It's the first weekend of November and it's true, Burnaby - we might be facing some cold November rain. But don't worry, there is still plenty of fun to be had in the city. We're continuing with our popular feature - our staff's Top 5 (Or More) Things To Do This Weekend. Here's our Top 5 list for Nov. 1 to 3.
1 Get celebrating the festival of lights, Diwali, at the Edmonds Community Centre on Friday from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Enjoy heaps of sweets, colourful clothes and jewelry, and a light celebration at the unique Indian festival. For more information, call 604-297-4838. The event is free.
2 Get skating at the Diwali skate on Friday, if you prefer festively getting active to munching on sweets. The Diwali skate takes place at the Kensington Recreation Complex at 6159 Curtis St. from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m. There will be skating, face painting and Diwali crafts and games. Regular admission and rental rates apply. For more information, call 604-297-4535.
3 Get dancing to the music of Emm Gryner, a Canadian pop and rock singer-songwriter with several albums to her credit. Gryner has forged her own path and has been nominated three times for a Juno Award. This year, Gryner provided the piano arrangement for Canadian astronaut commander Chris Hadfield's music video Space Oddity, which was posted on YouTube. The concert takes place at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave., on Friday from 8 to 10 p.m.
4 Get informed about Japanese Canadians and political changes since the redress settlement in 1988 at the panel discussion, Japanese Canadians: What are the Challenges? What are the Possibilities? The event is part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the redress settlement of Sept. 22, 1988. The Nikkei National Museum is sponsoring the panel, along with Simon Fraser University's Centre for Policy Studies on Culture and Communities and the Asian Canadian Studies Society. The moderator is Roy Miki, professor emeritus of English at SFU. The panelists are Audrey Kobayashi, a Queen's University geography professor; Jeff Masuda, a University of Manitoba geography associate professor; Kirsten Emiko McAllister, an SFU communication associate professor; Mona Oikawa, a York University equity studies associate professor and John Price, a University of Victory history professor. The free event takes place on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m., however, those interested in attending should RSVP via email.
5 Get focused on foreign affairs at a slide show and talk on South Africa on Sunday. Rev. Gert Janse van Rensburg is making the presentation at the West Burnaby United Church, 6050 Sussex Ave., from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Phone 604-434-4747 for more information. Donations are welcome.
Email your Top 5 ideas. You can also check out our full calendar listings at www.burnabynow.com.
- compiled by staff reporter Janaya Fuller-Evans
