COMMUNITY CALENDAR
/OUR APOLOGIES …
On or about February 1 the February “Community Calendar” post vanished due to a technical glitch, or our editor’s sheer incompetence. We aren’t sure which. Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience. The rest of our February issue remains intact, and a current “Community Calendar” will appear for March.
In This Month’s Community Calendar …
HEADS-UP, WEST ENDERS: Call for Artists is out for May’s Art In The City participants, and the West End / Coal Harbour / Barclay Manor Winter Guide is on the stands.
JANUARY HIGHLIGHTS: The West End Community Centre Association’s AGM, the gardening club, the book club, Sing City Choir tryouts, and more!
SENIOR MOMENTS: The monthly Tea with Anthony, the Senior’s Planning Table, and movies three afternoons a week.
(click on images to enlarge)
Heads-Up West Enders …
ART IN THE CITY
Artists’ Information Packages Available
Spring and the delights of May might seem a long ways off, but time flies and if you’re an artist, registration is now open for the West End’s biggest annual art exhibition and sale, Art In The City 2020.
Artists are encouraged to reserve their exhibition space early to avoid disappointment. Get your artists information package by emailing westendartinthecity@gmail.com. We hope to see you and your amazing creations in May!
COMMUNITY CENTRES’ WINTER GUIDE IS OUT
Registration For Winter Programs Now Open
The Winter Guide to programs and activities at The West End Community Centre, Coal Harbour Community Centre, and Barclay Manor is now on the stands and registration is under way.
You’ll find copies of the Guide at those community centres and numerous other locations around the West End and Coal Harbour community. Register now for your favourite program -- in person at one of the centres or online at vancouver.ca/westendrec .
January Highlights …
THRIVING vs SURVIVING
A Holistic Approach To Parenting
Thursday, January 16
St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church Salons / 1018 Nelson
7:30 to 9 p.m.
By Donation
How do we support the children in our lives to be strong and healthy while maintaining balance and moving towards optimal health as adults and parents? Do you feel constantly pulled to do and be more as a parent? Does the thought of adding one more thing to your life feel exhausting and overwhelming? Come join other parents for an interactive evening exploring ways to cultivate resilience and support each other in making small, sustainable changes that over time, will help you and your children thrive physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually!
“TRY IT OUT” OPEN MIC
Thursday, January 16
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 p.m., first come, first served. One mic, acoustic guitar amp, and piano provided.
WEST END URBAN GARDENING CLUB
Community Potluck, Seed Library & Workshop
Sunday, January 19
1 - 2:30 p.m.
West End Community Centre / Barclay Room
Free / Registration at 604.257.8333
Join the West End Neighbourhood Food Network at a family-friendly monthly gathering. Bring something tasty to share, get gardening information, discuss possibilities for creating more gardening spaces in the West End, pick up a West End Urban Garden Calendar, and learn about the many other West End Neighbourhood Food Network events and activities. The workshop topic for January is Exploring Responses to the Climate Emergency and will include sharing actions you are taking yourself. Each workshop session is followed by a meeting of the West End Urban Garden Club (separate registration required).
WEST END COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION AGM
Get Involved In Your Community!
Tuesday, January 21
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The West End Community Centre
The West End Community Centre Association is the governing body for the West End Community Centre, the Coal Harbour Community Centre, and Barclay Manor. The association’s mission statement reads: “To enhance the quality of life of the residents of the West End and Coal Harbour communities by providing recreational, educational, and social activities and services which are accessible and responsive to the changing needs of the community.” That’s you — our community! If you’re not yet a member drop by one of the three facilities to purchase a $5 membership (which will be waived for low-income members) and bring your passion for community to the Annual General Meeting. Review the past year’s operations and financial picture (it’s good!) and take part in electing the 2020/2021 WECCA board of directors. Help keep our community’s programs and centres alive!
Sing City Choir.
SING CITY ROCK & POP CHOIR TRYOUTS
Attend The Year’s First Rehearsal
Tuesday, January 21
7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
St. Paul’s Anglican Church / 1130 Jervis
Free
Register at singcity.ca
Email singcity@live.ca for further information
Sing City Rock Choir is Vancouver’s largest and most popular rock choir, with 80 to 100 members. Sing City also has a smaller, more advanced women’s choir, Fat Chants (jazz and funk). This choir rehearses every three weeks only, so a lot of our Sing City members are in both.
If you can’t relate to classical choir music and are more comfortable with the modern, contemporary songs you’ve heard and loved throughout your lifetime, then Sing City is definitely the choir for you. To add to the fun, whenever the choir has a new song ready, they leave rehearsal early and head out to offer a pop-up mini-concert on Davie Street!
And you can join Sing City whether or not you’ve sung before, we only ask that you can carry a tune and have fun! So plan to attend the January 21 rehearsal and sing out!
Sharon Bala with The Boat People.
FIRESIDE BOOK CLUB
Friday, January 24
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 January book will be The Boat People by Sharon Bala. This is an extraordinary novel about a group of refugees who survive a perilous ocean voyage only to face the threat of deportation amid accusations of terrorism. Pick up your copy now, and plan to join the conversation!
VOTE TO SPEND $100,000 IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Participatory Budgeting Process
Saturday, January 25
Gordon Neighbourhood House (1019 Broughton)
2 to 4 p.m.
Free
In 2020 the City of Vancouver will be directing $100,000 from local parking fees towards community enhancement projects in the West End. Over the past several months the community-led WE Choo$e Impact Team have been researching local needs and developing ideas with the aim of identifying a group of projects to improve the West End.
The project team was organized into six sub-committees: Arts and Culture, Health, Safety and Environment, Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Schools and Education. Each group has researched ideas and local needs, and identified a series of projects for the community.
Now it’s your turn to take part in the process by casting your vote for the projects you would like to see go forward. Voting will continue at “pop-up voting locations” around the West End. Follow The West End Journal on Facebook for regular updates on the voting schedule and locations.
Results of the voting will be announced at Gordon Neighbourhood House on Saturday, February 8 at 2 p.m.
Find out more about the participatory budgeting process here.
COMMUNITY CARE FIRST AID
Be Ready For An Emergency
Saturday, January 25
9:10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
West End Community Centre / Barclay Room
$90 / 604.257.8333 for information and registration
Each month the West End Community Centre hosts a First Aid or other health care session provided in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross. The January course is designed to prepare you to deal with emergencies in the home or workplace and will cover the skills needed to recognize and respond to cardiovascular emergencies for adults (CPR Level C) and topics such as choking, airway and breathing emergencies in babies and children, and AED certification. A Canadian Red Cross certificate valid for three years will be awarded upon completion.
St. Paul’s Anglican Church will be the topic of the January 30 “Tales from the West End” talk.
TALES FROM THE WEST END
The Story of St. Paul’s Church
Thursday, January 30
JJ Bean (1209 Bidwell)
4 to 6 p.m.
Free
The 2020 Tales from the West End series will kick off with a talk on the history of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, which has been serving West Enders since the 1880s by church archivist Leslie Buck.
Tales from the West End is an opportunity to learn more about the history of our community, share your own West End memories, and enjoy tea or coffee compliments of the host, JJ Bean.
The 2020 Tales from the West End series will be held on the last Thursday of every other month through the year. In the works for the future are presentations by students involved in the King George Secondary School Archives project on their school's history, the story of Gordon Neighbourhood House from its humble beginnings, a retrospective of the restaurants that have served hungry West Enders over the years, and a presentation by MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert on the MLAs who have represented our riding since its inception in 1917.
Tales from the West End founding coordinator Janet Leduc has relocated to Prince Rupert to be with her daughter and family, and Kevin Dale McKeown, editor and publisher of The West End Journal, has taken on organizing these events. If you have any suggestions for future topics, he'll be happy to hear from you at kevindalemckeown@gmail.com.
And, if you are not on the email list for updates and reminders, please let Kevin know and he'll add you to the list.
IN THE LABYRINTH
Music In The Labyrinth
Friday, January 31
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. 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. Click here to learn more about the St. Paul's Labyrinth.
ONCE A WEEK, EVERY WEEK
COMMUNITY LUNCH ... Mondays through Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. at Gordon Neighbourhood House. An opportunity for community members to enjoy a meal together, meet new people, and catch up with friends in a casual environment. On Mondays it’s a pay-what-you-can (suggested donation $2) vegan hot dish. For Tuesdays and Thursdays, it’s a delicious three-course menu for $5. Wednesdays there’s a a pay-what-you-can Nourish Bowl. For more information contact welcome@gordonhouse.org or 604.683.2554.
FAMILY STORY TIME ... Tuesdays 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-schoolers and toddlers of all abilities to enjoy and learn together.
WEST END FAMILY PLACE … This successful program has now been expanded. West End families can play, learn and grow at Gordon Neighbourhood House. West End Family Place is a drop-in program for children and their parents or caregivers, featuring activities that promote healthy child development, including circle time with songs and stories, free play, and arts and crafts. Mondays everyone is welcome from 9 to 11:30 a.m. On Tuesdays it’s families only from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays are also everyone welcome from 9 to 11:30 a.m., with a families only afternoon session from 2 to 4 p.m. Fridays it’s families only from 9:30 to 11 a.m. And the first Saturday of each month is families only from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
WEST END WRITERS’ CLUB … Wednesdays from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Barclay Manor. West End writers gather to share and critique their work. Includes all genres. Members don’t have to read at every meeting, just enjoy and participate in the discussion. Three free visits, after which there is an annual membership fee of $20.
BABY & ME LUNCHTIME … Wednesdays from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Gordon Neighbourhood House. Enjoy a delicious vegan lunch, connect with other parents in the community, and play with your little one in a safe and nurturing environment. Please register before 10:30 a.m. on the day of by calling 604.683.2554. For further information email familyplace@gordonhouse.org.
FRIDAY NIGHTS FOR TEENS … from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Coal Harbour Community Centre (Multi-Purpose Room). Every week it’s something different, with activities for youth 13 - 18. Upstairs in the Multi-Purpose Room. Info at 604.718.8222.
PRE-TEEN NIGHT … Fridays from 6:15 to 8:45 p.m. at the West End Community Centre. A free program for youth ages 9 to 12. Participants are asked to fill out a waiver, which can be picked up at the WECC front desk.
NAR-ANON FAMILY GROUP … Fridays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Barclay Manor (Piano Room). A gathering for those who know or have known a feeling of desperation concerning the addiction problem of someone near and dear. Confidentiality and anonymity are respected.
Senior Moments …
Note that all West End Seniors’ Network (WESN) events, unless otherwise indicated, are for current WESN members. Passes for non-members are available at Barclay Manor reception. Annual membership is $10, a one-week pass is $5, and a day pass is $2. For information on all their programs and events visit their online newsletter here.
TEA WITH ANTHONY
Monday, January 13
1 to 2 p.m.
Barclay Manor
Register at 604.669.5051
Free
An opportunity to enjoy tea and conversation with West End Seniors' Network executive director Anthony Kupferschmidt. Discuss the issues impacting the organization and your life as a senior in the West End. Bring your questions, suggestions, and viewpoints -- they provide the tea and snacks. The November discussion will be around participatory budget voting and plans for the garden. Registration required.
A PARTY FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY
Monday, January 20
Barclay Manor (1447 Barclay)
2 to 3 p.m.
Free
Reservations at 604-669-5051 or programs@wesn.ca
Are you a member of the West End Seniors’ Network ... and if you're a senior and aren't a member, why not? During the month of your birthday, you and a guest are invited to celebrate your special day with others whose birthday fall in the same month.
Join the party for tea, birthday cake and live music.
WEST END SENIORS’ COMMUNITY PLANNING TABLE
Friday, January 31
10 a.m. to 12 noon
St. Andrew’s Wesley Church (1018 Nelson)
Free
The monthly Seniors’ Community Planning Table is an opportunity for West End seniors, community organizations, and service providers to connect and share information and views on issues important to seniors in our community. Each month’s agenda includes updates on West End programs for seniors, a keynote speaker, and discussion on a topic of interest to West Enders.
For information on this or upcoming month’s topics and speakers, contact Sharon Isaak at isaaksharon@gmail.com or 604.880.2743.
ONCE A WEEK, EVERY WEEK
SENIORS’ LOUNGE … Tuesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. at Gordon Neighbourhood House. An informal gathering where you can catch up with old friends, make new ones, and get to know the neighbours. There will be coffee, cookies, and conversations. Bring a joke and share a smile! Free.
AT THE MOVIES … Tuesdays and Fridays at 1:30 p.m. at Barclay Manor (Piano Room) West End Seniors’ Network hosts two movie series (no Monday movie this month). Free admission, with popcorn included! Find this month’s screening details in their online newsletter here.
