B.C. EVENTS
(These are FREE listings. Submit your event / announcement at EditorVoice@gmail.com in typed format as early in the week as possible. No posters please.)
7th Annual OMS Vancouver Conference
An event for students interested in medical school admission in Canada on Sunday, March 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre, University of British Columbia. Early Bird Price: $17. Regular Ticket Price: $23. Lunch is not included. Operation Med School (OMS) is a not-for-profit organization that organizes and holds one-day conferences in various cities in Canada and the US tailored towards passionate high school students aspiring to become the next generation of healthcare providers. At OMS, attendees will discover more about the various topics of medicine through informative lectures, hands-on workshops, and engaging activities led by doctors, biomedical researchers, and other professionals within the medical field. * Faisal Khosa: Keynote Speaker – Success made Ridiculously Simple. Khosa, an incredible, renowned mentor for students and associate professor at UBC will give a keynote speech of “Success made Ridiculously Simple”. Khosa has been recognized for his excellent mentoring by the AFMC- May Cohen Award in Equity, Diversity and Gender award (2020) and will share his wisdom with attendees through advice and a Q&A session. http://faisalkhosa.com * Jana Davidson: Keynote Speaker. Davidson, a Clinical Professor and highly experienced psychiatric consultant will be providing a speech about her experiences. As the co-founder of the National Institute of Families for Child and Youth Mental Health (2009), Dr. Davidson has been highly involved with youth mental health services and strives for equitable access to child and adolescent psychiatry, receiving the Premier’s Award in 2016 for implementing a Telemental Health service in NorthWestern BC.
South Asian Seniors: Filing Income Tax Returns Free
Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey informs South Asian seniors that during the tax filing period they can help you to file your income tax returns for free through the community volunteer program of Canada Revenue Agency from now to Thursday, April 30 if you are living in Surrey / Delta. The eligibility criteria are: 1. Single individual with annual income limit up to $35,000. 2. Couples with annual income up to $45,000. 3. Three persons with income up to $47,500. 4. Four persons with income up to $50,000. 5. For five persons or more, add $ 2,500 for additional members. Interest income should not be over $ 1,000 and this income will be included as total eligibility. With no investment income, no rental income, no business or partnership income and no capital gain or loss. SIN card and photo identity will be required to prove the documents. If you are eligible, contact Surendra Handa, coordinator, at 604-507-9945 for further details.
Surrey: Family Fun Pass
Keep the entire family active over spring break at any recreation facility in Surrey. Use this flat rate pass to drop into indoor pools, arenas, gymnasiums and fitness centres between Friday, March 13 and Sunday, March 29. Family Fun Pass rates – on sale now: * Children and Youth (ages 2 to 18): $12.50 * Students and Seniors (ages 60-69): $18.75 * Seniors (ages 70+): $6.25 * Adults: $25. Highlights: * The pass is valid from Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 29 * The price of the pass is prorated * The pass automatically expires at the end of the period.
Free Family Caregiver Series on Alzhemier
Free Family Caregiver Series offered by the non-profit Alzheimer Society of B.C. provide basic information about the disease for family members who are caring for a person living with dementia. The sessions offer practical techniques and strategies that caregivers can begin using immediately. Sessions also offer insight into planning for the future and self-care for caregivers. The last session takes place on Saturday, March 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Guildford Seniors Village, 14568 104A Avenue. Pre-registration is required by contacting 604-449-5000 or info.southfraser@alzheimerbc.org. If you are living with dementia or have questions about the disease, visit www.alzheimerbc.org and call the First Link Dementia Helpline at 1-800-936-6033 (English), 1-833-674-5007 (Cantonese and Mandarin) or 1-833-674-5003 (Punjabi).
Shakti Awards 2020
International Women’s Day Celebration on Saturday, March 7 by Shakti Society. The Shakti Award recipients will be honoured. For ticket information, contact Sonia at 604-307-8796 or purchase online at
South Asian Seniors: Bingo
Vedic Seniors Parivar Center of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian adults and seniors as well as non-members to come and play bingo for the sake of entertainment and make some new friends on Sunday, March 8, from 2-3:30 p.m., at Shanti Niketan Hall of Lakshmi Narayan Temple, 8321 140th Street, Surrey. Bring only $2 to play two games. If you do not know how to play, members will explain the game to you. Winners will get gift cards. Tea and snacks will be served. Contact Surendra Handa, coordinator, at 604-507-9945 for further details.
Surrey Libraries’ Cloverdale Branch
Reopens on Monday, March 9. Surrey Libraries – Cloverdale Branch has had a complete makeover. Visit to see new reading and teen lounges, new public computer stations, and updated Family History and Junior departments. Check out https://www.surreylibraries.ca/locations/cloverdale-branch for location details and hours.
Surrey Board Of Trade
On Tuesday, March 10, the Surrey Board of Trade will welcome Premier John Horgan. This is an opportunity to engage directly with the Premier on how the 2020 BC Budget impacts Surrey businesses and the economy. “Late last year Premier Horgan announced that Surrey would be the new downtown for Metro Vancouver. We’re keen to hear how his government plans to support that vision,” says Anita Huberman, CEO, SBOT. Location: Northview Golf and Country Club, 6857 168th Street, Surrey. Time: Lunch and Registration 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Program 12 – 1:30 p.m. For further information, contact Huberman at anita@businessinsurrey.com or at 604-634-0342.
ESSW Program MOSAIC
The ESSW is a unique program available for vulnerable newcomer immigrant women living in the Surrey area. Sometimes, the settlement process can be hard on families, and newcomer women may find themselves faced with challenges and/or in an unhealthy relationship. A Woman’s Support Worker can provide: * Basic counselling support, information and orientation * Monthly educational workshops * Information on rights * Referrals to Community Services Call if: * You are a newcomer woman in the Surrey area * You want to learn about your rights in Canada * You want to increase your ability to function in the community. Weekly Sessions for Women – Every Tuesday 1- 2 p.m. Educational and Informative Weekly Sessions for Women by ESSW: * Information on Rights in Canada * Relationship Dynamics * Settlement Support * Safety Planning * Building Confidence. Monthly Workshops: deliberately designed workshops for women with guest presenters: * March 12, Thursday, 12:30- 2 p.m.: Family Law and Legal Advice. * April 8, Wednesday, 12:30-2 p.m.: MCFD: Role and Support. For registration, call or e-mail Shivani at 778-591-9334, ext.193 / sraheja@mosaicbc.org. Location: #200-7134 King George Boulevard, Surrey.
Free Journalism Workshops for New Immigrants
At MOSAIC, March 14, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. New Canadian Media (NCM) will be offering free journalism workshops to new immigrants interested in learning how their stories can be published in Canada’s ethnic and mainstream media outlets. These free professional development workshops will be offered in Vancouver on March 14. Each workshop will feature three sessions facilitated by seasoned journalists from an immigrant background and will consist of a lecture combined with class discussion and an opportunity to get some mentoring. The lectures will focus on the following topics: * What Makes Canadian Journalism Different. * Giving Voice to the Voiceless: Advanced Reporting * Moving the needle through commentary: Advanced Opinion writing. To register for workshops go to https://newcanadianmedia.ca/events/ncm-the-walrus-professional-development-series-for-immigrant-journalists/. As part of the registration process, you will be required to submit a story pitch on one of the following themes, examining them through an immigrant lens: * Family reunification * Political engagement * Canada: Preserving bilingualism + advancing multiculturalism * Settlement agencies /integration * Foreign credential recognition. For enquiries, email events@newcanadianmedia.com.
Pacific Oral Health Centre: Community Dental Care Day
Community Dental Care Day in memory of Dr. Bud Sipko. The Pacific Oral Health Centre is out to change lives by offering free smiles to anyone who is in need of dental care. The Centre hosts 5th Community Dental Care Day on Sunday, March 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Pacific Oral Health Society is a registered non-profit organization whose mission is to provide affordable and accessible oral health care to financially disadvantaged individuals; to support and advancement of the dental profession with continuing dental education for oral health care professionals; to facilitate and provide funding for oral health, dental education and clinical research. The dedicated team of dentists and volunteers at the Pacific Oral Health Centre come together and help hundreds of people in need of dental work, treating patients in need of fillings, extractions, and examinations. All patients are to register for this event prior to coming into the clinic by phoning 604-536-2700. No walk-in patients will be accepted. By appointment only. For more information, visit website at www.pohs.ca. Location: Pacific Oral Health Centre, #300 – 3rd floor 15850 24th Avenue, Surrey. Pacific Oral Health Centre is located at the corner of Croydon Avenue and 24th Avenue (beside The Brick). Free Examinations, X-rays, Fillings and Extractions. Limited to only one free procedure per patient.
Shree Mahalakshmi Temple, Vancouver: Holi 2020
The Festival of Colours – and evening of dance, music and festive dinner at Michael J. Fox Theatre, 7373 MacPherson Avenue, Burnaby, on Sunday, March 15. Refreshments: 4-5 p.m. Cultural Shows: 5-7 p.m. Dinner: 7-8 p.m. Tickets: $25 / $30 each. Contact: Surinder Vashisht at 604-671-5612 or Uma Dayal at 604-299-6657.
Sai Japa Shiv Mandir Burnaby
All devotees are cordially invited at Shiv Mandir, 5600 Dorset Street, Burnaby, on Saturday March 21 at 5 p.m. to participate in Sai Japa and Bhajs. Program: 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. – Bhajan; 6:30-7:15 p.m. – Japa: 7:30 p.m. – Priti Bhojan. Contact Sureshbhai Desai at 604-523-9360 and Vijaybhai Dayal at 604-770-0515 or Raju Parekh at 604-327- 8259.
(For more events, visit the “Events” section of our website at voiceonline.com)
