Vancouver has a rich, diverse cultural life, owing to the 60
cultural groups
who make their home here.
Dance: There are several professional dance troupes in
Vancouver,
including Ballet British Columbia, Judith Marcuse Dance Projects
and
Kokoro Dance Theatre. For information on events contact:
TicketMaster
280-4444.
Music: includes the Vancouver Cantata Singers, Vancouver
Opera
Association, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Men's Choir,
CBC For information contact TicketMaster at 280-4444.
Newspapers: There are three dailies: The Vancouver Province
and the
Vancouver Sun report news in English. The Ming Pao daily reports
the
news in Chinese. Many Vancouver areas have weekly newspapers. The
best is Business in Vancouver. Others include the Kerrrisdale
Courier,
the North Shore News, and the Richmond news. The most popular
downtown area weekly is the free-of-charge, Georgia Straight.
Theatre: includes the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts,
Queen
Elizabeth Theatre, the Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse
Theatre,
as well as Arts Club Theatre, Firehall Theatre, and the Vancouver
East
Cultural Centre. For information contact TicketMaster at 280-4444.
Universities: University of British Columbia and Simon
Fraser University are the two local large universities. There are
many colleges throughout the city and suburbs including Capilano
College, Douglas College, Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design,
Kwantlen College, Langara College, and Vancouver City College.
Writers: It has been estimated that over 1,200 writers now
live in BC.
Local well known BC writers include:
Jeannette Armstrong, Okanagan Nation Band member, whose
books
include Enwhisteekwa: Walk in Water, Slash, Breath Tracks, and
Neekna and Chemai.
Luanne Armstrong, author of the well-known young adult
novel, Annie,
and Bordering.
Nick Bantock, author of the Griffin and Sabine Trilogy and
the Venetian's
Wife, as well as many popular children's books.
Anne Cameron, award winning author of Bright's Crossing,
Deejay and
Betty, Dreamspeaker, Kick The Can, Selkie, A Whole Brass Band, The
Whole Fam Damily, and many others.
Douglas Coupland, author of Generation X: Tales For an
Accelerated
Culture, Polaroids From the Dead, Microserfs, and Shampoo Planet.
Sara Ellis, Librarian, and award winning author of
children's and young
adult fiction including the Baby Project, Back of Beyond, Mud and
Gold,
Pick-up Sticks, Putting Up With Mitchell, and Next Door Neighbors.
William (Bill) Gibson, the science fiction writer who
coined the term
"Cyberspace," and author of Burning Chrome, The Difference Engine,
Idoru, Johnny Mnemonic, Mona Lisa Overdrive, Neuromancer, Virtual
Light, and others.
Laurence Gough, well known mystery writer and author of
Accidental
Deaths, Fall Down Easy, The Goldfish Bowl, Heartbreaker, Hot
Shots,
Killers, Memory Lane, Sandstorm, and Serious Crimes.
John Lent, a popular Okanagan writer of prose and poetry,
including The
Face In the Garden, Frieze, Monet's Garden, and Wood Lake Music.
Bill Richardson, former Librarian (MLS, UBC 1980), winner
of the
Stephen Leacock Award for Humour, and Canada's self-proclaimed
Poet Laureate, Bill Richardson has authored numerous books
including,
Canada Customs, Queen of all the Dustballs, and the wonderful
Bachelor
Brothers Bed and Breakfast series.
Kit Pearson, former Librarian, and internationally
acclaimed and award
winning young adult novelist, has authored award winning books
including
Awake and Dreaming, the Daring Game, A Handful of Time, the Lights
Go on Again, Looking At the Moon, and the Sky is Falling.
Jane Rule, author of Contract With the World, Desert of the
Heart, which
was made into the feature film Desert Hearts, A Hot-Eyed Moderate,
Memory Board, Outlander, Theme for Diverse Instruments, This Is
Not
For You, The Young in One Another's Arms, and others.
L.R. Wright, winner of the Edgar Award, and author of
numerous
mysteries with Sechelt, BC public librarian, Cassandra Mitchell,
cast as
the heroine. Books include The Suspect, (her first, and to my mind
the
best), A Chill Rain in January, Fall From Grace, Love in the
Temperate
Zone, Sleep While I Sing, Strangers Among Us, and A Touch of
Panic.
Events
Now to 30 August. Tony and Tina's St. Wedding. St. Andrew's
Wesley Church, 1012 Nelson. Reception at Chardonnays Restaurant,
Restaurant, 808 West Hastings Street. TicketMaster: 280-4444.
4,5,8,9 June 1997. Vancouver New Music Festival with the
Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation's Vancouver Orchestra, the Vancouver New
Music Ensemble, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. 876-3434.
10 June - 21 September 1997. Bard on the Beach.
Shakespearean Plays
are performed in tents in Vanier Park in Kitsilano. Love's Labour
's Lost,
and The Winter's Tale. 737-0625.
12-16 June 1997. Vancouver International Art Exhibition.
Vancouver
Trade and Convention Centre. 661-7373.
15-23 June 1997. Canadian International Dragon Boat
Festival. False
Creek/Plaza of Nations. 688-2382.
15-29 June; 01 July - 03 August. Phantom of the Opera. Ford
Centre for
the Performing Arts. TicketMaster: 280-4444.
21-30 June 1997. Du Maurier International Jazz Festival.
Various
locations. 682-0706; 1-888-get-jazz; cjbs@mindlink.bc.ca
01 July 1997. Canada Day. Various celebrations. Fireworks
at 10:00
p.m. at Canada Place, 999 Canada Place.
01 July 1997. Steveston Salmon Festival. Outstanding
Parade,
multicultural cuisine's, Japanese dancing and martial arts
demonstrations.
Steveston.
22 July - 02 August 1997. Vancouver Chamber Music Festival.
For
information phone 602-0363.
25 July - 04 August 1997. Vancouver International Comedy
Festival.
For information phone 683-0883.
03-12 July. Dancing on the Edge, the Festival of Independent
Dance Choreographers.
Firehall Arts Centre. 689-0926.
05 - 15 September. Vancouver International Fringe Festival.
For
information phone 873-3646.
26 - 29 September. The Moon Festival. This world renowned
festival of
the moon, in the heart of Chinatown features an outstanding
opportunity
to learn about the culture of Vancouver's Chinese community. There
are
wonderful lanterns, story telling, and much more, all at no
charge. Dr. Sun
Yat-Sen Classical Gardens. For information phone 604-662-3207.
