Wednesday
Candidates for the Richmond Board of Education will have an opportunity to discuss their intentions for the Richmond School District over the next four years at an all-candidates meeting at Richmond secondary school, Nov. 5 from 7 - 9 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the public is welcome to ask questions. The meeting is sponsored by the Richmond Teachers' Association., CUPE Local 716, the Richmond Association of School Administrators and the Richmond District Parents' Association. Contact RTA at 604-278-2539 for questions.
Over the last 50-odd years, modern psychology has focused predominantly on mental illness, yet in recent years the emphasis has begun to pivot away from what makes life miserable, towards the positive: What makes life worth living? What makes happy people happy? And while this may be a relatively new topic for psychologists, it’s one that was addressed by Jewish wisdom and mysticism centuries ago. BeginningNov. 5 at 7:30 p.m the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) will present How Happiness Thinks: Jewish Perspectives on Positive Psychology, the institute’s new, six-session Fall 2014 course. Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman of Chabad of Richmond will conduct the six course sessions at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays to Dec. 10 at 200-4775 Blundell Road, Richmond. For more information/registration, call 604-277-6427 or visit ChabadRichmond.com/JLI
Thursday
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is hosting its first Richmond Open House Nov. 6 and you’re invited. The university will be a hub of activity, creativity and inspiration with close to 20 interactive exhibits and information booths. It’s a great opportunity to learn about KPU’s academic programs, connect with instructors and hear from outstanding alumni, including RCMP Staff Sgt. Baltej Dhillon, who was Canada’s first turbaned RCMP cadet. There will be prizes, tours, food truck samples, entertainment, trivia, a photo booth and henna art. Visitors can also observe a psychology lab experiment, pose for a “mugshot” in the criminology department, get a temporary tattoo, and have their blood pressure checked by nursing students. The event runs from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 8771 Lansdowne Rd. Parking is free.
Author Pasha Parvaneh Hashemi will read from her new book Who Knows Where Butterflies Die on Nov. 6 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Community Place Room at the Brighouse (Main) Branch of Richmond Public Library, 7700 Minoru Gate. This free program for adults is drop-in. For more information call 604-231-6413.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see acclaimed local fashion historian Ivan Sayers host From the Silk Road: Asia in Fashion, Fashion in Asia – a unique historical fashion show being held at the Richmond Arts Centre Performance Hall on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. The fashion show kicks-off opening celebrations for Richmond Museum’s upcoming exhibit, Interwoven World: Identity and Fashion, running from Nov. 6 to July 5, 2015. The exhibit explores how fashion has evolved through time, showcasing cross-cultural influences on styles from around the globe and how they are relevant to Richmond today.
Saturday
Like to take a stroll through the park? Why not make Minoru Park you destination Nov. 8 with an energizing walk through the pathways and beautiful gardens around Minoru Lakes. Meeting spot: East side of the Minoru Track, 7191 Granville Ave. For more information call Richmond Fitness and Wellness Association at 604-238-8004 ro email [email protected].
Upcoming
Richmond Public Library is hosting a free seminar called “Let’s Talk It Out: Conflict Resolution” on Nov. 13 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at the Brighouse (Main) Branch library, 2nd floor Community Place room, 7700 Minoru Gate. To register, visit any Richmond Public Library branch, call 604-231-6413 or register online at yourlibrary.ca/events. Presented by Colleen E. Selby, litigation lawyer. Participants will learn what mediation is, how it can be used to help resolve conflict and what mediation services are available.
Mark Leiren-Young, Richmond’s Writer-in-Residence for 2014 has been teaching ESL Writers’ Workshops at the Richmond Public Library this fall and now his students will have the opportunity to read their works in public. Come to a free public reading on Nov. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brighouse (Main) Branch of Richmond Public Library in the Kwok-Chu Lee living room, 7700 Minoru Gate.
Kick start your holiday shopping at Richmond’s biggest Christmas Craft Fair at the Steveston Community Centre Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. With more than 160 tables of juried home-crafted arts, baking, canning, carving, jewelry, textiles, toys, and other delightful artisan favours, you are sure to find something for everyone on your list, or a special treat for yourself. Admission is by cash donation in support of the Steveston playground improvement project, or a non-perishable food donation in support of the Richmond Food Bank. There will also be a concession hosted by the Older Adults Program participants, with proceeds from the concession benefiting the Older Adults Program at the Steveston Community Centre.
Got a taste for herring and want to support a great cause at the same time? Twenty pounds of tasty, fresh fish is just $10 with every penny going to help kids with cancer (BC Children’s Hospital Foundation) at the annual herring sale, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Nov. 29 in Steveston (12740 Trites Road). If you’d like to volunteer during the event email: [email protected]. For more information about the event, visit: fishermenhelpingkidswithcancer.com.
Ongoing
Richmond Public Library is partnering with Richmond Food Security Society to offer a free Food For Thought Book Club on the second Wednesday of every month. This book club focuses on books related to food security. The club meets from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Brighouse (Main) Branch of Richmond Public Library in the Community Place Room, 7700 Minoru Gate. To register, visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, call 604-231-6413 or go online to www.yourlibrary.ca/events. This program is offered in English. Books are provided. The next meeting is Nov. 12 and the book to be discussed is Feral: Rewilding the Land, the Sea and Human Life by George Monbiot. New members are welcome. Space is limited and registration is required.
The Richmond Center for Disability’s gym is open every Monday night from 6 - 8 p.m. at Cook elementary school (8600 Cook Rd.). Activities range from indoor soccer and seated volleyball, to 4 “speed badminton and basketball. For more information, contact RCD at 604-232-2404 or TTY at 604-232-2479.
Scarecrows are invading Steveston Village. But don’t panic, it’s just the Steveston Merchants Association’s (SMA) 5th Annual Steveston Scarecrow Crawl where cleverly themed scarecrows, often reflecting the personality of participating businesses, will be displayed Oct. 1 to 31. So, be sure to bring your camera and pose with the guardians who lurk outside businesses and in store windows. And vote for your favourite scarecrow by visiting the Steveston Scarecrow Crawl Facebook page.
If you have some spare time and would like to volunteer your services to the community, the Richmond Hospital Auxiliary has a couple of options. First, the Richmond Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop, which helps raise funds for hospital equipment, patients and seniors in our community, is looking for volunteers for a variety of three to four-hour shifts. Experience with retail sales/cash an asset. Second, the Richmond Hospital Auxiliary Lottery Booth, which helps raise funds for hospital equipment, patients and seniors in our community, is looking for volunteers for a variety of shifts. Experience with retail sales/cash an asset. BC Lottery training will be provided. Contact (Ms.) Terry Krahn at 604-278-9711 Ext. 4731 or [email protected] for either of these positions.
Volunteers needed
The Richmond Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop, which helps raise funds for hospital equipment, seniors and patients in our community, is looking for volunteers for a variety of positions. If you are reliable and have three hours a week to spare please contact (Ms.) Christy Sandhu at 604-675-2590 Ext 21857 or email [email protected].
