Forming any sort of abiding face to face community is becoming rarer in our culture. Robert Putnam’s classic study Bowling Alone charts the accelerating demise of participation in community groups and associations from the years 1960 – 2000.[1] There are multiple factors…
This is Mental Illness Awareness Week, but it looks as though related themes are being explored throughout the month. Two key events to look for are Understanding People, Mental Health & Trauma, hosted by Outreach Canada and sponsored by several groups…
The Walk for Reconciliation has come and gone, and Regent College is hosting an event this Saturday (September 30) which should offer an ideal opportunity to think through some of the issues it raised: Our Stories Shape Us: History, Faith & Practice of the…
Peter Biggs of The Light Magazine is researching one Metro Vancouver / Fraser Valley municipality each month, and producing a four page feature. The September issue features Surrey. The Semiahmoo, Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations People have lived in the region for thousands…
The New Democratic Party has big plans for the province, now that it is back in power after 16 years of Liberal rule. Educational reform is high on its list of priorities, but fortunately it looks as though the party will not go after independent…
The weather is likely to remain perfect this weekend, so some might want to spend Saturday morning (July 8) with the Earthkeepers down at New Brighton Park, on Burrard Inlet in east Vancouver. They are gathering volunteers to “help clean up…
It’s not often you hear the word ‘ashram’ in a Christian context – at least not outside India – but we are fortunate enough to have an annual BC Christian Ashram Retreat, this year at Trinity Western University July 14 – 16. The term…
Voices Together offers a unique opportunity to join together with thousands of fellow believers to worship God while also celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday. And this year it is free. Do come and join the 10,000 or so expected at the Pacific Coliseum…
Princess Avenue doesn’t have an official ‘car free’ day, but the Downtown Eastside street will in fact be closed to cars twice this week. Yesterday Union Gospel Mission (UGM) hosted Summer Connect outside its building north of Hastings, and on Sunday (June 18)…
These are exciting times for the A Rocha community in south Surrey. At their recent Barn Raiser gala, president Markku Kostamo announced that A Rocha is launching a $10.5 million fundraising campaign – and that they have already reached the $6.4 million mark. Kostamo…