The collected works of Scottish bard Robbie Burns, seen here in a commemorative statue in Stanley Park, will be read in their entirety at Harbour Centre on Jan. 25.
Photograph by: Jason Lang , Vancouver Courier
Downtown
“Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?”
This refrain from Scotland’s favourite son Robbie Burns has become a tradition when ringing in the New Year and saying goodbye to the past. And it will quite likely be heard again Friday, Jan. 25 at Simon Fraser University’s Harbour Centre during a marathon recitation of Burns’ poetry and song. Fittingly, Jan. 25 is considered Robbie Burns Day worldwide.
SFU’s Scottish Studies is once again organizing the marathon, which is expected to run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Harbour Centre campus, 515 West Hastings St. The goal is to break the 2012 record of four hours, nine minutes and 24 seconds.
The organizers are encouraging dignitaries, media personal, SFU students, faculty and staff, as well as numerous members of the vast Scottish community throughout the Lower Mainland to show up and read or sing their favourite works by Burns. If you don’t have a favourite, the organizers will be pleased to supply you with one.
The readings will be supplemented with bagpipes and even some haggis eating, as well as other entertainment. Burns fans from across the globe are ready to help reach that goal with readers and singers joining the party via Skype. Some of the Burns’ fans who’ve already committed to taking part include Christopher Gaze from Bard on the Beach, astrologer Georgia Nicols, United Kingdom singer Andrew Mockler, and Burns relative Teresa Margaret King. Email Tricia Barker at tbarker@sfu.ca to take part.
Grandview Woodland
The Grandview Woodland Area Council presents historian Jak King, who will speak on the disappearing heritage of that neighbourhood.
Grandview: Heritage at Risk takes place at 7 p.m. Jan. 7 in the Learning Resources Centre (under the Library) at Britannia Centre, off Commercial Drive. All are welcome. For more information, visitvcn.bc.ca/gwac.
Downtown
The Vancouver Writer’s Fest, in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library, is offering free readings at 7:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month beginning Jan. 16 through to April 17.
In Cite includes readings from award-winning authors such as Tim Bowling, journalists Sandra Martin and Zac Unger, humourists such as Arthur Black and Jackson Davies, and poets including John Barton. The readings take place in the Alice MacKay Room at the Central Library, 350 West Georgia St.
For a schedule and complete list of participating writers, check out the events page at writersfest.bc.ca.
Oakridge
The Marine Biology Section of Nature Vancouver is presenting a free public forum Jan. 10, entitled Whale Shark Eco-tourism in the Philippines.
Project coordinator Josh Silberg from Simon Fraser University will lead the forum, which takes place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Unity Church, 5840 Oak St. at West 42nd Avenue (rear entrance). For more information visit naturevancouver.ca/
MarineBiology.
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