Happening Now
Aspiring writers and book lovers aged 11 to 16 can register now for the Vancouver Public Library’s Writing and Book Camp. Authors and illustrators, including Carrie Mac, Jeyn Roberts, Lish McBridge and Jeremy Tankard, connect with youth at this day camp that runs Aug. 10 to 14. Each day features a different keynote speaker and campers participate in creative workshops. The program is for youth who want to try creative writing for the first time, ambitious writers with mountains of manuscripts and everyone in between. The camp happens at the Central Library downtown and costs $275. For more information or to register, email bookcamp@vpl.ca or visit vpl.ca/bookcamp.
May 22
The Napalm Girl in the Pulitzer-Prize winning photograph taken during the Vietnam War will be in Vancouver May 22 and 23. Phan Thi Kim Phuc will serve as one of the keynote speakers at the B.C. TEAL (Teachers of English as an Additional Language) Conference at UBC. Phuc will speak Saturday about her journey out of war-ravaged Vietnam and the importance of language in the refugee experience. Dr. Yilin Sun, president of TESOL International, will speak Friday.
This year’s annual conference, Reflect, Renew, Reconnect, for the first time will include a gala dinner, and the conference includes a research stream to unite local researchers and classroom teachers. There will be PechaKucha talks, panel discussions and an exhibitors’ area with new books and old favourites. For more information, see bcteal.org.
May 24
The 10th annual Hike for Hospice starts at Locarno Beach, May 24. Funds raised will aid programs and operations of the Vancouver Hospice Society. Participants are to walk four kilometres in the memory of loved ones and as a show of support for the community. Pets are welcome. Prizes and refreshments will be provided. The walk will proceed rain or shine. Registration is $20 for an individual, $30 for a couple, family or group, or waived for registrants that collect pledges of more than $100. Registration runs from 9 to 10 a.m. at 4445 Northwest Marine Dr., at the bottom of Trimble Street. Pledge forms are available at the HOB, 2236 West 41st Ave., HOB TOO, 3470 Dunbar St., and the Hospice Home, 4615 Granville St. For more information, see vancouverhospice.org.
May 26
Teens, adults and seniors are invited to learn about The Secret, Social Lives of Bacteria at The Wall Exchange downtown lecture series with Bonnie Bassler, “the Bacteria Whisperer,” May 26. This molecular biologist at Princeton University has discovered how bacteria “talk” to one another. This communication process, called “quorum sensing,” allows bacteria to work together and control bacterial virulence. Bassler works on ways to interfere with quorum sensing, which has ignited a flurry of new medical and drug research. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and early attendees will hear The Straight Jackets jazz band. The events runs 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Vogue Theatre, 918 Granville St.
Tickets are free but are in limited supply and must be reserved at pwias.ubc.ca.
May 27
How have ideas about childhood and youth changed over time? Historians Mona Gleason, Tamara Myers and Leslie Paris share their research on the history of growing up and discuss children and youth as agents of history at an event called Growing Up in History – Exploring Children’s Pasts. The talks runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Centra Library, 350 West Georgia St. in the Alice MacKay Room. The free talk is presented in partnership with UBC and the Society for the History of Children and Youth.
Email community happenings to events@vancourier.com.
