page 13
OCTOBER Theatre
Dance
Homeward Bound: Not everything is as it seems as the Beacham family gathers for Sunday dinner. Western Gold Theatre presents this Canadian dramedy of manners. Oct. 6 to 29 at Pal Studio Theatre (581 Cardero St.). Tickets at 604-363-5734 or Homeward. BrownPaperTickets.com.
META: The complexity and continually changing nature of the body inspires this exciting and provocative new work by the award-winning choreographer and performer Deanna Peters. Oct. 27-28 at the Scotiabank Dance Centre. Info at mutablesubject.ca.
Hyperlink: A collaboration between The Elbow’s artistic director Itai Erdal, writer-performer TJ Dawe, and director Rachel Peake, Hyperlink delves into life online and the limits of digital empathy. Oct. 4-14 at the Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at firehallartscentre.ca.
Music Vancouver Chopin Society: Maria Pomianowska and Her Folk Band: Internationally renowned musician Pomianowksa will perform alongside a virtuosic ensemble, conjuring traditional sounds of Poland’s countryside in a hypnotizing musical journey. Performing on instrument replicas of Frédéric Chopin’s era, and joined by Vancouver’s Polonez Dance Group, these artists will share unparalleled renditions of the works that fuelled Chopin’s genius. Oct. 14 at the Vancouver Playhouse. Tickets at chopinsociety.org.
Happy Place: Happy Place explores and celebrates the courage, compassion and humour of seven women living amid each other in the most extraordinary circumstances. Oct. 2029 at the Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at firehallartscentre.ca. Kurios — Cabinet of Curiosities: Cirque du Soleil will attempt to suspend your sense of time and reality in its new production which premieres at Concord Pacific Place Oct. 19 and runs until Dec. 31. Tickets start at $49. Cirquedusoleil.com. The Goblin Market: Christina Rossetti’s poem of dangerous and delicious temptation comes to life with daring circus acts. Masterfully blending feats of spectacle with candid and gritty storytelling, performers will transport audiences with this captivating story of two sisters; their temptation, sacrifice and eventual salvation. Oct. 3-14 at the York Theatre. Tickets at tickets.thecultch.com. King Charles III: In this jovial political satire, laugh along with the rest of the audience in this inventive story of a king under pressure whose time has finally come. Oct. 19-Nov.19 at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Tickets and info at artsclub.com. Menopause the Musical: In this laughout-loud comedy staged to 25 classic hits of the ’60s, ’70 and ’80s, see what
Flamenco Festival - Calle Verde. Audrey Bow photo life in a department store is like for four women, who, with nothing in common but a black lace bra, come to realize that they have more to share than they ever imagined. Oct. 26 at the Vogue Theatre. Tickets at livenation.com.
of the Son bring you the story of Mas Yamamoto, a man whose life was swept up by the major currents of the 20th century; from growing up in a fishing village on the banks of the Fraser River, to being interned as a Japanese-Canadian during the Second World War, to guarding the Canadian Arctic against Soviet bombers during the height of the Cold War. Oct. 4-15 at the Historic Theatre at the Cultch. Tickets at tickets.thecultch.com.
Freedom Singer: Hot on the heels of their successful production of Children of God and four Jessie Award nominations for Margo Kane’s Moonlodge, Urban Ink Productions is bringing a new documentary theatre piece inspired by the journey of singer-songwriter McClelland in retracing his great-greatgreat-grandmother’s escape from slavery within the U.S. Oct. 7-15 at the Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre. More info at urbanink.ca/ freedom-singer.
“M” Magic Show: A full theatre magic show featuring a unique blend of cutting edge illusions, mystery, music, audience participation, comedy and sleight of hand. Oct. 21 at the Michael J Fox Theatre. Tickets at vtixonline.com/ event.php?event_id=942
1 Hour Photo: The creators of Empire
A Little Night Music: Set at the turn
14 W September 7 - September 13, 2017
of the last century in Sweden, A Little Night Music explores the intersections of desire as it tries to untangle the pathways through love, both sacred and profane. Oct. 12-21 at Gateway Theatre’s MainStage. More info at gatewaytheatre.com. Improv Wars – The Laugh Jedi: Travel to a universe that exists outside of normal time and space, where unlikely characters co-exist in a setting that draws on the rich characters, locations and themes of the Star Wars films. Oct. 5-Nov. 18 at the Improv Centre on Granville Island. Info and tickets at vtsl.com. Thanks for Giving: Revel in this comedic play, both intimate and restorative in its plot and familiar characters. Meet Nan, her husband, her troublesome daughter and her grandchildren who
The Gloaming: Renowned Celtic super group The Gloaming will return by popular demand with their ethereal vocals and sweeping melodies. Known for emotionally charged performances, The Gloaming’s five master musicians will captivate with haunting works from their second album, ‘2’, elevating the sound of their native Ireland to new heights. Oct. 15 at the Chan Shun Concert Hall. Tickets at chancentre.com. Kayoi Komach/Komachi Visited: TomoeArts presents the world premiere of this groundbreaking noh chamber opera reimagining the classic tale of unrequited love. Oct. 26-28 at The Cultch. Ticket and info at thecultch.com. Crosscurrents: The world’s foremost tabla master and an all-star bandleader, composer, and 2017 NEA Jazz Master bassist unite to explore the shared influences and intersections between jazz and Indian music, bridging two styles, seemingly worlds apart, in one brilliant collaboration. Oct. 28 at the Chan Shun Concert Hall. More information and
tickets at chancentre.com. Monteverdi’s Orfeo: Grammy awardwinner and Monteverdi specialist Stephen Stubbs leads Pacific MusicWorks and tenor Colin Balzer in an “in concert” performance of this work considered to be the first unqualified masterpiece in the early history of opera. Oct. 29 at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts at UBC. Tickets at earlymusic.bc.ca. Broken Social Scene: By popular demand, a second Broken Social Scene show has been added to the lineup for its Hug of Thunder Tour. Oct. 20-21 at the Commodore Ballroom. Tickets at livenation.com. Puccini’s Turnadot: Colossal and colourful, spectacular and intimate—that is a night at the opera as Vancouver Opera presents Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot, his final opera that combines his musical mastery with a tale as old as time based on Persian legend and set in ancient Beijing. Oct. 12, 15, 19, 21 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. More at vancouveropera.ca. Diabolus in Musica: 14th Century Music From the Pope’s Chapel in Avignon: Experience this journey among the great manuscripts born in the Avignon sphere, a place of wealth, splendour and power, including many works that have not been sung since the 14th century. Oct. 13 at Christ Church Cathedral. Tickets and info at earlymusic.bc.ca. Music on Main: This musical-turnsocial event is featuring Jane Coop on the keys, the legendary pianist who will be performing Beethoven and Rachmaninov. Oct. 1 at the Vancouver Playhouse. More at musiconmain.ca.
Festivals Heart of the City Festival: Come to the cultural and heritage event that serves as a high impact, bridgebuilding force that gives voice to the Downtown Eastside (DTES) and its low income residents, cultural communities and neighbourhoods. Oct. 25-Nov. 5 at various locations throughout the DTES. More info at heartofthecityfestival.com. Continued on page 16
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Indigenous authors try to balance representation, media spotlight Making public appearances can be a fraught decision following Joseph Boyden controversy, says Jónína Kirton TESSA VIKANDER @tessavikander
Jónína Kirton’s email inbox has been flush with invitations to present her writing, but she hasn’t accepted all of the offers. The reasons that Kirton, an emerging Métis author and VancouverWriters Festival guest, has turned down some of the invites are nuanced: it’s not because she can’t keep up. “I don’t turn them down entirely because I don’t have time. I’m also aware [that] nobody wants to be [Joseph] Boyden right now,” she says. “I don’t want to be the person that’s always being asked. I want to share that space.” The controversy Kirton is referencing surrounds whether or not Canadian author Joseph Boyden is right to claim an Indigenous identity (given his changing claims of ancestry), and how much space he has
taken up in the media spotlight.The questioning caused conflict in the tight-knit world of Canadian literature, and in the wake, there have been calls from Indigenous authors for more opportunities to share their work. Although Kirton says she has seen an uptick in invites and calls for submission, she’s also in a balancing act, meaning that turning down an invite is a fraught decision for her and fellow Indigenous authors. “It’s in conflict with where we’re at as authors, as emerging authors, who, of course, want to sell books,” she says. “Every opportunity that we get is a good thing for us, but now I’m turning things down because I don’t want to take up all the air time.” The 62-year old writer and facilitator has just released her second book of poetry, An HonestWoman, which she will be reading from at the VancouverWriters Fest on Oct. 21.The book touches on her own experience of growing up in a violent home with a white mother and a Métis father. “The Métis identity is ever-changing,” she says. “I just got here. I just claimed my Métis status 17 years ago – this after a lifetime of family
denial about who we were, after the loss of our language and culture. My grandmother stopped speaking her language – presented herself as French,” Kirton explains. The writers festival says it is addressing the need for Indigenous representation at a time when the issue is front and centre, but artistic director HalWake says this year’s author selection process was not influenced by conversations about Indigenous representation stemming from the Boyden controversy, and that the festival has had “significant representation for years.” He adds that authors are selected from lists provided by publishers, who play an important role in funding authors’ travel costs and thus making the festival possible. In previous years,Wake says, the festival held events looking at reconciliation and next steps within Canada.This year it’s is hosting an event called Original Inhabitants, OriginalVoices, on Oct. 18, which looks at how other countries are addressing Indigenous rights. Maori authorWiti Ihimaera, Indigenous Austrialian writer Ali Cobby Eckermann and Ontario’s Leanne Betasamosake Simpson will be speaking on a panel. W
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• Jónína Kirton will read poems from An Honest Woman on Saturday Oct. 21, 2 p.m. at the Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright St.). Tickets $18.75-$23.75. • Original Inhabitants, Original Voices runs Wednesday, Oct. 18, 8:30 p.m. at the Waterfront Theatre. Tickets $18.75-$23.75.
Métis author Jónína Kirton will be reading her poetry at the Vancouver Writers Fest on Oct. 21. Contributed photo
tastings, pairings & sharings
Bosch: The Garden of Dreams José Luis López-Linares – Spain/France
Director José Luis López-Linares was given unprecedented access to Madrid’s Prado museum and Hieronymus Bosch’s most famous work, The Garden of Earthly Delights. Placing behind-the-scenes footage (restoration work, the X-raying of the painting, etc.) alongside interviews with writers Salman Rushdie and Orhan Pamuk, soprano Renée Fleming, philosopher Michel Onfray and others, López-Linares has crafted a fascinating, gorgeously shot film about one of the most mysterious art works of all time.
OCTOBER 11-27, 2017 FUOCO Photography at La Pentola
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Ani DiFranco in Concert: Join activistartist Ani DiFranco as she reflects a dystopian sense that mirrors what is happening in her country, the U.S., and much of the rest of the world. Nov. 6 at the Vancouver Playhouse. Tickets at ticketstonight.ca.
Continued from page 14 Vancouver Writers Fest: See international luminaries and beloved Canadian household names at the 30th annual fest, featuring authors, poets and cartoonists alike, including Ann Cleeves, Margaret Atwood and Adam Gopnik. Oct. 12-22 at various locations. More at writersfest.bc.ca.
Stylus Fantasticus: Virtuoso Flights of Fancy from the 17th Century: Paul Luchkow and Michael Jarvis join acclaimed bass viol/viola da gambist Sam Stadlen of Fretwork in a program exploring this astonishingly inventive repertoire. Nov. 3 at Christ Church Cathedral. More at earlymusic.bc.ca.
Visual Arts Michael Grill, Karl Lemieux and Philip Jeck: Austrian video artist Michael Grill, Canadian filmmaker Karl Lemieux, and British turntablist Philip Jeck come together in this collaborative, audio-visual improvisation. 16-millimetre film loops, digital video, sounds and audio signals are synergistically interwoven to produce an atmospherically dense amalgam of images and sounds. Oct. 7 at the Annex. Tickets at brownpapertickets.com. Portrait of the Artist: This exhibition brings together The Royal Collection’s paintings depicting self-portraits, portraits of artists and artists at work. Encompassing more than 80 works, Portrait of the Artist is a rich survey of how artists have seen themselves and the role of the artist within society. Oct. 28-Feb. 4 at the Vancouver Art Gallery. More at vanartgallery.bc.ca. True Nordic: Examine the significant influence of Scandinavian craft and industrial design on the development of Canadian culture. Spanning more than seven decades, this exhibition reveals how Scandinavian design was introduced to Canada and how its aesthetics and material forms were adopted and transformed. Oct. 28-Jan. 28 at the Vancouver Art Gallery. More at vanartgallery.bc.ca.
Events Just For Laughs hosted by Sugar Sammy: The Canadian superstar comedian will host the 17th edition of the annual comedy tour this fall, joined by the cynically good-natured Alonzo Bodden and the hilarious Gina Brillon. Oct. 13 and 14 at the Bell Performing Arts Centre and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, respectively. Tickets at ticketmaster.ca.
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ISCM World New Music Days: This seven-day festival will feature more than 30 new music events and more than 100 composers from around the globe, highlighting music from nearly 50 different countries. Nov. 2-8 at various locations. More at icsm.org.
Theatre
Arts Club’s Angels in America. David Cooper photo Morphed: Celebrating 10 years, DanceHouse presents the Tero Saarinen Company’s Morphed, wherein seven male dancers seduce, challenge, demand and swagger in a work that borrows from casual street dance, Gene Kelly musicals, and classical 19th-century and modern dance. Oct. 27-28 at the Vancouver Playhouse. More at dancehouse.ca.
NOVEMBER Dance Ballet BC’s New Work: Resident choreographer Cayetano Soto will create a new work for the full company that will showcase his integrated vision as choreographer, costume and lighting designer in a work that will surprise and delight audiences. Nov. 2-4 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. More info at balletbc.com. B.R.I.S.A.: In B.R.I.S.A, Johan Inger explores the themes of awakening and change. Considered one of the hottest choreographers in Europe today, his
work can be found in the repertoire of major dance companies around the world. Nov. 2-4 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. More at balletbc.com.
Music The Texas Troubadours: Sharing the stage for the first time as part of the Texas Troubadours project, this masterful trio will celebrate the proud song writing tradition of their southern roots in an unforgettable evening of music with a little bit of grit and a whole lot of heart. Nov. 8 at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts at UBC. More at chancentre.com. Missing: This world premiere addresses the national crisis and devastation of Canada’s missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. Set between Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and B.C.’s notorious Highway of Tears, this deeply moving operatic drama follows the fate of two young women, one Indigenous and one not, whose lives become tragically intertwined. Nov. 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 at The York Theatre. Tickets at thecultch.com.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Carousel Theatre for Young People presents C.S Lewis’ enchanted world of Narnia in this acclaimed adaptation full of adventure and wonder, starring Ian Butcher and Sereana Malani. Recommended for families and children aged 5+. Adults $35/youth $18. Nov. 25-Dec. 31 at the Waterfront Theatre. Show times vary. Tickets at carouseltheatre.ca or (604) 685-6217.
Events Circle Craft Christmas Market: In Vancouver, the holidays begin with this city tradition. This year, more than 300 artisans (more than 50 new to the market) will take part: clothing designers, potters, wood and metal workers, glass blowers, jewelers, toy makers, candle and soap makers, and more. Nov. 8-12 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. More at circlecraft.net. Vancouver Jewish Film Festival: Join the Vancouver Jewish Film Centre by celebrating the longest running Jewish film festival in Canada, bringing the best contemporary Jewish films from around the world. Nov. 2-9 at Fifth Avenue Cinemas and Nov. 10-12 at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre. W
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ARTS // CULTURE
@WESTENDERVAN
MUSIC & THEATRE
Gas Trap: Bursting the carbon bubble JAN ZESCHKY @jantweats
The images are, at best, disturbing. Ordinary-looking people calmly staring out from behind a clouded sheet of plastic. A man in a cap and glasses, on his knees, pressing his hand against the plastic as smoke surrounds him. A young woman lying on her back, eyes open, lifeless. Impassive people in hazmat suits looking in, holding gas pumps. It looks like a dystopian experiment or war atrocity. It’s actually a chilling metaphor of what we’re doing to ourselves on this planet. That’s according to Coltura, a Seattle-based, non-profit environmental arts group whose mission is to wean North America off gasoline by 2040. Its latest work, The Gas Trap, is a striking performance piece involving actors inside a 7.5-metre-high clear vinyl bubble that’s hooked up to a car. During the show, the car’s exhaust fumes appear to fill the bubble, leading to the harrowing scenes described.
It’s a performance that’s designed to shock, says Coltura executive director Matthew Metz. “These people are experiencing what all of us are experiencing as far as the slow filling of our atmosphere with gases, with exhaust,” Metz says. “… The idea is to bring it down to the level of a living room.” Metz believes that the time for slow, incremental reactions to environmental issues is over, and decisive action on climate change and pollution is now a moral imperative. For Coltura, ending our dependence on gasoline – and moving to electric vehicles and/ or transit – is a quick fix to getting a sizable chunk of CO2 out of the atmosphere and reducing exhaust fumes’ toxic effects. Metz laughs when it’s suggested to him that performances like The Gas Trap, which has already been performed in Portland and Seattle, are preaching to the choir of the environmentally aware, West Coast middle class. “My response to that is
The Gas Trap employs disturbing visuals to highlight concerns around gasoline dependence. The play’s creators hope to help wean North America off gasoline by 2040. Contributed photo the choir is involved in an orgy of pollution right now. A lot of preaching to the choir is required right now,” he says. The statistics from B.C. back him up. ICBC figures for 2015, the most recent available, show that out of B.C.’s 3.1 million registered vehicles, only 3,200 are electric vehicles – a minuscule 0.1 per cent. Adding in hybrid vehicles, which blend electric power with a gasoline engine, raises this figure
to only 1.2 per cent. It’s not good enough, Metz says, because he believes the technology is there for electric vehicles to flourish, with ranges now comparable to gasoline vehicles and growing charging infrastructure. “There are enormous opportunities on the West Coast to make a big carbon difference and teach the world how to live without gasoline. We should be the leaders in getting charg-
ing and everything set up,” Metz says. B.C. in particular, with its wealth of clean hydroelectric power, could enormously reduce its carbon footprint by moving away from gasoline. “It’s basically a political question, a question of will. And that’s what we’re working on,” he says, describing Coltura’s purpose as “citizen education using big, bold works of art.” “We’re really trying to change the moral perspective
with regard to carbon emissions, with regard to fuel.” From smoking to gay rights, Metz describes how other social movements gained traction following a “tremendous shift in attitudes.” Coltura’s past works have targeted gasoline as well, including a mock hazmat cleanup outside a Seattle gas station. But The Gas Trap has drawn the biggest reaction and plaudits for its stark imagery and dramatic props. The question remains: What are they really pumping into that giant vinyl bubble? Metz won’t tell, saying that it’s all part of the “mystery” that will be revealed during the free, 25-minute show. “The mystery being, how sick are these people that are putting actors in a bubble connected to a car’s exhaust?” he says with a wry laugh. W The Gas Trap runs Sept. 10 at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the Roundhouse (181 Roundhouse Mews). Free. roundhouse.ca/events
Feel the Berner: A softer side of punk TESSA VIKANDER @tessavikander
If you’ve ever wished that Geoff Berner would chill the heck out and set his intelligent, intricate lyrics to brighter softer folk music, your day has come – but only sort of. Geoff Berner’s latest album, Canadiana Grotesquica, is a modest departure from his klezmer punk style. Set to be released this Friday at the Russian Hall as part of the Accordian Noir Festival, a start-to-finish listen suggests that Berner has softened slightly with age, and has mellowed out from his rough and tumble accordion era. “The last bunch of albums have been kind of klezmer albums – Jewish folk music, with some punk elements,” says the musician, perhaps best known for his pissed-off ode to condos in Vancouver and other highly political songs. During the time when he was producing those albums, other songs “popped out” that were more country, or, gasp, singer-songwriter-y. Canadiana Grotesquica is a collection of those slightly gentler songs. “A lot of it is stuff where I would try it out at shows and people would be like ‘Where can I get that?’ and I’d be like ‘I can’t help you, because I’m bad at business [and haven’t recorded any of them],’” Berner says.
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Geoff Berner. Frank Vena photo Given his political leanings, one would expect that, even on a more folksy album, Berner would take U.S. President Donald Trump to task. But he intentionally doesn’t. “I was writing through the Bush era and he was a dangerous fool, and there are a lot of terrible punk songs about how Bush was bad and dumb,” he laughs. “They were boring songs, even though I agreed with the opinions of them… I’m more interested in addressing the failures of liberal democracy that have led us to this place.” And that he does. In “Hustle Advisory,” a duet with East Vancouver darling Frazey Ford, Berner tells the story of a young person awakening to the contradictions of late capitalism, and asks “are you ready to fuck with the hustling power? Because that is the changing test.” Set to
loud electric guitar, it’s definitely not mellow, although the harmony of Ford’s voice is enough to swell the hearts of jaded activists, even if only momentarily. Meanwhile, “Prairie Wind” dials it back to a soft dreamscape with a crooning slide guitar and banjo. The song, however, isn’t new. It just took Berner 13 years to record it, and 13 years of friends and fans egging him on. “Every time I [would] see [radio host and Westender columnist] Grant Lawrence, he goes ‘When are you going to record that song “Prairie Wind” that you did for the CBC session in 2004?’” Softer style aside, Berner’s long-time fans needn’t worry. Although this album includes a dramatic cover of a Rae Spoon song, Berner’s klezmer badassery hasn’t disappeared. “I don’t see it as a permanent move,” he says. “I’m going to go back at the klezmer action for the next record; I’m not disavowing my klezmer punk period.” W Geoff Berner’s album release party takes place Friday Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. at the Russian Hall (600 Campbell Ave.) Tickets $20 advance, $25 at the door, sliding scale available upon request.
Site C Inquiry: Public Feedback The BCUC is conducting an independent inquiry on the cost implications of Site C on BC Hydro ratepayers. On September 20, BCUC will publish a preliminary report on the initial findings of the inquiry. The public is invited to provide feedback on this report between September 21 and October 11 either online, or at community input sessions being held at locations throughout the Province. To learn more, or pre-register for a community input session, please visit the Site C Inquiry website, or call the number below.
http://www.sitecinquiry.com
1-844-815-6190
COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS Vancouver
Sep 23
1-5pm
1125 Howe Street (12 floor)
Kamloops
Sep 24
6-10pm
Kamloops Coast Hotel
Kelowna
Sep 25
6-10pm
Kelowna Coast Capri
Nelson
Sep 26
6-10pm
Nelson Best Western Hotel
Prince George
Sep 29
6-10pm
Prince George Ramada Hotel
Hudson’s Hope
Sep 30
6-10pm
Pearkes Centre
Fort St. John
Oct 1
6-10pm
Fort St. John Pomeroy Hotel
Fort St. John
Oct 2
6-10pm
Fort St. John Pomeroy Hotel
Vancouver
Oct 5
6-10pm
1125 Howe Street (12 floor)
Nanaimo
Oct 10
6-10pm
Nanaimo Coast Bastion Hotel
Victoria
Oct 11
6-10pm
Delta Ocean Pointe Hotel
You are encouraged to pre-register as session capacity is limited.
September 7 - September 13, 2017 W 17
ARTS // CULTURE
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TV & BOOKS
Around the world with Jason Bourque
B.C. director lands world’s first-ever ArabEnglish sci-fi series Sabrina Furminger Reel People @Sabrinarmf
By all accounts, Medinah is poised to be epic. The forthcoming television series – about a group of strangers stuck in a cave in the desert after a rocket launch goes awry, while the corporation that launched the rocket attempts to figure out went wrong – is the world’s first Arabic and English science fiction series, and the largest of its kind to come out of the Middle East. Adding to Medinah’s epic status is the fact that it was filmed in and around Doha, the capital city of Qatar, where citizens “have so much money and everything is on steroids,” says Jason Bourque, the Vancouver-based filmmaker who directed two episodes in Medinah’s seven-episode first season. (The other episodes were directed by Wayne Rose,
Jason Bourque on location for the sci-fi series Medinah in Qatar. Contributed photo whose credits include toprated Vancouver fare like The 100, Smallville, and Battlestar Galactica.) “Qatar has never pulled off anything like this before,” says Bourque of Medinah, which was funded entirely by Qatar’s privately backed Katara Studios. “There’s nothing like this out of the Middle East.That’s why we had 20 countries working on it. It was epic.” The local director – whose critically acclaimed 2014 feature film Black Fly, a thriller about a pair of brothers, one
of whom is a charismatic serial killer, premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival – spent four months in Doha last year. Although Bourque has shot on location before – in nearby cities like Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows at the helm of various television movies, and in India for 2016’s Drone – he says shooting in Doha catapulted him out of his creative comfort zone. “I was literally parachuting into a whole different scenario, which isn’t a bad thing, because as we
know there are times in our lives where it’s great to really shake it up,” says Bourque. Shaking it up meant spending days in the deep desert, “where it’s 50-degree heat, and I have a cast of 12 I’ve got to shoot, and we’re trying to do crane shots and steadicam shots and make it nice and stylish” – and then wrapping for the day and spending the next shooting at the world’s largest Nobu restaurant, a “tri-level architectural masterpiece that was built by [co-founder Robert] De Niro on the water,” says Bourque. Medinah was created by Ahmed Al Baker. Bourque describes Al Baker as a “young Qatari genius. He’s done TED talks and he’s created this amazing multilayered world that I think audiences are just going to love.” It doesn’t hurt that Medinah is reminiscent of similarly epic series – Bourque cites Homeland and Lost – that feature interwoven character arcs, flashbacks, and the unexpected. “It’s a very layered show,” Bourque says. “It’s nice being involved in a project that’s really trying to do something original and is original material. It’s not
based on a comic book or based on something with a built-in fanbase.” And Medinah’s cast reflects the globe-spanning nature of the production. Actors include Tahmoh Penikett and Rick Ravanello (both familiar faces to Vancouver audiences), Eric Roberts, Natasha Henstridge, Iraqi pop star Rahma Riyad Ahmed and Bollywood actor Hemwant Tiwari. In July, the first episode of Medinah screened at the juggernaut San Diego ComicCon to a packed ballroom of 4,000 people. Following the screening, Rolling Stone listed Medinah as one of its 25 Comic-Con highlights. “It was wonderful to see that interest,” marvels Bourque. Medinah comes on the heels of the release of Drone, Bourque’s sophomore feature film.The politically charged thriller stars Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) as a military drone contractor and busy Vancouver actor Patrick Sabongui (The Flash, Homeland) as an enigmatic Pakistani businessman.The film reached the top spot on the American iTunes indie chart and the No. 2 spot on the thriller list when it hit the streaming service on Memorial Day weekend.
It’s a good time to be a Canadian director on the international scene, says Bourque. “It’s pretty tense in some places in the world, but Canada is seen as this oasis of calm and we’re just seen as very nice, reasonable people, and, internationally, they want to work with us,” says Bourque. “As Canadians, now is our time to shine.” There’s also a kind of international domino effect that can come from directing local features, he says. “All of the work that’s going into doing these low-budget indies born of the B.C. scene, my god, they’ve been amazing calling cards and a wonderful way to open up these doors into the international market.” Medinah is currently seeking a distribution deal with a streaming service; despite no set release date, production has already begun on a second season. Says Bourque: “They want to have it completed absolutely before they actually sell it. It’s a bit of a different ballgame.” W • Follow @JasonBourque1 and @MedinahShow for announcements.
Graphic novelist chosen as Vancouver library’s new writer-in-residence JESSICA KERR @jessicaekerr
Miriam Libicki is hoping to use her position asVancouver Public Library’s new writerin-residence to change how people think about graphic novels and comic books. “I would like to raise awareness about graphic novels and how graphic novels can be any genre, any kind of story can be told in graphic novels and that even if you don’t draw it’s really not scary to learn how to cartoon,” she said. “That you don’t have to conform to a certain style of drawing in order to make a comic that can touch people.” TheWriter in Residence program has been around since 2005. Most recently, the library has decided to start looking for writers in specific genres, said Anne O’Shea, manager of programming and learning at the library, to en-
sure a wide breadth of types of writing are covered. Last year’s writer-in-residence was awardwinning mystery novelist Sam Wiebe. “We’re super excited to have a graphic novelist this year,” she said, adding that it’s a form of art and writing that both shows and tells a story. Libicki was always interested in comic books and art but never saw herself drawing comics. “I didn’t draw comics until university because I didn’t think I had the discipline to draw the same thing over and over,” she said. “So I always read comics but I thought I would be a children’s book illustration, or maybe just somebody who does art in their spare time.” She drew her first comic while taking visual arts at Emily Carr University and used it as a way to capture and share a profound time in her life. “I had just come back from
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18 W September 7 - September 13, 2017
a really intense experience. I had just come back from Israel, not only Israel but serving in the army, and I just kind of felt like I didn’t know how to talk about it and I almost felt like the whole experience was receding into a kind of dream.” Libicki grew up in a Modern Orthodox Jewish home in Columbus, Ohio. “My parents, for Modern Orthodox people, were pretty opened minded,” she said. “They encouraged us to read comic books and stuff but they were very Zionist.They really believed in the state of Israel as a homeland and both my older brother and older sister went to yeshiva – religious seminary – in Israel.” Both finished high school early and completed at least a year of religious education in Israel. “I was really into the idea of finishing high school early,” Libicki said. “I wasn’t so inclined to the seminary idea.” So she did some research and found a gap year program for Israelis about to go into the army.The program allowed young people to delay army service for a year by doing community service in poor neighbourhoods in Jerusalem. She was the first American to enter the program. “So that was a very intense year because I was the only person who barely spoke Hebrew and they were all Israeli 18-year-olds who were about to join the army but they
Miriam Libicki is Vancouver Public Library’s new writer in residence. Dan Toulgoet photo kind of saw it as their duty, they wanted to give back in another way and did this year of community service.” Libicki was inspired and decided to become an Israeli citizen and join the army, but it didn’t exactly go as planned. During her interview, Libicki said, the draft board seemed confused as to why she was there. “They were like, ‘If you’re a girl, you don’t need to serve in the army.Why are you here?’” Eventually she was accepted but sent for a psychological evaluation. “I ended up with a mental health asterisk on my health profile, which, when I looked it up later, my mental affliction actually, technically was ‘introvert personality disorder.’ As in, I’m shy.” The diagnosis, however, meant that she wouldn’t be
given a skilled position – one that the army would invest money in training her for. Libicki had originally thought she could work in intelligence, or become a medic. “Instead, even though I had been so gung ho about joining the army, I ended up as a secretary in an infirmary on a tank-training base in the middle of nowhere.” She served for a year and nine months before leaving the country and, looking for a whole new experience, settled inVancouver. A couple years later, in 2005, she was learning Adobe Illustrator at Emily Carr and decided to use the program to turn one of her army journal entries into a comic. “That comic almost nobody has seen because it was very bad,” Libicki said. “It’s five pages and it’s quite clumsily done but it got a good response in the class.” She said her classmates thought it was an interesting, different story and people wanted to see more. Libicki kept going with it and her first comic, jobnik!, was born. “The jobnik! series starts off where I am an unskilled secretary in an office that doesn’t need a secretary in the middle of the desert.” She started going to comic book conventions. She would go to three or four a year and set deadlines for herself to complete the next issue in time
for the next convention. She said she’s completed half the jobnik! series, and about a third has been published.That’s been on the back burner since she returned to school to complete her master’s degree. She will graduate from UBC this fall and has plans to continue jobnik! in the future. She also teaches part time at Emily Carr. AsVancouver Public Library’s writer-in-residence, Libicki will spend 40 per cent of her time conducting workshops, mentoring and supporting emerging writers and artists. Libicki said she hopes to instill in people that it’s important to have a story and see it through.“Really the best way to learn cartooning is to actually do it.” Libicki started her residency Aug. 28 but will officially kick things off Sept. 14 with a special event at the central branch downtown. “I’m going to talk a little bit about my path into comics, my career and show slides and do a bit of reading of comics, and we’ll have a collaborative pass around comic page that people will make together. And also because one of my themes is about identity, I have an exercise about selfportraits – self-portraits about how others see you and how you see yourself,” she said. The event starts at 7 p.m. For more information, visit vpl. ca/events. –Story courtesy the Vancouver Courier
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REAL ESTATE //
Rob Joyce West End Specialist MLS Diamond Master Medallion Award 2015
Award Winner Rob Joyce
Sales Associate Roger Ross
g n g i t n i Liisst
wL NNeew
New Listing 1010 Burnaby #1604 Houselike 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom and large patio deck in the sky at The Ellington with a good layout, mountain and city views and terrific amenities including a guest suite, outdoor lap pool, billiards room, piano lounge, gym & much more. This well maintained & managed strata has just completed a full rainscreen. Pets OK. $850,000.
w Ne
ng i t Lis
New Listing View! View! View! 1967 Barclay #801. West of Denman studio with mountain and city views in a prime concrete pet friendly strata . Steps to Stanley Park’s Lost Lagoon.Rental space available. 428 SF. Won’t last at this price! $458,000.
1816 Haro #504
SOLD
Two Bedroom
over asking
Ask: $535,000.
SOLD
1816 Haro #706 Two Bedroom
over asking
Ask: $699,000.
SOLD
1251 Cardero #1108 SE Corner
over asking
Ask: $338,000.
1232 Harwood
SOLD
Penthouse #501
over asking
Ask: $568,000.
WEST COAST
Two Patios 1165 Burnaby #301 at the pet friendly Qu’Appele
Fourth floor high end and beautifully architect designed SW corner 955 SF two bdrm + two bath + two patios at the pet friendly Qu’Appele strata. Amazing designs, exposed concrete walls and an open floor plan. Only two suites per floor. $895,000.
604.623.5433 www.robjoyce.ca robjoyce@telus.net CARNEY’S CORNER
There is more online
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LD SO
LD SO
NORM FLOCKHART
PREC
(604) 261-7275
13 Year Member of MLS Medallion Club OPEN SAT 2-4!
★
$1,480,000
BIG 1946 CHARACTER HOME! OVER 2400 SQ FEET!
This 3 BR charmer needs updating, but feats oak flrs on Main & Up. Coved Ceilings, Leaded Glass, 2 Fireplaces. 1 BR Finished Bsmt! Beautiful 50.25' x 112.22' View Lot! Steps to South Hill shops, buses. 5696 Chester St. at E. 41st
www.normflockhart.com Westender.com
BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL Whether you are a teacher, have a student in the family, are a student yourself or just a student of life you will fall in love with this one and den/ two bedroom patio home! Spacious living area and master bedroom accommodate house size furnishings and bright bay window overlooks walled garden patio with its own gate! Bonus room makes perfect home office, guest room or second bedroom. Visitors can enjoy hammocks in the garden where year round gardening, bbqing and entertaining will thrill the whole family! Located in sought after West of Denman icon! SOLD $849,000
WEN
West End Neighbours
New info always available on the website; an opportunity for community to stay in touch and keep up on local issues. www.westendneighbours.ca
TALK TO LIZ CARNEY 685-5951/603-3095
604
liz.carney@century21.ca • www.vancouvercondo.com Century 21 In Town Realty • 421 Pacific • 1030 Denman
In Town Realty
September 7 - September 13, 2017 W 19
REAL ESTATE //
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dexter pm
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT A DIVISION OF DEXTER ASSOCIATES REALTY 778.996.1514 | DEXTERPM.CA
#2101 – 1005 BEACH AVENUE $6,000/MONTH
#2803 – 1189 MELVILLE STREET 3,250/MONTH
WEST END | UNFURNISHED 2 BEDROOM 2 BATHROOM + DEN AT THE ALVAR
COAL HARBOUR | UNFURNISHED 2 BED 2 BATH + DEN + SOLARIUM AT THE MELVILLE
This breathtaking unfurnished 2 bedroom 2 bathroom + Den is located at The Alvar on sought-after Beach Ave. This Luxurious air conditioned apartment has stunning water views of False creek/ Granville island/ Sunset Beach and is fully outfitted with high-end appliances. The kitchen features hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, gas cooktop & an island with seating for 4. The living room features a fireplace & has large windows all around letting in tons of natural light. The large master bedroom with a 5 piece ensuite has views of the city & False Creek. Guests of the Alvar have access to the building amenities including fitness centre, hot tub, pool tables, & party room with outdoor patio, BBQ & fireplace. Located steps from the seawall, this suite provides easy access to Yaletown, Downtown, the West End and access to endless shops, restaurants and cafes.
Welcome to The Melville by Amacon. This bright and spacious 1024 sq ft unfurnished 2 bed 2 bath + den + solarium is move-in ready. Open concept living with laminate and tile flooring throughout, stainless appliances, large bedrooms, balcony, and beautiful solarium. Living in this suite gives you access to amazing spa like facilities offerings 40ft rooftop pool, hot tub, sauna, gym, party room, and a rooftop sky garden with panoramic views. This suite comes with a storage locker, 1 parking spot and rent includes water and gas.
ASK US ABOUT OUR - FREE RENTAL RATE ASSESSMENT
www.dexterrealty.com 604-689-8226 Yaletown 604-336-3539 Main Street 604-263-1144 Kerrisdale
Taking our Listings Global
NEW LISTING!
505-1315 CARDERO ST
MID-CENTURY MODERN WITH BAY VIEWS!
* Classic mid-century modern details, plus English Bay views * Renovated kitchen, bathrooms, closets added * Dianne-Court – Reputable West End Co-op
Christine Saulnier 604-250-9177
$919,000
#2711-610 GRANVILLE ST 402-55 E. CORDOVA ST
$1,098,000
HUDSON SKY SUITE
FABULOUS HERITAGE LOFT KORET LOFTS – North facing heritage loft. Views and underground parking. Pets and Rentals allowed.
Ed Gramauskas
Gorgeous 2 bedroom at The Hudson, with City/Water/Mountain views and extra large balcony! Perfectly maintained suite, with the best, most efficient layout. Building offers 24 hour concierge and private/direct access to Pacific Centre, Skytrain, Shopping and the best of Downtown Vancouver!
Kris Pope 604-318-5226
604-618-9727
NEW LISTING! PH802-1315 CARDERO ST
$1,080,000
MID-CENTURY MODERN PENTHOUSE WITH ENGLISH BAY VIEWS!
* Prime location – 1 blk to beach, 1 blk to Davie St * 43 foot balcony with view * Quality Co-op Dianne-Court
1243 HOMER ST
ILIAD TOWNHOME
$1,599,000
Probably the most stylish and iconic building in Yaletown, setting the standard for luxury and lifestyle. Gourmet kitchen, vaulted ceilings, parking and custom finishings throughout. Sure to impress!
Christine Saulnier 604-250-9177
Kris Pope 604-318-5226
Check out our website, www.dexterrealty.com for current market condition updates. 20 W September 7 - September 13, 2017
#603-1600 HORNBY ST
$2,098,000
WATERFRONT @ YACHT HARBOUR POINTE
*Spacious and bright with False Creek View *Large master suite, 2nd bedroom + office, entertainers kitchen *No empty home tax—rentals at max
Christine Saulnier 604-250-9177
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Park board extends outdoor pool season JESSICA KERR @jessicaekerr
With sunshine and warm temperatures in the forecast for the foreseeable future, Vancouver Park Board decided to keep two of its outdoor pools open a little bit longer. “With the long range forecast calling for more
sun, we’ve decided to extend the season at Second Beach and New Brighton pools until Sept. 17,” said board chair Michael Weibe. “This is the first time that both pools have had their season extended at the same time and we hope residents and visitors take advantage of it.” The hot weather this
summer has brought an increase in the number of people taking a dip in the city’s outdoor pools. Kitsilano, Second Beach, New Brighton and Maple Grove pools saw more than 260,000 visitors since opening in late May – a 20 per cent increase over last year. The Kits and Maple
Grove pools will close after Labour Day. Lifeguards will also stop patrolling beaches after the long weekend. Kitsilano Pool typically stays open until mid-September, however it is closing early this year for upgrades that must be completed during dry weather. The pool’s basin membrane needs to be replaced and its deck will undergo renovations, as well upgrades to the pool pumps will im-
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prove the salt-water swimming experience and reduce greenhouse gases and the potable water needed to main the pool level. Water parks around the city will remain open until Oct. 1. The board is also getting ready to launch the final round of public consultation for VanSplash, its aquatic strategy. Staff will ask the public for feedback on ideas for new and re-
newed aquatic facilities and experiences. The second round of consultation begins Sept. 18 and will include a survey and two open houses – Sept. 27 at Killarney Community Centre and Sept. 30 at Hillcrest Community Centre. For more information, or to sign up for VanSplash updates, visit vancouver.ca/parksrecreation-culture/vansplashaquatics-strategy.aspx. W
OAKRIDGE CO-OP N LAD TIO O T S N E S T S PRE J UE R R E
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PA N O R A M A P L A C E - 2 0 5 5 P E N D R E L L
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Friday, September 8 7PM KICKOFF
WHO IS CHRIS RAINEY? Westender.com
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HEALTH Time to drop Daddy Warbucks routine Sex with Mish Way
@MyszkaWay I am a 28-year-old gay man who just celebrated a twoyear anniversary with my boyfriend, who is five years my junior. I love my boyfriend so, so much. We moved in together not long ago and it has only made our relationship stronger. He is very charismatic and the life of the party: social, unique and hilarious. However, he has zero ambition in his own life and quits everything he starts. He is good at so many things, but can’t pick one and focus. I know he’s still in his mid-20s, but now that we share a life together, financially and emotionally, the burden of our lifestyle falls on me. He works, but not hard, and he is constantly up and down. I have tried to bring up this topic gingerly but it never ends well. I don’t know how to get him to sort his life out. The more I feel like I’m his parent, the less sexually attracted I am to him. I’m confused and annoyed and still in love. Only sickos want to fuck their kids! I understand your frustration. Let’s work this out so you two can go back to having a (literally) gay old good time. I have been in your position before. Many years ago, I was dating an alcoholic. He was a very sweet man who I had tons of fun with, but his drinking was out of control. One time, he took me to his office cubicle after hours and revealed a giant cabinet
in his desk that was filled with empties. Most days at work he would drink a six pack of beer and come home to down a few more. I could never figure out why he was so hammered after a few drinks until I started noticing the plastic rings of a six pack in his work bag. It made normal social engagements like dinner parties or mellow hangouts hard. Oftentimes he would be obliterated before we even walked in the door, slurring, fumbling or knocking over plants. I would have to take him out, put him to bed, and reassure him as he apologized. Drunks are a lot like toddlers. (Thank Satan that he wasn’t one of those men who pissed everywhere but the toilet.) Our honeymoon phase ended fast. Again, only sickos want to fuck their children. I was officially not attracted to the drunken toddler. I had to end it. It was very sad. However, from what I have heard, he is now sober and living well and that makes me very happy for him. He deserved to be a better version of himself and unfortunately, I could not make that happen for him. Just like you can’t force an alcoholic to rehab, you can’t make an apathetic procrastinator into Mr. Ambition overnight.What you can do is quit the enabling. If there is always a cushion of financial and emotional security coddling your boyfriend like a cloud, then how is he going to get the fire under his ass? I understand that not everyone knows exactly what they want to do with their life, but at a certain point, his job in life has to expand beyond being your
lazy boyfriend.The good news is that you are still in love, which means you actually care about helping him be better for himself. You’ve tried to bring things up the nice way, but now it’s time for some tough love.You have to lay down the law. He has to pull his weight.Things may not be pretty between you guys for a few days, but that’s what his best friend’s couch is for. Don’t let this dude bully you into being Daddy Warbucks. Why do you think he gets so sensitive when you bring up his lack of direction and ambition? Is it because he doesn’t know how to solve the problem and is afraid to confront it head on? Or, is it because he doesn’t want you to poke any holes in his coddle cloud? Only you know if he really loves you like you love him. You have to bring it up again. Be strong. Don’t apologize.You have every right to tell him how you feel. Every time you kowtow to his temper tantrums, you aren’t doing either of you any favours. If he doesn’t change, or at least make an effort to do so, then you are going to resent him.You’ll start to despise him. He’ll feel it from you. The relationship will end. Go talk to him. Offer solutions. And if you two can’t figure it out on your own, there is always therapy. W
EMAIL MISH Send Mish your own sex questions and queries to sex@westender.com
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Free Will Astrology By Rob Brezsny You’re half-intoxicated by your puzzling adventures – and half-bewildered, as well. Sometimes you’re spinning out fancy moves, sweet tricks and surprising gambits. On other occasions you’re stumbling and bumbling and mumbling. Are you really going to keep up this rhythm? I hope so, because your persistence in navigating through the challenging fun could generate big rewards. Like what, for example? Like the redemptive transformation of a mess into an asset.
“Free your mind and your ass will follow,” sings funk pioneer George Clinton in his song “Good Thoughts, Bad Thoughts.” And what’s the best way to free your mind? Clinton advises you to “Be careful of the thought-seeds you plant in the garden of your mind.” That’s because the ideas you obsess on will eventually grow into the experiences you attract into your life. “Good thoughts bring forth good fruit,” he croons, while “Bullshit thoughts rot your meat.” Any questions, Taurus? According to my astrological analysis, this is the best possible counsel for you to receive right now.
James Loewen wrote a book called Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. He said, for instance, that during the Europeans’ invasion and conquest of the continent, it wasn’t true that Native Americans scalped white settlers. In fact, it was mostly the other way around: whites scalped Indians. Here’s another example: The famous blind and deaf person, Helen Keller, was not a sentimental spokesperson for sweetness and light, but rather a radical feminist and socialist who advocated revolution. I invite you to apply Loewen’s investigative approach to your personal past, Gemini. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to uncover hidden, incomplete and distorted versions of your history, and correct them.
Roger Hodge writes books now, but when he worked for Harper’s magazine, he had an unusual specialty. He gathered heaps of quirky facts, and assembled several at a time into long sentences that had a nutty poetic grace. Here’s an example: “British cattle have regional accents, elephants mourn their dead, nicotine sobers drunk rats, scientists have concluded that teenagers are physically incapable of being considerate, and clinical trials of an ‘orgasmatron’ are underway in North Carolina.” I’m offering Hodge as a worthy role model for you in the coming weeks, Cancerian. Be curious, miscellaneous, and free-flowing. Let your mind wander luxuriantly as you make unexpected connections. Capitalize on the potential blessings that appear through zesty twists and tangy turns.
In Japan you can buy a brand of candy that’s called The Great Buddha’s Nose Snot. Each piece consists of a rice puff that resembles the Buddha’s nose filled with bits of brown sugar that symbolize the snot. The candy-making company assures customers that eating this treat brings them good luck. I invite you to be equally earthy and irreverent about your own spiritual values in the coming days. You’re in prime position to humanize your relationship with divine influences ... to develop a more visceral passion for your holiest ideals ... to translate your noblest aspirations into practical, enjoyable actions.
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Will a routine trip to carry out an errand take you on a detour to the suburbs of the promised land? Will you worry you’re turning into a monster, only to find the freakishness is just a phase that you had to pass through on your way to unveiling some of your dormant beauty? Will a provocative figure from the past lead you on a productive wildgoose chase into the future? These are some of the possible storylines I’ll be monitoring as I follow your progress in the coming weeks.
Let’s meet in the woods after midnight and tell each other stories about our origins, revealing the secrets we almost forgot we had. Let’s sing the songs that electrified our emotions all those years ago when we first fell in love with our lives. Starlight will glow on our ancient faces. The fragrance of loam will seep into our voices like rainwater feeding the trees’ roots. We’ll feel the Earth turning on its axis, and sense the rumble of future memories coming to greet us. We’ll join hands, gaze into the dreams in each other’s eyes, and dive as deep as we need to go to find hidden treasures.
I don’t usually recommend giving gifts with strings attached. On the contrary, I advise you to offer your blessings without having any expectations at all. Generosity often works best when the recipients are free to use it any way they see fit. In the coming weeks, however, I’m making an exception to my rule. According to my reading of the omens, now is a time to be specific and forceful about the way you’d like your gifts to be used. As an example of how not to proceed, consider the venture capitalist who donated $25,000 to the University of Colorado. All he got in return was a rest room in a campus building named after him. If you give away $25,000, Scorpio, make sure you at least get a whole building named after you.
Now that you’re getting a taste of what life would be like if you ruled the world, I’ll recommend a manual. It’s called How To Start Your Own Country, by Erwin Strauss. (Get a free peek here: tinyurl. com/YouSovereign.) You could study it for tips on how to obtain national sovereignty, how to recruit new citizens, and how to avoid paying taxes to yourself. (P.S.: You can make dramatic strides toward being the boss of yourself and your destiny even without forming your own nation.)
There was a time when not even the most ambitious explorers climbed mountains. In the western world, the first time it happened was in 1492, when a Frenchman named Antoine de Ville ascended to the top of Mont Aiguille, using ladders, ropes, and other props. I see you as having a kinship with de Ville in the coming weeks, Capricorn. I’d love to see you embark on a big adventure that would involve you trying on the role of a pioneer. This feat wouldn’t necessarily require strenuous training and physical courage. It might be more about daring creativity and moral courage.
Science fiction proposes that there are alternative worlds alongside the visible one – hidden, yes, but perhaps accessible with the right knowledge or luck. In recent years, maverick physicists have given the idea more credibility, theorizing that parallel universes exist right next to ours. Even if these hypothetical places aren’t literally real, they serve as an excellent metaphor. Most of us are so thoroughly embedded in our own chosen niche that we are oblivious to the realities that other people inhabit. I bring these thoughts to your attention, Aquarius, because it’s a favourable time to tap into those alternate, parallel, secret, unknown, or unofficial realms. Wake up to the rich sources that have been so close to you, but so far away.
I’m always in favour of you cultivating a robust relationship with your primal longings. But I’ll be rooting extra hard for you to do that during the next 11 months. I hope you will dig deep to identify your primal longings, and I hope you will revere them as the wellspring of your life energy, and I hope you will figure out all the tricks and strategies you will need to fulfill them. Here’s a hint about how to achieve the best results as you do this noble work: Define your primal longings with as much precision as you can, so that you will never pursue passing fancies that bear just a superficial resemblance to the real things.
Sept. 7: Leslie Jones (50) Sept. 8: Pink (38) Sept. 9: Michael Buble (42) Sept. 10: Colin Firth (57) Sept. 11: Ludacris (40) Sept. 12: Emmy Rosssum (31) Sept. 13: Fiona Apple (40)
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100% BC Owned and Operated PRODUCE
MEAT BC Grown Organic Himrod Grapes from Secrest Farm
BC Grown Organic Romaine Lettuce from Myers Organic Farm
Organic Girl Packaged Salads assorted varieties
907g (2lb) package
142g
1.00 off
at our Kitsilano, Kerrisdale, Cambie, North Vancouver and South Surrey locations
regular retail price
Amy’s Organic Soup 398ml • product of USA
2/7.00 La Tortilla Factory Wraps and Tortillas assorted varieties
assorted sizes • product of USA
reg price 3.89-7.29
25% Off
regular retail price
Ad price 2.92 - 5.47
Hardbite Natural Potato Chips
assorted varieties
150g • product of Canada
1kg • product of India
6.99
5.99
Old Dutch Restaurante Tortilla Chips
10.49 to 12.49
400g • product of Canada
reg price 6.49-9.99
25% Off
regular retail price
Ad price 4.87 - 7.49
Dream Non-Dairy Beverages
Liberté Kefir and Greek Yogurt assorted varieties 500ml-1L
assorted varieties
product of Canada
946ml • product of Canada
Chaser’s Fresh Pressed Raw Unpasturized Beverages
3/9.99
Choices’ Own Chili with Sandwich or Wrap Combo
assorted varieties
Paqui Gourmet Flavoured Tortilla Chips
3.99 assorted varieties
18 Tea Bags • product of USA
product of Canada
3/9.99
5.99 500ml 10.99 1L Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars assorted varieties
product of USA
assorted varieties
Cookies assorted varieties package of 12
4.99
Four O’Clock Organic Tea assorted varieties
.99 56.6g singles 4.79 6 pack
2/6.00
BAKERY
Stash Organic Tea
assorted varieties
300-384g • product of Canada
Choices’ Own Soup with Sandwich or Wrap Combo
9.98 to 11.98
Vij’s Frozen Indian Meals
7.99 Organic 250ml 10.99 Conventional 750ml
11.49lb
DELI
240-450ml product of Canada
product of Italy
25.33kg
*RWA – raised without antibiotics
assorted varieties
2.99
155g • product of USA
6.99lb
white or brown
Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Free Range Boneless Leg of Lamb Steaks or Roasts from New Zealand *RWA
*RWA 15.41kg
Aarcee Superior Basmati Rice
2/5.00
assorted varieties
While quantities last. Not all items available at all stores. We reserve the right to correct printing errors.Product may not appear exactly as depicted.
Umi’s Kitchen Indian Sauces
10.99lb
BC Boneless Pork Chops
BC ORGANIC PORK
GROCERY assorted varieties
value pack 24.23kg
12.99 each
4.98
BC Grown Organic Prune Plums
2.98
made in-store
907g (2lb) package
1.98 each
Grass Fed Free Range New York Steaks Aged 21+ Days from Australia
BC Marinated Flattened Non-GMO Chicken *RWA
Chocolate Almond
16 tea bags product of Canada
package of 6
5.49
3.99
Sweetened with Xylitol Oat Raisin package of 4
4.49
WELLNESS Renew Life Supplements assorted varieties assorted sizes
25% off Regular Retail Price
Bio-K Plus Probiotics
assorted varieties
assorted sizes
Organika Bone Broth Powder assorted varieties 300g
20% off
Sustainable Choices
Regular Retail Price
NutraVege Omega-3 Oil Supplements assorted varieties assorted sizes
15% off Regular Retail Price
20% off
As of May 11th, 2017, we have phased all fresh non-Ocean Wise seafood out of our stores and are now 100% Ocean Wise in our fresh seafood category.We’ve also completely removed styrofoam trays from our meat department, replacing them all with recyclable options. It’s just a small part of what we can do to help make sure that our oceans remain healthy for generations to come.
Regular Retail Price
www.choicesmarkets.com
Choices Markets has always worked to support sustainability in our stores.That’s why we’ve been a partner in the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program since its inception.When a seafood item is Ocean Wise, you know that it has been harvested sustainably with the health of our oceans in mind.
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