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Doors Open Richmond 2014
The best of Richmond’s arts, heritage and culture will be showcased across 42 sites through Doors Open Richmond 2014 on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8. Visitors can have a unique experience through four themed bus tours exploring nature, faith, family and history. On Saturday, June 7 the Nature Bus Tour will leave at 10 a.m. to visit the Sharing Farm and Terra Nova Nature Park, Gina Page Seawrack Press Home Studio and Science of Spirituality Meditation and Ecology Centre. At 1 p.m. the Faith Bus Tour will leave for the Nanaksar Gursikh Temple, Az-Zahraa Islamic Centre and Lingyen Mountain Temple. On Sunday, June 8 the Family Bus Tour will leave at 10 a.m. to stop at Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, the Steveston Interurban Tram Building and Steveston Fire Hall No. 2. The History Bus Tour will depart at 1 p.m. on the same day for the Steves Family Farm, Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site and Branscombe House. Each bus tour will depart from the Minoru Boulevard book drop at the Richmond Cultural Centre, 7700 Minoru Gate. The cost is $5 per person per tour. Space is limited. Register by calling 604-276-4300 before Sunday, June 1. Use the following program numbers for tour registration: nature-#643308, faith-#643208, family-#643258 and history-#643358. Due to safety reasons, children under 40 pounds cannot travel on the buses. For more information, visit www.richmond.ca/doorsopen.
Surrey Art Gallery: Family Day
We all have stories of travelling with our families, whether to visit relatives or to move from one place to another. Children and families have an opportunity to tell those stories and imagine new ones through exciting, hands-on art activities on the theme of “journey” during Family Day, Sunday, June 8, 12-4 p.m., at the Surrey Art Gallery at 13750 – 88 Avenue. Drop-in art-making activities are inspired by the exhibition Ruptures in Arrival: Art in the Wake of the Komagata Maru. Visitors will make passports that offer clues for artistic discoveries on their creative journey. They’ll mark their family’s journey on a large world map, then they’re off to sculpt clay animals they might see on an ocean voyage, create a colourful collage of what they would pack in their suitcase, and make a paper boat to sail on a stream of dreams. At 2 p.m., families can join Lapis (Rup Sidhu and Mohamed Assani) for a sizzling, interactive musical adventure from sitar to hip hop (seating for the performance is limited). The suggested donation for Family Day is $4 per child. Children must be with an adult. Everyone is welcome.
Italian Day on the Drive
Commercial Drive will be transformed on Sunday, June 8, 12-8 p.m., for the 5th Annual Italian Day with activities that are fun for the whole family. From inventions to Italian goods to lifestyle products, this year’s Italian Day celebrates everything that makes Italy unique – many of which are found in our very own backyard. Location: Commercial Drive (which will be closed to motorized traffic with all festivities positioned along The Drive from 4th Avenue to Parker Street). From food to performing arts, fashion, merchants and activities, Italy’s unmatched sense of style will be the centerpiece at this year’s event.
South Asian Seniors: Talk on Complications of Diabetes
Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian adults / senior members as well as non-members for a presentation on Complications of Diabetes by Dr. Saroj Kumar, family physician, on Sunday, June 8, 2-3:30 p.m., at Shanti Niketan Hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple, 8321 – 140th Street, Surrey. There will be a question-and-answer session with Dr. Kumar. Tea and snacks will be served. For more information, call Surendra Handa at 604-507-9945.
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 June 9 – 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
Samarpan Meditation
You can heal your life with meditation. Free of charge. www.samarpanmeditation.org. From now until June 12, 7-9 p.m. daily. Call 604-812-7628, 604-505-2100 or 778-882-5448 and register to confirm your spot. Inside Laxmi Narayan Temple Plaza in Shanti Niketan Hall, 8321 140th Street, Surrey.
Subsidized Housing Workshop
Free workshop at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, 6470 Victoria Drive, Vancouver. Contents: Affordable housing or rent supplement for low income families, seniors, or persons with disabilities. Rental Assistance Program. Who is eligible to apply? How to apply. On June 10 (Tuesday), 1-2:30 p.m. in English and Punjabi. Bus tickets (for eligible clients only), free child minding and refreshment will be provided at the workshop. Bring your PR card number with you. For more information and registration, call: 604-324-6212 ext. 134.
Chinese Cultural Centre Museum
Opening Reception of Exhibition: Rare Historical Artifacts of Overseas Chinese & Historical Figures of the Ing Clan. Opening reception: Saturday, June 14, 11 a.m. (Free event). Chinese Cultural Centre Museum, 555 Columbia Street, Vancouver. Exhibition dates: June 14 – July 14, 2014, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., closed on Mondays and holidays. Free admission on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Admission on Wednesday, Thursday: $3/adult, $2/senior (65+), student. Inquiries: eventbrite.com, 1 (604) 658-8880, museum@cccvan.com, www.cccvan.com
Free Eye Health Clinic in Surrey
Canadian Eyesight Global is holding a free eye health clinic at the Gurudwara Sahib, York Centre, Surrey, on Sunday, June 15, 1-4 p.m. It is sponsored by Rotary Club of Surrey-Guildford and Rotary Club of Burnaby. A team of eminent eye surgeons will be participating. The eye screening service is not covered under the BC Medical Plan and eye doctors and eye surgeons charge up to $100 for this service and the waiting period may be up to two to three months. This service is provided free of charge by Canadian Eyesight Global. Free eye drops will be given to patients. Everyone is invited to attend and avail the opportunity. Canadian Eyesight Global, formerly Project Eyesight – India is celebrating its 25th anniversary gala dinner at the Dhaliwal Banquet Hall, Surrey. Your support would be appreciated. Anyone interested to sponsor an eye camp for the restoration of eyesight to help the needy, helpless and less fortunate people in their village in Punjab or any part of India, or for any further information, contact Anup Singh Jubbal at (604) 582-0579, email: info@CanadianEyesight.org or go to www.CanadianEyesight.org
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
Richmond Public Library will be hosting the six-week program “Chronic Disease Self-Management” in English on Mondays from now until June 16 from 1-3:30 p.m. The program will take place 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. This workshop is designed for people with one or more chronic conditions. It will teach you to better manage your health, discover useful tips to maintain an active lifestyle, and communicate effectively with your health care team. Family members and friends can also attend.
Violence Against Women: A Male Perspective
Shakti Society are hosting their third community café – ‘Violence Against Women: A Male Perspective’ – on Wednesday, June 18, 5:30-8 p.m., at Bollywood Banquet Hall, 8166 128th Street, Surrey. There will be a panel of speakers with brief presentations, followed by discussion moderated by Imtiaz Popat. Then there will be café style small group discussions. This forum is a free event and is open to men and women of all backgrounds. Shakti Society is particularly asking men to participate and support this initiative. Refreshments, tea and coffee will be served. Childminding will be provided upon request. For additional information or to confirm your participation, contact Sonia Andhi at 604-307-8796 or email shaktisociety2000@gmail.com.
Special: BC Victims of Homicide
Are you living with the traumatic loss of a loved one? Are you in need of support? The BC Victims of Homicide, an initiative of the BC Bereavement Helpline, is hosting an eight week traumatic loss grief support group for the South Asian community in Surrey in partnership with Valley View Funeral Home. When: Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., from now until June 25. Cost: Free – but registration is required. Space is limited. Languages: Punjabi, Hindi and English. Facilitators: Jas Cheema and Manjeet Singh. To register or for more information, contact Jas Cheema by phone at 604-561-2700 or by email at: jascheema@shaw.ca. Please refer this group to your network or to anyone who may benefit from it.
Canada Multicultural Day Celebration
Global Clergy Association of Canada (GCAOC) will be celebrating Canada Multicultural Day on June 27, 7-9 p.m., at Kabir Center, 208, 14770-64th Avenue, Surrey. The celebration will include cultural and spiritual items. Speakers of major faiths have been invited to present their perspective on the theme “Culture & Religion for Sustainable Future.” The event is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call Dr. Jagessar Das at 604-599-6876 or Acharya S. Dwivedi at 604-507-3099.
Langley Canada Day Celebrations
Langley International Festival Society has joined hands with the Township of Langley, Tourism Langley, Langley Events Centre, Langley School District, Fraser Valley Regional Library and many others to put on a four-day spectacular celebration, from June 28 to July 1. Sponsors and vendors are asked to email at info@internationalfestival.ca or visit the www.internationalfestival.ca/ or www.langleycanadaday.ca website for further details.
Man-Up Against Suicide Photo Exhibit
Man-Up Against Suicide photo exhibit, a project led by UBC professor and men’s health expert, Dr. John Oliffe, from now until June 29 (Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6 p.m.) at 1445 West Georgia Street, Vancouver (former Buschlen Mowatt gallery). Suicide is the leading cause of death among men aged 25-29 and 40-44, as well as a preventable and common cause among other age groups. Men in BC commit suicide at a rate of 17.5 per 100,000. This exhibit illuminates this stigmatized issue by placing cameras in the hands of men and women of different ages and backgrounds who have been affected by male suicide. Their photographs and narratives will be exhibited across Canada as a means of de-stigmatizing men’s mental illness and raising awareness about men’s suicide.
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 June 30 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.