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January 25, 2024
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Read On! Tips to keep your new year’s resolutions

BY KRISTY KASSIE

It is January 2024. January is the first month of the year. Many people like making new year resolutions when a new year starts. A resolution is something you want to happen. Maybe you want to get a job.

To make a resolution happen, think about small things you can do. This helps something big feel smaller and not too scary. To get a job, you need to fill out an application, send in your resume and go to an interview.

The reason people feel disappointed when resolutions don’t happen is because they try to do something too big. If you want to lose weight, it will take time. You can’t lose 10 pounds in one day. A resolution is a big goal made up of smaller goals. To lose weight, exercise 30 minutes a day. Eat fruits and vegetables instead of cookies and chips. Drink water instead of pop.

Some new year resolutions take a lot of time and planning. If you want to go back to school, you need to save money, choose a program to study and make a schedule to manage your family, work and studies. Don’t let a big goal make you feel anxious. There is a lot of support for adults who want to go back to school so they can get a better job. When you plan carefully, you can accomplish anything.

Some things to remember when making new year resolutions:

Think about what you really want.
Write down what you need to do to make it happen.
Work on one small goal every week.

Questions

Level 1 *

What month and year is it?
What is a new year resolution?
What can you do to get a job?

Level 2 **

Why do people get disappointed with new year resolutions?
How can you make a resolution feel smaller?
Think of a big goal you want and write down three smaller goals to help make the big goal happen.

Level 3 ***

Why do you think making new year resolutions is a good thing to do?
What community resources can you use to make big goals happen?
What is the biggest goal you made happen and how did you do it?

^{Copyright Renfrew-Collingwood Community News}

July 10, 2023
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Celebrating community through art

BY SOPHIA HAN

What is community art? **

Read On! is a news page for Renfrew-Collingwood learners.

Community art is art that can be found in parks and neighbourhoods. It is different from the art that we see in museums and galleries. It is art that is created with input and help from people in the community.

Community art projects beautify neighbourhoods and tell powerful stories.

Walk on Vanness Avenue between Rupert Street and the Joyce-Collingwood SkyTrain station and you will see a colourful mural that tells the story of the neighbourhood’s history. The mural was designed by artist Bert Monterona in 2017 and painted with help from a local youth group.

The brightly painted park benches and murals in front of Collingwood Neighbourhood House are also examples of community art projects.

Art and community celebrations ***

Some community art projects are temporary and can only be viewed at certain times of the year. This type of art is called an installation because it is put up in one place for a short time. The time, setting and audience participation is just as meaningful as the artwork.

Each fall, the Still Moon Arts Society creates a beautiful lantern installation at Renfrew Community Park with help from volunteers and participants who help to make the lanterns.

This month, enjoy new art installations, storytelling and all kinds of performances during the weeklong Collingwood Days festival starting on Friday, July 14. Since 2003, this annual event has celebrated the traditions, history and diversity of its 55,000 residents.

Events take place at local parks and the Annex Plaza at 3690 Vanness before the main festivities on Saturday, July 22 at Gaston Park. Come join the fun, listen to the music and watch the performers!

Vocabulary

community — a community is a group of people with something in common
input — the ideas and information used to create or do something
beautify — to make something beautiful
designed — something that has been planned
brightly — with colors that are strong
temporary — lasting for a limited time
Installation (art) — a type of artwork where the time, setting and audience experience is important
put up (phrasal verb) — to build something
setting — place
participation — when you take part in something
just as — use just as before an adjective to say that one thing is equal to another: Oranges are just as delicious as bananas.
performance — a show or presentation before an audience
weeklong — lasting a week
diversity — the different races, cultures and genders of a people
festivities — the activities that take place during a festival

Word search

April 28, 2023
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Read On! Celebrating mothers

BY SOPHIA HAN

The tradition of breakfast in bed **

Sunday, May 14 is Mother’s Day. It has a long tradition in the United States where it was first celebrated in 1914. In Canada, sons and daughters show their appreciation with small gifts offlowers and cards. The tradition of serving mom breakfast in bed started in the 1930s.

Favourite breakfast meals on Mother’s Day include French toast and pancakes because they are easy and fun for children to make. A fresh fruit salad is a healthier option that is also easy to prepare (and clean up afterwards). Serve the meal with a small bouquet of carnations, the traditional flower of Mother’s Day.

A brunch tradition ***

Not everyone enjoys breakfast in bed. Since the 1940s, restaurants have advertised Mother’s Day brunch specials. Brunch is a British tradition invented in the late 19th century. It combines a social gathering with both breakfast and lunch. Taking mom out to brunch at a restaurant also saves her the work of cleaning up afterwards.

Besides breakfast or brunch, there are many other ways to recognize the work that mothers do. A simple phone call is a meaningful way to show appreciation and a more recent trend is to enjoy an outdoor activity together such as a hike or a stroll in a park.

Favourite local brunch spots include Liberte Cafe & Restaurant at 3670 Vanness Avenue and Canffle at 3581 Kingsway. Liberte Cafe specializes in desserts and waffles made from ube, a purple yam with a sweet, nutty flavour.

Or for something different, try treating mom to dim sum. There are many excellent restaurants in Vancouver but a hidden gem is Wang’s Shanghai Cuisine at 3328 Kingway.

What is your favourite place to take mom for Mother’s Day? Let us know – just email rccnews-editorial@cnh.bc.ca.

Vocabulary

appreciation – when you feel thankful for something

serving – giving food to someone

healthier – better for your health

afterwards – after an event

bouquet – a bunch of flowers

since + present perfect V use since before have and the past tense of a verb to describe a continuous action that began in the past: Since the 1930s, mothers have enjoyed breakfast in bed.

specials – meals available for special occasions

social gathering – gathering of friends and families

besides – in addition

recognize – to show appreciation for someone’s work

meaningful – important or special

trend – something that is popular

stroll – walk

specialize – use specialize to talk about the food a restaurant makes well

hidden gem – a special place that is not well known

Word search

** Lower intermediate

*** Upper intermediate

Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

News stories from the Renfrew-Collingwood community in East Vancouver

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Read On! Tips to keep your new year’s resolutions