The next series of beginner Qi Gong classes starts on April 14, 2024.
Qi Gong/Chi Kung is an ancient Chinese exercise that through conscious effort, works with our vital energy. Through a combination of relaxation, breathing technique, and coordinated movements that we improve and maintain physical and mental wellness. Students will experience the benefits of Chi Kung through learning relaxation of body and mind, deep breathing, gentle stretching, and slow, graceful movement. As a result, you will have better flexibility, balance and health.
The focus of the Basic Level is to guide students to develop proper posture, and introduce the basic movement and the continuous flow of Wah Tor Chi Kung from Part one to five.
No prerequisite is required.
Free drop-in for the first class on April 14, 2024
Instructor: Yuen Hing Tse
Assistant Instructor: Jennifer Bass Dates: April 14-May 26, 2024 (Sunday) Time: 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Location: Lindsey Priestley room Fees: Donation for Chi Kung Fund $30 for Spring course (7 sessions) Target participants: 12 and registration priority is reserved for returning UVC members.
Last Sunday March 10th, after the delicious lunch served by the VanU Enviro Team, we gathered in Hewett Centre’s Fireside Room to watch the film “Myanmar – The Forgotten Revolution” with Kyi Min hosting the Q and A afterwards.
Someone in the audience said the film was an eyeopener. Often our attention is drawn towards conflicts in the west. This film shows us the brutality the Burmese people face while they struggle for freedom and democracy, often sacrificing their lives.
Thank you Kyi Min Saw for bringing us the film and taking questions afterwards.
On a cold rainy January 20 evening, almost 80 people gathered in community to share a warm, educational, and uplifting event called: Exploring the Intersections between Colonialism, Racism, and Climate Change.
This was the first time that all four of the VU Action Teams (IPA, Environment, Social Justice, Refugee) collaborated and it showed in the variety of offerings throughout the evening.
The photo exhibition Dispossessed But Defiant was set up in the alcove
An amazing potluck dinner was set up which included vegetarian, vegan, teen friendly options, and a separate gluten-free table
Four amazing, youngerish IBPOC speakers: Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Kwiis Hamilton, Kyi Min Saw, and Esther Leung-Kong. They talked about human rights, colonialism, capitalism, the immigrant experience, Indigenous knowledge, and how it is connected to the environment and Climate Change.
VU members Vivian Davidson(emcee), Tamiko Suzuki, Huguette Sansonet and Rev. Shawn Gauthier spoke before dinner.
Parts of the evening were filmed and will be available on the VU website shortly.
Luke Wallace headlines tonight’s show, which will bring together storytellers, spoken word and a chorus of voices to sing songs of praise and protest for our world. This event is a fundraiser for RAVEN’s Breathing Lands campaign, supporting 10 Indigenous Nations who are in court to protect Canada’s boreal peatlands: lands and waters that sequester more carbon than the Amazon rainforest.
All funds raised tonight go towards RAVEN Trust’s Breathing Lands campaign.
IPA stands for IBPOC Plus ALLIES while IBPOC stands for Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour. Welcome to IPA Corner, a new regular feature written by the IPA team which will appear on our website and in UCV’s monthly E-Bulletin with updates about our events and the work we are doing at UCV.
March was a very busy month for the IPA team with several great events which helped foster cultural connections, leading to greater understanding of IBPOC experiences and promotion of healthy relations.
Appreciating IBPOC visual cultures with IPA with Gerta Moray
On March 2, a group from UCV visited two shows that revealed the continuities in First Nations cultures in BC. The Bill Reid Gallery show ranged from recordings of Kwakwaka-wakw ceremonial songs made in the 1940s, to Bill Reid’s renewal of carving techniques, and a selection of paintings by a new generation of Indigenous artists who combine contemporary art approaches with their traditional roots.
At the VAG we saw the retrospective of Robert Davidson, who started by studying with Bill Reid and then transformed stylized Haida forms into contemplative abstract paintings laced with humour and ecological comment. Future art tours will continue to link us to the vibrant production of BIPOC artists showcased in Vancouver.
IPA takes part in Hobiyee
Hoobiyee is an annual event celebrating the Nisga’a New Year held at Vancouver’s PNE Forum featuring Indigenous dance groups from across BC.
The Lower Mainland version of the event is put on by the Nisga’a Ts’amiks Vancouver Society. A similar event takes place in northern BC around the same time of the year, in the Nisga’a Nation’s traditional territory.
First Nations from across the province attend Hoobiyee. Participating dancers in recent years included groups from the Gitxsan Nation (in the Skeena region of Northern BC), the local Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish) Nation, Ts’msyen (from northern coastal BC), Lil’wat (from just north of Whistler) and Xaadas (from Haida Gwaii).
Members of the IPA attended and took in the numerous dance performances as well as drumming and singing, and the market area where dozens of community organizations and vendors had informational literature and beautiful Indigenous art, jewellery, clothing and other artisan goods for sale. We also sampled dishes from the numerous food trucks serving delicious food including bannock or fry bread “tacos”!
The event was greatly enjoyed by all and we were very grateful to have this opportunity to witness the generosity and cultural pride of the Nisga’a people. We plan to make this an annual event going forward so plan to join us next year!
Saturday March 4: Messy Church Coffeehouse-style Open Mic and Potluck
This was the first time for IPA to co-host Messy Church, open mic/talent (or no talent) performance, on Saturday March 4th. We contributed to the programs, and enjoyed a lively and very fun intercultural/intergenerational evening. It all started with a potluck, and great chats sitting around the round tables.
The evening program consisted of guitar country music by John Perry, piano and concertina duets by Mei Jia and Catherine Hembling; book reading by Diana Ng (Walking the Labyrinth); and the popular Chinese folk song “Jasmine Flower” sung in Chinese and English by the trio of Nan, Catherine H and Mei Jia; Elizabeth Dunn was leading a rousing sing along, a cappella style! Plus Nan’s story telling of the Japanese legend of rabbit in the moon.
We also thoroughly enjoyed the performance by the youth which were so fun and entertaining.
Messy Church on March 4th, 2023. Photo by Diane Brown.
April 9: EASTER DAY BLOSSOM WALK
Second Annual Cherry Blossom Day, Second try.
Hardy Blossom Watchers! Join us after the service on Easter Sunday, April 9th for our second try at our Second Annual Cherry Blossom Walk.
Bring umbrellas. Gather in Hewett Hall. Drink something warm. Eat your lunch or a snack.
After a short ceremony of thanks to the Staff for a year of stellar support for IPA at12:30, we’ll head out into whatever-the-weather to Tisdall Park to commune with all new life wishing for warmth and the sun’s blessing.
May is Asian Heritage Month
Please come to the IPA-led service at UCV on Sunday, May 21. We are also working on a video in honour of the IPA’s 1st anniversary which will be shown in the services in May leading up to May 21.
Results of the IPA questionnaire. A BIG THANK YOU to all who shared their thoughts in the congregational questionnaire. The feedback received was overwhelmingly positive. We compiled and are discussing how to incorporate the feedback into our upcoming programs this year.
Kyi Min Saw for bringing us the film and taking questions afterwards.
