Kooky for a playground
Queen Victoria Annex on East Third Avenue near Victoria Drive needs to replace its playground, and parents need to raise the money. With only 153 children in the school, it's no small task. To get their children's butts on a slide, parents hope to get bums in seats for a kids culture film series at the Rio Theatre. The Rio will screen Kooky, a movie about an adventure into the extraordinary as created in the mind of six-yearold Ondra, who has asthma and is forced to give up his favourite dusty cuddly toy, Kooky. Using puppetry and live action, Kooky is described as a thrilling family friendly adventure from Academy Award-winning director Jan Sverak (Kolya). Kooky was a popular choice at last year's Vancouver International Film Festival. It runs Sunday, Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. at 1660 East Broadway near Commercial Drive. The film is recommended for children ages six and older. Tickets are $5 for children up to 13 years old; $8 for adults. For more information, see riotheatre. ca. All proceeds will flow to the new playground.
Add it up
Teens don't always realize that MP3 players, tablet computers, cars, green energy and more have their roots in math, so a national nonprofit organization that furthers research and training programs aimed at supporting the Canadian economy, hopes to spark their interest in equations through comedy, storytelling, song and dance. Mitacs brings the Math Out Loud production to the Norman Rothstein Theatre at Oak and 41st from Sept. 24 to 29. The critically acclaimed show is written and directed by Vancouver actor and playwright Mackenzie Gray and produced by Academy Award winner Dale Hartleben. Weekend matinees for the public run at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. For more information, see mathoutloud.ca.
Digital pharma
See how drugs travel through our bodies in 3D with a giant animation at a new exhibit at the University of B.C. With the touch of a finger, viewers can change the drug, the age and gender of the body and the method of receiving that drug. The Story of Medicines exhibit will permanently occupy public space on the ground and mezzanine floors in the new award-winning faculty of pharmaceutical sciences building. Local firm NGX Interactive has designed two of Canada's largest multi-touch walls for the exhibit that includes the history of the top 10 drugs. The new building sits at 2405 Wesbrook Mall, with the main entrance on Agronomy Road.
You're not alone
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for youth aged 15 to 24 years in B.C. and Canada. By the end of high school, one in five teens will seriously consider ending their lives and one in 10 will attempt it.
For Suicide Prevention Day last week, the provincial government highlighted these numbers for youth and families: 1800SUICIDE (or 784-2433); YouthinBC, 1-866-661-3311, an online crisis service where you can chat oneon-one with trained volunteers 24 hours a day; Aboriginal People Crisis Line, 1-800-588-8717; Native Youth Crisis Hotline, 1-877-209-1266; Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (or 8255), a free 24-hour hotline, and Kids Help Phone, 1800668-6868, which offers 24-hour, confidential phone counseling, referral and Internet services for children and youth or their parents in English and French.
[email protected] Twitter: @Cheryl_Rossi
