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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.
South Asian Seniors: India Day Celebrations
Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites all South Asian seniors, adults and families to join all devotees of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple Surrey for India Day Celebrations organized by Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey on August 24 at the temple grounds at 8321 – 140th Street, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come and join us for the India Day Parade of different states of India starting from Brookside Gurudwara Sahib to the temple grounds at 1 p.m. Senior lady parivar members will do seva (service) for preparing food for all devotees in the kitchen. Seniors team of volunteers will be there to do seva (service) for supply of prepared food to all the stalls and for serving snacks and a variety of food items to be served free to all at different food stalls. Seniors team of volunteers will also help to wind up at the temple grounds. Contact Surendra Handa at 604-507-9945 for volunteer positions and for further details.
MOSAIC: Employment Skills Workshops
Thursday, August 28, 1:30–3:30 p.m. Understanding Labour Market & Employer Expectations. Venue: Bob Prittie Metrotown Burnaby Public Library, 6100 Willingdon Avenue. Registration required: Call 604-438-8214, ext. 112.
Workshop for Parenting Skills: English & Punjabi
Richmond Public Library and S.U.C.C.E.S.S. are partnering to offer a free program called “Workshop for Parenting Skills” on Thursday, August 28, 5-6:30 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/progs. This program is in English and Punjabi. “Kids don’t come with a manual. There are no perfect parents or perfect children. We can only do our best, and we all need help once in a while,” says Settlement Practitioner Gurpreet Faridkot, who will be presenting the program. “If you feel overwhelmed and isolated by the demands of being a parent of young children’s, you’re not alone. Come and share experiences and ideas about parenting children.” Faridkot will offer tips on such parenting issues as balancing work and family, love and discipline, consequences that work, creating cooperative families, and more.
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 this fun session to practice speaking English. Thursday, 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 28-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.
“Help The Less Fortunate in our Community”
2nd Annual Event. Location: Secret Resto Lounge 12025-72nd Avenue, Surrey, on Friday, August 29. Doors open at 6 p.m., event starts at 7 p.m., ends at 2 a.m. Tickets: Bring in a non-perishable item or personal hygiene item or clothing or used / new toys or $5 to enter. These will be donated to the “Surrey Urban Mission”(shelter home) this is your ticket to enter. Must be 19+ to enter into this event. An evening full of entertainment lined up, guest speakers, fashion show by Gehna Fashions, Ravishing Rents, and many more, dance performances, belly dancer, singers, lots of prizes to be won, and dance the night away with our DJ. If you have any questions or wish to be a sponsor, volunteer or donate items, contact Jashika at 778-899-7535 or elegantstudio@hotmail.ca.
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. 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.
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.
Richmond Summer Celebration
Let it go at an end-of-summer celebration, with a sampling of free live music, great food, and a free outdoor screening of the newest Disney animated classic Frozen on Sunday, August 31, at the Richmond Olympic Oval waterfront plaza. The celebrations get under way at 4 p.m. so get in the mood for the movie by joining in a Let It Go sing-along with the Frozen Queen and enjoy many other free fun family activities as Summer PlayDays comes to an end. Fast rising Western Canadian singer / songwriter Jordan Klassen heads the entertainment line-up with a performance at 7 p.m. “Violinistextremist” Kytami will wow audiences at 5:45 p.m. with her fusion of classical violin and fiddle styles, mixed with modern hip hop sounds. Throughout the evening, performers include jugglers Mike Battie and Yuki Ueda and plenty of fun for the kids including bouncy castles, the Richmond Art Truck, Tumble Bus, Cartwheels Inc. gymnastics zone, ping pong and more. Delicious food will be available including BBQ hamburgers and hotdogs, Asian cuisine from All About the Grill, Cravings Kettle Corn, Tin Lizzy Donuts and Rocky Point Ice Cream. The Richmond Food Bank Society will be on site and the first 200 people to visit their booth will receive a coupon for a free bag of popcorn. Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item or make a cash donation. Attendees are also encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the shows. Ample free parking will be available at the City of Richmond’s Works Yard (5599 Lynas Lane). Bus shuttles will be running from 3:30 – 10:30 p.m. between the Works Yard and the Richmond Olympic Oval. Additional parking can be found at the WorkSafe BC parking lot. For more details, visit www.richmond.ca/summerplaydays or go to OvalSummerPlayDays on Facebook and @FunRichmond on Instagram and Twitter (#SummerPlayDays).
MOSAIC Seniors Club
MOSAIC Seniors Club is now accepting registrations for free fall (September–December) activities. The club provides free services for seniors aged 55+. Activities include English conversation and computer classes, workshops, field trips and more. Volunteers provide language assistance in a number of languages. All activities and services are free of charge, but registration is required. Due to funding, priority is given to permanent residents, but all are welcome. For enquiries / registration, call 604-254-9626; for Burnaby, call 604-438-8214.
Job Options BC Program
Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society’s Job Options BC program in White Rock / South Surrey is providing opportunities for unemployed non-EI British Columbians 18 years of age or older. Eligibility criteria: * Unemployed British Columbians who are landed immigrants or Canadian citizens and aren’t attending school * Non-EI receivers who haven’t established a regular Employment Insurance claim in the last 3 years; and haven’t established a maternity or parental claim in the past 5 years * Individuals who are most likely to benefit from long term job search help, supported work experience and follow-up support services. Funded through the Canada – B.C. Labour Market Agreement, the program offers: * 4 to 6 weeks of facilitated group work followed by 4 to 6 weeks of work experience options to a maximum of 10 weeks * Training allowances for 4 to 6 weeks of group work * Preparation for employment, or where appropriate, further training and up to 6 months follow up support * Opportunity to train and work with a BC employer. The next session starts on September 15 and intake is ongoing. For more information, contact us at Job Options BC Program (PICS Society) #206-1461 Johnston Road, White Rock, V4B 3Z4, 604-531-8299, Fax 604-531-9057, danny.pendhall@pics.bc.ca.
Parkinson SuperWalk
Family, friends and co-workers are teaming up to fight Parkinson’s. Join our community heroes at the 19th annual Parkinson SuperWalk on Sunday, September 7 at 10 a.m. in Vancouver’s Stanley Park (Ceperley Playground). Participants can register by visiting www.parkinson.bc.ca. 110 communities across Canada and 21 communities throughout BC (including Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver) will join the fight to find a cure.
Suicide Prevention Panel Discussion
Suicide Prevention Panel Discussion and Photo Exhibit to mark Suicide Prevention Day at Valley View Funeral Home, 14660 72nd Avenue, Surrey, on Wednesday, September 10, 7-9 p.m. Panel members include one of the artists of the exhibit, individuals who can speak to the loss of a family member to suicide, a representative from Fraser Mental Health and Jackie Yurick.
Muslim Association of Canada: Vancouver Chapter
Would like to invite you and your whole family to Maher Zain’s Songs for Hope brought to you by Islamic Relief Canada. All proceeds will go to children relief around the world. When: Saturday, September 13 at 6 p.m. Where: Gateway Theatre, 6500 Gilbert Road., Richmond. Tickets: balcony: $30 (sold out); ground floor: back – $40, front – $50. For tickets or for more information, contact Randa at 778-229-7004, Yusuf at 778-374-3824 or Sis. Fatima at 778-998-6222.
Public Forum on Sufi Legacy in South Asia
Public Forum on Spirituality, Humanity, and the Marginalized: The Sufi Legacy in South Asia: Saturday, September 13, 2-5 p.m. at 7000 SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. Panel: * Keynote address: Dr. Nile Green (UCLA), (“Mazars for the Marginalized: Reflections from the Pilgrim’s Road.”) * Seemi Ghazi (UBC), “The Doctrines and Practices of the Sufis.” * Zahid Makhdoom, “The Poetry of Bhitai.” * Madan Gopal Singh (Delhi University), “The Songs of Waris Shah and Bulleh Shah.” * Enakshi Chatterjee (Sunandan, Kolkata), “Sufis and Bauls in the songs of Rabindranath Tagore.” * Moderator: Zahid Makhdoom. This is a free event but requires registration by RSVP: cbanerjee@telus.net. This event is part of a larger program (September 6-20) organized by Hari Sharma Foundation with the help and support of many other organizations.
