The Cascade
Fraser Valley summer culture guide
A menagerie of markets, music, and museums
Reading time: 5 mins
Growing up in North Delta, I was a short bus and skytrain ride away from downtown Vancouver, so I would spend all my free summer days there, taking in the myriad of culture events that seemed to be happening constantly in the bustling metropolis. When I moved to Abbotsford in 2019, I would lament the lack of culture in the Fraser Valley, not knowing about the vibrant art and music scene that exists here. We cannot claim there is no culture in the Valley, just as we cannot claim there is no community at UFV. There are plenty of cultural events to take part in if you choose to get involved. So, have fun taking in all the hard work Fraser Valley artists, curators, and event organizers have contributed to our community.
Print Edition: May 22, 2013
The Fraser Valley Youth Society (FVYS) is gearing up for their first annual Pride event on May 25.
The afternoon will begin with a march from Matsqui Recreation Centre (MRC) to Civic Plaza at the corner of Trethewey and South Fraser Way, followed by a barbecue, community speeches and in the evening a film screening and panel discussion.
The FVYS is a small non-profit organization specializing in services for youth ages 13-25. They focus on community events, advocacy and connect LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer)-identifying youth with external community resources.
“The focus is on social determination of health,” FVYS coordinator, John Kuipers explained, “And then, looking at our target population, [identifying] what contributes to a healthy, pro-social, contributing, queer member of society, and how can living in the Fraser Valley not negate the fact that somebody can still engage in their community.”
by Craig Takeuchi on February 3rd, 2021 at 9:00 AM 1 of 1 2 of 1
With so many unpredictable factors involved in the current state of the pandemic from vaccines to variants the question of whether Pride celebrations will be held in some physical form or virtually this year remains up in the air.
In Toronto, all events up to March 31 have been cancelled but it remains to be seen how Toronto Pride will be held in June. (In 2020, the parade was held online.)
Winter Pride festivals
At B.C. COVID-19 briefings, Dr. Bonnie Henry has explained that outdoor winter sport activities are safe but what is of concern is when people gather afterwards indoors. For those heading out to the ski hills, Henry has said that day trips are less risky than staying overnight or for several days.