Get moving! Our races and games will give everyone in the valley a chance to strut their stuff.
Get moving! Our races and games will give everyone in the valley a chance to strut their stuff.
Much has happened in the century since the first Lynn Valley Day was held in Lynn Canyon Park.
LIFE WITH LYNN O’MALLEY: Have I ever missed a Lynn Valley Day? Well, perhaps for a year or two in my turbulent twenties. Otherwise, I’ve been there every year – dancing the may pole, playing in the band, marching in the parade, or staffing an info booth (not usually all at once).
So, like the rest of you Lynn Valleyites who drop everything on the last Saturday in May in order to celebrate your community, I’m thrilled that 2012 marks the 100th – yes, 100th! – anniversary of Lynn Valley Day. And I’m even more excited to let you know that its organizers – the hard-working Lynn Valley Lions and Lynn Valley Community Association – have asked our team here at LynnValleyLife to host the online website for this historic centennial event, taking place Saturday, May 26th.
We’ve already been having a great time getting to know more of you through our busy Facebook page and the thoughtful feedback we’ve been getting to our LynnValleyLife website. Now we’re really going to ramp up our local coverage to make sure each and every one of you knows all there is to know about Lynn Valley Days 2012!
Pretty soon, you’ll notice some changes to our ‘landing page’ – that’s the introductory page you see when you type in our web address, www.LynnValleyLife.com. While you’ll still be able to use the landing page as a launch pad to our Life, Business and Real Estate sections, you’ll also be able to click on a special “Lynn Valley Days 100” icon that will take you to a dedicated section of our site.
There you will find everything from parade application forms to event schedules to news updates and information on volunteering, the car show, and the proud history of Lynn Valley Days.
You’ll also be able to buy your tickets to the Friday night gala dinner (May 25th), which will be even bigger and better than last year’s sold-out extravaganza.
In all my years, I’ve found there’s only one thing better than going to Lynn Valley Day – helping out with Lynn Valley Day! As with anything, the more you put into something, the more you get back. Whether it’s helping with set-up, taking a shift on the concession or stacking up chairs in the afternoon, there’s room for lots of helping hands, especially with this year’s added festivities. Please consider stepping up now so the Volunteer Coordinator doesn’t have to worry about filling her quota! Contact Shirin from the Lynn Valley Community Association at [email protected].
Should you have any questions about the Lynn Valley Days centennial, please email us here at LynnValleyLife and we’ll post the information for everyone to share, or put you on to the right contact person.
We look forward to providing you with lots of great Lynn Valley Days coverage and contests. Stay tuned! We’ll keep you posted.
LIFE WITH LYNN O’MALLEY: If it seems like our website has been publishing a lot of news coming out of Lynn Valley United Church lately, there’s a good reason for it – there IS a lot of news coming out of Lynn Valley United Church lately!
That’s thanks in large part to the relatively recent hiring of a new Children, Youth, and Families minister, whose job it is to support both the United Church faithful as well as their neighbours throughout the wider community.
Christina Kinch is nothing if not energetic. This rock climber, hiking aficionado, and multi-certified yoga teacher is offering a free yoga class for girls in Grades 5 to 10, yoga by donation to all teens and adults of variable bendiness levels, free counselling to parents and families, and holistic healing sessions for children and youth – to name just a few of her neighbourhood outreach endeavours.
Christina brings to her post some pretty impressive credentials. Having graduated from UVic with a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Youth Care in 2007, she has put her skills to use in a variety of areas. She’s worked in child protection and youth psychiatric assessment. She’s given hands-on help to young folk with mental health issues or learning disabilities, and to pregnant moms struggling with addictions at B.C. Women’s Hospital.
While she doesn’t have formal clerical training, Christina grew up in the United Church in Summerland and worked summers at Naramata, the church’s retreat and conference centre in the Okanagan.
Over the next months, Christina is looking forward to finding out how to best support the families of Lynn Valley. “I want to offer relevant assistance, and not re-invent the wheel,” she said over a recent tea in Delany’s. “People will connect in where it is nourishing.”
Getting out into the community is a value shared by her colleague, LVUC minister Blair Odney (whose top-notch singing, described as ‘Lounge meets United Church’ we enjoyed at a recent Friday Night Live event!) Blair hosts a wide-ranging “Coffee and Questions” group at Waves on Thursdays at 3:30, to which anyone is welcome.
Christina has also started a new youth group for kids in Grades 7 to 9 (from 6 to 8 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month), and is contemplating working with volunteers to launch a homework club that will give kids a place to focus on their work and get help if they run up against something that has them stumped.
Christina and her community-minded congregation are devoting a great deal of energy to these neighbourhood programs, and for that LynnValleyLife gives them a big tip of the hat. Whatever your faith is, or isn’t, I know you’ll find a welcome any time you want to poke your head in the door.
BY YOLANDE MARTINELLO, Principal of Fine Arts, School District 44: Many people in Lynn Valley will be celebrating the opening of the Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art this fall, and we are hoping many of them will also volunteer to be part of its success.
Currently under construction at 21st and Lonsdale, the gallery will be the only one in the country dedicated solely to young people. It will house the Artists for Kids programs and the acclaimed Artists for Kids Collection of Canadian Art, now located at the Lucas Centre.
Lynn Valley has been a critical part of Artists for Kids (AFK) since its inception more than 20 years ago. Long-time Lynn Valley resident and artist Molly Lamb Boback is one of our esteemed patrons, and Lynn Valley Elementary students have long had the privilege of participating in our gallery program.
In addition, one of their treasured teachers and an Artists for Kids team member, Catherine Schechter, has brought Order of the Owl projects (highlighting the work of an AFK artist), enrichment opportunities, and her vast knowledge of our collection to the Lynn Valley community.
If you have a little bit of time, or a lot, and value art education and the importance of Canadian culture in our community, we want to welcome you to our team.
We are actively seeking volunteers with art education experience, and those who simply love art or contributing to their community. We need support for positions as varied as Mail-out Support and Docents, Clerical Support and Event Planners, Writers and Photographers, and Sponsor Support.
To learn more about our new community asset and the ways Lynn Valley citizens can continue to support this wonderful program, please attend our volunteer information evening.
Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Place: Artists for Kids Gallery
Address: 810 West 21st Street, North Vancouver
We look forward to seeing you there.
If you are interested in volunteer opportunities, but cannot join us at the information evening, please contact Brenda Irving at [email protected] or call us at (604) 903-3797. Please visit our website to learn more about our programs.