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Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar
On July 5, 5:30-8 p.m., the gurdwara organizers are inviting all communities and faiths to join them for a GNFK (Guru Nanak Free Kitchen) Mediation Evening – Celebrating Community Harmony. Bring your friends and families – and meditate together for peace and harmony. There will also be activities for children.
Carnaval del Sol
Carnaval del Sol is back on Granville Street Mall on July 5 and 6. It is part of a week-long celebration of Latin America week in Vancouver. Scheduled events include locally and nationally renowned Latin musical artists, folk dance troupes, a marketplace that displays the work of Latin American artisans and childrens’ games. There will be tasty homemade Latin American cuisine as well as a wide range of local food trucks, serving up some of Vancouver’s very best street cuisine.
South Asian Seniors: Healthy Cooking & Tasting
Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian adult / senior members and non-members to attend Practical Demonstration of Healthy Cooking and Tasting Healthy Food by Sukhy Chander of Vancouver on Sunday, July 6 from 2 to 3: 30 p.m. at Shanti Niketan Hall of Lakshmi Narayan Temple, 8321 – 140th Street, Surrey. There will be a question-and-answer session after the demonstration. Tea and light snacks will be served. Contact Surendra Handa at 604-507-9945 for more information.
Indo-Africa Chairtable Society
Invites all to Shivpuran Katha by Shree Giri Bapu in Hindi at All Saints Parish Church, 1405 Como Lake, Coquitlam, from now to July 8, starting at 6:30 p.m. Pooja: 6:30 p.m. by Shree Sharadbhai Shastri. Maha Shivpuran Katha: 7 p.m. Priti Bhojan from 5:30 to 7 p.m.Shri Mukeshgiribapu is known as ‘Giribapu’ among his followers. Along his Shivkatha, Shri Giribapu inspires and motivates for free plantation, literacy, giving up addiction, preventing dowry, preventing infanticide, protecting animals and birds, and being vegetarian. For more info, contact Vasant Lakhani, President, Indo-Africa Charitable Society, at (604) 987-1925.
Indian Summer Festival
Event: Dinner By Starlight, With Vij and special guest The Dabbawalas of Mumbai. Date: Saturday, July 12 at 7 p.m. Where: Secret Location (revealed to ticket holders only). Cost: $350 / person. * Festival Dates: July 3-12. Event schedule: http://indiansummerfestival.ca/events/ Ticket information: http://indiansummerfestival.ca/tickets/ Location: SFU’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. For more updates: Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/IndianSummerCanada or on Twitter @IndianSummerCND.
YVR Take-off Fridays
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) getting ready to host its 5th summer celebration event YVR Take-Off Fridays at Domestic, International & U.S. Terminals, Departures Level 3. Every Friday from now to August 29, YVR will come alive with fun-filled activities, free entertainment, delicious food samples and deals for travellers and locals alike. Running Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the event features live entertainment by local performers and beats courtesy of the Lower Mainland’s hottest DJs. For the little ones, caricaturists and balloonists will be onsite, complemented by face painting and photos ops with the beloved YVR mascots. Lunch and shopping specials also await visitors. Plus, back for a second consecutive year is the popular YVR Take-Off Fridays’ Paper Airplane Competition, scheduled for Friday, July 11 at 11 a.m. Participants of all ages are invited to vie for the chance to scoop up huge prizes, as they square off to create an airplane that will soar past their competitors. Paper airplane expert Ralph Heldt will coach participants on the aerodynamics of paper airplanes and which folding methods will yield the farthest flights..Enjoy a special YVR Take-Off Fridays parking rate of $5 for up to four hours in YVR’s Parkade, or begin your adventure on the Canada Line and get to the airport in 26 minutes or less.
India Summer Festival: Culture and the Graphic Novel
Three graphic novelists, who act as modern day minstrels, combining the art of storytelling with a mission for political action and social change, Orijit Sen, David Wong, and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, will speak on their art as an extension of an older form of storytelling. Orijit Sen’s book River of Stories presents a critical view of India’s large dams and the impact they have on indigenous people. His recent work – a giant seven storey high mural for the Khalsa Heritage Museum in Punjab – is rendered like a graphic novel with influences of the Mughal miniature style and chronicles life in the Punjab, with stories of the mundane and the mythic. These three image makers will talk of their work, and the intersections between art, aesthetics, memory and politics. A question and answer session with the audience will follow. The event is on July 9 at 6 p.m. at SFU Woodward’s, Vancouver. It will be moderated by Charlie Smith of Georgia Straight. It is sponsored by Dr. Hari Sharma Foundation. Website link for tickets: http://indiansummerfestival.ca/events/artpolitik/
MP Jinny Sims Annual Summer BBQ
Newton-North Delta MP Jinny Sims’ Annual Community BBQ with Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains. There will be games and activities for kids. Saturday, July 12, 12-3 p.m. at Unwin Park, 13313 68th Avenue.
Proper Posture, Healthy Spine
Richmond Public Library will host a free program called “Proper Posture, Healthy Spine” on Wednesday, July 16 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, 2nd floor community place, 7700 Minoru Gate. To register, visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/events or call 604-231-6413. This program is offered in English. Guest speaker Dr. Natalie Siu, a local family chiropractor, will talk about proper posture, how to be ergonomically safe during daily activities, and symptoms and causes of repetitive strain disorder. There will be an opportunity to learn and participate in simple stretches and postural exercises that can be incorporated into a daily schedule.
Healthy Lifestyle for Women
Richmond Public Library and S.U.C.C.E.S.S. are partnering to offer a free program called “Canadian Healthy Lifestyle for Women” on Thursday, July 17, 1-2:30 p.m. at Cambie Branch library, located at 11590 Cambie Road. To register, visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, call 604-273-2223 or register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/events. This program is in English. Settlement Practitioner Gurpreet Faridkot will give tips on living a healthy lifestyle through nutrition, physical activity and social interaction, as well as tips on avoiding unhealthy choices.
Fiji Festival
Jai Fiji Television and Bula! Fiji Association of B.C. present Fiji Festival on Saturday, July 19, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Swangard Stadium, corner of Kingsway and Boundary, Burnaby. Free admission. Cultural dances and entertainment. The festival begins with a yagona ceremony which includes various dignitaries. For more information, call Vincent Puran Prakash at 604-434-3920. Email: jaifiji@yahoo.com. www.jaifijitv.com.
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
People with ongoing health issues may know what they ‘should’ do for better health, but find it difficult to get started – or lose motivation when they run into problems. Richmond Public Library is hosting a free six-week “Chronic Disease Self-Management Program”, offered by the University of Victoria, Centre on Aging, Mondays from now until July 21 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Brighouse (Main) Branch in the 2nd floor Community Place, 7700 Minoru Gate. To register, visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, call 604-231-6413 or register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/events. To see the program evaluation report or for more information on the program go to www.selfmanagementbc.ca
BC Summer Reading Club
Surrey Libraries invites kids of all ages to join the 2014 BC Summer Reading Club. It’s free. This year’s theme is Funny Business. Sign up at the library has started. Every child receives a reading log to keep track of their reading. Kids visit the library regularly to collect special weekly stickers for their reading log, enter contests, and win prizes. Kids that read for 49 days receive an official 2014 medal. Kids can participate in many fun free programs from magic shows, to the one-woman circus act, to a sound-effects performer. As well there are family storytimes, craft programs, book clubs, LEGO clubs, computer and games events, and more. For more information, and to learn about other free library programs, contests and activities for kids, call the Surrey Libraries at 604-598-7445 or visit http://www.surreylibraries.ca/5370.aspx
SikhRi Sikh summer camp
Daily program at this Sikh camp will feature a daily diwan, group activities, sports and fun-filled learning classes. The sessions at the summer camp for Sikh kids will be focusing on gurmat, journey through time; vismad, kirtan, creative arts workshop, gatka, and team building activities that seek to inspire the Sikh values. Other principles of universal significance are also incorporated in the Sikh camp that do not disturb the harmony of the Sikh faith. July 21-25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily at Khalsa School – Newton Campus, Surrey. Theme: Guru Nanak Sahib Ji. Participants: Children ages 5-16. Donations / Costs: $250 or get the Early Bird discount. SikhRi, a non-profit organization, will provide kids with nutritional snacks and meals during the camp hours. To offset the cost of the camp, following donations are suggested: register by June 25: $225 for the first child; $175 / child for additional children in same family. Email: lali.pawa@sikhri.org or call 604-505-0502. This Sikh camp is supported by volunteers who are passionate about Sikhi and Sikh kids. Consider volunteering.
Introduction to Canadian Citizenship
This free program in Punjabi / Hindi caters to permanent residents who are applying for Canadian Citizenship. An introduction will be provided on topics like Canada’ History, Geography, Government and much more. Participants will learn on how to study “Discover Canada”. Every Thursday from August 7-September 11, 1-2:30 p.m. At South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, 6470 Victoria Drive at 49th) in Vancouver. Free Child minding and refreshments will be provided. For more information and registration, call: 604-324-6212, ext. 134.
Chariot Festival of India
The 41st annual Chariot Festival of India also known as Jagannath Rath Yatra is taking place in Downtown Vancouver on August 10, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Second Beach, Stanley Park, Vancouver. This colourful and fun-filled cultural parade starts at 11:30 a.m. from Beach Avenue at Howe Street (under the Granville Street Bridge) and travelling along Beach Avenue, culminates at Second Beach at 1 p.m. Features: Entertainment on two stages; music & dance; live theatre; mendi hand tattoos; yoga & meditation; face painting; veggie-cooking demos; clowns & balloon artists; free feasting for 10,000; kids fun tents; market bazaar. All families and friends invited. Free admission. Organizer: ISKCON Vancouver. Information: iskconvan@gmail.com
