The beautiful new portico outside our Sanctuary was given a ceremonial unveiling on Sunday, March 31st. Thank you to everyone who made generous contributions to this renewal project.
This Spring you’re invited to help name art work by long-time VanU member Lily Ha, whose works are now on display in the Sanctuary and the Fireside Room. Lily describes her work as “spontaneous, gestural expressions of my emotions, rendered on paper/canvas—akin to the emotional movements in modern dance.”
If you feel a connection to one of her paintings, you are welcome to name it by following the instructions posted as part of the exhibition. A big thank you to Lily and the Arts Committee!
This is a necessary repair that will cost approximately $75,000.00. Decay has taken place in this timber structure and temporary supports have been installed. While the UCV has reserve funds it will ease the pressure on this source and its availability for other contingencies if members are able to make a contribution.
A generous donation from the Armstrong family means that now $65,000 needs to be raised. Every special dollar members give means less draw on the UCV reserve fund.
The portico was not included in the 1963 construction of the church, but was always planned by the architect, Wolfgang Gerson. Members subsequently approved funding made possible by UCV member Alice James and it was constructed in 1983 under Mr. Gerson’s supervision.
The portico serves as a pleasant all-weather place for socializing before and after events in the Sanctuary and makes the transit from Hewett Hall more pleasant during inclement weather particularly for performing groups such as the choir. Further it completes the design for this component of the campus.
Your support will be much appreciated. Every dollar donated is one less dollar drawn from UCV reserves.
Mail a cheque to UCV marked “Portico Fund”: UCV 949 West 49th Avenue Vancouver BC V5Z 2T1 or Interact $ transfer (portico fund): accounting@vancouverunitarians.ca
– The Buildings and Grounds Committee
“Let these buildings be the realization of our dreams and ever remain a present charge upon our minds and hearts and hands. The result will be a joyful song of continuation.”
So these words remind us, from the dedication of the UCV campus on September 25, 1964. They, and other seminal texts are now inscribed on a lovely aluminum-burnished plaque overlooking the campus courtyard. A well-attended dedication event was held on Sunday, November 5 led by Buildings and Grounds committee chair Dianne Crosbie and President Mairy Beam. Reverends Shawn Gauthier and Steven Epperson were in attendance, as was the family of our late architect Wolfgang Gerson. Also present was Winn Peters, who was at the original dedication in 1964.
(Photos, left to right, top to bottom, Nov. 5, 2023: Musical prelude; Board President Mairy Beam with Catherine Stewart; the Gerson family; Rev. Shawn Gauthier; Minister Emeritus Rev. Steven Epperson)
We are pleased to inform you that the repair work on the Fremlin Street entrance to our beautiful Sanctuary has been completed!
Many thanks to Heritage BC for their generous support of this project.