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South Asian Seniors: Chair Exercises Class
Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian seniors to register for Chair Exercises Class to improve your fitness with strength training, flexibility, posture, and some cardio activities through gentle exercises taught by a certified fitness instructor. The Chair Exercise Class will be held every Friday from 10:15 to 11.30 a.m. starting from August 1, at Shanti Niketan Hall at 8321 – 140th Street, Surrey. There are limited seats. Those interested to register should contact Surendra Handa at 604-507-9945.
Honda Celebration of Light
Saturday, August 2 at English Bay in Vancouver as the final performance of the Honda Celebration of Light, the largest offshore international fireworks competition in the world. Japan presents the last show. The U.S. and France presented the first and second shows. www.hondacelebrationoflight.com
Surrey: Movies Under the Stars
Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association is putting on Movies Under the Stars, turning Holland Park (13428 Old Yale Road), into a free outdoor movie theatre. The event will run on Saturdays: August 2, 9, 16, and 23 with entertainment starting at 5 p.m., and movies starting at dusk. The first movie is Despicable Me 2 (August 2). Rio 2 will be screened on August 9. On August 2, guests will be treated to a variety of pre-show musical performances by Derrick Fedele, the 2014 Jr. Talent Winners and the Children’s performer, Zox of the Forest. Also, movie goers can look forward to a BBQ provided by the North Surrey Lions Club as well as a 50/50 draw, trivia contest with prizes, and more. Event: Movies Under the Stars- Rio 2
South Asian Seniors: Annual Picnic
Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian adults / seniors and families to join all devotees of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple Surrey for the annual picnic to be held on August 3, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. organized by Mandir Management Committee at Bear Creek Park picnic sheds at 139th Street and 88th Avenue in Surrey. Seniors’ team of volunteers will do the seva for preparing fruits for distribution and serving fresh fruits, snacks, pop, juice, water, lunch and dessert. There will be entertainment, Antakshari Music Competition and other activities. Seniors’ team of volunteers will help to wrap up and leave the park area clean after the picnic is over. Contact Surendra Handa at 604-507-9945 for further details.
Public Rally on Palestine
The Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians (CPPC) is holding a public rally and a vigil ‘An Evening of Solidarity with Palestine’ on Monday, August 4 at 7 p.m. at Holland Park, Surrey (corner of King George Boulevard and 100 Avenue / across the street King George Sky Train station). The event is being held in association with Fraser Valley Peace Council, Canada Palestine Association, Independent Jewish Voices and South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy (SANSAD).
NDP Eid Open House
Join MP Jinny Sims and MP Jasbir Sandhu and MLAs Sue Hammell, Harry Bains and Bruce Ralston for their annual Eid Open House as they celebrate the end of Ramadan with family, friends and neighbours. All are welcome. Tuesday, August 5, from 5-8 p.m., at India Banquet Hall at 13030 76th Avenue, Surrey.
Surrey Board of Trade: International Trade Minister
On Thursday, August 7, the Surrey Board of Trade will host Canada’s International Trade Minister Ed Fast at Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel (15269 104 Avenue, Surrey). The Government of Canada has many tools available to support Canadian companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises to explore and do business effectively in new markets. Find out what the Minister is doing to renew the focus on trade promotion and economic diplomacy in the recently released Global Markets Action Plan. He will speak on: 1. How to work with the Private Sector to achieve Canada’s Success in International Markets. 2. How to Unify and Build Canada’s Business Brand in the Global Marketplace. 3. Status on the Free Trade Agreement with Canada’s major trading partners including Korea, India, Japan and the EU. Lunch and Registration – 11:30 a.m.; Program 12-1:30 p.m. Admission for non-media guests: $45 + GST each (member) or $60+ GST each (non-member).
Scotiabank: Free Outdoor Movie Series
On Thursday, August 7, 6-11:30 p.m. (show starts at sunset) Scotiabank will hold its next movie night at Vancouver’s Canada Place as part of its 32-night, seven-city, free outdoor movie series. ‘Waterfront Cinema @ Canada Place’ presented by Scotiabank, will share the feeling of free with hundreds of Vancouver residents every Thursday night. Free popcorn will be available for the first 300 attendees. Free VIP seats will also be provided to the first 50 attendees who show their Scotiabank Scene Debit or Visa cards. August 7 – The Notebook. August 14 – Ghostbusters. August 21 – The Hunger Games. August 28 – Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. More details at www.scotiabank.com/outdoormovies.
Free Concert for Peace
August 8 at 8 p.m. at the St James Community Square, 10th Avenue and Trutch, Vancouver. Join us in celebrating the music of peace visionary and composer maestro Sri Chinmoy, with a special tribute to the life of legendary flutist Paul Horn. Featuring special performances by: Canada’s own the Pavaka Ensemble; legendary flutist and saxaphonist, Premik Russell Tubbs; Canadian singer, Sara Fretz; Gandharva Loka Orchestra’s Musical Director, Panchajanya Burri; from Ottawa, the soulful Sangit Surabhi; Austria’s reknowned sitarist, Kanala Auer; Juno-nominated composer, Timothy Corlis; Talking Stick Festival and Full Circle Founder, Margo Kane; Dutch composer and pianist, Vapushtara; and guest choral singers. For tickets, call 604-683-7733 or come to Gandharva Loka World Music at 1650 Johnston Street on Granville Island.
Richmond Maritime Festival
August 8 to 10. BC’s oldest shipyard, the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, will be transformed with festive, maritime-themed decor, spontaneous performances and ingenious exhibits. Free family event at the naturally spectacular 3.5-hectare (8.5-acre) site on the Steveston waterfront. This year’s festival will run three full days from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from Friday, August 8 to Sunday, August 10. Opening night of the festival will feature an outdoor evening concert featuring the roots blues, zydeco, swamp pop and folk sounds of The Swamp Dogs performing from 5 to 7 p.m. Throughout the weekend, festival goers will be entertained by music, roving performers, painters, wood carvers, potters, stilt performers, puppets, storytellers, dancers, drummers and, of course, tempting offerings from a variety of food and drink vendors.
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
India Day
India Day is being celebrated on Sunday, August 24 at 2 p.m. to commemorate Independence Day of India. It is being organized by the Vedic Hindu Cultural Society at 8321-140th Street in Surrey. Dr Subramanian Swamy, former Indian minister, will be bringing greetings and a message from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sai Japa
All devotees are invited at Hindu Cultural Society and Community Centre of B.C.(3885 Albert Street, Burnaby) to participate in Sai Japa / Bhajans on Saturday, August 30 at 5 p.m. Program: 5:15-6:15 Bhajan /Kirtan; 6:30-7:15 p.m. Sai Japa; 7:30 p.m. Priti Bhojan. Contact: Rajubhai Parekh at 604-327-8259; Vijaybhai Dayal at 604-986-5958; Kantibhai Patel at 604-522-7989; or the Temple at 604-299-5922.
Surrey Libraries
Youth English Conversation Circle at Guildford Library. If you are an English language learner or have basic or intermediate English skills, join us at the Guildford Library for these fun, weekly sessions to practice speaking English. Thursdays, August 7 – August 28, 4-5:30 p.m., at Guildford Library, 15105 – 105 Avenue, Surrey. For ages 13-18. Drop in (no need to register). Free. Need more information? Call 604-591-4176. www.surreylibraries.ca
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.
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. 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
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.