West End Fest!

Celebrate our neighbourhood at West End Fest, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 9. There will be arts and crafts, community booths (a great opportunity to sign up for that group you've been meaning to join for ages), face painting and baloon twisting for the kids (and your inner child), and a photo booth.

Top the afternoon off with the BBQ fundraiser for youth programs at the West End Community Centre and call it a great afternoon hanging with the neighbours.

At King George Field, behind King George High School on Denman. See you there!

A New Deal For The Community Centre

The West End Community Centre Association (WECCA) will be hosting a public meeting to inform members and the community about the proposed Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) between WECCA and the Vancouver Park Board.

This meeting is open to all members and the entire community and will be held on Saturday September 16th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Bidwell Room at the Community Centre.

In this meeting, WECCA will brief the community on the principles behind the new JOA and the potential impact on the Centre and its facilities, if the WECCA signs the agreement.

Tales from the West End

An evening of storytelling as West End residents, past and present, share tales of our community and its past. Tales from the West End takes place the third Tuesday of September, October, November, February, and March. September’s featured storyteller is editor and publisher of The West End Journal Kevin Dale McKeown, debunking a popular myth about the naming Davie Street.

Bring your own stories and photos to share with your neighbours. This free event takes place at JJ Bean on Davie at Bidwell, located fittingly enough under the facade of the historic Maxine’s on Bidwell (top photo above). Tuesday, September 19 from 6 to 8 p.m.

West End Art Market

Out and about on Sunday? Be sure to drop by the weekly West End Art Market at Jim Deva Plaza (Bute and Davie), where you’ll find up to 32 artists exhibiting and selling their works and live entertainment to add to the festive mood. Sundays through to October 29, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information at www.wearts.ca.

Follow the Season at the Farmers Market

The annual West End Farmers Market continues through the summer and fall with an array of delicious taste treats that change with the season as crops ripen and new produce becomes available. Celebrating its 20th year as a neighbourhood must-do, the Farmers Market is located on Comox Street, between Bute and Thurlow. Every Saturday West Enders can shop for the best in local, seasonal produce, artisanal bread, prepared foods, craft beer, wine, spirits, ethically raised meat, eggs, and dairy, sustainable seafood, and handmade crafts. Hot food & coffee on-site as well. Saturdays through October 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Philosophers' Café at Joe Fortes Library

The Philosophers Café, a monthly gathering at Joe Forts Library in the West End Community Centre. The burning question for September is "Is financial freedom a struggle for the wealthy? Do they have a role to play in reducing the struggles of others?"

Okay, that's actually two questions, but you get the idea..

SFU instructor Farnaz Badiee, who teaches in the interdisciplinary fields related to online learning, multimedia, interactive arts, and computer science, will moderate the conversation

SFU’s Philosophers’ Café is a series of informal public discussions held at various venues throughout Vancouver designed to engage the interests of scholars, seniors, students, philosophers, and non-philosophers through stimulating dialogue and the passionate exchange of ideas.

Thursday, September 7 at Joe Fortes Library from 7 to 8:30 p.m. All cafés are free to attend. No registration is required.

Let’s Do Lunch!

Gordon Neighbourhood House offers a Community Lunch every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12 noon. Mondays and Wednesdays are pay-what-you-can (suggested donation $2) and Tuesdays and Thursdays are $5.

Monday lunches are vegan, featuring local produce; Tuesdays and Thursdays feature three-course lunches from soup to dessert; on Wednesdays you’ll enjoy a “Nourish Bowl” a delicious hot meal in a bowl, typically with a layer of cooked grains on the bottom, a mix of cooked and raw seasonal vegetables, some protein (tofu, chickpeas or meat), and to top it off, a mouth watering savoury sauce.

For further information contact welcome@gordonhouse.org or 604-683-2554.

West End Seniors’ Network (WESN) AGM

The West End’s umbrella organization for all things senior in our community, The West End Seniors’ Network, will hold their Annual General Meeting on Friday, September 22 at the West End Community Centre. Lunch (by donation) begins at 12:30 p.m. and the meeting gets under way at 1:15 p.m.

The WESN operates Kay’s Place drop-in for seniors and the Clothes & Collectibles thrift shop, both in Denman Mall, and numerous programs at their headquarters in Barclay Manor.

RSVP to attend at info@wesn.ca or 604.669.5051 by Friday, Sept. 15.

The Fireside Book Club

Connect with other avid readers to talk about what you’ve been reading and why you love it — or didn’t! Every 2nd and 4th Friday of each month. On September 8th it’s Reader’s Choice (discuss whatever book you like) and on Sept. 22 the book is “Nostalgia" by M.G. Vassanji. At 11 a.m. in the Stanley Court Room of the Joe Fortes Library.

Young Ideas

A Vancouver Foundation survey in 2012 found that a third of Metro Vancouver’s young adults say that they find it difficult to make friends and feel more alone than they would like to be. In the West End, where 48 percent of residents are ages 20 to 39, Gordon Neighbourhood House’s Young Ideas initiative is a group of volunteers in that age group who organize events, activities and workshops to create opportunities for connection, including soccer at the beach meet-ups, a hip-hop themed pop-up pub, and drag queen bingo. The program continues to gain momentum with each event and activity. Call Jim Balakshin at 604.683.2554 for information and to get involved.

Pop-Up Disco Finale at Jim Deva Plaza

DJ HEATHER WILL BE PRESIDING AT THE POP-UP DISCO SEPTEMBER 9 AT JIM DEVA PLAZA.

After a successful first season, Public Disco will come to a close with one final open air pop-up party at Jim Deva Plaza.

Celebrated DJ Heather, named one of Chicago’s top 45 artists alongside Kanye West, Billy Corgan and Green Velvet, has lined up a playlist that will included Luke McKeehan, Which Nancy, Diana Boss, Joel West, and DJ G Luve. And don’t miss the free sparkle station by Jena jac.

Let’s not forget to mention that this event is Free! Wear your favourite disco outfits or tie-dye shirts and get moving.

Saturday, September 9 from 1 to 8 p.m.