Download - Renfrew-Collingwood Community News March 2015

COMMUNITY NEWS RenfrewCollingwoodCommunityNews.com

March 2015

Janet Lee selected for seniors council 3

Connecting volunteers in RC Page 9

Amazing teacher Mark Reid Page 5

Prepare for job fair Page 3

“Owen at the park”: I love the scruffy look on my friend’s dog and the way he seems to be floating just above the snow. He loves playing in the stuff but it’s never often enough. Photo and description by Dan Paris - See page 8 for Honourable Mentions

RCC News photo contest winner: Dan Paris

The Spoken Word event held at Collingwood Neighbourhood House on January 17, 2015 was a huge success. Musicians, writers, spoken word artists, rappers, poets, drummers, hip hop dancers, and a DJ rocked the house, including Rupert Common and the Freestyle Rap Alliance, Claire Mortifee, Kim Mortal, Gillian Christmas, Kia Kadiri, Sol Diana, Renee Saklikar, Maobong Oku, J-Kay Mendoza and DJ Mr. Soul Pleasant. The event brought our diverse community together to enjoy an evening of positive energy, good vibes and contagious beats. Photo courtesy of Collingwood Neighbourhood House

Spoken word event features local artists

RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWSMarch 20152

The Other Guy’s Opinionby Robert F. Edwards

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I would like to take this opportunity to express my feelings of two different countries’ attitudes to the people in the military forces.

I would also like to make it perfectly clear that this is my opinion and my opinion alone and has nothing to do with the publishing of the paper or in its management in any way.

Early February, the American government awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor to an elite fighting force that was known as the Special Service Force made up of Canadians and Americans in the Second World War. For you and I and many of the rest of the world, this elite force was better known as the “Devil’s Brigade,” as nicknamed by the Germans in World War II. These men were super commandos, who in most cases were far behind enemy lines and had to find their own way back to the Allied forces.

My father was a captain in this Devil’s Brigade and, like so many of his comrades, he is a fallen hero, not only to his family but also to his comrades.

This medal is the highest medal given in the United States of America. To the best of my knowledge, there has only been one other Canadian to receive this, in all the years back as far as the [U.S.] Civil War. However, on that February day a small group of men in their nineties, both Canadians and Americans received this prestigious Medal of Honor.

This is just one of the many events that the Americans have honoured

their military and now a very special group of Canadian military men.

On the other side of the page is the Canadian government and their record of how they feel about the veterans of past wars and present. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative government have attacked the privileges and the rights of those that have served in the military or their widows in the last years of this government. They’ve closed a lot of the legions and other benefits, a God-given right to people that have given their most and many of them, their lives to this great country.

Not to stop, the Conservative government has spent in excess of $700,000,000 in legal costs to repudiate the given rights of our country’s obligation to our military. They replaced the minister of this portfolio for being totally insensitive to these proud and noble people of our military. The new minister has offered little changes other than doing nothing for the men and women are fought and many of them have given their lives so we in Canada can enjoy the freedom that we take for granted.

As a Canadian, I can say with all sincerity I’m truly ashamed of our Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative government for the people that have done so much to protect our standard of living both home and abroad.

3RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS March 2015

Don Davies, MP

My staff and I are here to assist you

with federal issues.

Contact us with your ideas and concerns.

I will bring your voice to Ottawa!

2951 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5R 5J4Tel: 604-775-6263 Email: [email protected]

Vancouver Kingsway

to a position or department you’re interested in. Tell the employer how your skill-set matches their requirements.• Watch your body language. A firm handshake and eye contact are important. Good manners are critical to making a good impression; employers always appreciate someone who is dedicated, conscientious and attentive. • Be friendly and stay on topic. Job fairs can be noisy, so speak clearly and with confidence. • After talking to each representative, ask for a business card and use the back of the card to record notes to help you remember important details and follow-up instructions. If no card is available, record their contact information and your comments in your notepad.

Spring has nearly sprung and so begins a busy hiring season. MOSAIC is hosting its 4th Annual Job Fair on April 14, 2015 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Croatian Cultural Centre located at 3250 Commercial Drive.

Job fairs provide an opportunity to make a positive impression and meet employers face-to-face. It is important to take advantage of every opportunity to connect with employers, especially in a difficult job market. Below are tips on how to get the most out of a job fair.

Before the job fair• Determine which of the businesses participating in the fair match your career objective and make a list of your target employers based on their needs and your skills and interests. • Find out about position needs, company culture and diversity. The research will help you figure out if the company is a good match for you.• Use information that you obtain from your research to develop a list of questions you’d like to ask employers. Employers want employees who are polite, proactive and listen well. Stand out from the crowd by asking thoughtful, smart questions. Don’t ask questions for which the answers are readily available online.• Prepare your resume and make sure that you have plenty of copies ready. Prepare different versions of resumes tailoring each to a targeted employer and career objective.• Most employers prefer that you apply online before the job fair. It also allows you to cast a wider net, many companies are hiring for a variety of positions at

multiple locations and this way your application will be seen by more hiring managers within the company. Furthermore, taking the extra step in preparing for the job fair shows potential employers your commitment and interest in working at their company. This does not mean that you are wasting your time by attending the job fair; employer representatives are taking note of candidates they are interested in, so be sure you make a good first impression. • Come prepared. Bring a simple notepad and pen to take notes and folder or padfolio to keep your resumes organized and ready to handout. • Visit the Vancouver Northeast WorkBC Employment Services Centre to find tip sheets or workshops on topics such as resume and cover letter skills, interview skills, networking skills and more to help you prepare to put your best foot forward.• Prepare a 20 to 30 second introduction to use with employers—a concise and well-presented message that quickly provides just enough information about you to pique the listener’s interest and attention, so that you can continue the conversation.

At the job fair • Dress the part. First impressions are important and send an immediate message regarding how serious you are in your job search. Clothing should be clean and pressed, business casual is appropriate for most jobs. • Take time to interact with the employers you’ve targeted. Deliver your resume and take the time to make a positive first impression on the employer by showing interest in their needs.• To appear confident and knowledgeable about the company, demonstrate your knowledge by asking questions that are specific

After the job fair• Follow up with a thank you notes or emails a day or two after the job fair. Thank the employers for taking their time to meet with you, review key points from your conversation and add any new information that might not have been addressed at the job fair. Don’t forget to attach your resume and follow-up a week or two weeks later to see if opportunities are available for you within their organization.

This information has been brought to you by the Vancouver Northeast WorkBC Employment Services Centre. For more information on how to prepare for a job fair or other job search tips and/or information about their services contact at 604-708-9300 or visit www.employmentworks.ca

How to prepare for a job fair

4

The mission of this non-profit publication is to provide the residents, businesses and organizations of Renfrew/Collingwood with a medium for community communication.

Paul Reid: staff writer and layout coordinatorLisa Symons: sales and distribution coordinatorJulie Cheng: editorial coordinator

Contributors: Crecien Bencio, Cari Chan, Emily Chan, Viven Chiu, Robert F. Edwards, Norman Hill, Dan Paris, Paul Reid, Nancy Reynolds, Vancouver Northeast WorkBC, Mike Wadden, Susan Wong

Yes, You! Send comments, community events, press releases by regular post, fax or e-mail. Suggestions for improving the paper are welcome. We welcome appropriate, unsolicited editorial submissions if accompanied by the author’s real name, address and telephone number. The author should retain the original as we cannot return submissions without prior agreement nor does submis-sion guarantee publication. We reserve the right to make editorial changes.

Contact the RCCNews

Phone: 604-435-0323 extension 261Fax: 604-451-1191

Editorial: [email protected]: Phone Lisa Symons at 604.435.0323 email: [email protected]

Renfrew/Collingwood Community NewsCollingwood Neighbourhood House5288 Joyce StreetVancouver, BC V5R 6C9

The Renfrew/Collingwood Community News is an initiative of the Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH).

COMMUNITY NEWS

We want to hear from you!

Y o u C a n F i n d t h e RC Community News @

Libraries, Collingwood Neighbourhood House, Renfrew Park Community Centre, The Italian Cultural Centre, Collingwood Policing Office, other organizations, religious institutions, schools, laundromats, Starbucks, Rona, Superstore, Canadian Tire, Walmart, London Drugs and Safeway coffee shops, restaurants, markets, corner stores, other businesses, and coffee tables all over Renfrew-Collingwood.

Next submission deadline: Mar. 10


Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society is seeking loving and dedicated foster parents who are willing to share their homes and provide foster care for Aboriginal babies, children, and youth in the Greater Vancouver area. We invite Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal applicants.

Information Sessions are held on the 1st Tuesday of every month at 6:45pm in our office at 3284 East Broadway, Vancouver. For more information, please email [email protected] or call 604-216-7447.

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On dying with dignity by Robert F. Edwards

I would like to start this article about the ruling that the Supreme Court of Canada made this in February on doctor-assisted deaths of the terminally ill.

First of all, I would like to thank all the people out there that suffered and made their request known to wish to end their lives. This is been a long, hard struggle for death with dignity. My thoughts and prayers go out to them for their continuous needs and their fellow suffering before the courts and the Government of Canada. With this ruling, every Canadian will never have to suffer in this struggle at the end of their lives alone.

I can assure myself and most of you that read this article that most people do not want to see one of their family members suffer a bitter end to their life. This is regardless of age, but we

are an aging population in Canada. In many cases, we often think of death with dignity as those that are elderly and waiting in some form of extended care. This is not always the

case. Far from it. Terminal illness strikes regardless of age. It does not always have to be a fatal disease or cancer. In many cases, it can be an accident and not always in a car, or other modes of transportation, but also in sports or just being at the wrong place at the wrong time. We can see without a doubt that there’s more than one way a person can be trapped within a body that has no recovery in life.

Today, medical science is making leap frogs in overcoming diseases that were incurable and accidents that would have resulted in deaths not more than a decade ago. As medical science progresses on their never-ending journey to overcome the diseases and misfortunes of the human race, many cases have produced the living dead.

It is these people that have no future with the living and are only suffering until the moment of relief in death that I’m so grateful that the Supreme Court of Canada has given the medical profession the opportunity to assist these people with the dignity of making their own choice.

I sincerely hope that our government takes the necessary steps that the Supreme Court of Canada has laid out to make it lawful in the future of those that have had and will have the misfortune to being in this state.

5RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWSRENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS March 2015

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Aikido is a martial art that emphasizes self-defense and character development through the practice of blending and redirection rather than head-on conflict. Vancouver Aikikai, affiliated with the International Aikido Federation, offers a safe, friendly and expert environment for studying Aikido. Try-out classes are free.

Beginners, advanced and weapons classes are taught by Aikido World Headquarters-certified instructors. Our dojo is located in the Renfrew Community Center at 2929 E 22nd Ave in Vancouver. For more information, call 604.802.4853 or visit VancouverAikikai.com.

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Local high school teacher Mark Reid is nominated for the Global Teachers Prizeby Crecien Bencio

There are many people in Renfrew-Collingwood who contribute their artistic gifts to the community. Mark Reid, a teacher at Vancouver Technical School, is one of those people who make our neighbourhood a more vibrant and special place.

Mark is one of 50 teachers from all over the world who are shortlisted for the Global Teacher Prize. The Global Teacher Prize is an annual $1 million award from the Varkey Foundation given to an innovative and caring teacher who has made an inspirational impact on their students and their community. Mark is no stranger to receiving awards and accolades. In 2013, he was awarded the Teacher of the Year award from MusiCounts, which was broadcasted in the 2013 Juno Awards.

In an interview with Global News, Mark said that if he were to win the award he would put half the money in an investment account and donate the interest earned to communities and schools where students want to access music.

The other half would go towards repaying his family for all the support they have given him for realizing his dream.

Mark teaches band, choir, symphony orchestra and theatre to over 600 secondary students and also has arranged for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and other notable artists including Carly Rae Jepsen and Foster the People to visit.

He puts all his passion and energies into the music program. Bonnie Ching, a former student, says, “Mr. Reid is different from

other teachers. He cares about us, and he pushes us to succeed, so we can be the best version of ourselves. I remember how I would struggle in the band program and be afraid to perform in front of an audience, but Mr. Reid always inspired me to have more confidence in my abilities and in myself. Mr. Reid was someone who always brightened my day, and I am proud that he is recognized for all the work he has accomplished.”

Congratulations to Mark Reid for all his dedication to empowering and educating youth in our community.

6 RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS

Collingwood Insurance 5750 Tyne Street Ph: 604.438.9888

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7RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWSRENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS

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March 2015

Collingwood Branch Library2985 Kingsway at Rupert604-665-3953

Bring school-age kids to the Collingwood Library for free, fun SPRING BREAK PROGRAMS:

Rainbow Looms – by registrationSaturday, March 7 at 2:30pmLearn some cool tips, new patterns or just share the loom love! If you have your own kit or materials, please bring them along. Limited number of loom kits available. Call 604-665-3953 to register.

Geronimo Stilton Party – Drop-inWednesday, March 11 at 2:30pmDon’t you wish you could party with your favourite book characters? We have crafts and games inspired by the characters from this series! Have fun and celebrate the characters you know and love.

Lego Block Party – Drop-inSaturday, March 14 at 2:30pmDrop in to express your creativity with Lego and make new friends.

And don’t forget to check out the fun offerings at other neighbourhood libraries. Look for the Special Edition Spring Break brochures in all Vancouver Public Library (VPL) branches.

Parents of children in the early years please note Collingwood Library’s regular Family Storytime and Babytime will be taking a break after 5 March and will resume in April

”When I say to a parent, ‘read to a child,’ I don’t want it to sound like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate.” — Mem Fox

ADULT PROGRAMS

ESL Book ClubMarch 3, 17, 31, April 14, 28, 7:00–8:30pmEnjoy practising your English conversation and reading skills in a supportive environment while learning about culture and meeting new people. This program is most suitable for intermediate speakers. Registration is required. To register and to get the book to read, contact the Collingwood Branch at 604-665-3953.

One to One Computer TrainingEvery weekWant to learn how to use a computer? How to send an email? Or maybe you would like to learn more about VPL’s online collections, eBooks? Please call the library at 604-665-3953 and book a 45-minute private lesson tailored to your needs.

Income Tax Preparation ClinicsSaturday, March 28, 12:00–4:00pmTuesday, April 21, 4:00–8:00pmNeed help with your income tax? Come to one of our free drop-in sessions. Trained volunteers will help you prepare your income tax return. Help is available to eligible taxpayers who have modest income, and simple, noncomplex tax situations. Check the following link for eligibility: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/vlntr/nd-eng.html

Résumé and Job Search Workshop*Times and Dates to be announced*Succeed in your job search by learning the step by step processes in creating effective résumé and cover letter. Also, learn which websites to use when looking for work, and find out about the hidden job market!

Do you have a job interview coming up? Even if you don’t have one scheduled yet, but are job searching, it’s a good idea to practice interviewing!

These workshops will be provided by MOSAIC’s Vancouver Northeast Employment Service Centre.

Renfrew Branch Library2969 East 22nd Ave. at Nootka604-257-8705

STORYTIMES

Babytime (0-18 months), Wednesdays 11:15 am, Jan 21 – Mar 11, April 1 – May 13Toddler Storytime (18m-3 years), Wednesdays 10:15 am, Jan 21 – Mar 11, April 1 – May 13Family Storytime (all ages), Saturdays 11:15 am, Jan 17 – Mar 7, March 28 – May 16

Storytime for Daycare & Preschool Groups [bold]For ages 3-5 and teachers/caregivers. The first Tuesday of the month: March 3, April 7, May 5

SCHOOL-AGE PROGRAMS

Kidszone after-school drop-in, Wednesday, March 4, 3:30-5

SPRING BREAK EVENTS FOR SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN (AGES 5-12)

DreamRider Food Scraps WorkshopWednesday, March 11, 2:00-3:00 pm. An interactive composting workshop for the whole family. Be prepared to laugh, learn, and change the world!

Geronimo Stilton PartyFriday, March 13, 2:30-3:30 pm. Party with your favourite book characters! Have fun and celebrate the characters you know and love with crafts and games.

Lego Block PartyWednesday, March 18, 2-4 pm. Express your creativity with Lego and make new friends. Lego provided.

Movie: Mr Peabody & Sherman, Friday, March 20, 2-4 pmDrop in and enjoy this free, kid-friendly movie

TEEN PROGRAMS

Pi DaySaturday, March 14, 2-4 pm. Teens and tweens are invited to celebrate Pi. Food, Fun, Math, and Mind Games. Come and join us at the Renfrew Library and celebrate the world of Pi!

Teen Advisory Group meetingWednesday, March 4, 4-5 pm. We meet on the first Wednesdays of the month. Teens needed to make decisions about teen programs, services and collections. All hours in the TAG count toward service hours.

ADULT PROGRAMS

Announcing a brand new program for parents only! Want to support your school-age child’s creativity and learning over the holidays? VPL has the program for you: Parents’ Night Out: Apps for Your School-age ChildThursday, March 5, 6:30-8:30pm

Choose the right apps for your school-age children (age 6-12) to encourage learning and creativity. Meet other parents and have fun! iPads provided for the session. Adults only, please, as there is no childcare available. Registration required. Call Renfrew Branch at 604-257-8705 to register.

ESL Conversation ClubSaturdays, 2:30-4:00 pm. Get to know the people in your neighborhood while improving your English skills in a fun and casual setting! This weekly program is most suitable for intermediate and advanced students. No registration is required. Light refreshments will be provided. Pad Pad ClubWeekly on Fridays 10 am-12 pm. Drop in and get help with your iPad or tablet in Cantonese

SFU Writer’s Studio Writing ConsultsWednesday, March 4, 4-4:45, 5-5:45, 6-6:45 pm. Need an expert opinion on your writing? Free, one-on-one consultations on seven pages of poetry or a prose manuscript. Must be submitted one week prior to your appointment. Call 604-331-3603 to register

2014 Personal Income Tax ReturnSaturday, March 14, 11 am-12.30 pmLearn how the Canadian tax system works, what kind of incomes you need to report, what expenses are tax-deductible, and where to find free service to your income tax. This program is conducted in English, but Chinese translation is provided. Presented in partnership with Kiwassa Neighbourhood House (call 604-254-5401 for more information).

What’s happening at your local library Get InvolvedCall for writers!Kickstart Disability Arts & Culture invites all writers with a disability to submit an application to be a part of Mouthpiece, an experimental collaborative performance event scheduled for this fall. For more info please email [email protected]

Renfrew- Collingwood: Learning Series on Connections and Engagement The Collingwood Neighbourhood House is hosting a neighbourhood learning series that shares ways to broaden our connections with the diverse people in our neighbourhood.

It’s an opportunity to learn from each other, hear from people using different techniques and get to know people doing similar work in Renfrew-Collingwood.

The learning series is free and open to people who are Renfrew-Collingwood workers (paid and volunteer) and neighbours. The same learning activity will happen twice in every month – one day time and one evening time to fit different schedules.

Please share this opportunity with neighbourhood co-workers, volunteers and residents.

• The first Tuesday of the month from 6:30-8:30 pm at Collingwood Neighbourhood House: March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2• The second Thursday of the month from 3:00-5:00 pm at Renfrew Park Community Centre: March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18• Upcoming learning opportunities will include: Asset mapping: What Next and Tours of Places and Spaces in Renfrew- Collingwood - A time to walk and talk.

For more information contact Paula at [email protected]

Spring Market at Hastings Park returns March 8On Sunday, March 8 the Hastings Park Market returns for a spring run, featuring a line-up of many of your favourite farmers market vendors.

Find the market between the Forum and the Agrodome and stroll down tree-lined pathways twinkling with lights, wander through the Italian garden and stop by the Trout Pond, bring the kids bundled up and play in the playground, or drop into the skateboard park if you’re brave! There’s plenty to do for everyone in the family.

The spring session will run from March 8 to April 26 and features a great selection of local produce; nursery items, fish, meat and dairy; artisan prepared foods, baking and treats; the best in local crafts, and of course, hot food trucks. Tell your friends – the market is returning!

Applications open for Neighbourhood Small Grants - Deadline March 31Online applications will be accepted Thursday, February 26 until Monday, March 31 for the Neighbourhood Small Grants. Here is your chance to get funding for a project that brings neighbours together. For more information, visit www.vancouverfoundation.ca/nsg. To apply, click on the APPLY tab up top. Brochures are available at Collingwood Neighbourhood House and South Vancouver Neighbourhood House in the following languages: English, Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish and Farsi. If you or someone you know wishes to complete a paper application, please ask at the reception desk for the application and return it to reception by the deadline date. For inquiries regarding Neighbourhood Small Grants or Greenest City Small Grants, please contact Sheri at [email protected]

8 RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWSMarch 2015

RCC News Photo Contest: Honourable Mentions

RCC News photo contest Thank you to everyone who sent in your favourite RC winter scenes Our Grand Prize

$20 gift certificate for lunch at Boteco Brasil (2545 Nanaimo Street; 604-566-9028)

Goes to the winner: Dan Paris (see the front cover) for his “Owen at the park” Congratulations Dan!

Thanks again to everyone for your photo submissions. Thank you to Boteco Brasil for the prize this time. Please get your cameras ready for our next contest, coming soon.

Winter fruit These green fruit are colourful and give hope that spring is not far off. They’re also delicious! (Sorry, neighbour). Photo and description by Dan Paris

This is my favourite RC scene. Why? The sun, the warmth, the coldness, the snow flake, the poetry like setting all appeared at once on a house across from Collingwood Park. Through the camera, the snow flakes like flowers spread all over the garden. Photo and description by Viven Chiu

Royal Canadian Legion Collingwood Branch #48 Update by Paul Reid

Branch #48 would like to thank all of those who came out on Valentine’s Day to take advantage of the Branch’s membership drive during this critically important time in the history of Collingwood’s oldest organization.

For those who have been following our monthly coverage as it unfolds, you are aware how the Branch’s survival has gone from ‘it would take a miracle’ in November to ‘hey, we can do this.’ The great progress so far has been for the Branch to convince Legion Command to extend their charter, which was due to expire in December, for a few months longer.

If the Branch is able to get enough new members to sign up (that includes you former members in the audience), then the Branch may just continue surviving. Then, their plan is to move back to Collingwood and turn the former Jaguar’s Pub into something great for everyone. So let’s do this RC!Help Branch #48 member to help this community, again.

It’s okay if you missed the Valentine’s membership drive. You can contact Branch #48’s Bill Ritchie to help you apply. By phone: 778.840.5118 By Email: [email protected]

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #48 Membership drive kicked off on Valentine’s Day. Branch #48 members (sitting) Bill Ritchie and Joe Sharples, with (standing) a Branch #16 member dropping by to lend moral support. The membership drive continues. Photo by Paul Reid

9RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS March 2015RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS

Website connects community members to volunteer opportunities in Renfrew-Collingwood Visit volunteersrc.com to find a project that fits your skills and interestsby Emily Chan

I will always remember reading Vancouver Foundation’s 2011 Connections and Engagement report, which stated that the most popular reason for people not getting involved in their communities is feeling that they have little to offer. In a community of Renfrew-Collingwood, full of knowledge, heart and diversity of experiences and cultures, it always struck me as unfortunate to not be able to tap into this richness. Therefore, Volunteers Renfrew-Collingwood was created in order to act as a central location for volunteers to access a diversity of opportunities. The goal is to allow community members to be able to choose to volunteer for projects that fit their skills and interests.

At this point, the Volunteers Renfrew-Collingwood database is based online, primarily as an email subscription service. During the strike in September, the database was successful in working as a central location to promote for volunteers for the Moon Festival and Renfrew Park Community Centre’s 50th anniversary, which collectively required nearly 300 volunteers. Since then, various community events and projects have successfully gained volunteers from the database. The database’s home is volunteersrc.com. To subscribe to receive volunteer opportunities, please visit volunteersrc.com/subscribe. If you prefer social media to keep in touch, you can like us on Facebook (Volunteers Renfrew-Collingwood), follow us on Twitter (@volunteeersRC).

The other aspect to the database is that organizations and groups can easily send out their opportunities easily and quickly to volunteers in the community. If you are looking for volunteers, I invite you to send any opportunities to [email protected]. There is more information on the website on what information is needed to post your opportunity.

The database is still growing and developing, so you are more than welcome to join Volunteers Renfrew-Collingwood on its quest to do its small part in helping community members find out that they have so much to offer.

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More than 200 Moon Festival volunteers receive an orientation in the midst of the September 2014 teacher’s strike. Photo by Emily Chan

Read On! A news section for Renfrew-Collingwood learners

Read On! has a web page. You can:

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Spring Break Road Trip Vancouver schools are out from March 9 to 20th for Spring Break. What can you do for two weeks with the kids? Take a road trip!

There is so much to see within driving distance of Vancouver. Plus, the kids will get to see so much along the way. Here are my ideas for some of the best road trips around.

For Canadian Culture: VictoriaVictoria is the capital of B.C. on Vancouver Island. You must take a ferry to get there. Driving and ferry take around three hours, but you may have a long wait for the ferry, which can add a lot of time. Once you are in Victoria there is a lot to do: see the parliament building, visit the Royal BC Museum, watch the seals at Fisherman’s Wharf. There is something for everyone here.

For Big City Fun: SeattleDriving south to the city of Seattle takes around 3.5 hours from Vancouver. First, you need to cross the border into Washington state. This can add hours to your trip. Make sure you have your passport!

Seattle has everything that a big city offers: shopping, good restaurants and museums. A popular tourist attraction is Pike Place Market. It is a fun place to shop and buy food (and home of the first ever Starbucks!)

For the Beach: TofinoTofino is a small and beautiful town on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Here you can see the crashing ocean waves and even watch surfers. Pacific Rim National Park, next to Tofino, has many beautiful beaches.

To reach Tofino, you need to take a ferry to Nanaimo. From there you will drive around three to four hours through forests, past lakes and over a mountain. The trip will take you all day, but it is worth it! For a Quick Getaway: Harrison Hot SpringsIf you would rather not drive so far, Harrison Hot Springs is a good choice. It only takes 90 minutes (without traffic) on Highway 1. The views of Harrison Lake are beautiful from the village. The main attraction is, of course, the hot spring. There is a public hot spring pool open to anyone. Or if you are staying at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, you can use their hot spring pools.

Road Trip Tips • Bring lots of snacks and water• Pack books and magazines to keep kids busy• Play car games like “I Spy” when kids get bored• Bring lots of good music • Stop at rest stops for free coffee and to use the washroom • Look at the directions BEFORE you start driving• Bring a pillow so you can take a nap (unless you are driving!)• Make ferry and hotel reservations early• Fill up with gas when you can—you never know how long it might be before the next gas station• Have your camera ready!

Road Trip

L P P X T R F B Y R E U J D J H A X A E R V T Z E Q N D E J V Z T F R R I H V D Y S I N H W Y R I B L B P Q R N U R K K M U U Z P G I C L O R N E H B S B V F G A R A I B O V C W I F E R R Y A C T M E A M T W P C B M C S P A P A E D L I C P K Y T H P V X H K S N P O O B U K I D R J S I L M V T N Y D D N X E L Y I C Z C B V S H Y G K S E K K S R X Y C M V M W I E F Z W C Q Y A W A T E G P R L N H B F E W D N M E R Z M A T T R A C T I O N Q J Z G E

ATTRACTION BORDER CAPITAL CRASHING DIRECTIONS FERRY GETAWAY PARLIAMENT RESERVATIONS ROAD SURFER TRIP

On the front lawn of Victoria’s parliament building.

*This page is sponsored by the Collingwood Business Improvement Association

CBIA UPDATESl Collingwood Celebrated The Year of the Goat - February 28th, 11:30 - 1:30pm Come out and celebrate Chinese New Year in Collingwood. Two colourful Lions will be touring the Collingwood businesses to bless them for a prosperous new year. The Collingwood Jr. BIA will be out handing out Lucky envelopes. Come out and let’s bring in a happy and healthy New Year.

Thank you to the participating businesses:

London Drugs Starbucks Cassandra Hotel Vancity

TD Canada Trust Pine House Bakery Max’s Restaurant Joyce 99 Market HM Accounting & Tax Don Davies, MP CIBC A full list of participants can be found on the website www.shopcollingwood.ca

l Turn Down the Heat 2015Thank you to Vancity for collecting donations of warm clothing for the Turn Down the Heat campaign. A total of 120 items were collected and delivered to the Homeless Committee at the Collingwood Neighbourhood House.

When it comes to your insurance needs, no one has your back like Collingwood Insurance’s Henry Hajdik. Henry has been in the insurance business nearly all his life, and for 25 of those years, they have been here in Collingwood with Collingwood Insurance.

Collingwood Insurance Centre is your one-stop shop for all of your insurance needs: car, home, travel or business insurance. Henry, his business partner, Lily Yip, or any of the other nine Collingwood Insurance staff are happy to serve you in a variety of languages. They are open seven days a week: 9 a.m. To 9 p.m., Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. To 6 p.m. on Saturday and 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays. With a variety of insurance companies at their fingertips, Collingwood Insurance will be able to find the right coverage for you.

When Collingwood Insurance first opened its doors in 1990, Henry and his then partner, Jim, were located in the Hong Kong Bank building on the south side of Kingsway. “There were a lot of vacant store fronts along Kingsway at that time,” recalls Henry.

Henry would become one of the pioneering members of the original Collingwood Business Association that helped to turn the area around. By raising funds from local businesses, the CBA was able to put new benches, street lamps and trees along Kingsway. Following the improvements, a lot of those vacancies filled up and the area turned around. The CBA was later transformed into the Collingwood Business Improvement Association that has continued to keep the Kingsway stretch of Collingwood a safe, attractive and lucrative place of business.

In 1998, Collingwood Insurance would move to its current location. It was at this time that the old Mr. Sport was being renovated to become the Quality Inn. With the renovation came the storefronts along Tyne, one of which was custom made just for Collingwood Insurance.

When not hard at work, Henry enjoys a hobby called “control line flying.” This involves the building and flying of model airplanes, something that Henry has been doing since 1948. His favourite memory of flying is competing in the U.S. Nationals in the 1980s.

Henry Hadjik (left) with one of Collingwood Insurance Centre’s staff , Nestor Olvina.

l Call Out for Vendors to participate in Collingwood Days 2015 - May 30thCollingwood Days is accepting International Marketplace and Food Court applications. Over the past 12 years this community festival has grown to over 50 vendors. If you have a product or business or a non profit organization and would like to participate in this year’s event, please go to the website www.collingwooddays.com You can also sign up to volunteer for the many events that will occur during the week of May 23 - 31st.

DON’T MISS OUT GO TO THE WWW.COLLINGWOODDAYS.COM TO SIGN UP!

l Board NewsWe would like to introduce to the new Collingwood BIA president, Mr. Stephen Hill, Boundary Plaza Starbucks Manager. Stephen was been the Vice President for the past 3 years and has contributed many hours to the Collingwood BIA and community initiatives. Angela Lam, Branch Manager Vancity is the new Vice President, Shelley Craig, London Drugs Manager is the new Secretary, Philip Hemming is the Treasurer. Other board members are Monita Chan - BM Chan, Nav Dardi - Panago Pizza, and Beth Hernandez (associate member).

If you are interested on sitting on the Collingwood Business Improvement Association’s board of directors or on a committee please contact the office 604.639.4403.

l Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS


Nootka Elementary rocks the Aviva competition to win $45,000 for a new playground by Susan Wong

DAYTIME ACTIVITIES 日间娱乐活动 Collingwood Neighbourhood House ● March 2015

We are located on 5288 Joyce St. in Vancouver. Please call us at 604-435-0323 if you have any questions or want to find out more about our many seniors recreation and social programs.

MONDAY WELLNESS GROUP: 星期一健康组织 March 2 – 1:15pm‐2pm Birthdays & Bingo: Tell us if your Birthday is in March! Bring a small prize or Coffee and cake will be served. $2.00. 2pm‐3pm we will have Karaoke. Have fun singing your favourite songs with a microphone and a musical track. We provide your music, you provide the voice! Mar 9 – 1:15pm‐2pm. ‐ Zumba fit & Sit: Dance at your own pace to the rhythmic sounds of vintage groove and music, and enjoy some old familiar songs in this easy to follow movement class for sitting or standing. Coffee and snacks will be served. $2.50 2pm‐3pm we will have the Forever Young project celebration and evaluation. Join us for a reflection on our year‐long intergenerational and intercultural project. Discuss what we learned and what we would do differently next time.

Mar 16 – 1:15pm‐2pm Potluck and Program Planning: Time for change! Let’s create a new Monday afternoon program together. What programs do you want? Karaoke? Potlucks? Workshops? Trips? Bring a list of ideas. This is a free program but please bring a food item to share.

March 23 – 1:15pm‐2:30pm Ballroom dancing with Mimi: Enjoy this easy to follow ballroom dancing class for all levels, no experience or partner required. Have fun dancing and meeting new friends! Coffee and light snack will be served. $2.50

March 30 – 1:15pm‐2:30pm Frauds and Scams Prevention Workshop. This workshop is presented by the BC Centre for Elderly Advocacy and Support. Learn about how to protect your finances, to recognize and respond to financial abuse, and to access resources for further assistance. Coffee and light snacks will be served. $2.50

Renfrew Collingwood Better at Home Seniors Shuttle: Are you struggling to get to medical appointments? Do you need help getting your groceries home? Is it challenging for you to take public transit? Did you know that there is a door‐to‐door shuttle service that helps seniors in the community? R‐C Better at Home runs an affordable shuttle service that serves people above the age of 55 who live in Renfrew Collingwood. Fees are on a sliding scale based on income. Subsidies are available for those on a lower income. For more info, please call R‐C Better at Home at 604‐435‐0375.

Last October, Nootka Elementary embarked on an ambitious and monumental goal to save their soon to be demolished playground by entering the Aviva Community Fund competition for a chance to win a $50,000 prize. It would be a competition based on public votes.

The school’s wooden playground was deemed unsafe and would be torn down spring 2015. Replacement of expired school playgrounds are no longer funded by the provincial government.With the demolition deadline just around the corner, Nootka pushed forward with full force. The tremendous task was met with a can-do attitude, hard work and perseverance from a dedicated group of parent volunteers.

Parents, children, teachers and the community all came together to make it happen. Nootka reached out to all corners of the city, from their friends and family, to their community of schools, fellow Parent Advisory Committees (PACs) and local businesses. Communications and social media were key contributors in spreading the word to “Vote for Nootka - Everyday!” Tweets and retweets @DonDavies, @adriandix, @Project_Chef and @Wind_SC were just a few names that represented the immense level of support for this little East Van school.

A visionary group of playground volunteers spent numerous hours planning, assembling a winning pitch for the competition, handing out pamphlets and flyers at schools all over the community, putting up websites and Facebook pages, and they even circulated animated music videos by a talented media-savvy parent. Notably, an inspiring school video was also created with Nootka students singing to a familiar 80s tune by Starship, “We Built This Playground…On Rock & Roll!!” Nootka could win this through music.

After months of campaigning and three rounds of voting, Nootka Elementary made it as a finalist and would then face a vigorous process of interviews in front of a panel of judges. On January 27, 2015 Nootka Elementary received the much-anticipated news that they were grand prize winners of $45,000! After countless hours of labour, over 7,000 votes, and who knows how many tags, likes, shares and tweets—Nootka delivered. Nootka finished first in their category and third overall in the competition.

The Aviva Community Fund competition began in 2009 and offers funding up to $1 million encouraging Canadians to lead, empower and support community initiatives across the country.

The monies raised will be spent on three new playground structures, an outdoor classroom, mural art and greening. Nootka’s playground will serve as a healthy, creative and sustainable place for the school and surrounding community to enjoy for years to come. Completion of the first phase of the new playground will finish by late spring.

With the collaboration of a passionate playground committee, a fierce fundraising team, donations and an unexpected donor who generously matched the Aviva grant, Nootka has raised almost $140,000 and is just a stretch away from their $160,000 goal. The community donor, who grew up in Renfrew-Collingwood, made the donation in memory of his parents Bill and Ellen Woods. Nootka Elementary will have a playground celebration ceremony in honour of their donors at their 2nd Annual Spring Carnival on Saturday, May 2. Playground construction will begin March 2015. For more information on the project please visit nootkaplayground.ca.

Nootka school won the $45,000 from Aviva and have raised $138,500 towards our $160,000 goal. Pictured are Leanne Barlow, Nootka’s playground committee leader, with her daughters presenting at the school’s Aviva announcement assembly. Photo by Mike Wadden

The following is a paid advertisement by Adrian Dix, MLA for Vancouver/Kingsway

13RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS March 2015

The Seniors Connection

9th Annual Seniors’ Health & Wellness Fair – April 1

Each year I am proud to host a Seniors’ Health and Wellness Fair. I am pleased to invite all seniors and their families to attend our seventh annual fair on April 1st at Renfrew Park Community Centre. Doors will open at 10 am. There will be over 20 exhibitors providing information on issues such as heart and stroke, arthritis, diabetes and more. The day is always informative and fun. All participants receive a free, healthy lunch.

Apply Now for a Neighbourhood Small Grant!

Want to be a part of expanding our community? I am pleased to have the opportunity to share information about our own Collingwood program to increase the amount of diverse, community events happening in our community. Through the Neighbourhood Small Grants Program, any resident can apply for and receive $50-$500 of funding to host a community event! This funding can be put towards block parties, community gardens, roadside planters, a neighborhood street hockey tournament, cooking classes, mural painting supplies, or anything other ideas you have to brighten up our community!

Apply online at http://neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca/ or pick up a form at Collingwood Neighbourhood House, 5288 Joyce St. (the corner of Joyce and Euclid).

New Community Office Vietnamese Services

Following the celebration of Lunar New Year, we are very pleased to announce new services for the Vietnamese in our community.

This month our office will be launching the first-ever Seniors Guide, printed in Vietnamese.

While there are several government resources available to assist our community as they age, there are very few that have been translated into the Vietnamese language. In light of the absence, my office staff have compiled services from the BC Seniors’ Guide and from the locally produced Renfrew-Collingwood Seniors’ Guide in an effort to service this large and thriving community. This guide will be available to download from my website: adriandixmla.ca later this month, as well as available in print while supplies last.

Additionally, I am very pleased to welcome back my Vietnamese-speaking constituency assistant, Que Tran Hoang. She will be once again providing constituency support through our office in the Vietnamese language. Our office is open

Vancouver Kingsway has the largest Vietnamese population in all of BC and I am honoured to serve their community.

RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS

Local resident selected for B.C. Seniors Advocate Council of Advisorsby Kat Cureton

Congratulations to Janet Lee for being selected (from

Mayor Gregor Robertson and Janet Lee. Photo by Kat Cureton

among 400 applicants for 30 positions) to sit on the new B.C. Seniors Advocate Council of Advisors.

The council will provide the Office of the Seniors Advocate with advice and feedback on issues facing B.C. seniors. Janet is a local senior who has been very active as a volunteer at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) on a number of committees, programs and initiatives. She retired from a career in the health sector. As a former nurse, she understands what worked well and what needs improvement in the health system to serve the needs of seniors. It will be wonderful to have a local person who understands the challenges that seniors in Renfrew-Collingwood face on the B.C. Seniors Advocate Council of Advisors.

Here are a few examples of the work that Janet is involved in that exemplify her leadership skills and dedication:

• As a member of the Collingwood Neighbourhood House Seniors Advisory Group, Janet worked with others to develop a proposal for a federal New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) grant. The grant was successful and Janet quickly became a leader on the project steering committee.

• Janet is a dedicated attendee of the tai chi program at CNH, taught by Thomas Wong. She practises tai chi three days a week and is often seen leading the warm up and welcoming new members.

• Janet often volunteers to translate as she speaks and writes in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Her language abilities have made her an outstanding leader for various seniors’ projects, trips and workshops.

• Her cheerful personality made her a natural

choice to host the CNH Christmas holiday party with over 120 people in attendance. She taught a group of Chinese seniors to sing an English Christmas carole for the event. Every word was a brand new word for this group but they did a wonderful job with Janet’s coaching. Janet also hosted the upcoming Forever Young Talent showcase on February 26 at Windermere Secondary School.

Janet received letters of support from Jennifer Gray-Grant, CNH executive director, and Kat Cureton, CNH seniors program coordinator. Both described her as a perfect candidate for this honourable role and were thrilled to hear the exciting news.

Janet will meet the B.C. seniors advocate, Isobel Mackenzie, and fellow council members on March 6 for the first council meeting in Richmond, B.C.

Congratulations, Janet!

Kat Cureton coordinates seniors programs at Collingwood Neighbourhood House.

14

This page is sponsored by the Collingwood Neighbourhood House

Collingwood Neighbourhood HouseH I G H L I G H T S

COMMUNITY LUNCH

Collingwood Neighbourhood House invites you to lunch every Tuesday and Thursday. Please note that seniors are served at 12 noon; others are served at 12:10 pm. Full meal prices are $6.25 for adults, $5 for seniors, $4 for students and $3.25 for children under 12. Items can be purchased a la carte or “to go.”

March Lunch menuTuesday 3Minestrone soupEgg salad sandwichSalad, Biscotti

Thursday 5Chicken and rice jambalaya (or vegetarian option)Salad, Vanilla cake

Tuesday 10Chickpea and tomato soupSockeye salmon salad sandwich Salad, Chocolate chip cookie

Thursday 12Meatballs with tomato sauce on quinoa (or veggie option)Salad, Walnut cookie

Tuesday 17Mushroom barley soupSpinach pie or chicken pie Salad, Lemon cake

Thursday 19Cabbage roll (beef or vegetarian) Salad, Poppy seed cake

Tuesday 24Creamy watercress soupCauliflower and smoked salmon frittataSalad, Almond tart

Thursday 26Meat or vegetarian lasagna Garlic breadSalad, Coconut macaroon

Tuesday 31Vegetarian dumplings in chive broth Chinese barbecue chicken bun Salad, Sesame seed cookie


Kindness is coming alive at Collingwood Early Learning and Care Centre By Norman Hill

On January 15, Collingwood Early Learning and Care Centre launched its ‘Languages of the Heart’ project.

The goal of the project is to spread compassion and kindness and to “educate the hearts of children”. The centre has been focusing on two areas of children’s heart-mind well-being: getting along with others and being compassionate and kind.

At the project launch, the colours of compassion, pink and purple, created an inspiring environment. The children listened to stories of compassion and sang songs, blew bubbles of happiness and had their faces and hands painted. They were introduced to a cuddly bear whose heart was full of compassion and they named it ‘C-bear’ because he gives children warm hugs and shows them what compassion feels like. And the children worked alongside their parents to create art, which encouraged them to work together and express their feelings.

Since the project launch, centre staff have led the children through activities designed to promote compassion and kindness. This has included making batik art with their parents; decorating the community lunch room at CNH and giving carnations to seniors; and participating in a felting session.

The centre is also encouraging the children to spread compassion and kindness beyond their community. For example, the children created batik art to send to their sister compassion school in the municipality of Santa Lucia in the Philippines.

Kalvinder Kular, manager of the 3-5 program, said, “The children have nurtured compassion and kindness. Compassion has made a huge impact on our lives and it continues to grow outside the classroom walls. It’s

been a pleasure to see that kindness is coming alive in our classroom and hearts.”

The project will end on March 15 with a closing event, but the child care centre will continue to spread compassion and kindness after that.

This project has been presented in collaboration with Windows of Opportunity and the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education and funded by Success By 6 and United Way.

CNH Gymnastics Spring Camp: a fun way for children to learn gymnasticsDoes your child like gymnastics? If so, why not enroll them in CNH’s Gymnastics Spring Camp? Gymnastics Spring Camp provides an excellent program that makes learning gymnastics fun. The safe and supportive atmosphere helps children learn the skills needed to enjoy gymnastics. Classes use the CANGYM* badge system, with children progressing at their own pace. Instructor Lucinda Donaldson has over fifteen years’ experience teaching gymnastics at CNH, so your child will be learning from a pro! Pre-registration is required. Call 604-435-0323 or email [email protected].

Date: March 9 – 13 and March 16 – 20Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm or 9:00 am – 12:00 pmLocation: Collingwood Neighbourhood House, 5288 Joyce St., VancouverInstructor: Lucinda DonaldsonCost: $115/week for 9:00 am – 3:00 pm or $60/week for 9:00 am – 12:00 pm *http://www.gymcan.org/site/files/documents/cangym_artistic_artistique_2008_edition.pdf

LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnh.bc.ca

FOLLOW us on Twitter: @collingwoodnh

Want to stay up to date with new activities, programs and events at CNH? Follow us on Facebook or check out our Twitter feed.

Follow us

15RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS March 2015RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS

Movie Matinee “Guys and Dolls” (55+yrs) Fri 12:45-4:00pm Mar 13 $1/person West Coast Express - The Teahouse Restaurant (55+yrs) Tue 10:15am-6:30pm Mar 17 $89/person St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon (55+yrs) Wed 12:00-2:30pm Mar 25 $9/person Easter Eggstravaganza (0-10yrs) Rain or shine the event runs from 12-3pm. Come before and or after your egg hunt time. There will be face painting, crafts, games and our famous Egg Hunt. Children less than 7yrs must be accompanied by an adult. Limited number of tickets available. Accompanying adults may attend this event for free. Sat 12:00-3:00pm Apr 4 $5/child Egg Hunt times: 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 2:30pm

Spring Break Day Camp (6-12yrs) Contact the centre (604 257-8388) for space availability. Mon-Fri 9:00am-3:00pm Mar 9-13 OR 16-20 $110/week Badminton Camp (6-18yrs) Richard Le Shuttle I/II - Beginner/Intermediate Learn the fundamentals of badminton from a professional bad-minton coach. The program introduces basic racquet skills, movement, and coordination required for badminton. Mon-Fri 9:00-10:30am Mar 9-13 OR Mar 16-20 6-14yrs $70/week 15-18yrs $73.50/week Shuttle III/IV – Intermediate/Advanced This intermediate and advanced program reviews and improves upon the basic skills. Mon-Fri 10:30am-12:00pm Mar 9-13 OR Mar 16-20 6-14yrs $70/week 15-18yrs $73.50/week Red Cross Babysitting Training (11+yrs) First Aid Hero So you want to be a babysitter? Or, your parents want you to take this course so they feel confident leaving you at home alone? Babysitting with First Aid Hero emphasizes learning through real life scenarios. (Please bring a lunch for the day) Sun 11:00am-6:00pm Mar 15 $60/person

Renfrew Licensed Preschool Open House - Tue, April 21, 4:00-8:00pm This is the time to come and check out our preschool facility and speak to our ECE certified teachers. Bring your child, and your questions. Activities will be set up for children.

Registration - Fri, May 1st Priority registration is given to siblings and those currently in the program. Forms will be handed out on the day of registration at 6:00am. If you are accepted into the class, an appointed time will be issued for you to return for the orientation, make payments and return completed forms.

Wibit Inflatable Day Saturday, March 14, 2015 2:00–4:00pm Come and join in the fun! *Regular admission rates apply

For our full listing of programs check out our website or

drop by and pick up a brochure. GST included. Registration Starts On-line Registration Mon, March 2 Register in person Tue, March 3 Register by phone (604 257-8388) Wed, March 4

Pool Hours Fitness Hours Mar 14 8:30am-4:00pm 9:30am-4:00pm

Mar 15 1:00pm-5:00pm 1:00pm-5:00pm

Mar 21 8:30am-4:00pm 9:30am-4:00pm Mar 22 1:00pm-5:00pm 1:00pm-5:00pm

Special Hours of Operation Sat Sun Sat Sun

Renfrew-Collingwood INTERactive working with local schools by Nancy Reynolds from the RC INTERactive project

Children, teachers and parents at Nootka and Graham Bruce elementary schools are learning more about interculturalism and physical activity, thanks to a pilot project funded through Vancouver Coastal Health’s Healthy Living Project.

“What is interculturalism?” was part of a discussion at a Nootka teachers’ Lunch & Learn session. Laura Rhead, vice-principal, summarized that “interculturalism is a step beyond multiculturalism; bridging diversity through commonalities, getting at people’s gifts and passions. Two metaphors for ‘interculturalism’ are an orchestra or a stew—something that is totally different (and positive) when brought together, than its different parts when separate.”

Peer leaders at Nootka and Grade 6/7 students at Bruce learned games they can lead with younger kids either on the playground or in

physical education classes. The games, originating from a variety of cultures, were “tweaked” to include more interculturalism. The student leaders also learned to help kids create new games together—where everyone is included. Parents will have an opportunity to learn more about this initiative at parent-teacher nights as well as community festivals.

As well as the school community learning intercultural physical activities, the RC INTERactive team also hopes that these games will be practised by people of all ages, who can have fun being active together while developing intergenerational and intercultural social connections.

Physical activity is very helpful as a community building tool. Everyone likes to be healthy, wants to feel connected AND have a sense of belonging to our communities. Paula Carr, from Collingwood Neighbourhood House, presented

this question to the teachers at Nootka School and it is a good one for all of us to consider: “How do I approach diversity as it comes into my life?”

RC INTERactive is a community initiative involving a number of organizations, including Collingwood Business Improvement Association,

Collingwood Community Policing Centre, Collingwood Neighbourhood House, Renfrew Park Community Centre, Spectrum Society for Community Living, UBC’s School of Kinesiology, Vancouver Coastal Health and Windermere Family of Schools. If you’d like to learn more about it, please email [email protected].

Students at Nootka and Graham Bruce schools are learning more about interculturalism through physical activity.