Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

News stories from the Renfrew-Collingwood community in East Vancouver

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Songs for the salmon! Get ready for the Renfrew Ravine Harvest Moon Festival 2016

Saturday, September 17

Turtle Bliss Gamelan

Turtle Bliss Gamelan playing with lanterns by Naomi Singer. Photo by Zora Feren

BY LUCAS CHAN

For months Still Moon Arts Society has been preparing for the 14th annual Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival, held this year on Saturday, September 17.

The moon festival celebrates the nature and beauty of Renfrew Ravine and Still Creek. For many decades the ravine was abandoned by the salmon due to the polluted water and ecosystems caused by the neglect of this natural space. But the salmon have been returning to spawn in our community since 2012, thanks to the hard work of many community stewards and local governments collaborating to restore health of the stream and the ecosystem.

On the Wild Salmon Caravan in June, youth from Still Moon Arts were honoured to join in singing many First Nations songs for the salmon all along the Fraser River. Still Moon wants to extend the idea to our community that we, too, can have songs for the salmon as yet another way of caring for our local stream, Still Creek.

Make your own lantern

The month of September will be busy in preparation for the Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival to be held at Slocan Park and Renfrew Park. You are welcome to come out to Slocan Hall and make a lantern to carry in the parade:

  • Tuesday and Wednesday, September 6 and 7: Globe lanterns, 4–8 pm
  • Thursday and Friday, September 8 and 9: Salmon lanterns, 4–8 pm
  • Saturday and Sunday, September 10 and 11: Advanced Sculptural Lantern Making 10 am–1 pm
  • Monday and Tuesday, September 12 and 13: Globe lanterns, 4–8 pm
  • Wednesday and Thursday, September 14 and 15: Glass jar lanterns, 4–8 pm

The big day

Moon Fest Fireworks

Fireworks finale with metal fence by Heather Jones. Photo by Zora Feren

Festival day, Saturday, Sept ember 17, consists of two main components that take place at Slocan Park and Renfrew Park.

At Slocan Park from 4–7 pm there will be a Harvest Fair to showcase community harvests alongside family-friendly activities, community booths and musical performances.

At 7:15 pm a twilight lantern procession will lead the community from Slocan Park to Renfrew Park along the edge of the ravine.

At Renfrew Park you are guaranteed to be wowed by the community and artist made lanterns decorating the site to highlight the natural beauty of Still Creek. There will be refreshments, activities, interactive local art pieces as well as a fireworks finale to bring the night to a close.

More ravine celebrations

Still Moon Arts will end the month with an Equinox labyrinth walk on Thursday, September 22 and a World Rivers Day art and water celebration on Sunday, September 25.

Still Moon Arts Society is also in the process of putting together Still Creek Stories, a collection of stories from the community that share their stories and experiences in the ravine. These stories will be compiled into an art book as a representation of the memories and hopes of what Still Creek was in the past, is in the present, and hopefully will be in the future. Pre-orders will be available at the Renfrew Park portion of the Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival on September 17!

For more information find Still Moon Arts on Facebook as Still Moon Arts Society and on Twitter and Instagram as stillmoonarts.

Copyright (c) 2016 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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September 2016 issue of RCC News is here

This issue of the Renfrew-Collingwood Community News is full of the many wonderful people, events and programs happening in our neighbourhood!

RCC News September 2016Get your latest issue of the RCC News at your local coffee shop, grocery store, library and community centre.

Or click on the cover image to view the new issue.

In this issue:

  • Songs for the salmon! Get ready for Moon Fest!
  • Still Creek restoration
  • Tips to start the school year right
  • Youth share stories at annual food gathering
  • Fire rips through Carleton
  • PLUS Collingwood Neighbourhood House fall recreation guide

Do you have a local story to tell or an event to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email rccnews-editorial@cnh.bc.ca.

The deadline for the October 2016 issue is September 10. You are welcome to submit a story from 300 to 400 words. Accompanying photos must be high resolution in a jpg file at least 1 MB large and include a photo caption and the name of the photographer.


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Farm markets in Renfrew-Collingwood

RCC News River District Farmers Market Romers

Stay for a meal at Romer’s Burger Bar and enjoy the waterfront, playground and pier after a stop at the River District Farmers Market. Photos by Julie Cheng

BY JULIE CHENG

There’s nothing like the taste and nutrition of fresh fruits and vegetables picked at the peak of the season. Summer is a great time to take advantage of local-grown fruits and veggies found at various farmers markets and market stalls around our neighbourhood.

Whether you walk, bike or Skytrain, the trip will be well worth the effort!

Windermere Garden Market

Tuesdays (July 12 – end of August)

Time: 11:00 am–2 pm

Location: In front of Collingwood Neighbourhood House, 5288 Joyce Street

Students from Windermere Secondary School’s Organic Garden are offering their fresh and organic produce to the community! Pick up local veggies and support Windermere students.

Curbside Fresh Market

Thursdays (until September 29)

3–6 pm

In front of Collingwood Neighbourhood House, 5288 Joyce Street

Curbside Fresh Market, a project of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, sells locally grown, lower-priced, fresh produce and market staples at Collingwood Neighbourhood House on Thursdays. Buy from a selection of in-season fruits and veggies, including tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, peaches, cherries, apples and more!

MERCATO Italian Market

Friday, August 19

Friday, November 25

4-8 pm

3075 Slocan Street and Grandview Highway

The city’s only Italian market is right in our backyard! This unique market brings together the tastes of Italy with the produce grown in local farms. Shop for fresh fruit and veggies, hand-made products and delicious food prepared by Il Centro’s chef.

RCC News River District Fraser View

Enjoy a leisurely walk and a spectacular view from the view just off the River District Farmers Market.

River District Farmers Market

Saturdays until October 15

10 am-3 pm

Kerr Street Plaza – 8683 Kerr Street

One block South of SE Marine Drive

This is the only riverfront market in Vancouver. Shop for fruits and vegetables, prepared foods, and hand-made products produced by farmers and artisans. Stay for live music, a delicious meal at Romer’s Burger Bar and enjoy the waterfront, playground and pier. If you live nearby, please consider walking or biking.

Trout Lake Market

Saturdays until October 19

9 am to 2 pm

North parking lot of Trout Lake (John Hendry Park)

One of the longest-running and most popular markets in Vancouver, Trout Lake Market is always jam-packed. There are often lineups for the food trucks such as Vij’s Railway Express.

But it’s not all about food. The scene is colourful and festive with musicians playing and face-painting for kids and kids at heart. In addition to the fresh produce, from apples and peaches to beets and turnips, you can pick up fresh-baked bread and pies, meat and cheese, salmon and free-range chicken, and lots more. If it’s organic, even better!

Skytrain stop: Nanaimo station.

Downtown Market at Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Thursdays until October 27

2-6 pm

Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza

650 Hamilton Street, Vancouver

If you’re downtown you can shop fresh weekly for quality fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, eggs and poultry, baked goods, artisan food and craft, fresh fish, and local craft beer, wine and spirits.

Or take the Skytrain to the Chinatown-Stadium station and head down Beatty Street and turn west on Georgia Street.

Before the market, grab some lunch and head across Georgia Street to the CBC and take in the sounds of summer at CBC’s Musical Nooners. These free, live music concerts run every weekday on the CBC Vancouver outdoor stage on Hamilton Street (between West Georgia and Robson), Monday to Friday from 12-1 pm.

Julie Cheng is the editor of the Renfrew-Collingwood Community News. She tries to purchase fresh local produce whenever possible.

Copyright (c) 2016 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News