COMMUNITY CALENDAR
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One Offs & Limited Engagements
TREE TALKS & WALKS
Cherry Blossom Festival Outings
April 4, 7, & 21
Times & Locations As Noted Below
Free
Tree Talks and Walks are a guided cherry blossom tour by our fantastic “Sakura” Team, who have done their best to schedule the walks when the trees are in bloom at the best locations! The locations all have historical or cultural features of interest in addition to the blossoms, and walk leaders will be sure to the outing interesting and fun even if you don’t catch the peak bloom at the walk locations.
Cherry Blossom Viewing is a cool sport – dress for it! No registration required – just show up with your boots and an umbrella.
The Walks”
Thurs. April 4 / Cherry & heritage walk in Mandarin in downtown Coal Harbour / 10 to 11:30 / Meet at the lobby of Hyatt Regency at 655 Burrard Street. Led by Joseph Lin, director of the Green Club of BC. Joseph knows more about Vancouver street trees than maybe anyone, and his enthusiasm is infectious.
Sun. April 7 / Tree Talks and Walks – Stanley Park / 1:30 to 3 p.m. Meet in the lower Rose Garden in Stanley Park, near the arbor.
Sun. April 21 / Tree Talks and Walks - Easter Parade / 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. A Walk in the West End. Meet at Burrard Skytrain Station, on Burrard on the corner nearest the Hyatt Regency . Presented by Wendy Cutler. Wendy has been scouting and documenting the tree locations in these neighbourhoods since the festival began, and she has led several sakura tours. This walk begins with the singing of Easter Parade, accompanied by ukuleles! Wear your Easter Bonnet for the occasion, and you bring your ukulele. The singing begins at 1:25 sharp (but in tune). This is usually a long walk. Note that the location of this walk may change … visit this site for updates.
INCOME TAX CLINICS
Saturdays April 6 & 20
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Barclay Manor
Free
Need help with filing your income tax? Attend one of the free clinics sponsored by the West Ed Seniors’ Network — but open to all ages. The clinics are for eligible individuals — family income below $35,000 for a single individual, $45,000 for a family of two, $47,000 for a family of three, and $50,000 for a family of four. Simple tax situations are those with no income, or income from lower-income employment, pensions, RRSPs, support payments, or scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, or grants, and interest income under $1,000.
WEST END SPRING ART MARKET
Saturday, April 13
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Denman Place Mall
Local creativity takes over the concourse at Denman Place Mall as The West End Art Market springs into the new season with day of exhibitor vendors offering everything from fine arts to crafts, literary works, and one-of-a-kind collectibles. The market is a space for artists and neighbours to come together and form connections while contributing to the creative economy of our neighbourhood.
EASTER CARNIVAL
Family Fun At Coal Harbour Community Centre
Saturday, April 13
10 a.m. - 12 noon
Coal Harbour Community Centre
$5.50 per child advance registration / $7.50 at the door
Hippity, hoppity, spring has sprung! Join the Easter Bunny for an Easter egg hunt, arts & crafts, and play time to celebrate the season. The excitement will inlude a bouncy castle, face painting, balloon making, a photo booth, and animal display. Parent participation is required and pre-registration is recommended.
FREE FINANCIAL WORKSHOPS
Help From G&F Financial Group
Tuesdays, April 16 & 23 & June 4
7 - 8:30 p.m.
West End Community Centre / Meeting Room 2
Free.
Recently having set up shop at a new Denman Street location, G&F Financial Group are presenting a series of financial information workshops at the Community Centre. The first (April 16) is “Understanding Loans”, an interactive workshop which will explore the different types of credit and loans, credit reports, and how to prepare yourself when applying for a loan. The second workshop, on April 23, is “Understanding Investments and Government Sponsored Plans” where the topics will discuss different investment options and some common investments strategies, Registered Retirement Savings Plans, and other registered savings plans. The final workshop, on June 4, will be “Starting A Business - Exploring Self-Employment” and will be about taking that hobby or idea you have always wanted to turn into a business and will offer insights into what you’ll need to make it happen.
“TRY IT OUT” OPEN MIC
Every Third Thursday (April 18)
7 to 9 p.m.
Barclay Manor (1447 Barclay)
Free
Got a story to tell, a song to sing, a tune to play? Share your interests and your talent in an informal gathering of friends and neighbours, or just come to listen and enjoy. It’s an opportunity to share music, stories, poems, comedy, interpretive dance, or to just listen and enjoy. “Try It Out “has seen first-time performers as young as five and seasoned performers who are — well, ageless! Everyone gets 10 to 15 minutes (enough time for up to three songs) depending on the size of the group. Sign up at 7, first come, first served. One mic, acoustic guitar amp, and piano provided.
GET OUTA TOWN!
A Day Trip To View The Tulips
Friday, April 19
8:15 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Meet at West End Community Centre / Haro St. Entrance
$99
Take a day to tip toe through the tulip fields at Tulips of the Valley in Chilliwack and the Abbotsford Tulip Festival! The outing includes admissions, and lunch at the Bow & Stern Restaurant. Register early at the West End Community Centre and arrive 15 minutes prior to departure.
Sweetland, by Michael Crummey, is the April selection for the Fireside Book Club.
FIRESIDE BOOK CLUB
Fourth Friday of Every Month (April 26)
11 a.m. to 12 noon
Joe Fortes Library / Stanley Court Room
Free
Connect with other avid readers to talk about what you’ve been reading and why you loved it — or didn’t! The April selection is Sweetland, by Michael Crummey.
WEST END GAMES NIGHT
Last Friday of very month (Arpil 26)
7 - 11 p.m.
Gordon Neighbourhood House (1019 Broughton)
Free
Looking for a spot to play board games with friends? Or do you want to meet neighbours and learn new games? Join the fun at the West End Games Night, hosted by Young Ideas and Gordon Neighbourhood House. If you arrive solo, the friendly hosts can help form groups, and teach you new games.
IN THE LABYRINTH
Music In The Labyrinth
Last Friday of Every Month (April 26)
St. Paul's Anglican Church (1130 Jervis)
7 to 9 p.m.
By Donation
The Labyrinth at St. Paul’s Anglican Church is a full 13-metre replica of the medieval labyrinth laid in the stone floor of the 13th-century Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Chartres, 80Km south of Paris. It is laid on the hardwood upper floor of St Paul's Church Hall in a space once used as a theatre and a basketball court. The Labyrinth is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and 7 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The last Friday of every month the Labyrinth experience is accompanied by a local musician or group. Music on this last Friday, last Friday, April 26 will be guitar, crystal bowls, and vocals by Theda Phoenix. Click here to learn more about the St. Paul's Labyrinth.
Stanley Park’s lakes support a healthy beaver population. (Mark White Photo)
STANLEY PARK EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
Saturday, April 27
12 noon to 4 p.m.
Stanley Park Nature House on Lost Lagoon
Free
Earth Day is celebrated this year on April 22, but the Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPEC) is holding its own celebration on April 27 and everyone is invited to join them at Lost Lagoon to support one of the planet’s most important ecosystems: wetlands. In Stanley Park, the wetlands include Lost Lagoon, Beaver Lake, Ceperley Creek and all the freshwater spaces of the Park. These vital habitats act as nurseries, buffets, and shelter for a diversity of organisms including the Park’s Tree Swallows, Great Blue Herons, and a myriad of birds, amphibians and mammals like beavers and otters.
Pitch in to support your Park’s wetlands with some hands-on invasive plant pulls, English ivy weaving, Tree Swallow data collection, wetland bird crafts and more! Bring your binoculars for a tour of the heron colony with SPEC naturalists. And cookies for everyone!
MP Dr. Hedy Fry will be the guest speaker at this month’s West End Families In Action meeting and dinner at Gordon Neighbourhood House.
WEST END FAMILIES IN ACTION
Meeting With MP Hedy Fry
Saturday, April 27
Gordon Neighbourhood House
5 to 7 p.m.
By Donation with GNH Membership
West End Families In Action (WEFA) is an advisory body to Gordon Neighbourhood House (GNH) whose members work with residents, organizations, policy-makers, and other stake-holders to advocate for the needs of families within the West End. WEFA identifies and suggests solutions to gaps and barriers that impede the full participation of children and their families in the community and city.
The April WEFA meeting and dinner will have the West End’s Member of Parliament Dr. Hedy Fry in attendance to speak about issues that impact the West End. Please let me know any matters you want to raise with our MP. Contact WEFA through their Facebook page here to suggest questions you’d like to hear Dr. Fry speak to.
Once A Week, Every Week …
FAMILY STORY TIME ... Every Tuesday from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. at Joe Fortes Library, join this program for parents and caregivers with young children. Songs, rhymes and stories are shared. Suitable for pre-schooled and toddlers of all abilities to enjoy and learn together.
A COMMUNITY CHOIR … The West End Spirit’s Call Choir meets every Wednesday in The Labyrinth at St. Paul’s church (1140 Jervis) from 7 - 9:15 pm. for a rollicking good time that includes world, classical, pop, and rock music. They are looking for new members of all ages and singing abilities (no experience necessary) and you can find out more here.
FRIDAY NIGHTS FOR YOUTH @ Coal Harbour Community Centre … Every Friday it’s something different, from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. with activities for youth ages 13 - 18. Upstairs in the Multi-Purpose Room. Info at 604.718.8222.
