Join us for Collingwood Days’ Grand Festival Day at Gaston Park! Featuring music and dance performances, storytelling, poetry, workshops, stiltwalkers, games, food trucks, and more!

Indigenous Blessing and Artisans, Main Stage Performances, Roving Performers, Marketplace, Kids Zone, Food Trucks (Yo-Bones BBQ and Potato Corner)

SCHEDULE:

11 AM: Opening Blessings

12 PM: CCPC 30th Anniversary Cake

1 PM: Watermelon Eating Contest

2:30 PM: Raffle Draws

2:45 PM: Closing Ceremony

ARTISTS:

MC HK - Master of Ceremony

CW Music School

Hula Dance

SEACHS

Elite Squad

Still Moon Arts Society (roving performers)

Indigenous Performers

Bring your chair and get cozy at Gaston Park to watch School Rock (2003) after dusk. Please note that the movie will only take place if the weather permits

About the Movie:
After being fired from his own rock band, a struggling musician poses as a substitute teacher at a private elementary school. After getting to know his class, he does everything to form a band with them for a competition called "Battle of the Bands". They do everything in order to prepare themselves for the competition without anyone else discovering the real truth.

Join us for a fun-filled program perfect for parents and caregivers with young children! Enjoy a lively mix of songs, rhymes, and stories in a welcoming setting that's suitable for children of all ages and abilities. It’s a great way to learn and have fun together. Come along and make some joyful memories!

We showcase the hula (dance), mele (songs), and oli (chants) that help us forge on, inspiring others along the way. As we embark into new landscape in our hula journey, we deepen our connection to the land, the people, plants and animals, and each other.

Join us at the Collingwood Neighborhood House Annex for a refreshing break during the Collingwood Days Festival! This is a perfect opportunity to relax, enjoy some light refreshments, and mingle with fellow community members.

The Data Visualization Tree will allow community members to co-create art with community members and artistically visualize data points of who is part of the diverse Renfrew-Collingwood community, and what they hope to see in the neighbourhood. This artwork requires community members to add strings or ribbons of different colours to the tree to symbolize different forms of feedback. This is a project that supports the efforts of the BC Government towards the Anti-Racism Data Act. The Systems Change team will also promote a survey during Collingwood Days to gather feedback from equity-seeking communities.

Folks can bring their new or in-progress art projects, whether it's watercolour, acrylic, embroidery, knitting, origami, crocheting, or whatever medium they're working in! All ages and experience levels are welcome to join in these sessions for an opportunity to learn and share their skills with each other. Basic art materials are provided by donation.

Join us for a delightful session of rhymes, songs, bounces, fingerplays, and stories, designed especially for parents and caregivers with their babies. This event is perfect for parents and newborns up to approximately 18 months old. Come connect and have fun with your little one in a nurturing and engaging environment!

Lend a hand to make our community a healthier place, and hear local artists discuss habitat, housing, and the creation of a unique living willow sculpture. 'Beaver Pondering Lodging' features a larger-than-life beaver and RV on the banks of Still Creek next to a busy road and train tracks. Project artists Carmen Rosen, Willoughby Arévalo, and Joe Boyd will discuss the inspiration behind this sculpture, which invites reflection on habitat loss for animals and humans alike, and the stories they heard from community members who stopped to talk with them during the hundreds of hours they spent creating the sculpture. The event will start with a garbage clean-up to make the neighbourhood healthier for both urban wildlife and the people who live here. We encourage you to bring a picnic dinner to enjoy during the talk.

Come get active with many dance lovers! Boost your physical, mental and emotional well-being in this wonderful fun way! 

Join us at the Collingwood Days Festival for a captivating exploration of Chinese art! Dive into the world of Calligraphy, where each stroke tells a story, and Painting, where colors bring scenes to life. Discover the craft of Paper Cutting too. These traditional arts offer more than beauty—they provide a path to resilience and a deep connection to cultural heritage.

• Paint vibrant scenes with Bill

• Master elegant strokes of Calligraphy with Daniel

• Learn Paper Cutting Art with Rui

Come and experience the joy and depth of Chinese artistry!

Join us at the MOSAIC Knitting Club for a fun introduction to knitting with Pauline and our team of friendly instructors! Whether you want to make a stylish hairband, a cozy scarf, or a cute bear, we have a variety of projects for you to choose from. This is a great opportunity to learn a new skill and meet fellow knitting enthusiasts.

Join us to discover the incredible health benefits of Tai Chi! This event will feature exercises like Ba Duan Jin, Taijiquan 24 Forms, and 42 Forms. Designed especially for seniors, these stretching and strength-building exercises help improve muscle strength and endurance.

Listen to Senior volunteers as they share their stories about our neighbourhood, discover unseen aspects of our community, and use walking as a way to connect with neighbours!

Come have a blast with Instructor Roslyn as she lights up the dance floor with smooth choreography, fun music, and firecracker like energy!

No registration required - please feel free to drop in

Donations to help cover the costs of this event gratefully accepted here.

See you all on the dance floor!

11:30-12:40 World-building and Cultural Research for Storytelling: Join us for this insightful author panel on creating immersive worlds, grounding them in reality, and ensuring cultural sensitivity while introducing innovative elements. Key topics of discussion will include: the process of building intricate and believable worlds; balancing imaginative elements with real-world influences; approaching cultural research with sensitivity and respect; and introducing novel concepts and ideas in storytelling. Tessa Barbosa Samantha Garner Roselle Lim K.S. Villoso Moderator: Nathalie De Los Santos

12:45-1:55 Writing Between the Lines: Join us for an enlightening conversation exploring the intricacies of cross-genre writing, how cultural identity influences storytelling, and the challenges and rewards of blending different literary forms. Our esteemed panelists will discuss the creative process behind their multifaceted narratives; the ways in which cultural heritage shapes their stories; and balancing multiple genres to create unique and compelling works. Christine Añonuevo Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio C.E. Gatchalian Vincent Ternida

2:00-3:10 The Poetry Prism: Shaping Realities Join our panel of poets as we try to hold poetry to the light and see what colors it makes. We’ll discuss how language shapes and sustains our attention to outer and inner worlds; the necessary failure of translation; and the ways poetry allows us to reckon with the depths of humanity and give music to the mess of living. Hari Alluri Sol Diana Therese Estacion Phebe M. Ferrer Marc Perez

3:15-4:25 Makibaka! Maging alamat! On Writing Revolution: What, if anything, is a writer’s obligation to the world? What does it take to stay brave and human in the face of the simultaneous wars currently waged on the Global South, the Third World, and Black and Brown peoples who share histories of colonization? What are the ways we can activate our art towards liberation? What uplifts a piece of writing to be revolutionary? Join our panel of writers across diverse genres and interests as we discuss these questions in relation to the struggles of our times—water is life, land back, ceasefire, and end to all genocide! Jim Agapito Hari Alluri Rina Garcia Chua Kawika Guillermo / Chris Patterson Catherine Hernandez

4:30-5:40 Playwriting and Publishing Are you a writer interested in playwriting or writing for stage? Have a question how certain plays are published and some aren’t? Join a panel of playwrights and theatre artists who are creating new BC Fil-Can works right now, and are willing to share with you the world of professional play and performance development. Davey Calderon Karla Comanda Kamila Sediego Carmela Sison Moderator: Lissa Neptuno + Author Book Signings with all panelists

4:30-5:55 Keynote: Catherine Hernandez Join us for a special evening at the Filipino-Canadian Book Festival as we welcome acclaimed author Catherine Hernandez for an inspiring keynote address. This event will be a highlight of the festival, celebrating the incredible contributions of Catherine Hernandez to literature and the arts. In recognition of her outstanding achievements and impact on the literary community, we are honored to present Catherine Hernandez with the prestigious CanDila Award. This award celebrates excellence in storytelling and acknowledges her dedication to amplifying diverse voices through her work. This event is an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable talent and to be inspired by Catherine Hernandez’s insights and experiences. Join us for an unforgettable evening of recognition and inspiration.

Join us in celebration of the inaugural Filipino-Canadian Book Festival July 12-14th 2024 in partnership with Massy Books, Filipix Pages and Sampaguita Press and guest Keynote Catherine Hernandez.

4:00 Welcome & Opening Ceremony: with Knowledge Keeper Audrey Siegl

4:30 Youth-Led Event: Join us for an inspiring evening at the Filipino-Canadian Book Festival’s Youth-Led Event: Voices of the Future. This event is dedicated to showcasing the incredible work and creativity of Filipinx youth, providing them with a platform to share their wisdom, collective power, and their talents.

6:10-8:15 Magdaragat Open Mic: Author Meet & Greet / Book Signing Come join us for a reading night featuring authors from “Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing.” and celebrate the authors that appear in this landmark anthology!

8:00-8:15 Informal Closing for the Day

The opening ceremony of the Collingwood Days Festival will start with a blessing, followed by the inauguration of our new Indigenous Garden. Be sure to check the festival schedule for more details and join us for this special event!