Community Events

While October 31  focusses on trick-or-treating and fireworks, that costumed caper is only the beginning of a three-day “Hallowtide” festival that has evolved over the past thousand years.

The following two days, All Saints Day on November 1 and All Souls Day on November 2, predate Halloween traditions (“hallow” means “saint,” and “All Hallow’s Eve” has become “Halloween”). All Saints began as a fourth-century feast to commemorate the Christian martyrs, while All Souls was added in the early 11th century to give people an opportunity to honour those members of their families or communities who had died.

St. Clement’s Anglican Church will be holding its annual All Souls service a little ahead of time – on Sunday, October 30 at 4 p.m. During a contemplative time of candlelight and prayer, the names of the departed are read aloud. Every year, St. Clement’s parishioner and Argyle grad John Stowe puts the word out to Argyle  alumni  and others and invites them to submit names of people from the school community who have passed (you can reach him at [email protected]), while the Rev. Elizabeth Mathers, deacon at the church, encourages Lynn Valleyites to send her the names of anyone they would like remembered ([email protected]).

Elizabeth describes the service as very “user-friendly” and one that is often attended by people who wouldn’t otherwise describe themselves as church-goers. If you would like to spend a few quiet moments remembering a beloved family member or companion, you are warmly welcome. If you would simply like to know that their names are being read and remembered for All Souls, please send them to Elizabeth or John.

St. Clement’s is located at 3400 Institute Rd. More information is here. (And a recipe for traditional Souls’ Day cookies – the original Halloween treat – is here.)

An annual celebration of Polish food and culture  returns to Lynn Valley Village on Sunday, September  4.

The fourth annual Polish Cultural Festival will feature Polish music, singing and folk dancing and a special program for children and youth with puppet theatre show, arts and games activities, sing along, balloon lady, face-painting and more.

The children’s program will kick off at 1 p.m., with the official grand opening declared at 2 p.m. Vendors will be selling Polish T-shirts and accessories, jewellery, arts and crafts, as well as plenty of delicious traditional Polish food such as sausages, perogies and pastries.

The special guest Groove ‘n’ Tonic, Vancouver’s high energy party band, will be playing from 6 to 7:30 p.m., so if you are in early withdrawal from the village’s Friday night concerts, come on down!

Admission is free, and the organizers from the North Shore Polish Association Belweder look forward to welcoming people of all ages!

Concerts and culture nights are back to Lynn Valley Village for Summer 2016!

As you’ll see in this North Vancouver Recreation and Culture calendar listing, Lynn Valleyites won’t be lacking for things to do all summer long. The Friday night concert series kicks off with Hot Lucy rock on July 8 from 7 to 9 p.m., and the Wednesday night culture series continues on July 13 with a chance to learn waltz and cha cha dancing from 6 to 8 p.m.! The fun continues every Wednesday and Friday until the end of August, with a different flavour offered each time.

(Psst! More of a nature type? There are also free trail walking tours every Monday night until October 3, from 6 to 7:30, rain or shine. Meet up at the Lynn Canyon Cafe in Lynn Canyon Park.)

It seems there are an ever-growing number of reasons to be grateful that we live where we do. Whether it’s for a moment, an hour or a day, we hope you can make time to celebrate our country this Friday, July 1.

The Canada Day parade is always a hit, of course, so (after filling up at the 7:30 a.m. Lions Pancake Breakfast at 13th and Grand Boulevard) grab some sidewalk space in preparation for the 10 a.m. start. Don’t forget sunhats, glasses and whatever Canadiana you can find to wear or wave! The parade starts at Grand Boulevard, travels west along 13th to Lonsdale, proceeds up Lonsdale and turns left on 17th and ends in Kinsman Park, near Mahon Park.

You might want to pop in on the celebrations taking place at Waterfront Park, but after that be sure to head back to the neighbourhood for an afternoon of fun at Lynn Valley Village, starting at noon.

On offer will be a bouncy castle and lots of other kids’ activities, an outdoor BBQ at Browns, a Best Canadian Attire Contest at Delany’s, a farmer’s market, entertainment by Steele Productions, and more!

The good times will also be rolling close by at the Black Bear Neighbourhood Pub. As it is a holiday, children will be admitted with their parents from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the brunch menu on until 2 p.m.

After family service closes at 4 p.m., the Canada Day evening specials kick in, featuring a $12 platter that includes a smoky or burger, corn on the cob, and a side of potato salad. BBQ beef or chicken burgers on their own can be yours for $7.

We are told that random draws for give-aways and prizes will take place all day long, with the main prize being a Weber Charcoal Grill BBQ. To top off the day, live music with Glen Pearson will begin at 8 p.m.

The Shipyards Night Market opens in the early afternoon on Canada Day, and will continue until 11 p.m. (offering a great view of the 10:30 p.m. fireworks in the inlet). For info on the night market and other North Shore Canada Day events,  click here. Those of you who are wanting to wander further afield will be interested to know what will be happening at Canada Place (it’s the nation’s second-largest Canada Day festival!)

And those who are staying around the homestead might be interested in whipping up some Canada Day recipes, or checking out these myriad ideas for crafts and festivities from Canadian Living. To get yourself ready to really go big with next year’s Canada 150 celebrations, bone up on your basics with this quiz taken from the Canadian Citizenship exam!