Latest news with #CapilanoUniversity
Hamilton Spectator
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
A Cultural Wind Blows Through Canada This August: Strengthening Korea–Canada Friendship Through Theatre and Art
Musical 'R;Link,' a collaborative project by young Korean and Canadian artists, premieres in Canada following its Seoul debut From street arts to music and film, the cultural exchange expands across genres and regions MONTRÉAL and TORONTO and VANCOUVER, British Columbia and CANMORE, Alberta, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As part of the 2024–2025 KOREA–CANADA Year of Cultural Exchanges, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange(KOFICE), and Hanyang University are presenting 'R;Link,' a new musical co-created by emerging artists from Korea and Canada Inspired by the 1951 Battle of Kapyong, a key chapter in the Korean War where Canadian forces played a pivotal role, the musical was jointly developed by students from Hanyang University, Capilano University, the University of Saskatchewan, and the First Nations University of Canada. Following its successful premiere at Seoul's CKL Stage in July, 'R;Link' will be presented at the BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts at Capilano University in North Vancouver on August 15 and 16, coinciding with National Liberation Day of Korea. Korean War veterans and their families residing in Canada have been officially invited to attend. This collaborative production reflects the purpose of the bilateral initiative. By telling a shared story of sacrifice and reconciliation through the voices of a new generation, the project fosters mutual understanding across borders and generations. AI and Contemporary Art: 'Spectrum of Humanity' in Montreal As part of its mission to promote international dialogue through the arts, KOFICE and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) will present a multidisciplinary program titled 'Spectrum of Humanity' in Montreal from August 18 to 23. Focusing on the theme 'Art in the Age of AI,' the program includes three main components: an academic conference, an artist–curator exchange initiative, and curated screenings of contemporary and experimental works. Events will be held at the National Film Board of Canada and Cinéma du Musée. The conference will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping artistic creation. It will feature speakers such as Professor Taekyung Yoo of Chung-Ang University and Artist Haru Ji, who will engage in discussions with Canadian participants about the evolving roles of authorship, narrative, and ethics in the creative field. In addition, Korean visual artists Heungsoon Im, Jihye Yeom, Ayoung Kim, and PARKing CHANce (Chan-wook Park and Chan-kyong Park) will participate in screenings, offering perspectives on their artistic practices. Ayoung Kim's video work 'Delivery Dancer's Sphere' will be screened for the first time in Canada and is expected to serve as a key visual anchor of the program. This initiative aims to encourage meaningful exchange between Korean and Canadian creative communities. KOFICE expects it will help connect emerging artistic voices and open conversations about the role of technology in shaping contemporary culture. Cultural Exchanges Continue into the Second Year Now in its second year, the 2024–2025 KOREA–CANADA Year of Cultural Exchanges continues to deepen cultural collaboration between the two countries. Since its launch, programs have included youth and children's film events in Montreal, collaborative screenings at the Jeonju International Film Festival, and a music showcase in Toronto. These projects have contributed to an ongoing exchange of ideas and artistic dialogue. Among the most notable outcomes so far is the international debut of the Korean alternative electronic band 64ksana, selected through the Young Artist Development Initiative. After participating in the OFF-CINARS Showcase hosted by the CINARS Biennale 2024, the group was invited to major Canadian festivals including Pique in June and Sunfest in July. Several additional initiatives are scheduled for the coming months. A KOREA X CANADA Cultural Program : Disability Arts and Culture will take place from September to December. A street arts collaboration project will follow across both countries in September and October. In October, Korean artists will participate in the Vancouver International Film Festival, while the Jarasum Jazz Festival in Korea will feature programming developed in collaboration with Canadian partners. These initiatives reflect a long-term vision for cultural partnership between Korea and Canada. They emphasize creativity, mutual respect, and the shared goal of building lasting artistic relationships. KOFICE Canada Responder A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Vancouver Sun
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Á'a:líya Warbus: Right-hand woman to B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad
Sto:lo Nation member Á ʼa ꞉líya Warbus, a documentary filmmaker, Capilano University instructor and one-time hip-hop artist, readily acknowledges that of course she was criticized for running as a candidate for the B.C. Conservative Party. Conservatives aren't normally associated with caring that much about Indigenous people's issues, the environment or marginalized people — even though Warbus is intensely concerned about all of those issues and more. By contrast, the B.C. NDP have three Indigenous MLAs. And for what it's worth, the premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew, is NDP. (Warbus once knew Kinew from the hip-hop circuit, and believes he's a leader for all people.) Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The B.C. Conservatives have only one Indigenous MLA. That's after Warbus was elected by a 2,300-vote margin last October in the riding of Chilliwack-Cultus Lake. Warbus, 40, has no trouble going against stereotypes, countering cliches and breaking down barriers. Inspired by her well-known father, Steven Point — a former Sto:lo Nation chief, former B.C. lieutenant governor, and former university chancellor — she wants to do what is best for Indigenous people and the wider culture. 'My dad would never tell you his politics, but he's always been for Indigenous rights. He was always asking how is this work going to benefit the larger community, as well as our community. His point of view, really, is that we just need to be involved.' Warbus is involved, to say the least. She's a community leader, a former hip-hop singer with the band Rapture Rising, a digital-film instructor at Capilano University, a podcaster, and the enthusiastic head of a self-financing group of about 25 Sto:lo war canoeists and catamaran paddlers. Known as Star Nation Canoe Club, they enter sprint competitions around the world. B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad has noted her organizational skills. Warbus now serves the crucial role of Opposition house leader, which means she manages the daily business of the party's 41-member caucus in the legislature. In effect, she is the right-hand woman to Rustad. 'I would say in many instances I become a stand-in for John, representing him as best I can. We have a really good working relationship. He trusts me,' she said in an interview last week. 'House leader is a lot of heavy lifting. I would say that I have a high threshold for, I don't want to say chaos, but for organizational demand. Especially when I have support, I can carry quite a load.' She likes to think both she and Rustad approach potentially divisive issues, of which there are many, with 'human kindness.' A mother of three children, she attributes her willingness to take on eclectic challenges to several people, including her mother, Gwendolyn, her husband, Kalvin Warbus, a filmmaker who works with troubled Indigenous boys, and her father, Steven Point. At age 73, Point is a criminal lawyer, retired provincial court judge, former lieutenant governor of B.C, former head of the B.C. Treaty Commission and, until last year, chancellor of the University of B.C. In 2022, when the city of Richmond renamed Trutch Street because of its link to B.C.'s first lieutenant governor, Joseph Trutch, who was openly hostile toward Indigenous people, council chose the name Point Street . Despite her many influences, Warbus has her own ideas about what needs to be done. Last year, before the provincial election in which the B.C. Conservatives came in a surprisingly close second to the NDP government, Warbus said she put her name forward in part because she opposes the NDP's emphasis on providing so-called 'safe supply' of opioids to people with addictions. Instead of fighting for prevention and rehabilitation, Warbus said, the NDP government has been 'pushing addictive drugs on both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. It has to end.' In the legislature, Warbus recently recited the names of the many Indigenous people she has known who have died because of drug overdoses. 'I've lost so many people close to me.' She has been close to people on drugs who become psychotic, who don't at that time really know who they are, she said. People in that state, she said, must be provided services and treatment, although she recognizes the sensitivity of the term 'involuntary care.' When it comes to Indigenous economic development, she said one of her inspirations is Ellis Ross , a former chief councillor for the Haisla Nation who in 2022 came in second for the leadership of the B.C. Liberals. Ross was a big force behind getting a 650-kilometre pipeline built to serve LNG Canada's new terminal in Kitimat. As of this spring's federal election, he is the Conservative MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley. Her admiration of Ross doesn't mean she will be rah-rah for every resource extraction project, though. 'We do need to get our resources moving and developed, but it has to be in a way that applies the highest possible environmental standards and that takes into consideration the impacts it's going to have on the people and the land.' For his part, Rustad often cites how, when he was Indigenous relations minister in the former B.C. Liberal government, he completed more than 400 economic agreements with First Nations . On a different controversy, Warbus stood side by side with Rustad when he pushed back this spring against three members of the B.C. Conservative caucus who made light of the harms done to Indigenous people by the federally funded, church-run residential school system. After a showdown in which the dissenters accused Warbus of being in league with the NDP, two of the three MLAs went on to form a new party. Warbus stays in the fight for a better world in part because of her spiritual convictions — like her father, who attended the Roman Catholic church while growing up on the Skowkale First Nation reserve, next to Chilliwack. Like almost half Indigenous people in Canada, Warbus blends First Nations spirituality with Christianity. Yet she understands why some Indigenous people whose family members attended the defunct residential school system are suspicious. 'Christianity, unfortunately, has negative ties to residential schools, to people who did bad things. You know, if you're burned by a stove, you don't want to go near the stove again. And I totally respect that. So I never want to be presumptuous. But my own experience is growing up and going to church with my dad and hearing the stories of Jesus has been positive.' dtodd@
Hamilton Spectator
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
‘I learned my language to be a teacher'
Capilano University (CapU) is set to honour Lil'wat Elder Saw̓t Martina Pierre with an honorary doctorate in recognition of her contributions to reconciliation, empowerment and cultural preservation. Pierre is a residential school survivor and lifelong educator whose work revolves around revitalizing the Nation's traditional language—for others as much as herself. 'I had always wanted to be a teacher, and I had always wanted to revive my culture and language and my spirituality, [my] rights as a legal person,' she told Pique. 'After I had my family, I learned my language to be a teacher.' Pierre was instrumental in starting up Lil'wat's first-ever community school in the 1970s. The Nation had a day school run by nuns as far back as the 1930s, with classes available to members of the Nation from kindergarten up to Grade 7. But after the publication of the 1969 White Paper , parents in the Nation demanded a change. The White Paper, formally known as the Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy, was a policy proposal that aimed to eliminate Indian status, abolish the Indian Act and transfer responsibility for Indigenous affairs to the provinces. On the education front, the policy would have integrated First Nations children into mainstream education systems—potentially at the loss of culturally relevant programs and resources—and risked putting education policy in the hands of a provincial government removed from the specific needs of communities. While the policies contained therein never became law, they sparked widespread opposition among Indigenous communities in Canada. '[The children] didn't want to go back to public school, so the parents got concerned about the continuation of their children with their education,' said Pierre. 'They got together and said, 'Well, let's take them out of the public school and start our own.'' The Nation formed a board to negotiate for limited funding and resources from the government, including teacher training. Pierre was part of the first cohort of Lil'wat instructors to go through SFU's teaching program. 'We had to create our own curriculum, too, because it wasn't coming from the B.C. Education Department,' she recalled. 'We had to create our own curriculum to teach our language and culture.' She noted there weren't a lot of models to look to around B.C.; Lil'wat was one of the first Nations in the province to create a community school with traditional and cultural coursework from scratch. As Pierre and her team worked to craft a curriculum for the incoming classes, she was also reconnecting with the language herself. She'd been forced to unlearn Ucwalmícwts, the Nation's traditional language, when she attended a residential school. She credits her husband of 64 years, Paul Pierre, senior, with her own re-learning of the language. His mother used the traditional language all her life, and he grew up with parents who didn't speak English very often. But because he only attended residential school for one year, he's fluent in Ucwalmícwts. 'He just spoke the language and that helped me,' said Pierre. 'He was my mentor in the language program—not really for developing the curriculum, but for me to undo and heal from what I learned in colonized education.' Pierre and her cohort opened Ts̓zil Community School in the 1970s. Shortly after the school launched, Pierre obtained a master's degree from UBC and became a program coordinator for the school. Ts̓zil Community School later became Xet̓ólacw Community School. It currently serves about 240 students, emphasizing the integration of Lil'wat language and culture into the curriculum . Pierre's contributions to Lil'wat education don't stop at K-12. She's also been instrumental in developing and teaching post-secondary language and culture courses. In 1998, the Ts̓zil Learning Centre launched as a hub for adult learning and vocational training in Mount Currie. CapU faculty started to teach at the school in 1999. In 2002, Pierre was offered the position of dean at the Learning Centre. She worked with CapU to develop and lead the Lil'wat Languages program, teaching Ucwalmícwts to her students. Capilano describes her courses as 'a model for Indigenous language preservation within post-secondary education.' She's found, time and time again, that the act of teaching is a healing one; it allows her to practice and celebrate her history, and surrounds her with young people whose emphasis is on learning rather than mourning. 'My students in the university courses did not want to hear the grievances of our people in relation to the loss of our language,' she said. 'They wanted to explore their history. They wanted to learn the language and the culture.' As interest spiked in her courses (even once cresting 60 applicants in a single semester), Pierre decided to start mentoring students who could teach in her stead. She retired about four years back once those student leaders were ready; they've since gone on to become educators elsewhere throughout the province. Pierre initially hesitated to accept her honorary degree. And she's still grappling with its implications. 'I never really wear my credentials anywhere as a native person,' she said. 'You want to be level with the people. I love all my students. I'm just a facilitator for their learning.' She also noted she once wanted to go back to school to earn her PhD, before life got in the way. Still, she notes, she doesn't need a PhD to explore the questions that matter to her. 'I've always wanted to explore the transitioning that we need to do as Indigenous people to be not under the Indian Act,' she said. 'That's the big move. We're wards of the federal government under the Indian Act, and we need to find out what we want in life and how to make changes for community, for our Nation and for the care of our land—our traditional territory.' Alongside her work in education, Pierre is also the carrier of the Women's Warrior Song, which she received from a woman warrior while praying during a sacred sweat lodge ceremony. The song has become a central feature of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2+) movement across the country. She is also the Language and Culture Advisor for Skel7aqsten Skel7antsut, an inherent rights organization in Lil'wat. Pierre will be honoured alongside four other honorary degree recipients at Capilano University during its spring convocation ceremonies from June 10 through 12. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. 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Vancouver Sun
22-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
West Vancouver, Oak Bay's history of being "anti-development" has limited opportunities for new housing, finds provincial advisers
Both West Vancouver and Oak Bay's history of turning down developers has scared off potential developers, making it difficult for the two municipalities to build more housing. That finding was detailed in new reports released Thursday by Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon that examined why the two communities had fallen short of provincially mandated housing targets. Under that mandate, West Vancouver had been tasked with building 220 new housing units over the first 12 months of the five-year plan imposed by the province, but only managed to construct 56. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Oak Bay, meanwhile, had been tasked with building 58, but only completed 16. Capilano University instructor Ron Mattiussi, a former director of planning and chief administrative officer for the City of Kelowna, found that while West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager and his council seem 'somewhat supportive of increasing housing stock' they are also resistant 'to any form of densification that impacts the character of neighbourhoods.' He said that the current requirements for a preliminary application and public meeting before the council considers any project has driven developers away. 'The District of West Vancouver has had a well-deserved reputation as an affluent enclave resistant to change,' concluded Mattiussi. Final thoughts were much the same in Oak Bay where James Ridge, who has previously served as the deputy chief administrative officer for the City of Vancouver and the chief administrative officer for the District of North Vancouver, found the community has a 'long-standing reputation for being anti-development.' He said that there is no evidence the current council under Mayor Kevin Murdoch is trying to get around its requirements under the Housing Supply Act but rather that developers are spooked by past experiences and the current process for approvals is too cumbersome. 'The development community expressed frustration with Oak Bay's processing times, fees, and the political decision-making process,' said Ridge, explaining that almost all new developments currently require rezoning and an amendment to the local community plan. Recommendations provided by the pair of advisers include updating community plans and zoning rules to ease development as well as repair relationships with the development community. Mattiussi said the province should also designate the Park Royal/Taylor Way area as an area requiring transit-oriented development, which would allow units of up to 12 storeys in the surrounding community, and order the province to set a deadline for the council to come up with a plan for the area. He also wants to see the district increase housing density near Ambleside Beach and Dundarave. Ridge likewise wants Oak Bay to work with the University of Victory on opportunities for development on the 40-acres that make up Cedar Hill Corners but does not believe Carnarvon Park, which the council had proposed could hold 24 rental units, is suitable for housing. Kahlon has directed that several of the recommendations be implemented, including that Oak Bay give staff more responsibility over minor variances and amend its bylaws to require only one parking stall per unit. As for West Vancouver, the housing minister wants to see council allow for increased density around Ambleside and Dundarave by September 2026 and complete a create a local area plan for the Park Royal/Taylor Way area by the end of next year. He also indicated he plans to designate the Park Royal/Taylor Way area as a transit-oriented development location. 'Let me be clear: This is not about punishing communities or removing authority from locally elected municipal councils,' said Kahlon. 'The goal of local housing targets is centred around working with municipalities to remove unnecessary barriers to affordability and get more homes built for people faster, and ensuring we are building healthy and economically vibrant neighbourhoods for people.' More to come …
CBC
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
From architect to actor: How Vancouver's Carlos Diehz ended up in the Oscar-nominated film Conclave
Social Sharing As Carlos Diehz hops from event to event ahead of the 2025 Academy Awards in Los Angeles, he's reflecting on how he got there. Not long ago, the Conclave actor, who plays Cardinal Vincent Benitez, was working for an architectural firm in Vancouver. "This is so exciting and at the same time it's bizarre," he told CBC's The Early Edition host Stephen Quinn during an interview on Friday. Diehz was an architect in Mexico, his home country, but his credentials have yet to be recognized in Canada, where he's lived for 16 years. He's worked at an architectural firm in Vancouver for several years but not as an actual architect. Diehz's experience was somewhat mirrored in fellow Best Picture nominee The Brutalist, he said. The lead character, László Tóth, played by Adrian Brody, is an architect who emigrates to the U.S. in 1947. "When you look at The Brutalist and how he has to manage the difficulties with the clients and everything, that's pretty real, that's pretty accurate," Diehz said. WATCH | Carlos Diehz shares his journey from architect to actor: This B.C. actor just got his first major Hollywood role after 3 student films 4 months ago Duration 9:40 Film experience Until 2023, when Conclave started production in Rome, Diehz had been in a handful of student films. One such film he worked on was directed by fourth-year students at North Vancouver's Capilano University, a group he praised for their professionalism. "What I saw with the students in Capilano is exactly what I saw in Rome," he said. "The level of precision, commitment, enthusiasm, professionalism, it was just amazing. It was just the same in a different setting." Before that, he'd been an extra in a French movie about lucha libre wrestling, made in Mexico, when Diehz was 18. His dreams of becoming a star were quickly dashed when he was told to curse at the top of his lungs in a scene, something he was taken aback by. His shock wasn't quite the reaction the filmmakers were looking for. "They chose someone else," Diehz said. "I said no, screen acting is not for me." Fast forward about 30 years, and Diehz decided to try it again after he and his wife became empty nesters. He took some online acting courses during the pandemic, got an agent and started doing auditions. Conclave His transition from design to film all happened quite quickly, Diehz said, when he responded to an open casting call for the role of Benitez in 2022. Originally, he said, the casting director was looking for a Filipino actor for the role because in the book that inspired the film — Robert Harris's 2016 novel — Vincent Benitez is from the Philippines. But when they cast Diehz, they changed the character's heritage to Mexican. Diehz credits his acting coach for helping him land the role, and his co-stars — heavy hitters like Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini — for helping him develop his acting chops on set. Working with Fiennes, in particular, helped guide Diehz as an actor. "The beauty, the precision, the depth that he puts in his character," Diehz said. "You have to jump on it, on the dynamic and the emotional dynamics and let yourself be led by him." Fiennes helped Diehz work on English pronunciation to get the audience to hang onto every single word Benitez said. "He said, 'Be mindful of every word you deliver, it's a gift to the audience. Don't make them wonder what you said because they lose track of the message of the line.'" Off screen, Diehz has become good friends with Lithgow. When he was suffering from stage fright the night before shooting a scene where Benitez delivers a speech that, in some ways, defines the film, Lithgow reassured him that it was normal. "He said, 'Well, you never really overcome the stage fright. First of all, it's a sign that you care about the scene. So that's a good thing. But be mindful that when you deliver your lines, nobody's going to cut you off ... you set the pace, you set the intention, you set the motions.'" Conclave has had major success — it won Best Film at the British Academy Film Awards and Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Now, the film is one of 10 nominated for Best Picture at the 2025 Academy Awards. "It has been quite a ride from the auditions all the way to this point," Diehz said. "And right now in Los Angeles, it's been amazing. It's been incredible."
