MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Here’s What’s Happening
In Your West End In …

MAY, 2023

(Click any image to enlarge)

The following are highlights from the many programs available at the West End and Coal Harbour community hubs. Check the websites listed at the end of this section for complete listings of events and activities.

Community Calendar / Arts & Entertainment / Families, Kids, & Teens / Senior Moments / Venue Directory

Community Calendar

WEST END URBAN GARDEN CLUB

When: Sun, May 7 from 1 to 2:30 P.M.
Where: West End Community Centre Bidwell Room
Admission: Free
Details: Join the West End Neighbourhood Food Network’s Urban Garden Club and Village Vancouver at their family friendly gathering. Bring a dish to share for the potluck and tableward (plate, eating utensils, etc.). Each moth the club conducts a short workshop on a different food and/or gardening related topic, and a community seed library offers an opportunity to pick up some free seeds and swap or donate seeds.

BMO MARATHON

When: Sunday, May 7 from 7 a.m.
Where: It’s complicated, with some portions starting at Queen Elizabeth Park and some in Stanley Park.
Admission: Registration information here.
Details: Considered on of the top “destination marathons” in the racing world, you can find all the information here.

EMERGENCY FIRST AID

When: Sat. May 13 from 9:15 to 1:45 p.m.
Where: West End Community Centre Barclay Room.
Admission: $99.75
Details: This basic course teaches lifesaving first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills for workplace or home. The course meets the legal requirements for provincial worker safety and insurance boards and includes the latest first aid and CPR guidelines.

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS IN ONE DAY

When: Sat. May 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: West End Community Centre Barclay Room.
Admission: $69.
Details: Learn the basic and most important settings on your digital or film camera, including: exposure modes, aperture, shutter speed, depth-of-field, white balance, flash, and ISO. This one-day class includes a set of class notes and a field trip in the neighbourhood. Please bring your camera with instruction manual The course is best suited for digital or film cameras with manual exposure control.

ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE

When: Tuesdays through May 30 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Where: West End Community Centre Meeting Room 2.
Admission: Free
Details: Join a weekly conversation circle open to all levels to practice English in a relaxed circle of friendly people. Conversations are guided by experienced facilitators.

EMERGENCY FIRST AID

When: Sat. May 13 from 9:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Where: West End Community Centre Barclay Room
Admission: $99.75
Details: This basic course teaches lifesaving first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills for the workplace or home. The course meets legislation requriements for provincial worker safety and insurance boards and includes the latest first aid and CPR guidelines.

INVESTMENT COFFEE CLUB

When: Sunday, May 14 from 10 to 11 a.m.
Where: West End Community Centre English Bay Room
Admission: Free
Details: An informal gathering to discuss current events, the economy, and investing.

KING GEORGE DRAGONS CAR WASH
A Fundraiser For The Basketball Team

When: Fridays, May 26 and June 9, 16 & 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. / Saturdays, May 27 and June 10 & 17 from 12 noon to 6 p.m.
Where: The parking lot behind King George Secondary School, off Barclay east of Denman.
Cost: By donation
Details: Support the West End’s championship basketball team, The King George Dragons, and drive away in a sparkling clean automobile.

ONCE A WEEK, EVERY WEEK

The following events almost always take place as scheduled but things do get moved around, so if you’re not sure, check the relevant website or call ahead. Contact info at the end of this calendar.

• TOASTMASTERS: Tuesdays from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. in the West End Community Centre Bidwell Room. Free. Learn and practice public speaking, impromptu speeches, and leadership skills at this weekly meeting.

• WEST END WRITERS: Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Free. Writers Club of all ages and experience are invited to join in reading works-in-progress and receiving feedback. Visit here for more information.

Arts & Entertainment

View fullsize

Artwork by Mary Goldthorp.

ART EXHIBITION @ BENTALL CENTRE
Mary Goldthorp and Bruce Woycik

When: May 1 - 31 / Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Art@Bentall Gallery / Bentall Centre Underground Mall / Suite 305
Admission: Free.
Details: This month’s exhibition at the Vancouver Visual Art Foundation’s gallery, will be the paper painting works of Mary Goldthorp and oil on canvas works by Bruce Woycik.

View fullsize

ART IN THE CITY
Annual Exhibition & Sale

When: Vernissage Fri. May 5, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Art Market Sat. May 6 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Sun. May 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: West End Community Centre
Admission: Free
Details: The West End’s annual show and sale of a wide selection of original art and craft pieces by local artists.

LUNCHTIME CONCERTS

When: Thursdays May 11 to June 29 from 12:15 to 1 p.m.
Where: St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church
Admission: By donation.
Details: The return of a popular lunchtime series. Bring your lunch and enjoy some of Vancouver’s finest musicians and vocalists. The May lineup includes: May 11, Michael Streit on oud; May 18, TBC; May 25, mezzo-soprano Tabitha Brasso-Ernst.

View fullsize

JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY
Celebrating Asian Heritage Month

When: Sat. May 13 at 1 and 3 p.m.
Where: Roedde House Museum
Admission: $30 / $35. Tickets here.
Details: An intimate Japanese tea ceremony in the Roedde House parlour, presented by Maiko Behr of SaBi Tea Arts. There will be two afternoon sessions with a maximum of ten participants in each. Although the practice of preparing tea for guests integrating Zen aesthetics and following carefully prescribed movements and protocols dates back more than 450 years, the forms are constantly evolving to suit the times. Using a modern-era tea table to prepare and serve the traditional matcha tea, Maiko will provide an introduction to the Japanese tea ceremony, with particular attention to the period of the encounter between East and West at the turn of the 20th century. Matcha (stone-milled green tea) and a traditional Japanese sweet will be served. Sweets may contain beans, sugar, rice powder, and agar jelly. If you have dietary concerns, please contact us in advance. Due to the nature of the program, substitutions may not be possible.

View fullsize

Harpist Albertina Chan .

MUSIC OF THE WORLD
Water Dragon Tune

When: Thursday, May 18 at 7 p.m.
Where: Roedde House Museum.
Admission: $24.64 / $27.79 here.
Details: Roedde House Museum and Vancouver International Orchestra’s (VIO) “Music of the World” series introduces patrons to a range of musical instruments and styles reflective of the diversity of the Canadian experience as well as a new appreciation of different types of classical music. May’s presentation is from an ongoing collection of Chinese poems set to music by L. Mark Armanini. The power of these ancient poems is in the common and daily experiences being shared between the time they were written (347-1200 AD), and the present. The music, for the most part is contemplative, the Mandarin text is reflected and framed by the erhu in a dialogue of text image being shadowed by the erhu melodies and emotions. The celestial harp adds a sense of the suspension of time and space, drawing the listener closer to the rich sounds of the spoken Mandarin with its natural tonal inflections. Artists will be narrator Jenny Lu, Song Yun on erhu, and Albertina Chan on harp. The effect is to bring the poems into the here and now, as if the poet is speaking directly to us from ancient times. Refreshments will be provided.

View fullsize

The Hot Mammas are at the Sylvia Sunday, May 17.

LIVE AT THE SYLVIA

When: Every Wed., Thurs., and Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: The Sylvia Hotel Restaurant & Lounge.
Admission: Free.
Details: Three evenings a week enjoy live music at the lounge with a great view of English Bay. The May lineup includes: Wed. May 3 - Rio Trio; Thur. May 4 - Weaver & Werth Band; Sun. May 7 - Jana Seale; Wed. May 10 - Stephen Spender; Thur. May 11 - Harris & DeBray; Sunday, May 17 - The Hot Mammas; Wed. May 18 - Arsenic & Old Lace; Thur. May 21 - Little Fox; Sun. May 24 - Chapter 11; Wed. May 25 - Rusty Creek; Thur. May 28 - Harris & Debray; Sun. May 31 - Chapter 11.

JAZZ IN THE PARLOUR

Where: Roedde House Museum
When: Thurs. May 25 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Admission: $22. 54 and $25.69 here.
Details: This month’s entertainers for Roedde House’s Jazz In The Parlour series will be Sharon Minemoto (piano), Russ Botten (bass), and Darren Radtke (guitar). The event includes a 30-minute intermission when tea and cookies will be available.

ONCE A WEEK, EVERY WEEK

The following events almost always take place as scheduled but things do get moved around, so if you’re not sure, check the relevant website or call ahead. Contact info at the end of this calendar.

• HOT MIX BINGO: Mondays at 8 p.m. at The Shamrock Pub at 1184 Denman. Fun and games = music and bingo at this popular West End Irish pub.

• KARAOKE MONDAYS: At Chef Ron Restaurant from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free. Reservations at 604.336.98.

• BINGO FOR LIFE: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at The Junction Pub at 11:38 Davie. Free. Drag diva the unstoppable Conni Smudge presides over a weekly fundraiser for The Vancouver Friends for Life Society.


• TUESDAY NIGHT TRIVIA: At the Fountainhead Pub at 7 p.m. No cover. An evening of trivia and fun hosted by Richard Romano-Carlsen.

• KARAOKE TUESDAYS: At The Park Pub from 9 p.m. to late.

• THE WEST END SINGERS: Wednesdays in the Salons at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church from 7 to 9 p.m. No auditions, it’s just for fun! Currently they're learning tunes by/from Styx, Cold Play, John Lennon, Les Miserables, La La Land, and others.

• LUNCHTIME CONCERTS: Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church. By donation. Bring your bagged lunch and treat yourself to some of Vancouver’s best musical offerings featuring classical, gospel, jazz, folk and more with Dawn Pemberton, Corey Hamm, and Katherine Evans.

• COMEDY TONIGHT! Thursdays at 8 p.m. / The Park Pub (1755 Davie) / Free / Hosts TheatreSports alumni Denise Jones and David Milchard hold an improv comedy night featuring a rotating cast of up to eight of Vancouver’s top improv artists plus special guests. Tickets $25 here.

• IMPROV THURSDAYS: From 8 to 9:30 p.m. at The Park Pub. Admission $25. Award-winning actors, improv veterans, and Theatre Sports alumni Denise Jones and David Milchard bring their new improv comedy troupe to the West End.

• JAZZ VESPERS: Sundays at 4 p.m. at St. Andrews Wesley United Church. By donation. An afternoon featuring some of Vancouver’s finest musicians and meditations on faith and life. The April lineup had not been announced at press time. Stay tuned!

• FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE: From 8:30 p.m. to late at The Park Pub enjoy great live music. The May lineup includes: May 5 - Shaina Ireland; May 12 - New Shackletons; May 19 - TBC.; and May 26 - Lee Nichols.

Families, Kids, & Teens

PRE-TEEN ART-ATTACK PROGRAM

When: Tuesdays April 4 to June 13.
Where: West End Community Centre Denman Room
Admission: Free
Details: Take a walk on the creative side and join this free art program where every week you will work on fun DIY projects to take home. Paint, draw, build, and get messy while hanging with friends. Projects may include coaster making, canvas painting, tie-dye, and more. Pre-registration and pre-teen programs waiver form is required, and a calendar of activities will be available the first day of the program.

PLAYTIME!

When: Monday through Saturday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. except Wednesdays which are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through May 22.
Where: The West End Community Centre Auditorium
Admission: $3.50 drop-in per child. Registration required.
Details: You child will love running, tumbling, and riding and bikes and cars and making new friends. Parents are requested to help with set-up and take-down of play equipment.

LITTLE SPROUT PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

When: Wed. May 31 from 1 to 2 p.m.
Where: West End Community Centre
Admission: Free. Registration required (website event # 454625)
Details: This is an opportunity to tour the classroom and speak with the preschool staff about the program for 3 to 5-year-olds. The “Learning Through Play” program provides opportunities for children to learn social skills through paying and by developing an awareness of the community around them. Details of the program’s schedule and fees TBC.

RED CROSS BABYSITTING

When: Sunday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: West End Community Centre / Barclay Room.
Admission: $75.
Details: This Red Cross run babysitting course is a nationally recognized program designed to help youth develop self-assurance, knowledge, and skills required for babysitting duties and when caring for themselves alone.

YOUTH MOVIE NIGHT

When: Thurs. May 4 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Where: West End Community Centre Auditorium
Admission: Free.
Details: Open to all ages 13 t0 18, with popcorn and movie snacks provided. Pre-registration is encouraged but youth are welcome to register the day of at the front desk.

ONCE A WEEK, EVERY WEEK

The following events almost always take place as scheduled but things do get moved around, so if you’re not sure, check the relevant website or call ahead. Contact info at the end of this calendar.

FAMILY STORY TIME: Thursdays from 11 to 11:30 a.m. at Joe Fortes Library. Free. This program for parents and caregivers with young children shares songs, rhymes and stories. Suitable for children of all ages and abilities to enjoy and learn together.

PRE-TEEN ART ATTACK PROGRAM: Tuesdays through June 13 from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m. at West End Community Centre’s Denman Room. A free art program where kids on fun DIY projects to take home after a sesson of painting, drawing, building, and getting messy while hanging with friends in a relaxed and no-pressure space. Projects may include: coaster making, canvas painting, tye-dye, and more. A Pre-Teen Programs waiver form is required. No programs March 14 and 21 due to Spring Break.

TEEN NIGHT AT COAL HARBOUR: Fridays from 6:15 to 9 p.m. at Coal Harbour Community Centre. A free program for youths in Grades 8 to 12 (ages 13 to 18). Shoot hoops in the gymnasium, play board games upstairs, or get creative with some art supplies. Snacks provided. Teen Night has in-out privileges.

Senior Moments

SENIORS’ TAX CLINIC

When: Wednesdays & Thursdays to Thursday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Barclay Manor Multipurpose Room
Cost: Free
Details: If you are 65+ with a modest income and a simple tax situation, volunteers from the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program may be able to do your taxes for you, for free!

SENIORS FIRST BC LAW CLINIC

Where: Kay’s Place in Denman Mall
When: The first Wednesday of every month.
Details: As part of its Satellite Elder Law Clinic program, Seniors First BC partners with the West End Seniors’ Network to offer pro bono legal consultations to eligible older adults.

CINCO DE MAYO FESTIVITIES

When: Friday, May 5 from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Barclay Manor Multipurpose Room
Admission: Free to WESN members. Information here.
Details: Celebrate Mexican history and heritage with music, stories, and craft-making. Join Spanish teacher Alicia and musician Cuneyt Tirmandi, with refreshments donated by the Cardero Cafe. Two heritage crafting workshops (12 participants max in each) will see Serena Chu teach folks how to make Frida Kahlo-inspired flower headbands nd bracelets, and Words in Motion teaching how to make bright and decorative “papel picado” banners.

ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE

When: Wed. May 24 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Where: Barclay Manor Multipurpose Room.
Admission: Free to Free to WESN members. Information here.
Details: Explore BC’s Asian and Pacific Islander heritage though music and crafts, experiencing traditional Japanese dance offered by the Nikkei Centre, and a tribute to Filipino Indigenous roots by the Kathara Society. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden will send their mobile gift shop and a craft workshop.

ONCE A WEEK, EVERY WEEK

The following events almost always take place as scheduled but things do get moved around, so if you’re not sure, check the relevant website or call ahead. Contact info at the end of this calendar.

• FITNESS WITH LAUREN: Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at Gordon Neighbourhood House. Free. A weekly fitness class that incorporates resistance band exercises to improve muscle tone and strength. All seniors welcome.

• BALLROOM DANCING & SOCIAL: Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m. in the West End Community Centre Auditorium through March 6 (no clas Feb. 20). Join a friendly gourp of ballroom dances and learn, practice, and meet new friends. Singles and those with partners both welcome. Drop-in $1.50 / Eight sessions for $7.60.

• YOGA FOR SENIORS: Mondays at 12:15 p.m. through March 6 at the West End Community Centre Dance Studio (no class Feb. 2)). A class for older men and women at all fitness levels, including those with some physical challenges. Each class provides a balanced full body workout, adapted to safely meet your needs. $11 drop-in.

• CREATIVE QUEST: Thursdays from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at Barclay Manor. The Barclay Manor Artists’ Collective meets for open studio time. Bring your project and supplies to paint with others in a studio setting. No teaching or supplies are given. For information contact Graham at  creativequest2022@gmail.com.

• VANCOUVER PRIME TIMERS: Sundays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the West End Community Centre Denman Room. Free. Since 1990 this group has been providing mature gay and bisexual men with opportunities to come together for social, educational, cultural, and recreational programs and activities. Contact primetimersvancouvercanada@gmail.com for more information.

---

Venue Directory

WHERE THEY’RE AT AND HOW TO CONNECT …

If we’ve missed a venue please let us know at editor@thewestendjournal.ca

• Art@Bentall Gallery / 595 Burrard St - Concourse #305 / 604.682.3701 / Website

• Barclay Manor / 1447 Barclay / 60.-669.5051 / Website (West End Seniors’ Network)

• Bonta Italian Ristorante / 1047 Davie / 604.687.0055 / Website

• Chef Ron Restaurant / 1037 Denman / 604.336.9994 / Website

• Coal Harbour Community Centre / 480 Broughton / 604.718.8222 / Website

• Fountainhead Pub / 1025 Davie / 604.687.2222 / Website

• Gordon Neighbourhood House / 1019 Broughton / 604.683.2554 / Website

• Joe Fortes Library / 870 Denman / 604.665.3972 / Website

• Kay’s Place / 118 - 1030 Denman (Denman Mall) / 604.669.5051 / Website

• PAL Studio Theatre / 581 Cardero / 604.255.4313 / Website

• St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church / 1022 Nelson / 604.683.4574 / Website

• St. Paul’s Anglican Church / 1130 Jervis / 604.685.6832 / Website

• The Pumpjack Pub / 1167 Davie / 604.685.3417 / Website

• West End Community Centre / 870 Denman / 604.257.8333 / Website

SUPPORT YOUR WEST END - COAL HARBOUR COMMUNITY MEDIA

The West End Journal, including “Mark Your Calendar”, is made possible by local advertising and monthly contributions from our Faithful Readers Circle. If you would like to support your community media, please visit our fundraising site here to contribute any amount from $5 a month up. If you have a business in the West End / Coal Harbour neighbourhood, check out our advertising rates and information page here.

Thank you!
Kevin Dale McKeown
Editor & Publisher
editor@thewestendjournal.ca

If we’ve missed a venue please let us know at editor@thewestendjournal.ca