Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant Park officially re-opens this Saturday, July 21 at 11 a.m. The park, located at the corner of Ontario Street and West 15th Avenue, has been undergoing a major renovation in the past year. The opening celebration begins at 10: 30 a.m. with the music of the Mount Pleasant Pool Band, Michael Van Eyes and Howard Rix. (Who knew there is a Mount Pleasant Pool Band?) The Mount Pleasant Pool Committee will have a tent on location to provide the public with information about the status of the replacement pool.
Oakridge
American author Marty Brounstein talks about his book Two Among the Righteous Few: A Story of Courage in the Holocaust at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver July 25. His book is described as a true story of "interfaith compassion, courage, and rescue" involving a Catholic couple in The Netherlands who saved the lives of at least two dozen Jews during the Second World War. Their story apparently also has a meaningful personal connection to Brounstein, who will explain that connection during the talk. The 7 p.m. event is free and open to the public at 950 West 41st Avenue. Call 604-257-5111.
Also in the same neighbourhood, one of the winners of Top Chef Canada will be at the Cambie Liquor store (at West 39th) this Saturday, July 21, from 3 to 6 p.m. Chef Dale MacKay of Ensemble Restaurant is taking part in an afternoon event offering Moosehead beer and food samples.
Downtown
ArtStarts Gallery, the first gallery in Canada devoted exclusively to the art of young people, is presenting an exhibit called Defining Moments: Discovering Our Canadian Stories. Take a trip across this country through the eyes of these young artists, with stops in eight provinces and territories, as they express their Canadian identity through art. Defining Moments runs until Aug. 31 at ArtStarts Gallery, 808 Richards St. Admission is free and the gallery is open to the public Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kitsilano
A local Volkssport club is hosting non-competitive five and 10 kilometre walks in Kitsilano, Sunday July 29. It's free for new participants. For more information, contact Verni at 604682-8390.
Kitsilano
Interested in bee keeping? Meet at the Higher Ground Urban Market Café, 2300 Broadway, at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 21 for the Bee Walk through Kitsilano. The route goes from the community garden at West Sixth Avenue and Trafalgar to Sixth and Yew where there is a bee "castle" to Maple and Cypress to check out some bee hives. Then head back along West Fifth Avenue to check out some community art. The walk is being led by Mary Bennett, an artist, educator and avid gardener. For more information, visit earthwalks1bees.eventbrite.com.
West End
City staff from the Cultural Services department and the West End Planning Team are inviting West End residents to join them for a cultural asset mapping session July 27. Participants will be asked to identify and map cultural assets in the West End and explain their significance. The session seeks to widen the definition of "culture" to include businesses, organizations and different kinds of programs. The information gathered from the session will be used in creating the West End community plan. West Enders can join at any time between 9 a.m. and noon in the Barclay Room, West End Community Centre, 870 Denman St. For more information, call 604-871-6007.
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