Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

News stories from the Renfrew-Collingwood community in East Vancouver

Category Archives: Sports & Recreation


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13th Annual Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival this Saturday, September 26

Moon-Festival-September-26BY SILING ZHANG

Fall is officially upon us and so is this year’s Renfrew Ravine Harvest Moon Festival, scheduled for this Saturday, September 26 at both Slocan and Renfrew parks! For those of you who just can’t wait, Still Moon Arts has organized a series of activities leading up to the festivities. This is your opportunity to get involved!

Local artist Yoko Tomita will be teaching lantern workshops at the Slocan Field House from 4-8 pm on the following days:

• Bamboo and Wire Frame Lanterns: September 14-18
• Globe Lantern: September 21-23
• Glass Jar Lanterns on September 23-24

The cost of these workshops is between $10 and $25. No reservations are required. For more information, check out our website stillmoon.org!

Due to the drought and dryness this year, we are also on the lookout for glass jar donations to minimize fire hazards within the ravine. We are looking for short jars, no longer than the length of your hand, with rims wide enough to fit a tea candle. If you have any such jars to spare, we would love to have them! Jars can be dropped off at the lantern workshops in Slocan Park Field House.

For the avid gardeners, don’t forget to bring your best vegetation to the Harvest Fair portion of the Moon Festival at Slocan Park. Categories include:
• Most sizeable sunflower
• Most bountiful flower bouquet
• Most gorgeous green bouquet
• Most creative fall display
• Tastiest homemade jam/jelly
• Most alluring Asian vegetable
• Most cumbersome cabbage
• Tubbiest tomato
• Heaviest zucchini
• Sexiest squash
• Beefiest bean
• Craziest carrot

Please visit the website at stillmoon.org for regular updates, or find them on Facebook, where they’ll be posting up-to-date details on all their activities, including a series of free preview concerts featuring musicians from the Moon Festival line-up!


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Meet Diana! An INTERactive connector

BY MELISSA CHAN

Diana, an INTERactive connector

INTERactive connector Diana. Photo by Brenda Zeimer

Through my own volunteer work with INTERactive, I’ve met some inspirational, dedicated individuals in the Renfrew-Collingwood community—people who want to make a difference in the lives of others.

Fortunately, I was able to meet with Di (Diana) Dyck: A lady who puts a tonne of effort into her volunteer work, despite challenges she faces due to a disability. But that doesn’t stop her. What caught my attention was the fact that Di was even able to communicate with another person who does not speak her language.

Di has lived in Renfrew-Collingwood for several years and has been an INTERactive connector for over a year, dedicating her spare time to helping Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH). She was originally referred to INTERactive by Sterling James, a member of the INTERactive Community Partners Circle who describes her as a “social butterfly.”

“What I like about the community is that it is safe and full of friendly people,” Di says. She reaches out by talking with new people, and starting conversations about opportunities through CNH and other agencies and community groups. From approaching businesses to providing information pamphlets, Di truly values the importance of getting to know and build a connection with other community members.

In her spare time, Di also enjoys baking cookies and going for walks around the neighbourhood. She has met many new friends, and has increased self-confidence through her volunteer experience. Di has built upon new skills which she’ll carry with her, throughout life.

Melissa Chan is involved with INTERactive as a connector. 

Copyright (c) 2015 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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Collingwood Legion Branch #48 membership drive is Valentine’s Day

Collingwood Legion Branch #48 membership drive is Valentine's Day

SHOW YOUR LOCAL LEGION A LITTLE LOVE

BY PAUL REID

The day has arrived when Collingwood’s oldest organization (since 1924) is asking us for our help. The goal is to sign up enough members so that they can return to their rightful home, Collingwood community, to continue on with the work that they have been doing here for the past nine decades.

If you have been following our monthly coverage, you will know how RCL Branch #48, with the full support of this community, is trying to locate back to Collingwood, potentially to inhabitat the former Jaguar’s Pub at Tyne and Kingsway. First though, they need to sign up new members.

The time and place for that is now set. It’s easy to remember: Valentine’s Day, day of the heart, from noon to 3 pm, at Collingwood Neighbourhood House. Its quick and easy to become a member, and everyone is welcome to join. For many residents who used to be members, now is the time to renew. If enough people sign up, the Legion can go on. Let’s get them to 100 years at least.

Just think too, if the branch is able to take over the former Jaguar’s Pub, the community will finally have a place to relax and socialize and have some fun: karaoke, pool, shuffle board, bands, dancing, poker nights; with nicely priced ice-cold craft beers, and Bernie’s big hamburgers coming through the wall from next door.

Or nothing. Since a regular pub will apparently not be able to take that space, we need to strike while this iron is hot. Become a member February 14 and help the community to help the Legion Branch #48 to come home to Collingwood.

Copyright (c) 2015 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News