The world around us is constantly changing and transforming, and the SFU Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology situated at the Burnaby campus sets out to educate us on these developments. Situated at the northeast corner of the

Upon entering the museum, the story of British Columbia begins to translate into something tangible through the visual display of historical artifacts. There is a close connection to traditions and people and natural elements, as totem poles and stones carved with stories act as outliers to connect each of these aspects together. The totem poles are carved by First Nations artists, and are on loan to the university bythe Royal British Columbian Museum in Victoria. The exhibits within the museum are created by SFU students under the museum studies courses offered by the Department of Archaeology, which contribute nicely towards the educationalaspects.Academic Quadrangle and near Blusson Hall, the wood-paneled walls of the museum enclose a rich history of British Columbia and the rest of the world. The current exhibit, ‘Continuity and Change, Transformations in B.C. Archaeology andFirst Nations Cultures’, is curated by Chris Springer and Rudy Reimer.

The connection with history and natural elements was especially evident in the artifacts within the display of tools based from the stratified site of Namu, which is a large part of the prehistory of British Columbia. The resources used for survival and presumably to hunt food were tools made of bone, antler and shell, ground stone, chipped stone, and wood. While those who have studied anthropology may better grasp the proper terms and developments of these tools, we are all able to appreciate the resourcefulness in the creation of them. These tools not only were a key part of survival, but also attributed towards the creation of many of the artifacts within the museum.

The concepts of transformation and tradition were clear throughout my visit to the museum, and certainly tied together the past and present. History provides a strong base to any society, and British Columbia is no exception. For those of you who are keen on history or perhaps the study of anthropology, I would highly recommend a visit the SFU Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology. Check out their comprehensive website for more information on the museum, their exhibits, and research information.

The SFU Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is open 10:00am to 12:00pm,1:00pm to 4:00pm, Monday to Fridays.

This year, explore Europe without the arduous security checks, annoying jetlag and high costs of air travel.  How?  The 15^th Annual European Festival at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium on May 26^th offers the perfect way to celebrate and experience Europe at your doorstep.

Previously held at the Scandinavian Community Centre, this year’s festival proves to be bigger than ever with its new venue at Swangard Stadium, which offers thousands of covered seats in the Grand Stand from which to comfortably watch all the entertainment (just in case the weather gets a bit too hot or wet).

Representing the four “corners” of Europe, the festival brings together some 30 countries in this daylong cultural festival of food, fun and performances.  Some of the new participating countries at this year’s event are Azerbaijan and Slovenia.  France is also making a return to the festival after being away for several years.

I recently chatted with European Festival planner Marika Kovalcikova, as well as Codrutsa Rotaru, president of the EuroFest BC Society, and Katica Krakan, director of membership, about what we can expect at this year’s event.  And here’s what they said:

What are some highlights for the day in terms of performances and cuisine?

As always, the festival is a great way to sample some authentic, delicious and unique European cuisine.  From savoury appetizers and hearty main courses to desserts that would satisfy any sweet tooth, the festival offers dozens of culinary options from across Europe.

As for performances, people – and kids – of all ages will enjoy the amazing music and dancing that celebrate and represent the participating countries, which will be on-going from 10:00am until 9:00 pm on the stage.  Plus, there’s a lively and high-energy dance party with live music from the EUROPA Trio and a DJ from 9:00pm until midnight.

We’ve also added new stage this year in the food court area – the “Tourism Burnaby Stage” stage. Some highlights for this year’s performances include:

Téa Petrovic – She performed at our first European Festival as a young, up-and-coming singer and now – after 14 years – she has been on more than 300 shows, including appearances at The Vancouver International Jazz Fest, New Music West, and an opening slot for Robert Randolph and The Family Band at the Commodore Ballroom.

Allegra  - These performers will truly warm your heart with a lively range of styles that range from classical to Spanish, and Latin to Gypsy to Klezmer. Their music is known for infectious rhythms and rich melodies arranged for the violin, cello, guitar, and sometimes a guest vocalist.  Allegra’s unique style and passion keeps their audiences spellbound – making them feel that every performance is too short!

HZ Ballet Classique – Few people know that hidden away in the heart of Burnaby is a pure gem of a ballet school. Since 1990, Ballet Classique has been training dancers to international standards of dance.  Many of HZ Ballet Classiques graduates currently dance and teach professionally across Canada, the United States and Europe.

As a kid-friendly festival, do you have any special activities or events planned specifically for children?

Definitely!  There’s actually a special kids area with a whole host of activities, such as 9-hole mini golf, a bouncy castle, a soccer radar challenge, bocce ball, volleyball, and an arts and crafts area.

For the first time ever, we’ve also added a kids theatre show… the North Shore Theatre for Children will be presenting a dramatized reading of The Princess and the Pea, designed specifically for kids aged three and up.

As well, the Theater Around The Corner will present a fun and intriguing story about a princess and a devil.  This story is about a young princess named Clara, who lives alone with her nanny and always needs an opponent, and she therefore acts as a ruthless dragon. And with an unexpected surprise, love changes her attitude

Could you tell me a little bit about the history of the festival?

Sure thing.  The European Festival is managed by the not-for-profit EuroFest BC Society.  The first European Festival took place in 1998 at the Alliance Francaise in Vancouver with the intention to promote and educate Greater Vancouver residents about the diversity and richness of Europe’s cultural spectrum – without having to travel to Europe. Ten countries participated in the first event and presented some of the national customs, local traditions and original cuisine of Europe.

What are some reasons for attending this year’s event?

View European Festival Poster

Spectacular entertainment, authentic cuisine, free activities and games for children and our exciting new location – all of these are just some of the reasons why we think this year’s festival will be one of the best on record.  We also have more sponsors than ever before, and a large area for the marketplace and tradeshow… which makes for some fun shopping opportunities, as well.  Not unlike Europe itself, there’s just so much to see and do at the festival.  Thanks to all of our generous sponsors, we can look forward to our biggest European Festival yet.  And with so much happening, we might even have to consider making it a two-day event next year!

This year, though, there’s only one day to experience this remarkable tour of Europe.  The European Festival takes place on Saturday, May 26^th from 10:00am to midnight.  The best part?  No passport required!

Tickets are on sale now for $8 online at the EuroFest BC Society or $10 at the door.  Children under 12 are free.

On a side note, the festival is still looking for volunteers.  For more information or to volunteer, please email info@eurofestbcsociety.com.

A bientôt.  Auf Wiedersehen.  Adios.  Arrivederci.  Cheerio.  See you at the European Festival!

European Festival Contest Entry Form

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Sheliza Mitha is a freelance writer and editor living in Burnaby, BC.

What is more uniquely Canadian than Street Hockey? We all experienced it, whether it be moving our rickety nets for passing cars, or digging through our neighbors lawns searching for our plastic orange ball; (hey, we only had one and they were like 2 bucks each at Wal-Mart), street hockey was a way for kids of all ages, and both genders to bond, and to learn to love the game of hockey.

You didn’t need ice for this game, and forget all of that expensive equipment. Two hundred bucks for ice skates? I’ll take my no name brand tennis shoes and a ten dollar Canadian Tire hockey stick any day of the week.

The folks at CBC must’ve also shared this childhood passion, as once again they’re organizing “PlayOn!”, an annual  street hockey tournament that takes place across Canada.

For the third straight year, the City of Burnaby will be hosting the British Columbia leg of the tourney, and if it’s anything like the previous two, expect tons of people, and tons of fun. The event is taking place on June 9^th and 10^th, and it takes place outside of MetroTown.

While the idea seems simple enough, (hey, what’s easier than getting your buddies together for a game of hockey?) the tournament is actually a massive undertaking.

Last year’s Burnaby Tourney attracted over four hundred teams, which translated to over three thousand players. That’s nothing compared to the crowd that came to watch the event, which numbered at over five thousand.
The response was so overwhelming that organizers are expecting around 480 teams this year, so early registration would probably be a good idea.

To quote Ron Burgandy, this event is “kind of a big deal.”

In fact, don’t be surprised if the forward you slash is a local celebrity. People like Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, Former BC Lion Javier Glatt and local radio personality Scott Rintoul have appeared in the event.

Even former NHL players like Dave Tomlinson and Darcy Hordichuk have donned volleyball kneepads to participate, so you may end up lining up next to a former Canuck!

If you do want to PlayOn!, there are some things you need to know. First, your team can be four to seven players, and there are different levels, like Youth, Adult, Elite and more that you can choose to join.

Don’t worry if you’re not a former Vancouver Giant either, players of all skill levels are encouraged to come out and have fun.

Second, it’s not free, but it’s not expensive either, with the average cost hovering around three hundred bucks. Split seven ways, that’s not too shabby at all.

You can also register up to an additional two players on your team, but that costs around sixty bucks per person.

Lastly, you do need some gear if you want to play, although it’s all very affordable. If you’re under 13, eye wear is a must, but other than that you’re just looking at some soccer style shin pads and a pair of hockey gloves.

While it is road hockey and it shouldn’t be taken too seriously, it’s not a bad idea to rest up beforehand. If you’re team makes it far, you could be looking at 3 to 4 games per day.

Just to say it again, if you want in, you should register your team as soon as possible. Once again, the tournament is on June 9^th and 10^th, outside of Metrotown in Burnaby.

For more info on the event, you can check out the PlayOn! website. You can also enter to win a PlayOn! weekend in Burnaby including accommodation at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown and a gift card to Metropolis at Metrotown

The official remarks began with an address from Burnaby City Councillor Sav Dhaliwal, who attributed the successful rescue of the Heritage Carousel back in 1989 towards the volunteers and sponsors who are otherwise known as the Friends of the Carousel. Don Wrigley, who was one of the speakers as well as the President of Friends of the Carousel, affirmed that it was “millions of hours” that was spent in saving and restoring these horses and carousel, as well in the creation of the pavilion itself. Members As the speakers continued, I got the sense that the carousel truly encompassed Burnaby as a city through a couple of elements: heritage, community, and enthusiasm.

The event itself was lighthearted and felt more like a gathering of friends, and that was certainly how it was meant to feel. The audience was quick to correct Mr. Dhaliwal when he mistakenly referred to the name of the amusement that the carousel first resided in as Playland – it was actually called Happyland back in 1936. The rich history of the carousel is worth preserving, and it wasn’t a big surprise that rather than a ribbon cutting, a ceremonial riding of the carousel by the very sponsors and volunteers that kept it intact was more fitting. The smile on the faces of those riding proved that no matter what age you are, the simple joy of the carousel is priceless.

After the ceremony, I got to relive my childhood and explore the village. My favourite exhibit was The Burnaby Post, which brought out the English major in me, as I am always fascinated by the history of the printing press and the usage of it. A visit to the village isn’t complete without a visit to the Ice Cream Parlour, and it was my last stop of the day. As the name suggests, ice cream is one of the items on the menu, but not the only thing you can order. The Parlour serves an assortment of snacks, which impressed me and made me hungrier at the same time. I decided on french fries and butter chicken, and although it wasn’t a very 1920’s kind of food, it was delicious!

Following Burnaby Village Museum’s own 40th anniversary last year, admission for this season continues to be free of charge. The carousel rides are not included in the admission, but for $2.30 per ride, it is a great value and a must. In addition, Burnaby Village Museum also offers guided tours with historical background on the development of Burnaby. If you enjoyed the blacksmithing exhibit and would like to try your hand in it, you’re in luck! The Museum offers classes for blacksmithing as well as more family-friendly programs such as ice-cream making, and summer camps for kids. One of the best parts of the village is the effortless combination of fun and educational factors.

Burnaby Village Museum is open from now until September 3rd, Tuesdays to Sundays (plus holiday Mondays) daily from 11:00am to 4:30 pm. For more family-friendly and heritage places in Burnaby, visit the Tourism Burnaby event calendar for more information.

Judging from my recent visit at the Burnaby Art Gallery (BAG), it quickly became clear that our youth is being dutifully nurtured and prepared for their future – especially when it comes to the artistic genre.  From now through May 20^th, the BAG is showcasing some of the inspiring and awe-inspiring artwork created by Burnaby students from grades eight through 12 in the annual Arts Alive exhibit. For this particular exhibit, I brought my eight-year-old daughter with me.  As a budding artist herself, I could only hope that she would find the art on display especially inspiring.  (And she did.)

We were both impressed by the range of artistic works on display – acrylic paintings, contemporary photographs, refined drawings, detailed sketches, and sculptures made with a range of materials (ceramic, wire and even paper) – as well as the creativity of the works and the materials that were used, from simple scraps of paper to buttons, marbles, yarn and other everyday items.

One such example of this creativity is a compelling piece by Josh G. – a grade 12 student at Burnaby South – who uses torn pieces of paper as a paint brush to create a remarkable portrait of Maynard James Keenan, lead singer of the hard-rock group Tool.  The insight and foresight used to make this piece is truly unfathomable to me, especially when you consider this is created by someone who hasn’t yet graduated from high school.

But the other pieces in this exhibit, I’m happy to say, are no less remarkable.  Some of the works in Arts Alive are light and frivolous, while others are darker – reflecting the more sinister qualities of art and life – but all are true and incredible works of art

My daughter’s favourite ended up being the fun and quirky “Mr. Potato Man” – by grade 12 student Teneille L. at Burnaby Central – a comical, laugh-out-loud photograph of just that: a portrait of a potato as a man.  (And yes, it is as funny as it sounds.)

“Whistling Bells” by Erick F., a grade 10 student at Moscrop, is on the other side of the spectrum, tapping into the darker side – and is another of my daughter’s favourites (and she had many).  Through the use of scratchboard (or pencil/sketching), Erick manages to create a sinister and somewhat ominous portrait of Alice in Wonderland, surrounded by a menacing cat, the Mad Hatter and other characters.

As for me, I began to wonder if any of these emerging artists would be willing to permanently part with their pieces… for a fee, of course.  In particular, I was drawn (no pun intended) to a bright and colourful acrylic painting by Franco F., a grade eight student at Moscrop, titled “La Boca.”   Based on the title, I can only presume the painting is a snapshot of the La Boca neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Either way, “La Boca” is spectacular with its inviting cobblestone streets, old-fashioned street lamp, and vibrant, multi-coloured buildings reflecting the richness of both the culture and the neighbourhood.  (Not to mention that it would look perfect in my dining room.)

Another piece I was tempted to swipe… ahem, I mean inquire about… is a sculpture titled “Paperella” by Melanie L., a grade 11 student at Burnaby North.  Using simple black and white paper, Melanie ingeniously created and designed a high-heeled sandal that can only be described as stunning.  Though not wearable, unfortunately (it is made entirely of paper, after all), “Paperella” could easily become a prototype of a spectacular shoe, in design and style.  (Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik should take note and be very, very worried).

Of course, the artistic works featured in this exhibit reflects only a small sample of the creativity and talent of our local youth.  And though it’s hard to list all of the pieces and their artists, they all deserve sincere praise for being true artists.

Other artistic works, such as the mixed-media piece “Clay Collage” by grade 12 student Natalya U. (Burnaby Mountain) and the distinctive “The Gallery of Shadow” by grade 12 student Anton S. (Burnaby Mountain) also demonstrate the immense talent of our youth – talent that is beyond their high school years.   Many of our budding artists are also taking the opportunity to use the medium as a message.  With “Mystery Girl” by Salwa T., a grade 11 student at Burnaby Mountain, Salwa wrote that she – through her mixed-media painting – is showing her culture as a Muslim girl.

“Reflection” by grade 12 student Miko A. at Burnaby Central is yet another example of a student whose impressive and remarkable understanding of colours and brushstrokes seem beyond mere teenage years.

What started out as a creative exercise for Burnaby students has resulted in an exhibit that is truly breathtaking – and one that reveals great maturity, sensitivity and talent.

Arts Alive is an awesome representation of what our youth is capable of, given the opportunity.  With the creativity, insight and hard work that shines through so brightly in this exhibit, I have no doubt these young artists will be enjoying their own private gallery and museum showings not too far in the future.

But for now, you can support our youth – and be awed and inspired – with a visit to the Burnaby Art Gallery, where Arts Alive will be on display until May 20^th. For other upcoming events, visit the Tourism Burnaby events calendar.

Sheliza Mitha is a freelance writer and editor living in Burnaby, BC.

Image credits:

Top: “At World’s Edge,” Acrylic paint on canvas, Helena T., Grade 11, Burnaby South Secondary School

Second: “Tool’s Maynard James Keenan,” Paper collage, Josh G., Grade 12, Burnaby South Secondary School

Have you ever wanted to be a survival person? We all watch the Discovery Channel and look at these crazy guys with beards, wearing spandex, eating mushrooms from the ground and drinking rain water, and we think one of two things:

First, “I am really craving Doritos right now.” Then secondly, “I wonder if I could do that.”

Well, it may not be as hardcore as a Bear Grylls escapade, but the Atmosphere Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race, or MOMAR, is a great way to test your physical endurance and have fun with a large group of amateur adventurers.

Essentially, MOMAR is a one day navigation race that takes place on Burnaby Mountain. This year, MOMAR is celebrating its 12^th birthday. MOMAR has become something of a phenomenon, inspiring races like it all around the Country, and being named “Best Adventure Race” by Get Out There Magazine for the past three years.

You’ll be competing with around 250 other racers to reach the finish line first, but speed isn’t what will necessarily power you to the finish. The finish line is 50 kilometers away, and you have to use navigation sense, as well as a kayak to reach it.

Yes, you read that correctly. The first leg of MOMAR is a 10 kilometer Kayak challenge. You have only a compass and a map to navigate you to the next leg of your journey, because there aren’t any markers on the course.

For those who are like me and can’t navigate two blocks without a GPS or Google Maps, this is probably a whole lot harder than it sounds. If you’re thinking of cheating and scouting the route earlier, first, I applaud your initiative, but you’re out of luck. The maps are given out only an hour before the race.

The second leg of the race is Mountain Biking, while, once again, attempting to navigate as you go. I asked if I could bring training wheels to this portion of the event, where I was shut down completely.

The final leg is a hike to the finish line, while once again trying to find you way along the unmarked course. This may not sound difficult, but consider the fact that you will be in a forest and it kind of takes on a new meaning.

It all sounds pretty intimidating, but in reality, this race is NOT just for the hardcore. First, if you’re not up for a 50 kilometer trek, there’s a separate 30 km race that you can participate in. In actuality though, the 50 km track is definitely doable, as long as you are realistic about your goals.

If you exercise regularly, know how to ride a bicycle, and you can work a kayak, you’ll probably do just fine. If you haven’t worked out in a while, but still want to come out and have fun, you’ll probably have a harder time. That being said, according to event organizers, plenty of people with zero training have crossed the finish line, their bodies just weren’t too happy with them in the weeks that followed.

If you persevere and break the ribbon on the finish line, then you’re rewarded pretty heavily. I won’t go into too much detail, but there is an after party, yes, it is epic, and yes, you will have fun. How much fun? That depends on the person, but let me put it this way; Get out There Magazine has named the MOMAR after party the “Best Post Race Party” for two years in a row. Vancouver’s own David Blair will be providing the music, and the dance floor should be rocking for the entire night.

So, if you are planning on dipping your toes, or kayak, in the water, there are some things you should know.

First, learn how to use a compass, if you haven’t already. The biggest part of this race is the navigation portion. You can be Lance Armstrong on a mountain bike, but if you’re lost, you’re likely to end up near the back of the pack.

Second, start training now. Your body will thank you later. It doesn’t have to be a two hour long Spartan workout, but start jogging a little bit. Now that the weather is getting better, a good hike once a week will also really help you in this race.

Third, make sure you bring the right equipment. There’s a pretty lengthy list of mandatory gear for the event, and you can check it out here.

Lastly, it’s not free, but it’s not an arm and a leg either. You’re looking at about $140 bucks if you register now, and $160 if you register late.

So, if you’re looking to challenge your physical limits (in the race and in the after party), then the City of Burnaby offers you Momar, a chance, for one day at least, to be Tom Hanks in cast away. Except, you know, without the gross beard and weird attachment to volleyballs.

Check out MOMAR for more details or visit Tourism Burnaby for your chance to win a weekend in Burnaby for MOMAR or Play On! Burnaby – Canada’s largest street hockey tournament. You could win team entry for MOMAR as well as accommodation at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown and a gift card to Metropolis at Metrotown. 

Miss Caledonia was written and developed by Melody Johnson, or as the Toronto Star’s theatre critic once described her, “Canada’s Kook Supreme”, a title that bodes well for a woman championing a comedy about a small-town farm girl looking to hit the big time.

But perhaps what audiences don’t know, is that Miss Caledonia is based on the true story of Johnson’s mother, who happened to be that pageant hopeful back in Caledonia, Ontario in 1955. Apparently, entering pageants is just what women did to gain some life experience, meet some new friends and maybe even get enough education to rise above their rural backgrounds.

Unlike today’s presentations, back then pageants were country fair type events that actually boosted camaraderie amongst young women and afforded them the prestige of being the ambassadors for their area. A much more community, rather than competitive, based event.

In a recent phone interview with the Toronto native, she endearingly spoke about the process of working with her mother, the inspiration behind the show and a former pageant winner:

“She would write out the ideas and I’d ask questions. She’d take things for granted like what a chicken-egg route was, ” laughed Johnson, “eventually I’d have to ask her to explain what that actually was.”

Johnson’s mother never quite wound up achieving her goal of becoming a celebrity, or more specifically, a rockette (you have to be 5′ 9″ to be accepted), but it seems that she passed the baton of performing arts right on to her daughter.

“Mom enrolled me in tap-dancing and baton twirling when I was young. I retired from twirling at around 8 years old and started dancing and acting in high school in Brantford. We watched a lot of old movies together and went to shows. I was always so immersed in Broadway lore.”

Despite being an award-winning comedienne with an extensive background in theatre and improvisation Johnson, an alumnus of Second City in Toronto, found the process of converting her mother’s stories into a one-woman show to be quite the foreign experience.

“It’s an odd thing to try to react to someone who’s not there or to someone who you just spoke as,” she said in a recent phone interview, “That’s a learning curve that I’m still trying to figure out. It’s a real discipline to write and perform a one person show.”

Johnson first performed the show in the summer of 2010 at a very important event: her in-laws’ living room in Halifax. Since then the tour has graced the stage of The Grand Theatre (London, ON) and at Summerworks, Toronto’s indie theatre and arts festival. That’s where her mother was last able to see the show before she passed.

Johnson’s story, and indeed the inspiration behind Miss Caledonia, endearingly and hilariously recall the stories that weave the tapestry of our country’s history, of immigrants carrying out back breaking work, who believe in a stoic work ethic and the young ladies’ dreams to make it to the big time and leave their country farm roots behind.

Today, Johnson’s uncle still owns the farm that she discusses in the show, where livestock feed, the windmill rotates and the horses run around in their paddock far from the twirling, dancing and cheering of Miss Caledonia.

Miss Caledonia will be playing at the Shadbolt Centre April 21st and 22. Get your tickets online or at the box office.

As Melissa Ratcliff, the SFU Choir conductor, noted in a recent interview most of the choir is comprised of a diverse community of current students, alumni, faculty members and even people with no affiliation with the university. The MC’s introductions certainly verified this as each introduction of a duo of performers was met with a comment about science majors or math majors. But above that, many of the participants in the recital also played double duty and seemed to perform necessary tasks for the choir apart from singing or playing an instrument – such as marketing on behalf of the choir, or archiving their impressive library of music, or using their skills in IT to benefit the group. These short introductions gave a really good indication of how the ensemble functioned as a whole.

The site of 75 choir members taking the stage was certainly one to behold, and the feeling of grandeur excited family, friends and music lovers. The choice of music sung at the event was truly multifaceted and showed that the choirists had done their homework and really searched for a breadth of movie, television and video game music to perform. The Log Driver’s Waltz, a Canadian folk song by Wade Hemsworth that accompanied the animated short of the same name was often played on the CBC and brought a lot of good memories back to the audience. It was a whimsical choice, as the choirists, with their resonating assembly of voices, swayed in tune with the song. Soprano Soloist Holly Streinson particularly stood out as her delightful vocal twirling filled the song with sweetness and a joyful ring.

Conversely, this song was followed by a more ominous tune called O Fortuna which was instantly recognizable as it’s a staple in numerous pop culture films and television series  and is typically used to set the scene for some kind of cataclysmic disaster. The song was made all the more mesmerizing by the sheer power and force of the choir’s vocal chords causing a deep reverberation in your own person. It even takes you slightly aback how powerful the ensemble really is.

A particularly excellent feature was the Taiko drumming accompaniment throughout, which was a great exhibit of cultural and orchestral diversity.

As the show came to end, I was privileged to hear two songs that really stuck with me. Sovngarde, performed by the gentleman in the choir, is an arrangement taken from the video game Skyrim, a fantasy themed game based on knights, dragons, potions and the gathering of mystical forces and creatures. The song was impressive in its complexity and the men of the choir were equally impressive in keeping up their feat of musical gymnastic, transporting each audience member to a nordic grand hall complete with crackling fires, bearded nordic soldiers, the clank of steel armour and overflowing goblets of golden mead.

The finale song, however, was likely my favourite piece of all. “Baba Yetu” is a gospel piece originally sung by the Soweto Gospel Choir and primarily meant as the theme song for the video game “Civilization IV”. The chorus’ voices came together in such a way that everyone’s spirits were instantly lifted. The acoustics of the church also went a long way in accenting and amplifying the beauty of this uplifting song.

Melissa Ratcliff, SFU Choir’s compositor did a marvelous job of arranging the entire show, with duo performers in the beginning all the way to a dramatic, though extremely happy ending. The cadence of the entire show was beautiful and well thought out, resulting in a thoroughly enjoyable experience. It certainly was the high note of my weekend.

For more live performances, check the Tourism Burnaby events calendar.

The upcoming show on April 13th and 14th entitled “SFU Choir at the Movies” perfectly encapsulates the whimsical adoration the current group of choirists have for music and song. The theme is based around singing arrangements from pop-culture film and video game favourites such as Lord of the Rings, Skyrim, Game of Thrones and more.

It’s no surprise for this group, now totaling a whopping number of over 80 members aged 17 to 45, to have come up with a theme like this. “We’re quite a nerdy bunch”, said Ratcliff in a recent phone interview.  “It’s funny, we actually have quite a number of people from the Science faculty and almost nobody from music. At one point, we even had an entire row of mathematicians.”

Surprisingly, the choir isn’t solely made up of a crew of students, it includes alumni, faculty members and Burnaby residents in general, a fact that caught Ratcliff totally off guard on a particular audition day, “We had done a really aggressive recruiting campaign last September. My wildest hopes was to get 80 or 90 members – I had to pick up music for the first rehearsal, I came in a bit late and there were over 100 people there. It was moving, at the beginning we had started with a choir of 10 and our last requiem had 140 people and an orchestra.”

When asked what the appeal of the group holds for such a widely varied community of people, Ratcliff knew exactly what it was, “The group that we’ve created are fun, interesting people. You can talk about math, chemistry, music, we go for dinner after every rehearsal. Everyone feels free to have fun with it, it’s not a course or a class and it’s not a professional group, we may take the music seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. It’s just a lot of fun.”

Seems to be, since participation in the choir not only means weekly rehearsals, but can also include weekend retreats and full blown Rock Band parties.

Ratcliff even aptly calls the choir everyone’s “sanity check for the week”. But despite a good hearted bunch of music-lovers, there’s still a lot of work to do to organize, rehearse and put on each show or recital. As the conductor, Ratcliff needs to intimately understand every piece of work, even better than the individual choirists do. It’s her job to bring the whole thing together, including arranging the orchestra and musical accompaniment.

There’s also a sizeable team of volunteers (at least 10) who lend their time to administrative and executive tasks such as treasury and the impressive feat of archiving and cataloguing a library of 60,000 musical pieces. Again, the work of enthusiastic student volunteers who do this all because they love it, with no concern for extra credits or recognition.

As for the upcoming show, music lovers, pop culture fiends and nerds in general are in for a real treat. Ratcliff offered a tiny sneak preview into the show and one of her favourite pieces: “I’m partial to Into the West (from Lord of the Rings). It’s a beautiful, gentle piece despite it being about death. It’s just a very calm way of looking at it and it’s just a fabulous piece in general. There’s something dark but the piece itself is so hopeful.”

For this banner year, SFU Choir at the Movies will be held at Cliff Ave United Church, 1600 Cliff Ave, Burnaby BC on Friday, April 13th and Saturday, April 14th at 7:30pm. Tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets or at the door, though seating is limited so we’d advise that you secure your tickets now.

The choir is always seeking new recruits and fans. For more information or to get in touch with them, find them on their website, on Facebook and Twitter. For more events like this, visit the Tourism Burnaby events calendar.

Together with the great team at Tourism Burnaby and with my fellow bloggers, we were invited to the Cactus Club in North Burnaby (Lougheed Highway) for a rare treat: a private tasting of Chef Feenie’s signature dishes along with a carefully curated selection of wine pairings. Lucky us!

We were excitably greeted by manager Sean Doran, a consummate host and our happy guide throughout our meal and wine pairings – a few minutes in his care and we knew why this is an award-winning service team.

Seated at a table decked out with stemware and personal menus listing all of the evening’s offerings, this felt like Cactus Club 2.0, still casual and lively but with a slightly higher air of sophistication, the perfect setting for a menu filled with Feenie classics.

A small sampler of Cactus Club bellinis got us off to a refreshing and tasty start, who needs palette-cleansing sorbet when you have peach schnapps slushy floating in a pool of red sangria? Soon we were introduced to Executive Chef Pat Parrotta, who personally introduced each dish to us offering a break down in how the dish is prepared, a food lover’s dream.

We started off with a creamy Celeriac Soup Shooter with aged white cheddar, extra virgin olive oil and parmesan grissini (essentially a small breadstick). The sharpness of the cheddar and parmesan gave the subtler tasting soup a great kick and a beautiful balance of flavour. As a bread-lover, I could have eaten a pile of grissinis all to myself.

Next up came the Tuna Tataki, one of the most popular appetizers featured on the Cactus Club menu. The dish consists of seared Ocean-Wise Albacore tuna resting on a bed of green papaya slaw, dressed in Yuzu vinaigrette, accompanied by avocado, Hawaiian papaya and pine nuts. It was a tropical vacation on a plate and a luau in my mouth. This dish in particular was definitely a crowd pleaser among us.

For our third of the six courses we were treated to a simple yet outstandingly comforting dish: Prawn and scallop spaghettini in fire roasted tomato sauce with extra virgin olive oil served with a garlic crostini. Every twist of the fork wrapped up an incredibly savoury bite of Italian comfort food. Chef Parrotta made the interesting point that this dish is actually based on a common Italian preparation of pasta, “alla olio” which means that the base of the sauce is primarily olive oil (typically a blend of olive oli and chili peppers). The roasted tomatoes helped to provide additional flavour and moisture to the dish, but without making it too saucy like a marinara.

For our main course, of course, there had to be something served with some kind of protein, but this was no ordinary plate of protein, it was a double braised pineapple hoisin short rib consisting of a boneless short rib (that in itself would have most people salivating), pineapple ginger glaze, shiitake mushrooms, spicy soy bean sauce, mashed potatoes, and sugar snap peas. As a testament to how masterful this dish was, despite our chorus of declarations on how full we were and how we couldn’t possibly eat another bite, every single one of us managed to devour this dish in record time. That’s just an inevitably when you have a beautiful, shiny, glazed piece of meat on your plate that you can cut through with a fork alone.

Finally, a touch of sweetness to round out the meal: the peanut butter crunch bar. Chocolate and peanut butter mousse, crunchy peanut base, caramel sauce, French vanilla ice cream and chocolate pearls. I confess, I found myself sucking on the spoon long after I’d consumed my bite of chocolatey, peanuty goodness. This was the ultimate candy bar gone chic dessert, something at once nostalgic and yet so unique it instantly became a part of my canon of “favourite dessert” experiences.

Of course with each dish we enjoyed an expertly paired wine that illuminated all the right flavours from the bright, crops Prospect Winery Riesling served with the Tuna Tataki to the deeper, warmer Allan Scott Pinot Noir accompanying the spaghettini, each wine was impressively chosen to perfectly complement each dish, even if you’re not a wine drinker, it’s hard to dismiss how well these pairings were chosen.

With full and extremely satisfied bellies we said goodbye to the lovely staff and leaders of this most memorable meal, pleased with the knowledge that we can at any time return and order these signature dishes off the menu at most Cactus Clubs.

As my dining compatriot astutely pointed out on our way out, “Rob Feenie’s creations lend the Cactus Club menu a sophistication and level of palette-pleasing variety and top quality product that really makes [the restaurant] stand out from other players in the causal dining market.” I couldn’t have captured it any better myself.

Cactus Club Private Tasting Events occur semi-frequently and accommodate up to 6 guests. The meal includes six signature Rob Feenie courses with wine pairings. For information on Private Tastings at the Cactus Club in North Burnaby (4219B Lougheed Highway), or to schedule one of your own, please contact Sean Dornan at 604-291-6606.

This contest is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered. Our winner will be contacted shortly.

Deadline: April 17th | Rules