New chair
Vision Vancouver park board commissioner Sarah Blyth was elected to the position of chair at Monday night's park board meeting. The position became available when the former chair, Vision Vancouver's Constance Barnes, announced last week she's seeking an NDP nomination to run in the next provincial election for the riding of Vancouver-False Creek. Barnes has no plans to resign from the board during her provincial campaign.
Aaron Jasper remains vice-chair.
Hand out
Here's something you don't see every day.
The Artist in Community at Trout Lake Community Centre, Anthony Schrag, wants to break the world record for the most people holding hands. It's expected it will take 1,500 men, women and children to form the lengthy "Circle of Trout."
The hand-holding takes place at 3 p.m. on Trout Lake Day, June 24. The family-friendly festival will also feature games, music, free art workshops and a giant intercultural picnic outside the community centre. Other initiatives created through the Artist in the Community program at Trout Lake include blindfolded tours of John Hendry Park, boat trips for seniors, a series of concerts for animals, including an underwater performance for fish, and the ever-popular International Nap Day June 17.
Trout Lake Day is hosted jointly by the Grandview Community Centre Association, Trout Lake Community Centre and Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House.
For art's sake
Speaking of artists, the park board is launching its Fieldhouse Studio Residency Program, which will provide space for artists and artist collectives at no charge in exchange for community arts-based engagement. Think Circle of Trout.
The residency program starts in October and runs through mid-January 2015. The spaces available are in Elm, Falaise, Hadden, Strathcona and Slocan parks. This call is open to artists, artist collectives and arts organizations in all disciplines, including writing, choreography, music, theatre and multimedia.
An open house of available fieldhouses for the program will take place June 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. A park board programmer will be at each site to show the space and answer questions.
Market watch
Last week I wrote about the season launch of the Main Street Market, which sees many downtown chefs shopping there for ingredients for their weekend specials.
The email I received about the opening called it the only mid-week farmers market in the city, but as it turns out that's not the case. The Main Street location is the only mid-week farmers market organized by Vancouver Farmers Markets. In fact, the Oak Street Farmers Market also opened last week for the season. This market is located at the Unitarian Church at Oak Street and West 49th Avenue and will run from 3 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday during the summer. For more information, visit oakstreetmarket.ca.
Park powwow
The latest in a series of open house events regarding the future of Hastings Park and the PNE takes place June 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hastings and Slocan, next to the Laughing Bean Caf.
This is an opportunity to learn about and comment on plans for the return of Empire Field with new parks and greenways in Hastings Park. For more information about what's proposed for Hastings Park, Empire Field and the PNE, visit vancouver.ca/pnepark.
sthomas@vancourier.com
Twitter: @sthomas10