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We Tour VOKRA: Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

13 Mar

VOKRASaves.JPGWe recently had the pleasure of taking a tour of VOKRA, Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association.  Their intake facility is based in East Vancouver on Wall Street.  This non-profit was founded by two amazing ladies Karen Duncan and Maria Soroski who along with their  army of volunteers do great work in our community.   Army is a great way to describe the operation of this non-profit, particularly as it relates to the organization of it. From the volunteers, to the fosters which number over 350, the medical staff, the feeding and care of the cats in their care at the facility, the fundraising, the day-to-day operations of the facility. It takes an army to do the work that they are able to do.  VOKRA started 19 years ago and became a non-profit organization 18 years ago. Karen and Maria created the organization in part to deal with the large feral population in Vancouver and have made great strides with their Trap-Spay-Neuter program.  Through this program, their hard work and passion for what they do, they have now been able to keep down the numbers of feral cats/kitties coming into the facility. Their focus has shifted somewhat to focus more on lost, injured and abandoned cats. Unfortunately, due to rental restrictions in Vancouver, pet rescue organizations are seeing more abandoned cats.  As one that’s assisted in reuniting pets that are lost, the sheer volume makes us wonder why cats are allowed outdoors. If you wish to adopt from VOKRA, note they do have a strict indoor cat policy.  They’ve witnessed first hand what happens to cats that encounter coyotes, raccoons, cars and disease. Their focus is on education and responsible pet ownership which we applaud.

What we also learnt is the amazing support network that VOKRA has built up over the years. People volunteer their time and give resources to this organization, but VOKRA regularly gives back as well.  They are located in an area where there is some low income housing and if a senior or low income resident comes looking for food for their cat, if they are short that month, VOKRA has them covered.  This organization is a labour of love. We think these women deserve medals, keys to the City, or a day or two off.  If you are interested in volunteering at VOKRA whether it’s fostering cats, helping with paperwork or fundraising, check out Volunteering at VOKRA.

Going forward we will be featuring some of the cats in foster waiting for their FURever families.  For now, we leave with some photos of cats currently in their care.

 

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First Pick Handmade YVR Happens At The Heritage Hall March 17th & 18th

12 Mar

FirstPick-Spring2018_postcard_v1.0First Pick Handmade YVR is happening this weekend at the Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street, March 17th and 18th, 2018. This is a curated event of 30 Canadian men’s and women’s fashion accessory designers. They will be on hand with a limited run of items.  First Pick Handmade will transform Heritage Hall into a 3,300-square foot pop up boutique department store for the person that values Canadian design and quality materials.   The event will include a combination of long standing designers as well as newer start ups.  The common thread all these designers share is high quality construction and materials. The event will showcase clothing, jewelry, linen garments, towels, hemp Ts, wedding chic, bikinis, accessories, shoes and bags, for both men and women.  Some of the local designers featured include Bikini Empire, Dhalia Drive, Frances Felt, Rouge Textiles, Jessica Reddittm Daub & Design, Winterluxe Recycled Cashmere to name just a few.

First Pick Handmade was created and curated by Janna Hurtzig  who is the founder/designer behind Winterluxe Recycled Cashmere and Astrosatchel labels.  Hurtzig has been part of Vancouver’s handmade scene since 1988 in a variety of roles including co-organizer of Shiny, Muddy Fuzzy.  We are expecting to see some beautiful items this weekend.  First Pick Handmade YVR runs this Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 pm. Entrance is $3.00 at the door.

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What’s On East Van: March 9th Edition

9 Mar

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Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out lots more cool events for the upcoming week.  Beyond the week, we invite you to check out our Event Listing which is updated daily and features events for the month and beyond.

JFL Northwest Hosts Vancouver’s Comedy Festival – March 1st to 10th 

This is the last weekend to catch the Vancouver Comedy Festival on now until March 10th.  To see what’s on where, visit JFL Northwest.com

4th Annual Beer BASH League – Britannia Community Centre – March 10th

If you love beer and hockey, then you may wish to check out the 4th Annual Beer League BASH taking place this Saturday, March 10th at Britannia Community Ice Rink, 1661 Napier Street.  This is a fundraiser in which 4 craft brewery teams will be playing a round-robin tournament for the purpose of raising funds for BASH: Britannia After School Hockey.   17 craft breweries will be also be on hand serving cans of beer. For those that have gently-used hockey gear to donate (ie. Elbow pads, helmets, socks, sticks, etc.), you will receive a discount on beer for each item donated. Event happens from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  Tickets are $20 and available online from BeerBashLeague.com

Manure Sale – Fundraiser – Dr. AR Lord March 10th

Pick up some manure for your garden and help kids playing sports in East Vancouver. Pretty darn easy. Event happens between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm at 1025 Slocan Street in the Garibaldi Annex Parking Lot at the corner off Slocan and Napier. Cost is $5 per 5 gallon bag.  If you come with your own wheelbarrow before 11:00 am, we hear there’s a discount in it for you.

Bridal Swap – Croatian Cultural Centre – March 11th

If you are getting married soon and have a budget in mind, then you will want to check out the upcoming Bridal Swap at the Croatian Cultural Centre this Sunday, March 11th.    For tickets, visit Eventbrite. Note there are different times and pricing depending on whether you wish to be an early bird and get first dibs on items in which ticket prices are a bit more.

Carnival With Crepes – Strange Fellows Brewing – March 11th

Strange Fellow Brewing is hosting an interesting event complete with crepes, beer and live music from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. This is a family friendly event, Children are welcome under supervision of adults, of course.

The After After Party – The Cultch – To March 17th

The After Party kicked off this week at The Cultch. If you want to know what a wild girls night is all about and the things friends do for each other, check out this production. To learn more check out Nicole … review. Several shows were sold out before opening. So this show is on your list, visit The Cultch for tickets.

Fresh Prints Art Party At The Settlement Building March 15th

The Settlement Building is host to a very cool event March 15th called Art Party! This is a fundraiser for Creative Life. This is a Community Arts initiative that creates opportunities for marginalized youth in East Vancouver to experience transformation through the arts.  For a $10 ticket, you have the opportunity to check local visual artists while enjoying music, drinks and food. To purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite.  For more information about the organization, visit www.creative-life.ca.

Comedy, Live Music & Entertainment

Breaking Boundaries is back at Café Deux Soleils this Saturday, March 10th.  Looking to see a free movie? Britannia Community Centre is showing Sideways this Sunday, March 11th at 6:00 pm. The Winter Farmer Markets continue with Saturday’s being held at Nat Bailey Stadium from 10 am to 2 pm and Sunday at Hastings Parking 10 am to 2 pm.  To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.

Image Credit: June Hunter

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Nicole Alivojvodic Reviews The After After Party On Now At The Cultch Till March 17th

8 Mar

AfterAfterPartyTheCultchStrap in for a night of shameless, riotous comedy with Jules and Fiona at Vancity Culture Lab. Winner of the 2016 Cultchivating the Fringe Award, “The After After Party” is the perfect girls night out! Written and performed by Katey Hoffman and Cheyenne Mabberley, this gloriously relatable play will fire up nostalgia in anyone who was a teen in the early 2000’s. Grab your BFF, sit back with your Cosmopolitan (or glass of straight Fireball) and reminisce about the NSYNC posters that were plastered on your bedroom wall and Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag” being perpetually stuck in your head.

What starts off as a high school version of “The Hangover”, quickly morphs into a tale of female friendship and acceptance. Albeit ridiculous at times, Hoffman and Mabberley have become leaders in female forward comedy, and their company, “After Party Theatre”, is committed to fostering the careers of women. This show will throw you back to the desperation you felt as a teen to be beautiful and popular and remind you to value your female friendships through the inconvenient and unconditional love between Jules and Fiona.

Celebrate International Women’s Day with tickets to this shamelessly fun show, on now until March 17th. Visit The Cultch for further details and show times.

Photo Credit: Helenka Boden

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The Original Bridal Swap Happens At The Croatian Cultural Centre March 11, 2018

7 Mar

BridalSwapPlanning a wedding? Trying to stay on a budget? If you’ve answered yes to both these questions, you may wish to check out The Bridal Swap happening at the Croatian Cultural Centre this Sunday, March 11th. If you are unfamiliar with this unique concept, it brings together past brides, brides to be, decorators, wedding planners and craft artisans all under one roof.  For brides to be, you have the opportunity to purchase gently used items from past brides and past brides have the opportunity to sell items from their weddings which could include the ‘dress’ and wedding décor including centerpieces, candles, linens, glassware and vases and much more.  So instead of buying all new, it’s a great opportunity to re-use and repurpose items. The Bridal Swap will also have on hand an array of artisans offering handmade items or services for your wedding day including photographers, jewellery, cakes, wedding favours, flowers, invitations and so on.  The Bridal Swap takes place on Sunday, March 11th from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm. Tickets are available through Eventbrite and you have two options $25 for early admission at 10:30 a.m. for first choice on all available items and this is a popular time for the used items, or $15 for admission after 11:30 a.m.

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The Chelsea Hotel: Songs Of Leonard Cohen Returns To Firehall Arts Centre

6 Mar

Chelsea-Hotel-Adrian-Glynn-Marlene-Gineader-2credit-David-Cooper-560x418New York’s infamous hotel, The Chelsea Hotel, makes a return to the Firehall Arts Centre March 17th to April 21st, 2018. Leonard Cohen’s powerful and inspirational music is the heartbeat of Chelsea Hotel, as six performers play seventeen different instruments in a rollicking tribute to the remarkable writer.  Haunted by memories of his tumultuous love life, a writer checks into New York’s infamous Chelsea Hotel desperate to find the words and inspiration for his next song.  Wading through past relationships, he reluctantly comes face to face with the love of the present, a love he wishes he could not only forget, but erase from memory.

Conceived and directed by Tracey Power, with musical arrangements by Steve Charles, Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen is an inventive fusion of music, dance, and theatre that invites its audience into the hotel room of a creative mind and takes them on a poetic musical journey.  The production premiered in February of 2012 and was nicknamed ‘the make out show’ as patrons were often caught kissing outside the theatre after the show.  It was remounted by popular demand in the Fall of that same year and went on tour to Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria, and Toronto.

With over 200 shows since its premiere, Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen has played to audiences of all ages and received praise across the country for its imagination and creativity.  It received Ovation Awards for “Outstanding Ensemble Production” and “Outstanding Director,” and received numerous nominations for awards including the Jessie Richardson Theatre Award, Calgary Theatre Critics’ Award, and Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award.  The production kicks off in Vancouver March 17th. For those on a budget, note the Firehall Arts Centre offers Pay What You Can shows on Wednesdays at 1:00 pm.  Also for anyone 30 years of age and under, you can get in for $20 any day with proof of age. Tickets are available online at Firehall Arts Centre.

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Ride With The Crows On The Twilight Crow Roost Bike Ride March 10th

5 Mar

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERACrows are an ever present part of life in East Van. Do you ever wonder where they go at dusk?  There are a number of videos now online which give a hint of where they all go, but there is nothing like experiencing it in person.  On Saturday, March 10th, the Still Moon Arts Society invites you to ride along with them and the crows for the annual Crow Roost Twilight Bike Ride.  They will follow the crows on the Central Valley Greenway towards Burnaby which is approximately 5 km round trip. To ensure safety, organizers ask that you have lights and/or reflectors for the ride home.  This is a free family friendly event. Everyone is welcome. NOTE: The ride could be rescheduled due to poor weather, please check Still Moon Arts Society Facebook page for the latest details. The ride gets underway at approximately 4:45 pm at Renfrew Skytrain Station. There is a second meeting spot at Lakewood and Central Valley Greenway which leaves at 5:30 pm.  

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Photo Credit: June Hunter

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What’s On East Van: March 2nd Edition

2 Mar

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Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out lots more cool events for the upcoming week.  Beyond the week, we invite you to check out our Event Listing which is updated daily and features events for the month and beyond.

JFL Northwest Hosts Vancouver’s Comedy Festival – March 1st to 10th 

The Vancouver Comedy Festival is on now with a host of talent in town. Events are happening around the City, but lots of events happening locally at the Rio Theatre, Fox Cabaret and Biltmore Cabaret. To see what’s on where, visit JFL Northwest.com.

Lanterns In The Garden –  Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Gardens – March 2, 3 & 4

This is the last weekend to catch Lanterns In The Gardens at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Gardens. They have thousands of beautiful lanterns on display in their gardens.   There are themed lanterns handmade by local artists as well as do-it-yourself lantern making, a photo booth and more.  Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children and seniors or $45 for a family package.   Event happens from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. To purchase your tickets online, or to learn more about the event, visit Lanterns In The Garden. 

Meet Members of the NPA – Drive Coffee Bar – March 3rd

If you are interested in chatting with those running for office in the upcoming civic election, The Drive Coffee Bar is inviting the political parties to come have coffee with local residents and answers questions. This Saturday, March 3rd at 10:30 am members of the NPA will be on hand. Stop by and get your questions answered in person.

Grandview Woodland Community Seed Library Launch – March 4th

Love gardening and want to pick up some seeds? Or maybe you wish to chat with other gardenrs to learn more about gardening? Then stop in to the launch of the Grandview Woodland Seed Library Sunday, March 4th. You are invited to stop by on and sign up for a free membership between 1:00 and 3:00 pm.  From 3:00 to 4:00 pm, there will be an interactive workshop on garden planning.  This is a free event and open to all ages.  To register, email gwcseedlibrary@gmail.com. The event happens at the Canucks Family Education Centre at Britannia Community Centre.

PSS PSS – York Theatre – Until March 4th 

This is the last weekend to catch PSS PSS at the York Theatre.  PSS comes to Vancouver via Switzerland and is an all ages show with daring acrobatics that have been performed over 600 times on 5 continents. Take 65 minutes with your family and go laugh it up.  For tickets, visit The Cultch.

 

Art Of Making Lotions, Potions & Scrubs–Trout Lake Community Centre – March 7th
Iona Bonamis will be leading a hands-on workshop Wednesday, March 7th at Trout Lake Community Centre. You will learn step-by-step instructions on how to make your own body care and household products. Cost is $47.62. Last we saw there were only 5 spots remaining. To register, visit City of Vancouver.

Comedy, Live Music & Entertainment

Live music at Café Deux Soleils this Saturday night. Cumbia Galera and Joshua Job members of Breaking Boundaries will be on hand to perform.  The Winter Farmer Markets continue with Saturday’s being held at Nat Bailey Stadium from 10 am to 2 pm and Sunday at Hastings Parking 10 am – 2 pm.  To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.

Image Credit: June Hunter

 

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Call To Artists: The Cultch Gallery Seeks Artists For 2018/2019 Gallery Season

28 Feb

ArtWorksThe Cultch, 1895 Venables Street, has put out a call to visual artists to submit applications to exhibit their work during their 2018/2019 gallery season. Each exhibition will run for 3 to 4 weeks between August 2018 and June 2019. Submissions can be single or multiple artists’ proposals.

The Cultch has built a reputation over the past 40 years as one of Western Canada’s most innovative and exciting presenting venues. The mandate of The Cultch is to contribute to the enrichment of the city and community’s social and cultural life through the presentation of innovative programs of contemporary music, theatre, dance and visual arts by established and emerging artists.

The Cultch Gallery is a multi-use space and not a traditional art gallery as it also serves as the lobby for performances and is occasionally used for meetings and other small events. Due to the diverse nature of this space, submissions that include sculptures or free standing art will not be accepted.

Submission Criteria for Artists:

  1. An artist statement
  2. Artist bio(s)
  3. Resume/CV
  4. A complete list of images you are submitting, which should include title, size, medium. These images do not have to be the work you will be showing. They want to get a good overview of your work.
  5. You can submit up to 10 images. Image files should be in .jpeg format. File names must include the artist name, title of artwork and size of the work when framed: (example: Yuri Arajs – Sunny Day -18 in x 30 in. jpg)

Deadline for applications is May 31, 2018. Email your submissions to gallery@thecultch.com, but you can also mail a CD with your application to:

Attention: Yuri Arajs / Gallery Coordinator
c/o The Cultch
1895 Venables Street
Vancouver, BC
V5L 2H6

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Applications Are Now Being Accepted For Neighbourhood Small Grants Up To $500

27 Feb

NeighbourhoodSmallGrant2015Do you have an idea for a community project that brings people in your community together? It could be something small such as getting a group together to make ‘kids playing here signs’ for your street, maybe a beautification project, hosting a picnic, maybe a tea party or BBQ for your block? We encourage you to consider applying for a Neighbourhood Small Grant. If you have not heard about this program, it is worth looking into. Speaking from experience this program is a great way to get to know your neighbours and build community. You can apply for grants of up to $500 for projects in your community. The aim of the program, which is funded by the Vancouver Foundation, is to connect and engage people within the community in which they live. Neighbours can get together and make an application for a variety of events. Some examples of past events include neighbourhood block parties, clean up campaigns, ethnic cooking classes, emergency preparedness plans, community gardens or an outdoor movie night. This is not for adults only, kids and teens are encouraged to get into the act.  The ideas are only limited by your imagination. Once your application is submitted, it is reviewed by a Resident Advisory Committee made up of residents in your neighbourhood. Applicants are advised in late May/early June if they receive funding and are asked to have their projects completed by November 2018.  To apply for a grant, visit Neighbourhood Small Grant.  Note, the site is available in several different languages. Application deadline is Monday, April 8, 2018.  To learn more, check out the video “How To Apply” which shares other people’s ideas. 

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