WINTER FAIR AT VANIER PARK — THIS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 (11–5)! 🎉❄️🎄

 

I will be there

😁🎨🖌️❤️😎🖼️🤗😘🎄🥶😁

Dress Warm!!

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DON’T MISS THE WINTER FAIR AT VANIER PARK — THIS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 (11–5)! 🎉❄️🎄

I’m excited to share this — and yes, it’s actually SUNDAY (not Saturday — I was tired and mixed it up! 😅). The Winter Fair at Vanier Park is happening this Sunday, December 7th from 11 AM to 5 PM, and it’s going to be such a fun, festive day. 🎨🧣✨

Before anything else, I just want to acknowledge that Vanier Park sits on land known as Sen̓áḵw, the ancestral village of the Squamish Nation. 🌿❤️

Now — onto all the good stuff! 🎁🎶

The whole park will be buzzing with creativity, music, food, and holiday spirit. 🎷🍪☕ There will be wonderful local artists and makers selling handmade gifts, crafts, art, and treasures — perfect for supporting the community and maybe finishing your holiday shopping. 🖼️🧵🎄

You’ll also find food trucks, warm drinks, yummy treats, and lots of family-friendly entertainment throughout the day. 🍴🤗✨

Plus, the three amazing cultural spaces right there — the Vancouver Maritime Museum 🚢, the Museum of Vancouver 🏛️, and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre 🌌 — will all be offering pay-what-you-can admission for the day. Such a great chance to explore and enjoy!

There’s even a festive photo and costume corner thanks to Bard on the Beach — perfect for fun winter pictures with friends or family. 📸🎭❄️

So come join us this Sunday, December 7th, from 11–5 at Vanier Park. Bring your friends, bring your kids, bring your holiday spirit — it’s going to be a lovely day by the water. 🌊🎄😊

See you there! ❤️✨

#Vancouver #VancouverEvents #VanierPark #Senakw #SupportLocal #WinterFair

Sen̓áḵw Rising: Vancouver’s 11-Tower Indigenous-Led Development

🏗️ Sen̓áḵw Rising: Vancouver’s 11-Tower Indigenous-Led Development

If you’ve walked near the south end of the Burrard Street Bridge recently, you’ve seen it: towers climbing into the sky, cranes moving fast, and a project that will reshape the waterfront. This is Sen̓áḵw, the 11-tower development led by the Squamish Nation in partnership with Westbank — a landmark project in Vancouver’s history. 🌿

What Is Sen̓áḵw? 🤔

Sen̓áḵw is being built on land that was once a 34-hectare reserve, historically a hub for Indigenous trade, social connection, and culture. The Squamish Nation is reclaiming and revitalizing this land through a mix of market-rate and affordable rental housing, community amenities, and public space.

• 🏠 Total Units: Approximately 6,000 rental apartments
• 💰 Affordable Units: Around 1,200 below-market rentals
• 🏢 Towers: 11 in total, ranging from 12 to 58 storeys
• 📅 Timeline: Phased construction began in 2022, with first residents expected in 2026, and full completion projected by 2030

A Community in the Sky 🌆

Sen̓áḵw is more than apartments. The towers will include commercial spaces and over 7.5 acres of public space by the water’s edge. It’s designed with sustainability in mind — including a net-zero carbon goal and a 10MW district energy system using waste heat from nearby infrastructure. ⚡

The design also celebrates Squamish Nation heritage, incorporating cultural elements and public art to reflect their story, past and present. 🪶

Construction Progress 🚧

• Phase 1: The first three towers are already rising, with hundreds of units taking shape. Tower 1 has reached the fifth floor, Tower 2 the ninth, and Tower 3 the 17th.
• Phase 2: Excavation and construction are set to continue, moving the project closer to its eventual 6,000-unit goal.

Why It Matters 🌍

Sen̓áḵw represents a huge step in Indigenous-led urban development — reclaiming ancestral land while meeting Vancouver’s growing housing needs. At the same time, it raises questions about density, affordability, and the impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. 🏙️

Whether you’re excited or uneasy about the changes, one thing is clear: the skyline and the waterfront of Vancouver will never look the same.

Reflective Questions 💭

• How does seeing towers rise on reclaimed Indigenous land make you feel? 🌿
• What role should heritage and culture play in large urban developments? 🪶
• How can cities balance housing needs with affordability for locals? 🏘️
• What memories of this area will be lost or preserved as Sen̓áḵw grows? 📖

Fighting for a Country That Took Their Land: Indigenous Veterans of WWII

 During World War II, Indigenous people in Vancouver and across Canada faced unique challenges, as well as injustices that reflected the broader history of colonialism. Despite their contributions to the war effort, they continued to face discrimination, land dispossession, and systemic exclusion from many aspects of society. Here’s what life was like for Indigenous people in Vancouver during the war:

1. Indigenous Enlistment in WWII

• Many Indigenous men and women voluntarily enlisted in the Canadian military, even though they were not legally considered full citizens under the Indian Act.
• They served in all branches of the military, including overseas combat roles, snipers, code talkers, and medics.
• Those who enlisted were often promised equality but faced racism and discrimination both during and after the war.

2. The War Economy & Indigenous Workers

• Some Indigenous people moved to Vancouver for war-related jobs, including shipbuilding, forestry, and factories. However, they often faced discriminatory hiring practices and were usually given lower-paying, labor-intensive jobs.
• Indigenous women also worked in wartime industries, but they were rarely given the same opportunities as non-Indigenous women.
• Those who remained in their communities often had to deal with increased government restrictions and worsening poverty due to wartime resource extraction.

3. Land Dispossession & Further Colonization

• Indigenous lands in and around Vancouver were further taken for military and industrial purposes.
• The Kitsilano Reserve (Sen̓áḵw), once home to the Squamish people, had already been illegally seized in 1913 by the BC government and developers. By WWII, most of the land had been absorbed into the city.
• The federal government took more Indigenous lands across Canada during the war under the War Measures Act, and many reserves were used for military training or resource extraction.
• Indigenous veterans who returned from the war often found their traditional lands further reduced or mismanaged by the government.

4. Residential Schools & Wartime Hardships

• Residential schools continued operating during WWII, and many Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their families and placed in these institutions.
• Indigenous families were often struggling with poverty, lack of resources, and government neglect, which worsened due to war-driven economic shifts.
• Many Indigenous communities had already been forced into segregated reserves with limited rights, and wartime policies only reinforced their exclusion from mainstream society.

5. Discrimination Against Indigenous Veterans

• Despite their service, Indigenous veterans were denied the same benefits as other Canadian soldiers.
• Many Indigenous veterans could not access land grants given to non-Indigenous veterans because they were legally considered wards of the state under the Indian Act.
• They were often refused the right to drink in Legion halls, were denied veteran pensions, and faced ongoing racism when trying to reintegrate into society.

6. Continued Resistance & Resilience

• Indigenous communities continued their traditions, adapted to economic hardships, and resisted government policies through advocacy and legal challenges.
• Some Indigenous leaders fought for veterans' rights after the war, eventually leading to partial compensation (but not full equality) in later years.

Final Thoughts

Indigenous people in Vancouver and across Canada contributed significantly to WWII but were met with broken promises, land theft, and continued colonial policies. Despite this, they persevered, resisting discrimination and advocating for their rights long after the war ended.

It’s striking how similar some struggles remain today—land disputes, systemic inequality, and government policies that continue to disadvantage Indigenous people.