The sun is set to shine on Sunday – a vast improvement from the downpour at last year’s Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup in New Westminster.
The annual event, organized by New Westminster Environmental Partners, kicks off B.C. Rivers Day celebrations in the Royal City. Volunteers are welcome to pick up litter in the shoreline cleanup, collect data and pull invasive plants. Volunteers will be meeting at the Spagnol Street walkout on South Dyke Road. Anyone wanting to take part in the cleanup should wear boots or shoes that can get wet and muddy, long pants, long-sleeved shirts/jacket, gloves, hat, and eye protection/sunglasses. If you want to take part in the invasive pull, it’s suggested you bring shovels, pitchforks, pruning shears, hedge clippers – and remember to label or mark your tools for identification.
The forecast is calling for sunny skies so sunblock, water and snacks are suggested. Anyone under 19 must have two signed waivers, which are available at [email protected].
If you’re interested in taking part in the cleanup, contact site coordinator Karla Olson at [email protected].
New West artists share reflections
Local artists are sharing their vision on love, loss and loyalty in the inaugural exhibition in the community art space at Anvil Centre.
Love, Loss and Loyalty: Community Reflections opened on Sept. 14 and runs until Nov. 14. in the Anvil Centre community art space. The exhibition is presented as part of the unveiling of the war memorial commemorating the iconic photograph Wait for Me, Daddy.
The exhibition features artists from New Westminster, selected by a jury from a public call, who reference the themes of the photograph, reflecting them into their personal stories and community history. Drop by Anvil Centre and check out works by the following artists: Robert Bowen, Melissa Thorpe, Cynthia Jennifer Smith, Cliff Blank, Bob Collyer, Doug Dorsett, Karla Winters, Dale Costanzo, Jean Konkle, Lisa Lawrence, Christel Fuoss-Moore, Terry Foster, Gabor Gasztonyi,John Leeson, Gillian Wright, Jeffery A Gibson, Solveig Brickenden, Richard Armstrong, Janet Kvammen, Brenda Fairfax, Katherine Freund-Hainsworth, Franci Louann, Elena Zhukova, Julia Schoennagel, Oksana Slonevskaya and Theresa K. Howell.
“The community art space at Anvil Centre celebrates local artistic talent from New Westminster,” said Robert McCullough, the city’s manager of cultural services. “The space is a fantastic addition to our rich cultural landscape as it forges creative dialogue, brings attention to local art as well as creates new opportunities for artists in our city.”
Peak performers
Top performers from this year’s PEAK Performance Project will be among the attractions at this year’s RiverFest.
RiverFest: Inspired by the Fraser returns to New Westminster’s waterfront on Saturday, Sept. 27. The event will feature performances by artists including Greg Drummond, The Wild Romantics, The Tourist Company, and David Newberry.
Families will enjoy a performance by Magrau the bird, Kamilla the frog and children’s entertainer/ventriloquist Kellie Haines, when they kick off RiverFest at 11 a.m.
Presented by Port Metro Vancouver, RiverFest is a free family event that will kick off on Sunday, Sept. 21 with the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup organized by the New Westminster Environmental Partners and will conclude on the boardwalk at Westminster Quay on Saturday, Sept. 27.
Art and artisan displays, interactive displays from river-related conservation and environmental organizations, the second annual Salmon Chowder Cook-Off at the River Market, river tours aboard the MV Native and the Lucille Johnstone work boat parade are also featured in the event that’s held in celebration of B.C. and World Rivers Day.
For more information, visit www.fraserriverdiscovery.org.
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