Discover a new hobby, explore a new interest, or just have some out-of-the-ordinary fun at this year’s Culture Days that run from Friday, Sept. 30 to Sunday, Oct. 2.
Culture Days kicked off in 2009 with the goal of making a broad variety of free pastimes available to the masses. People can sample all sorts of activities, and perhaps discover a pursuit they would like to explore further.
There are many events planned on the North Shore, as listed on the North Shore Arts Office website, and the following are being offered right in our own neighbourhood:
FAMILY RECORDS WORKSHOP – Get tips from the NVMA Archivist on how to organize family records, photos and treasures. Preregister: 604 990-3700 x.8016
WHERE: NVMA Community History Centre, 3203 Institute Rd
WHEN: Friday, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
***
FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE – A magical blend of improvised music and comedy with special guest, singer, songwriter and storyteller Ross Douglas.
WHERE: Lynn Valley Library Community Room, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd.
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
SHAKETOWN WALK – A guided walk with NVMA Curator Karen Dearlove with history and anecdotes about Lynn Valley formerly called Shaketown. Pre-Register 604 990-3700 x.8016
WHERE: NVMA Community History Centre, 3203 Institute Rd
WHEN: Saturday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
***
BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE ARCHIVES – A close-up look at how the NVMA archives cares for, and stores photographs, documents and precious items in the community’s collection.
WHERE: NVMA Community History Centre, 3203 Institute Rd.
WHEN: Saturday, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
***
READING: DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER: A COMMUNITY OF COMMUNITIES – Noted author and historian Daniel Francis tells stories about North Van’s growth, unique neighbourhoods and the transformation from milltown to metropolis. Pre-Register 604 990-3700 x.8016
WHERE: NVMA Community History Centre, 3203 Institute Rd.
WHEN: Saturday, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
***
FAIRFIELD MUSIC DEMOS & LESSONS AT THE LIBRARY– Fairfield Music offers instruments demos, mini lessons and a fun instrument making workshop for all ages.
WHERE: Culture Cram, Lynn Valley Library, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd.
WHEN: Sunday, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
***
PERSIAN CULTURE ZOROASTRIAN EXHIBIT – A display of Zoroastrian manuscripts, costumes, books, magazines, ritual items and more.
WHERE: Culture Cram, Lynn Valley Library, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd.
WHEN: Sunday, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
***
RNB DANCE PERFORMANCE – come out to a high energy performance in Lynn Valley Village presented by the talented troupe of RNB dancers.
WHERE: Culture Cram, Lynn Valley Library, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd.
WHEN: Sunday, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
***
SPIRIT OF THE SOUTH SEAS DANCE – E komo mai… experience Hawaiian, Tahitian, Maori dance & music at this interactive performance & workshop. All ages welcome.
WHERE: Culture Cram, Lynn Valley Library, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd.
WHEN: Sunday, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
***
MULTI-LINGUAL STORYTIME – North Vancouver Librarians offer bi-lingual storytimes in English, Farsi, French and Cantonese for the whole family!
WHERE: Culture Cram, Lynn Valley Library, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd.
WHEN: Sunday, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
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!
So, when’s the last time you wore that Aztek-style necklace hanging in your jewellery box? Or the green earrings that turned out to clash with everything in your wardrobe? Or the kindly meant birthday bracelet that just isn’t “you”? Hayley Kelly is hoping you’ll realize it might be time to let some of those pieces go.
Hayley Kelly and Robin Delany display some of the jewellery donated for an upcoming autism fundraiser.
Hayley has put together the first-ever North Vancouver Jewelry Drive in support of Autism BC. All you have to do is box and drop your offerings at the Lynn Valley Delany’s (or the Delany’s on Denman, if you’ve got friends overtown who would like to participate).
The collected jewellery will be displayed and sold on Saturday, August 27 in Lynn Valley Village from noon to 4 p.m., with all proceeds going to the Autism Society of B.C. Livening up the day even further will be live music, a BBQ, raffle prizes, and auctioned jewellery pieces donated from local designers.
Keep up to date with the project on Facebook or Instagram:
Facebook.com/northvancouverjewelrydrive
Instagram.com/northvancouverjewelrydrive
Start September in style with a few new additions to brighten up your wardrobe! Hayley writes: “With your community support, we can make the North Vancouver Jewelry Drive an amazing event!”
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!
Thank you to Dianne Elphinstone for sharing some of her Lynn Valley Day memories and photos! Volunteer or attend this year’s community celebration on the weekend of June 17 to 19; check out all the details here.
In the early 1940s someone displayed fridges at Lynn Valley Day. Most people did not have one, or also had never seen one. Someone else had a live caged anteater; this would have been about 1945.
It wasn’t easy, but LynnValleyLife finally caught up with Lynn Valley Day organizer Eric Miura on Friday – a rare chance to spend some time with this uber-busy volunteer who juggles his day job with executive roles in the Lynn Valley Lions and Lynn Valley Community Association.
At this time of year, that means Eric and the rest of the Lynn Valley Day team are living and breathing plans for the huge community event, which in 2016 has grown from two days into three.
Lynn Valley young people are hitting the stage this month as they take part in a production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, presented by SMP Youth.
Heather Gawenda tells us that many cast and crew from Argyle Secondary, Upper Lynn Elementary, Lynn Valley Elementary, Ross Road and Boundary Elementary schools are taking part in the production, either under the lights or behind the scenes.
In the story, five lucky children find a golden ticket in their Wonka chocolate bars, giving them a rare glimpse inside Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. What do the children discover on their tour? Oompa Loompas, a chocolate waterfall, trained squirrels, candies with magical properties…and Willy Wonka’s true intentions.
Jane’s Walks are coming to Lynn Valley, just in time to celebrate the 100th birthday of the person after whom they were named.
Writer and activist Jane Jacobs had a significant influence on urban planning in the 1960s, when she introduced concepts such as “social capital” in designing communities that better served the overall needs of their residents.
Lynn Valley Road by Ross Road, circa 1920s. Courtesy of NV Museum & Archives.
Today, Jane’s Walks are free, citizen-led walking tours, in which people get together to explore, talk about, and celebrate their neighbourhoods. On Saturday, May 7, North Vancouver Museum and Archives Curator Karen Dearlove will lead a tour of Lynn Valley, which will be illustrated by historical facts, anecdotes, and historical images, many pertaining to the neighbourhood’s history as a logging and shingle-building community.
The tour will begin at the Community History Centre located in the former Lynn Valley school building at 3203 Institute Road. The tour will begin at 10:30 a.m. and last approximately one hour.
