Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

January 8, 2017
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Art Institute of Vancouver Multicultural Carnival

Many people enjoyed the Multicultural Carnival at the Art Institute of Vancouver. Photos by Luxi Lin

Many people enjoyed Multicultural Carnival at the Art Institute of Vancouver held late Nov. 2016. Photos by Luxi Lin

BY JERRY CHEN

The Art Institute of Vancouver, a post-secondary institution located in close proximity to the Renfrew SkyTrain station, hosted a Multicultural Carnival on the evening of November 22, 2016. In recognition of the diverse cultures represented at the Art Institute of Vancouver, the event recognized this diversity by sharing what different cultures have to offer.

Each of the venues set up represented a different country and its respective culture. Countries that were represented include Mexico, Philippine, Ukraine, Vietnam, Taiwan, China, Japan, Brazil, Afghanistan and Indonesia.

Art Institute of Vancouver staff and the Student Association get ready for the Multicultural Carnival.

In order for attendees to gain a sense of these different cultures, each venue had a variety of games, food, activities and memorabilia derived directly from their country and culture. As such, attendees gained a first-hand experience of what each country and culture was like.

A show by the band The Noumenon and DJ performance by DJ 909 & Kennix provided live music, increasing the vibe of the event.

Making a special appearance was singer and songwriter Wanting Qu, who also happens to be an alumni of the Art Institute of Vancouver.

Attendees were enthusiastic about taking in what other cultures had to offer. They all enjoyed the abundance of activities that were available. It was a night filled with laughter and enjoyment, regardless of whether it is the people sharing the culture or those experiencing it.

December 22, 2016
by Renfrew-Collingwood Community News 1 Comment

Film by Windermere Girls Group: Girls are Just as Strong

“Young girls don’t have to look a certain way to be happy.”

Just as Strong: A film by the Windermere Girls Club

Just as Strong: A film by the Windermere Girls Group. Source: Youtube

Last school year, the Windermere Secondary Girls Group watched the film Miss Representation, which provoked a strong reaction, writes Marisol Petersen, the community schools team coordinator for the Windermere Family of Schools.

The group was dismayed by the ways in which girls and women are being portrayed in such hypersexualized ways. They were also disappointed by the fact that female athletes and politicians are not treated the same way their male counterparts are in the media.

In response, the group asked if they could make a movie. The students – from Grades 8 and 9 – came up with the concept and key messaging they wanted their film to be about, assigned each other roles and set about filming all aspects of Just as Strong.

A community filmmaker, musician, visual artist and educator, Sarah Van Borek, was hired to help the Girls Group edit their film.

Their concept was simple but brilliant. The girls put signs up over the four front doors of Windermere – Beautiful, Average, Strong, Weak—and asked students to go through the door that reflected how they felt about themselves.

Ann in Grade 12 chose the door Average because she’s not confident in herself.

Zoe in Grade 9 also chose Average because she doesn’t see anything special about herself and she blends in with the crowd.

Mary Ann in Grade 9 chose Strong because she’s decided to be strong to overcome challenges in her life.

Rachel in Grade 12 chose Beautiful because everyone is beautiful in their own way.

The girls are now touring Just as Strong to local elementary schools with the hopes of getting our youth to think critically about what they see in the media and to continue the conversation.

“You are strong and beautiful just the way you are.”

Watch the powerful messages of hope in this video on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbix_UX2Hyo