Burnaby North Secondary hosted its third annual Day of Truth and Reconciliation Monday, Jan. 9.
The event, aimed at raising awareness about aboriginal cultures and worldviews, as well as the residential school experience, was first organized by social studies teacher John Lekakis in 2015.
This year, the day featured a series activities and lessons and a gripping theatrical presentation called Qwalena: The Wild Woman Who Steals Children by First Nations storyteller Dallas Yellowfly with 3 Crows Productions, a group of indigenous storytellers committed to raising public awareness about the intergenerational impact of the residential school experience on the personal lives and communities of indigenous people today.
Alpha Promject
Alpha Secondary School’s leadership students have the solution for local grads who don’t want to blow all their money on prom.
On Jan. 18 to 20, the leadership class will host Promject, a sale of second-hand dresses, dress shirts and pants, shoes, ties and other accessories. The three-day event is targeted at Burnaby students but is open to any student able to produce a student ID card for entrance.
Prices will range from $5 to $30. Donations of clothes and accessories are still being accepted. For more information about the event, email claire.chat@yahoo.com or alana21ml@hotmail.com.
Autism fundraiser
Gilmore Elementary School teacher and Burnaby mom Debbie Siu is teaming up once again with Port Coquitlam moms Patricia James and Keri Kennett to raise money for the new Pacific Autism Family Centre in Richmond.
Last year the trio, all of whom have children with autism, donated $17,000 to the centre after selling sterling silver puzzle piece earrings at London Drugs stores. The earrings go on sale again between Feb. 27 and March 31, with all proceeds once again going to the autism centre, which has been designed as a one-stop-shop for families of children with autism.
The moms hope to raise $20,000 this year. They will launch their campaign Feb. 18 at a fundraising event in Port Moody. The $50 ticket to the event includes a pair of earrings.
To buy a ticket or donate prizes for raffle baskets, email puzzledjewelry@shaw.ca or visit tinyurl.com/puzzledjewelry.
Gilmore stories
Got a story about historic Gilmore Community School? Folks at the McGill branch of Burnaby Public Library want to hear it.
To celebrate the North Burnaby elementary school’s 100th birthday, the library hosts a screening of a documentary by local filmmaker Yunuen Perez Vertti about Gilmore from the Crabtown days through the ’60s.
After the film, the Burnaby Village Museum will host an open mike for people to share stories about the local school. Museum staff will be on hand to video the presentations (being filmed is optional) for the City of Burnaby's Heritage Burnaby website.
The event runs Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Arrive by 6:45 p.m. to sign up in person to speak. The McGill branch is at 4595 Albert St.
Do you have an item for Class Act? Send education story ideas to Cornelia, cnaylor@burnabynow.com, or follow her on Twitter @CorNaylor.
