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Community Calendar: Ribbons of gratitude

Dunbar A Dunbar exercise studio wants to encourage Vancouverites to practise a little gratitude this week leading up to Thanksgiving.
ribbons
Interactive project asks passersby to stop, consider what they’re grateful for.

Dunbar


A Dunbar exercise studio wants to encourage Vancouverites to practise a little gratitude this week leading up to Thanksgiving. Vancouver Dailey Method owners Jey and Karen Wyder were inspired by the Gratitude Graffiti Project, an initiative of Dunbar mother and life coach Lucila McElroy and community health nurse Candice Davenport.

The interactive project is a simple one. Businesses leave out markers asking passersby to stop, consider what they’re grateful for, and then write those messages onto ribbons or storefront windows as inspiration for others.  In the case of the Dailey Method, participants can attach a ribbon with their message of gratitude and add it to an ever-growing “vine” adoring the front of the studio.

“We hope this installation becomes an inspiration for people across the city to practise gratitude and experience its enormous benefits,” says Karen Wyder, who also recognizes gratitude as a link to happiness as found in recent Harvard University studies.

To that end the sisters want to know what you’re grateful for? Family? Friends? Health? Work? The Dailey Method is located at 3586 West 41st Ave.

West End

You know the old saying, “Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings?” Well, every time a publicist or government official uses the word “dialoguing,” a journalist gets another grey hair.

Which is why I suspect every journalist in town is applauding the International Plain Language Day conference, taking place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13 at the Coast Plaza Hotel, 1763 Comox St.  The free event promises art and comic displays, a comedy performance by Assaulted Fish, live music featuring “Plain Language” songs, products and refreshments. This is the first time the global event will take place in Vancouver. Visit iplday.org.

Downtown

As part of Homelessness Action Week 2013, social justice film-screening group Reel Causes has teamed up with the City of Vancouver to present Invisible Night: An evening of art, film and dialogue about youth homelessness.

The event takes place Oct. 17, with a reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Vancouver Community College downtown campus, 250 West Pender, followed by the film and panel discussion at Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, 149 West Hastings. Proceeds from the evening will help support Raincity Housing and Support Society’s LGBTQ+ Shelter for youth. For more information, visit reelcauses.org.

sthomas@vancourier.com

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