Expo 86 logo by Wikimedia Commons
Vancouver’s 125th anniversary celebrations are running smoothly, proving that choosing Vancouver as Cultural Capital of Canada was justified. Celebrations will continue throughout 2011. Events and initiatives are covered by the year-long Vancouver 125 program. Vancouver 125 was designed to not only enable various cultural and artistic organizations to present their work, but to also bring civic initiatives and community events closer to its citizens. As promised, we bring you events that might interest you in May.
Expo ’86 Quarter Century Look-back Party
Science World at TELUS World of Science
May 6, 2011, from 7:00 to 11:00 P.M.
The celebration of Expo ’86 will take place right in the original Expo Centre, now Science World at TELUS World of Science. Join the party on May 6, 2011, from 7:00 to 11:00 P.M. The organizer of the event, Science World at TELUS World of Science, in collaboration with Vancouver is Awesome and Yelp Vancouver, has prepared many activities — all of them are, however, for adults only. These include: films like Transitions and Rainbow War, made solely for Expo ’86; a live cover band, Crucial Taunt, playing 80s tunes; Archival footage of Expo ’86 from the Vancouver Archives; Expo ’86 inspired artwork by Jeremy Shaw; a showing of Hubble in the OMNIMAX Theatre in the evening; and much more.
Spotlight on Vancouver
First Nations Films and Filmmakers
Spotlight on Vancouver
DOXA Documentary Film Festival
May 6 - May 15, 2011
This film will be shown as part of the DOXA Documentary Film Festival from May 6 to 15, 2011. It will feature various perspectives of the city, its people, its mythologies, and how it has changed over the years. It will include three programming streams, a retrospective on the filmmaker Allan King, and films devoted to First Nations filmmakers as well. The venues also include a contemplation on Vancouver’s dynamic nature and its future prospects.
Orbis Pull For Sight by Andrew Fung
Pull for Sight with ORBIS Canada
Vancouver International Airport
May 14, 2011
On May 14, 2011, you will have an opportunity to join a plane pull event at Vancouver International Airport with ORBIS Canada, a non-profit organization that introduced a Kids Sight program recently. Teams of up to 25 people will attempt to pull a FedEx 757 aircraft 12 feet in the shortest time possible. The participation fee is either $50 per person or $1,250. There is no admission for the audience, and since there are activities for children prepared, this event is very suitable for the whole family. You can register your team at 1-877-672-4722 or by email at
Brahma me Vancouver Celebration
Bhangra.me: Vancouver’s Bhangra Story
Museum of Vancouver
May 5 - October 23, 2011
This unique exhibition of pop culture influences and global Bhangra beats mixed with South Asian music and dance traditions will take place in the Museum of Vancouver from May 5 to October 23, 2011. This exhibition attempts to examine the relationship between Bhangra and Vancouver’s identity.
Identity Ancestral Memory
Identity-Ancestral Memory
Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, Revue Stage
May 12 - 14, 2011
A multi-media dance project performed by the Yayoi Theatre Movement Society will take place in Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, Revue Stage from May 12 to 14, 2011 to celebrate the life of Roy Kiyooka, the late Japanese Canadian. The performance combines Butoh dance and the dance form of Noh mask theatre to depict the struggle Kivooka experienced between Japanese and Canadian identities, and to compare them with the contemporary cultural conflict between Canadian and non-Canadian values.
For more information, check Vancouver’s 125th anniversary’s website.