Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

News stories from the Renfrew-Collingwood community in East Vancouver

Category Archives: Intercultural Stories


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2023 Moon Festival: Embrace Water’s Wisdom

BY MASA KATEB

The twilight lantern procession at the annual Moon Festival starts at Slocan Park and winds its way to Renfrew Park Community Centre. Photo by Ricky Chen

Get ready to experience a world of art, nature, music and community as the Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival returns to the neighbourhood for the 21st year in a row.

Presented by Still Moon Arts Society, the festival embraces the powerful 2023 theme of Water’s Wisdom, shedding light on humanity’s most precious element to thrive.

The month-long festival celebrates Harvest Moon, Equinox, Still Creek, local art and diverse cultural traditions.

Mark your calendar for an unforgettable September experience of lanterns, music, dance, workshops and more.

Wetland BioBlitz: A Moon Festival Eco-Adventure
Saturday, September 9 | 1 – 3 pm | Slocan Park

Workshop: Create a Botanical Cyanotype Drum Lantern
Sunday, September 10 | 12 – 3 pm | Slocan Community Hall
By Brittney Appleby and Rea Saxena

Cob Shed Party and Dyer’s Guild Showcase
Saturday, September 13 | 6 – 8 pm | Colour Me Local Dye Garden

2-Day Workshop: Design and Build a Free-Form Art Lantern
Thursday and Friday, September 14 and 15| 4 – 6 pm | Slocan Community Hall
By Yoko Tomita

2-Day Workshop: Build and Program an Electronic LED Lantern
Saturday and Sunday, September 16 and 17 | 12 – 2 pm > break > 3 – 5 pm | Slocan Community Hall
By Isaac Rufus

For The Love of Trees: Drop-in Costume Making Workshop
Monday, September 18 to Wednesday, September 20 | 3 – 8 pm | Slocan Community Hall
By Runaway Moon Theatre

Equinox Ceremony: Quantum Care Moon Music & Labyrinth Walk
Friday, September 22 | 6:30 – 8:30 pm | Renfrew Ravine Labyrinth
By Quantum Care Coaching & Consultancy

Main Festival Day
Saturday, September 23 | Open to public of all ages
> Harvest Fair: 4 pm – Sunset (7:10 pm) at Slocan Park
> Twilight Lantern Procession: Sunset (7:10 pm) – 7:30 pm starting from Slocan Park and ending at Renfrew Community Park
> Streamside Lantern Installation: 7:30 – 9:30 pm at Renfrew Community Park

Truth & Reconciliation Workshop: Naturally Dye an Orange Shirt Emblem
Wednesday, September 27 | 6 – 9 pm | Slocan Community Hall
With Ada Dragomir and Lori Snyder

Food Justice: Mooncake Making Workshop
Thursday, September 28 | Time TBA – check the website stillmoonarts.ca | Collingwood Neighbourhood House
By Renfrew-Collingwood Food Justice

Finale Performance: Consciousness of Streams
Fri, September 29 | 6:55 (sunset) – 8:30 pm | Renfrew Community Park
Created and choreographed by Isabelle Kirouac. Performed by Elektra Women’s Choir, Nayana Fieldkov, Isabelle Kirouac, Uros Sanjevic and community performers

For more information and to register, visit StillMoonArts.ca/Moon-Festival.


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Initiative to explore what makes Joyce-Collingwood special

BY CARMEN LEE

Martin L., Carmen L., and Sakshi J. are excited to host a series of events during Collingwood Days 2023 and to meet new neighbours and community members. Photo by Airam S.
Martin L., Carmen L., and Sakshi J. are excited to host a series of events during Collingwood Days 2023 and to meet new neighbours and community members. Photo by Airam S.

This summer, a group of passionate neighbours and community members are gathering to explore the question “What makes Joyce-Collingwood special?”

Together, we will spend time getting to know each other, explore different ways to tell stories and create something through collaboration. The goal is to create something to share with the community at Collingwood Days 2023.

The program is loosely structured so that participants who join will help decide what and how we do things together. Our small but mighty group will be hosting a series of events throughout Collingwood Days 2023, including a jam circle, painting, community kitchen and a talent show.

There’s still time to get involved; we will meet every Wednesday in July from 6 to 8 pm in the Art Room at CNH Annex (3690 Vanness Avenue). Come and hang out with us!

This project is offered in partnership with Collingwood Neighbourhood House, who is generously providing space for this initiative to take place.

How to get involved

Are you someone who lives, works or spends time in Joyce-Collingwood and interested in creating something with other community members? Join this project by registering through the Collingwood Neighbourhood House online portal.

If you have any questions, concerns or would like to connect with the program facilitator, you can reach Carmen at 778-385-5128 (call or text) or carmenjlee@uvic.ca.

Program details

Program sessions are scheduled for 6 to 8 pm through June and July 5, 12, 18, 22 (Collingwood Days) and 26. Sessions will be held in the Art Room at Collingwood Neighbourhood House Annex (3690 Vanness Avenue).

Depending on the weather and group preference, some sessions may occur at a local park such as Slocan Park (2750 East 29th Avenue), Aberdeen Park (3525 Foster Avenue), Gaston Park (3470 Crowley Drive), or Collingwood Park (5275 McKinnon Street). Food will be provided for all participants.

Carmen Lee grew up in Renfrew-Collingwood and currently studies at the University of Victoria.

Copyright 2023 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival is back on September 14, 2019

Moon-Fest-2019-poster

BY ANGUS HO

The Moon Festival is back for its 17th year on Saturday, September 14, 2019! This family-friendly event in Renfrew-Collingwood will bring you tonnes of live music, entertainment, beautiful art displays, food and more, for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and evening.

Co-produced by Still Moon Arts Society and the Renfrew Park Community Association, the festival celebrates the harvest abundance and the full moon, while bringing to attention the natural beauty of Renfrew Ravine and Still Creek, which is one of the few remaining open stre ams with urban forest in the city.

Join us and over 5,000 other attendees from all over East Vancouver neighbourhoods to experience the transformation of the natural environment of the Renfrew Ravine into an enchanting scene of light, colour and music.

Pre-Moon Festival workshops

Come take part in public workshops offered throughout the month of September. Prior to the festival, you can make your own lanterns to help guide your way through the night, or learn how to make delicious mooncakes.

September 3 – 6: Arduino Lantern Workshop (5 – 8 pm) at Slocan Park Fieldhouse // $100 (4 days)

Fee includes $65 supplies for electronics and lantern materials. Must bring your own laptop with pre-installed apps – registration and details on the website stillmoonarts.ca.

September 7: 5 – 8 pm: Mooncake Workshop at CNH Annex // $20

September 8: 10 am – 1 pm: Mooncake Workshop at CNH Annex // $20

September 7 & 9: Fire and Water Lanterns at Slocan Park Fieldhouse // $20 (2 days)

September 7: 1:30 – 4:30 pm

September 9: 4 – 7 pm

September 8 & 9: Mushroom Lanterns at Slocan Park Fieldhouse // $25 (2 days)

September 8: 1:30 – 4:30 pm

September 9: 4 – 7 pm

September 10, 11, 12: Glass Jar Lanterns (4 – 7 pm) at Slocan Park Fieldhouse // $10 (1 day)

Moon Festival Schedule September 14

Harvest Fair: 4 – 7:30 pm @ Slocan Park

The Moon Festival kicks off with the Harvest Fair, a family-friendly festival featuring local musicians and performers, community organizations, food, games and activities, and a harvest competition where you can bring your homegrown crops to win prizes.

Twilight Lantern Walk: 7:30 – 8 pm

At sunset, attendees are encouraged to light their lanterns and join the parade, which is complete with live music and costumed participants. The parade will pass by various art installations and maybe even surprise performances until it reaches Renfrew Park.

Lantern Festival: 8 – 8:45 pm @ Renfrew Park

At Renfrew Park, witness the beauty of candlelight, exquisite lanterns, ethereal music and the shimmering Still Creek, with entertainment and food just outside of the ravine. The evening closes off with a finale spectacle featuring dancing, stilting, fire spinning and an explosion of light.

For more detailed information on the workshops, Moon Festival schedule, and accessibility, visit stillmoonarts.ca.

Cracks-in-Creeks-artists

Performers and organizers after the performance of Cracks in Creeks. (L to r) Isabelle Russell, Jenna Berlyn, Roxanna Wang, Red Fawkes, Marie Whimbey, Tasha Hillman, Carmen Rosen, Starr Muranko, Devan Pawa-Larsen, Bea Miller. Photo by Angus Ho

Cracks in Creeks: Final showcase at the CNH Annex on September 22

On August 11, a group of emerging artists performed a site-specific version of Cracks in Creeks: Live Streaming on the banks of Still Creek, as part of the Vines Art Festival. The performers embraced the natural sounds and beauty of the ravine in their surroundings, while the audience moved through the creekside space in Renfrew Park with the performers. Tea was served after the performance alongside a knowledge-sharing session about Indigenous plants in the ravine.

You can still attend the final indoor performance of Cracks in Creeks at the Collingwood Neighbourhood House Annex on September 22, from 6 to 7:30 pm. Join in witnessing the culmination of this youth mentorship project that spanned the entire summer.

Over many weeks, the performers of Cracks in Creeks were inspired by knowledge about Renfrew Ravine’s ecosystem, teachings about Indigenous plants and medicines, eco-art created by Still Moon Arts, and choreography lessons by professional dance mentors. Entrance to the final performance is based on a sliding scale from $5 to $20.

For more information on the performance and all events happening in September, visit the new website at stillmoonarts.ca. Follow Still Moon Arts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @stillmoonarts to stay up to date on all of our news!