Jordan Potter learned about sex in his first two years of elementary school and that knowledge put a swagger in his step. But then in sex ed class in Grade 5 a film made him faint. He’ll recount his experience Nov. 21 at Strathcona elementary.
Potter is one of more than a dozen storytellers participating in two Tales From Public School events hosted by the Vancouver School Board and Vancouver storytelling organization Rain City Chronicles.
Pencils and Playgrounds: the elementary years will happen at Strathcona elementary Nov. 21. Chalk and Lockers: the high school years, runs Nov. 22 at Templeton secondary.
Rain City Chronicles has partnered with the City of Vancouver, Simon Fraser University Public Square and the Vancouver Art Gallery to produce events, so it felt natural to Lizzy Karp, producer and host of Rain City Chronicles, to join with the school board.
She said board communications staff were so enthusiastic about the prospect of an event that it grew into two. Karp has been working with Jen Hill, VSB’s new community engagement coordinator.
“This is one of her first big projects and… she’s very excited to bring in Vancouverites who might not really think about public schools or who live in the areas but have never been inside,” Karp said.
Participants can slip into the nostalgic spirit by noshing on cafeteria-inspired fare served at long tables in the school cafeterias before the shows. Karp said chefs who have worked at Bao Bei and Wildebeest are reinventing pizza, pudding cups and sloppy joes for the Cafeteria pop-ups, which are coordinated by event organizer Ken Tsui and chefs who call their group Winner Winner.
“It’s a pretty immersive, nostalgic experience and I think people will be inspired to share their own stories with each other,” Karp said.
She also expects memories to arise in the two historic auditoriums.
“I think people that went to school in Vancouver, went to school in Canada and went to school anywhere else can really identify with the auditorium at Templeton,” she said. “The wooden chairs, the stage, the gym at Strathcona and the colours of the paint and the smell.”
All of the raconteurs are adults, even though Karp estimates Rain City Chronicles has hosted five younger storytellers since the series launched in 2009. She said Rain City wanted to explore mature themes, particularly with tales from high school, and didn’t want to make families feel uncomfortable, but Karp is keen to work with students in the future.
VIDEO: Rain City Chronicle's youngest storyteller, Nathan Coburn, 11.
For more information, see raincitychronicles.com.
crossi@vancourier.com
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