Southeast Quadrant: Edmonds

Saturday, April 27th

The STEM and Maker Jamboree

Time: 10:00am-3:00pm

Enter a world of wonder during an immersive day where science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) come to life in exciting ways. From captivating demonstrations given by leading organizations, like Science World and Genome BC, to interactive experiences offered by Ocean Networks Canada and Open Science Network.

*Registration required.

Storyteller’s brew: A nourishing tea circle

Time: 3:15pm-5:15pm

Gain a greater sense of self as storyteller and change agent. While drinking tea, we will practise storytelling skills through exercises and games. Participants sit in circle and drink tea brewed by an Indigenous plant-knowledge keeper. You can expect to increase your awareness of the plants and of how botanicals can be approached, harvested, and brewed into a supportive and medicinal tea.

*Registration required.

Sunday, April 28th

Taking Care: A Collaborative Art Project

Time: 11am-3pm

Through a collaborative art-making process, participants will contribute drawings, writing, or stories about giving and receiving care. In an attempt to be consciously accessible and include those who have historically been denied access to these kinds of conversations, this event will centre the voices of persons with disabilities; it is a platform for persons with disabilities to tell and shape their own stories using different artistic mediums with no restrictions on how these stories are told. Through this project, we also want to recognize the efforts and voices of those in our community who work hard everyday in their role as formal or informal caregivers.

*Registration required.

The Boat People Art Installation

Time: 11am-3pm

The fall of Saigon in 1975 marked the beginning of a mass exodus of Vietnamese people, leading to a diaspora whose stories of hardship and bravery remain largely untold. This co-created art installation isn’t just about revisiting the past—it’s about recognizing the strength and resilience that have shaped the lives of these individuals and their families.

*Registration required.

A Feast of Learning and Story: An Edmonds Community Connector

Edmonds Community School: 7651 18th Ave., Burnaby | Time: 11:30am-5:00pm

Edmonds is one of Burnaby’s most diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods. Come celebrate the richness of voice and tradition in this day-long feast of events devoted to exploring story, art, dance, and food! The Edmonds Community School is a hub for community connection and we will gather and celebrate learning through the community at all these listed events.

Women’s Triumph: Artistic Narratives of Immigration and Integration | 11:30-2:30pm | In this workshop we create a space for sharing our unique experiences, challenges, and victories related to immigration. Using visual arts and written narratives, we will express the hurdles and achievements of our life journeys, from immigrating to successfully integrating into a new society.
Mandela Making Workshop | Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm | Mandalas are intricate circular designs that often represent the universe, wholeness, and harmony. Join Edmonds community member and art-making leader, Poonam, who will guide you through a mandala-making workshop.
Pursue Peace Mural | Time: 11:00am-3:00pm | Witness the creation of “Pursue the Peace,” a mural designed to cultivate community in Edmonds through collaborative art-making. Artists from Makers and Murals are working in collaboration with the City of Burnaby’s Anti Graffiti Program, using this artistic tool as a way to beautify, gather, and connect the community.
Harmony in Motion: Chinese Cultural Dance Performance | 2:15pm and 3:00pm | Join the North Burnaby Retired Society (NBRS) for an afternoon of cultural entertainment! Established in 1992 as part of the Confederation Seniors Association, NBRS invites you to experience the beauty of their traditional dancing styles. From Tai Chi to karaoke, line dancing to Chinese folk dances, there’s something for everyone. Witness the grace of Tai Chi and exercise then join in the fun with two lively line dances. Immerse yourself in the cultural beauty of two Chinese dances, “Yellow River Water” and “Alishan Girl.”
Celebration of Culture – Flavour of Edmonds | Time: 3:00pm-5:00pm | The Long Table Society, in partnership with the Edmonds Community School, will host a delectable long table event featuring foods from the Eritrean, Afghan, Chinese, South Asian and Latino communities of Southeast Burnaby. Come experience the resilience, diversity, and amazing culture of these countries in our own backyard.
Multicultural Crafts for Children and Caregivers | Time: 3:00pm-5:00pm | Diya painting, paper crafts, Chinese lamp-making and calligraphy will all be explored in this supervised arts workshop, which introduces crafts from various cultures. Parents and caregivers are required to be present and are welcome to join in the workshop.
Unity Quest | Time: All day | Unity Quest is an interactive online platform designed to address the need for cultural awareness. It engages both youth and adults through captivating quizzes, puzzles, and games. Come learn more about this initiative and increase your own understanding of our diverse society.

*Registration required.

Our Water Conversation: Stories & Natural Dyes

Time: 4:30pm-7:30pm

Water is life! Join Still Moon Arts Society at Connect Fest for a two-part event. Listen to intercultural stories from esteemed guest speaker and Métis knowledge-keeper, Lori Snyder, and experience the Traditional Syrian Storytelling and sound therapy of the Quantum Care Team, Masa Kateb & Eda Ertan. You will have a chance to share your water-related memories, stories, and hopes during an intercultural water dialogue, and explore your creativity with a natural dyeing experience to co-create a section of a giant puppet named “Water Woman”.

*Registration required.

Lamenting for Ukraine

Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm

Drawing on ancient Ukrainian lamentation traditions and exquisite music by contemporary composers, we will lead you on a journey through this darkest night towards the break of dawn. Guided by Ukrainian artists, community members and allies, we invite you to cry with us, ease the burden of grief, and regain a sense of hope in togetherness.

*Registration required.

Monday, April 29th

A Game Of Life

Time: 12:00pm-2:00pm

Have you ever wondered what your life would look like if you were born into different circumstances? Do you like to learn through playing board games and other fun activities? Come join an SFU Health Science student and a UBC psychology student in partnership with the Society to End Homelessness for an afternoon of interactive exploration into the social determinants of homelessness.

*Registration required.

Tuesday, April 30th

Film Screening: Roots and Redress

Time: 12:45pm-2:45pm

Explore history, memory, and redress through two films that explore historical themes through family stories.

The event will begin with the premiere screening of a film about local activist Gim Wong who rode his motorcycle from Vancouver to Ottawa in 2005 to demand redress for Chinese Canadians who had been charged a head tax. Filmmaker will be present for a panel discussion.

Following the panel, there will be a screening of All our Fathers Relations, a documentary that features the story of the Grant siblings, who journey from Vancouver to China in an attempt to rediscover their father’s roots and better understand his fractured relationship with their Musqueam mother.

*Registration required.

Katha Corner — Indian Mythology Storytelling

Time: 3:45pm-5:00pm

Join us for a storytelling adventure tailored for 5- to 9-year-olds, where ancient Indian mythology comes to life! Immerse yourself in captivating tales of gods, goddesses, and magical creatures that promise to leave you spellbound. Don’t let your kids miss out on this unique opportunity to explore the wonders of Indian mythology!

*Registration required.

Sakura Mixer: Unveiling the Business and Culture of Japan

Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm

In celebration of the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, the Burnaby Board of Trade, SFU and Daiya invite you to deepen your local connections through an exploration of the business and culture of Japan. Come meet and mingle with Burnaby’s business and academic community in an open and exciting mixer at Nikkei museum, featuring food, cultural performance, and talks.

*Registration required.

Film Screening: All Our Father’s Relations

Time: 6:15pm-8:15pm

The story of a search for family roots is featured in the film All our Fathers Relations. The documentary follows the Grant siblings on a journey from Vancouver to China in an attempt to rediscover their father’s roots and better understand his fractured relationship with their Musqueam mother. Raised primarily in the traditions of the Musqueam people, the Grant family and their story reveals the shared struggles of migrants and Aboriginal peoples today and in the past.

Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion featuring participants in the film.