Hobbies, clubs and associations

Community arts and craft associations and special interests clubs

Craft Council of BC - SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

ccbc shop blog – Craft Council of BC (craftcouncilbc.shop)

ccbc + the social enterprise – Craft Council of BC (craftcouncilbc.shop)

The Craft Council of BC (CCBC) is a meeting place, a resource center, part of a movement, an important part of Vancouver's culture, and structurally, is a charitable non-profit in the arts sector. Historically, our organization has had three spaces that we work through: our office, a social enterprise, and a gallery. Today, the social enterprise takes the form of a consignment shop , located beneath our offices on Granville Island. A social enterprise may be defined as a business that sells goods and services, but embeds a social, cultural or environmental purpose into the business , and reinvests their profits into their social mission; in other words, a social enterprise has the goal of social impact and it works through the means of a business. Our shop is a consignment shop, meaning that goods re left with us, and we are authorized to sell them. Profits are shared between the artist and the shop and any revenue that the shop earns is invested back into the organization to carry out its mandate.

Arts & Culture, City of Vancouver

Arts and culture | City of Vancouver

Go out and explore arts and culture in Vancouver. Our city is alive with creativity. We have amazing: music, dance, new media, theatre, festivals, film, design, exhibitions, galleries, museums, and special events.

Art and cultural activities | City of Vancouver

Vancouver community and art centres offer a wide variety of arts and cultural activities and programs. Some of the most popular activities are listed below. You can find other arts and cultural activities on individual community or art centre pages. To take a class or join a program, search activities.

Arts & Health: Healthy Aging through the Arts | City of Vancouver

Participating in creative arts practice builds better health in older adults. Professional artists work collaboratively with seniors and Elders, facilitating the expression of participants’ knowledge and life experiences. Together artists and participants dance, sing, write, draw, paint, weave, and develop art projects of all kinds. Programs are delivered by organizations with close ties to the community and mandates focused on health, community recreation, and art participation, in partnership with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and Vancouver Coastal Health. Arts and Health provides a forum for expression, communication, exploration and imagination, which in turn fosters an improved sense of health, well-being, and belonging.

Dancing and dance residencies | City of Vancouver

Dance is a creative and exciting way to exercise. Whether you are new to dance or you have been doing it your entire life, Vancouver offers lots of opportunities to get out and move your body to music. Find lessons, dance residencies, and rehearsal spaces at many community centres, or come out and dance in the parks.

Drawing, painting, and crafts | City of Vancouver

Vancouver's beauty naturally inspires the artist in all of us. Embrace your inner artist with a drawing class or visit the Painter's Circle in Stanley Park or Queen Elizabeth Park to watch professional artists at work.

Music and singing | City of Vancouver

Enjoy music and singing in Vancouver. Take lessons or enjoy a performance in Vancouver's recreation facilities.

Photography | City of Vancouver

Vancouver is a great backdrop, and if you are an amateur photographer, you are welcome to take photographs throughout the city and parks. If you are a commercial photographer you may need a photography permit if you need to set a scene, block public access, and photograph for advertising or editorial purposes.

Poetry in Parks "Fresh Local Poetry" pilot project | City of Vancouver

Community members created poetry with professional, free-range poets in Vancouver parks as part of the Poetry in Parks pilot project Fresh Local Poetry. People composed poems inspired by nature, food, urban farming, and memories of a favorite or moving outdoor experience and read the poems out loud or had a poet read them out for them.

Pottery & ceramics | City of Vancouver

Are you a novice or experienced potter looking for studio space or courses to improve your skills? Vancouver offers numerous venues for drop-in pottery clubs and ceramics classes.

Facilities include wheels for throwing, slab rollers, extruders, and kilns.

Woodworking | City of Vancouver

Learn to use power and hand tools to build projects using wood. If you are an experienced woodworker, you can drop-in to use the tools and the studio space.

For your safety - To drop-in to use the studio and tools, you must first complete both a Woodworking Assessment Test (free) and a Woodworking Safety Orientation (fee applies). For details contact Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre.

Arts & Culture, City of Richmond

Arts & Culture - City of Richmond, BC

The City of Richmond recognizes that the arts are integral to vibrant communities. The arts not only give depth and meaning to our lives — they are cornerstones of social and economic prosperity. Participation in the arts helps us to get to know each other, celebrate our differences, and impacts our health, economy, and overall well-being in remarkable ways.

https://www.richmond.ca/culture/howartworks/cultural-centre/artgroups.htm

The Richmond Cultural Centre and Annex are home to several groups that meet there regularly to hold a variety of classes and workshops while advancing their art form. All groups welcome new members. Contact the groups listed directly for more information and to get involved or email artsprograms@richmond.ca for general information about the Resident Art Groups.

Special Interest Clubs in Richmond - Toastmasters, Richmond SPCA and Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS), B.C. Genealogical Society, Richmond Amateur Radio Club, Richmond Gem & Mineral Society and the Sea Island Model Flying Club.

Volunteer with the City of Richmond

https://www.richmond.ca/services/volunteering.htm

Volunteers are an important component in the delivery of community and social services in Richmond. Volunteering creates opportunities to develop news skills and make new friends

Whether to utilize special skills, explore career choices, meet new people or become a valuable member of a team, the City of Richmond and a wide range of community partners offer short and long-term volunteer opportunities in a variety of areas. Sign up to volunteer

Opportunities are available in the following areas:

Richmond Arts Coalition

Richmond Arts Coalition - Who We Are (youtube.com)

The Richmond Arts Coalition (RAC) is a voice for artists and the arts in Richmond.

A volunteer-led organization, RAC offers opportunities for artists and the arts within Richmond, informs artists and assists with innovative ideas, connects artists, businesses, and audiences, and engages and advocates for the arts community RAC connects artists to opportunities through co-producing and assisting events such as ArtRich, the Richmond Arts Awards, the Maritime Festival, and Songs in the Snow.

The organization shares artist calls with its membership and maintains an informed and up to date hub of information online, including a roster with individual pages for each artist. RAC supports and advocates for the arts with pushes for extra spaces, further funding, and to keep the arts in the conversation as development accelerates throughout the city.

Events Archive - Richmond Arts Coalition

Arts events in Richmond.

Opportunities - Richmond Arts Coalition

Call for artist opportunities in Richmond.

Organizations - Richmond Arts Coalition

Member organizations.

How Art Works, Richmond, BC

About Richmond Arts Services — How Art Works

We are part of the City of Richmond’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Department within the Community Services Division. Our team consists of the Richmond Arts Centre, Richmond Art Gallery Richmond Cultural Centre, Richmond Public Art and Cultural Development.
Learn about our mandate, facilities and services.

Classes and Workshops — How Art Works

Richmond is an arts education hub where you can take part in high quality programs in performing and visual arts (and more) for all ages and skill levels.

Volunteer — How Art Works

Volunteering is a great way to develop new skills, support the arts, contribute to your community and meet people. The arts, especially not-for-profit organizations, benefit greatly from the passion and dedication that volunteers bring. It is essential that we support and nourish our volunteer sector, to ensure that the sector remains strong, sustainable and adaptable to the needs of our community. Cultural facilities like the Richmond Art Gallery, Gateway Theatre and Richmond Arts Centre have volunteer positions as well.

Many of our annual events also benefit from volunteer assistance, such as Culture Days, Richmond Arts Awards and Children’s Arts Festival.

Kickstart Disability and Arts Coalition

https://www.kickstartdisability.ca/author/kickstart/

Kickstart Disability Arts and Culture is a Vancouver based arts non-profit that supports and promotes artists who identify as living with disabilities.

https://www.kickstartdisability.ca/support/volunteer/

Want to get involved in the local Disability Arts Community?! Have a skill set you feel would be valuable to our organization?! We’d love to hear from you! All abilities welcome!

As a small organization with limited capacity, our volunteers are invaluable to the work we do. We are always accepting volunteers to assist us with everything from fundraising to community outreach. Want to know more? Drop us a line at hello@kickstartdisability.ca

The Gathering Place, City of Vancouver

Gathering Place Community Centre | City of Vancouver

The Gathering Place Community Centre offers programs and services to the Downtown South community. We primarily serve vulnerable populations, including people on lower income, people with disabilities, seniors, people of diverse ethnic backgrounds, the LGBTQ community, youth, and people who are homeless.

We provide accessible and engaging programs with a focus on food and nutrition, health, education, recreation, arts and culture, and community development.

The Gathering Place, art and music programs

Art and music programs | City of Vancouver

Art and music programs - Our art and music programs are open to everyone with a current membership card and recreation pass.

See our main reception area to obtain your free Gathering Place membership.

Learn more about our programs.

Pottery - Learn the basics of wheel throwing, hand building, glazing, and firing techniques. Enrolment is ongoing and new students are welcome.

Classes are Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:30am to 4:30pm

Art classes - Join us weekly for the following art classes

Monday 12pm-3pm: Art theory with drawing and water colour painting
Friday and Saturday: Art classes, reach out to the front desk to inquire about specific times

Also discover our monthly art gallery featuring artwork by local artists and patrons of the centre. Reach out to the front desk to inquire about getting your work in a show. Stay tuned for the monthly art openings celebrating the artwork in the theatre.

Music jam - Bring your instrument and come out to one of our casual jam sessions. A sound system and some instruments are available.

Music jams are on Wednesdays from 1pm to 3:30pm in the theatre space

Make a difference at the Gathering Place | City of Vancouver

We rely on volunteers to fill many roles, and on financial support from donors to fund programs.

Our low cost programs and services would not be possible without our dedicated volunteers and donors. Support the Gathering place – become a volunteer or donor. As a volunteer, you will receive meal tickets in exchange for your work. We're always looking for volunteers to fill positions in the following areas:

Kitchen - Prepare food, bus tables, wash dishes, and bake

Cafeteria - Serve food and bus tables

Pool room - Monitor equipment and activities

Weight room - Monitor equipment and safety

Games room - Monitor equipment and activities

Reading room - Process books, manage the circulation desk and shelves, answer questions

Learning centre - Monitor the computer room

Health centre - Monitor showers, laundry, and free clothing room

Pottery room - Maintain security of equipment and space (some knowledge of pottery is necessary)

Special events - Help with community dinners, the Block Party, the Gathering Festival, and the Homeless Connect event

Our volunteer program works with local community colleges to provide practicum placements for students. If you want to volunteer, come to the Gathering Place and ask to meet with the volunteer program staff. A criminal record check is not required to volunteer in our essential service areas (kitchen, cafeteria, and health centre).

Enterprising Women Making Art (EMWA)

https://atira.bc.ca/what-we-do/program/enterprising-women-making-art/

EWMA was launched in 2003 as a development initiative of Atira Women’s Resource Society. It has focused on supporting women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to work together to develop an alternative form of business or employment that is grounded in their needs and realities.

The program is a self employment initiative for women impacted by violence who face significant barriers to traditional employment and who seek safe, income-generating opportunities free from exploitation, abuse or other vulnerabilities.

Atira Women’s Resource Society

https://atira.bc.ca/get-involved/volunteer/

Volunteer your skills and teach arts and crafts, cooking, or gardening. Have a trade skill to share? We can create an opportunity for you here.

Share your Skills

Atira has exciting and meaningful opportunities for diverse volunteers including:

Leading arts workshops at EWMA
Photography, video or graphic design
Child and youth care and activities
Cooking and meal prep
Assistance with crafts nights, beauty nights, games nights, movie nights.
Assisting with EWMA studio and store
Helping with intakes at our Legal Advocacy program

If you have another skill not listed that you would like to share as a volunteer, please get in touch and we’ll see if there’s a fit for you!

Creativebug

Creativebug | Vancouver Public Library (vpl.ca)

"Come discover how you're more creative than you think." Learn how to master jewellery making, knitting, crocheting, sewing, painting and more.

New to Creativebug? View a tutorial.

Creativebug - Craft Classes & Workshops - What will you make today?

With your Creativebug subscription you can:

Stream thousands of art & craft classes
Get first access to new classes released every day
Download patterns, templates and recipes
Stay connected through community galleries & forums

Weaving, knitting and sewing

Richmond Weavers and Spinners Guild

https://www.rwsg.ca/

The Richmond Weavers and Spinners Guild (RWSG) seeks to promote, encourage, and develop the art and craft of weaving, spinning, and dyeing in our community. RWSG has approximately 30 members. We're a small guild where everyone knows each other, and everyone gets involved.

We provide many resources and activities for weavers, spinners and dyers:

Monthly guild meetings
Studio drop-ins
Study groups
Group projects
Exchanges
Equipment rentals
Library
Workshops
Sales
Community outreach

Busy Fingers, Seniors Knitting/Crochet Group

Seniors Facility Activities | Minoru Centre

Mondays and Thursdays from 9:30 - 11:30 AM at the Minoru Seniors Centre in central Richmond

Loose Ends Project

How this Works — LOOSE ENDS (looseendsproject.org)

We are matchmakers. In knitting patterns, this is noted as K2Tog (knitting two together).

When Loose Ends receives a project submission, we look through our database of finishers to find a good match. With an eye toward geography, skill level, and druthers, we will identify a good fit based on the information volunteer finishers submitted in their profiles. The next step is running this by the finishers themselves to find out if they’re feeling it too. Once a finisher says yes to a project, we make the connection by introducing the finisher and project holder in an email. Then… we step away and let the project evolve within this new connection. We are always here to troubleshoot, advise or reassign if needed.

Note to project submitters: we can usually find you a match within a week or two. If 3 weeks have gone by and you have not heard from us, please reach out.

Volunteer 'finishers' help complete knitting projects started by late loved ones | CBC Radio

Keena Alwahaidi · CBC Radio · Posted: Feb 15, 2023 9:08 AM PST | Last Updated: February 15 '23.

The project is 'special' for people who know what losing a loved one feels like. Loose Ends is a newer endeavor, having just started in September. It's headquartered in Portland, Maine, and Seattle, Wash. There's no cost to be connected with a finisher since the project is volunteer-run. The project has already accumulated around 1,000 finishers globally and is growing as volunteers aim to finish what couldn't be done.

Peace Arch Weavers and Spinners Guild (PAWS)

Peace Arch Weavers & Spinners Guild – Member of the Association of Northwest Weavers' Guilds

At PAWS, you will find a wonderful group of people with a great interest in weaving, spinning, dyeing, basket making, felting and knitting. We love to design and craft a variety of textiles, which start with fibre or yarn and other raw materials, then move through our hands to become beautiful and functional garments, accessories and household items. We also offer workshops taught by local and international teachers in fibre arts, covering a range of topics of interest to our membership.

Textile and Arts Guild of Richmond (TAGOR)

https://tagor.ca/

The Textile Arts Guild of Richmond, (TAGOR) is a registered non-profit society of British Columbia, Canada. Formed in 1975, TAGOR is dedicated to advancing and encouraging all facets of artistic and practical textile arts including creative mending and repurposing. Our members produce hundreds of items for our Richmond partners every year. We use both in person and Zoom platforms to enable wide participation in our community, artistic and learning adventures.

Join us to discover textile arts through speakers series, workshops, open studios, community involvement and the imagination of our members. See our Calendar for dates and times of all our studio time and events and our Gallery to see what members have been up to.

https://tagor.ca/whatwedo/

TAGOR is dedicated to advancing and encouraging all facets of textile arts including:

Quilting – traditional, modern and art quilts

Knitting
Embroidery & other Needlework
Appliqué
Doll & Stuffed Critter Making
Banner Bags
Fidget Muffs
Fabric Embellishing
Completing unfinished projects

Vancouver Quilters Guild

https://vancouverquiltersguild.com/

We meet the second Wednesday of the month from September to June. Unless otherwise noted, all speakers and workshops are virtual, on ZOOM. Meetings usually include a speaker or trunk show, followed by announcements, show & tell and prize draws. To find out about joining us a member, or to attend a meeting as a guest, please see our our Membership page. We also host several Workshops throughout the year. A complete list of our activities can be found on our Activities page. We can be reached via our Contact page. Find us on: Facebook Public Page – Facebook Private Page (members-only). The purpose of the Guild is to promote and encourage interest in the art of quilting by conducting meetings, educational seminars and training courses, to advocate good fellowship among members, and to assist the community, using the skills of the members of the Guild.

Quilts of Valour

HOME | quiltsofvalour

Our mission as a Society is to ensure that all Canadian military members, past and present who are ill or injured as a result of their service and sacrifice to our country, are recognized and honoured with a Quilt of Valour. The need for our quilts continues to grow. At present there are approximately 185,000 Veterans, many of whom are eligible to receive a Quilt of Valour. To date we have presented nearly 16,000 quilts. Each one a handmade hug, stitched with love and gratitude by grateful Canadians.

Fraser Valley Quilters' Guild

Preemie Quilts – Fraser Valley Quilters' Guild

What are Preemie Quilts? These are small quilts which the Guild donates to the Special Care Nursery of the Children’s & Women’s Health Centre of BC, Vancouver BC. The quilt accompanies the baby when it is time to leave the hospital. Sadly, some babies do not make it, but the parents get to keep their quilt – sometimes it is the only memento they have, and they are treasured. Since the beginning of 1990 when we started the program, we have given well over 10,000 quilts, an average of over 500 quilts per year. Why do we make them? The Guild is a non-profit association, and as such is required to meet certain conditions, one of which is to participate in a community or charity project. Some years ago the Guild chose to support the program for the NICU. This is not an option – it is an obligation. Some 60 babies, on average pass through the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) each month, making a total of about 600 quilts needed per year. As we have often stressed, if every member of the Guild made just two quilts a year, it would bring us close to our commitment. We deliver to the hospital 12 months of the year, so need a bit of a “stash” to keep us going over the summer when we are not meeting.

Boundary Bay Quilters Guild

Outreach — Boundary Bay Quilters' Guild

Join us in giving back to our community - We believe in the power of quilting to warm hearts and homes, and that's why we're dedicated to helping those in need through our outreach programs.

The popular Baby Quilt program invites members to make small quilts while at the same time giving back to our communities. This program is administered by the Baby Quilt Committee.

Our two main clients now are Deltassist and the local Fraser Health public health nurses. The heath nurses visit new moms in challenging situations, often those with no family support. Deltassist has two programs: a year-round parenting program for young mothers who are considered at risk; and the Deltassist Christmas Toy Bank. We’ve heard our quilts are one of the most popular items at the Toy Bank for disadvantaged families. We also provide a small number of quilts to support the Aboriginal Mothers shelter in Vancouver, and Azure Place women’s shelter in Delta for women and children escaping violence. As part of our community service involvement, members of the BBQG participate in making lap size quilts which are then given to the BC Cancer Agency at the Surrey Memorial Hospital. Volunteers working with patients then distribute the quilts on a random basis to people undergoing treatment. We have received feedback from the agency as well as patients who have let us know how much receiving these quilts has helped and comforted them in their journey to feeling better.

The Great Winter Warm-up, MCC

Great Winter Warm-up | Mennonite Central Committee

Throughout the winter, compassionate people like you are giving the gift of warm comforters to those in need around the world through MCC’s Great Winter Warm-up. The Great Winter Warm-up is a way to give the gift of warmth through a comforter. Help us meet our goal of donating 7,000 comforters before March 31 and give the gift of warmth to those who need it the most. If you can’t get your comforters in this month, don’t worry — donations of comforters are gratefully accepted throughout the year. A handmade blanket provides not only warmth but also a tangible reminder to people in vulnerable situations that their needs are not forgotten. Last year, 53,601 comforters were donated by people like you and sent to countries including Ukraine, El Salvador, Malawi and Zambia. Your time and creative talents are helping to share God’s love with people dealing with conflict and disaster around the world. Together, we can share warmth and comfort with our global neighbours. Here’s how you can get involved...

The Learnary

The Learnary

About us- The Learnary is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to building community, supporting intergenerational learning, and generating curiosity. We think the world is a fascinating place with so much potential. We know that no matter our age or the experiences we’ve had, we all have something to learn and something to share. We are so happy to learn and share with you. Our model means that all the profits we make in our store or through our activities go back into the organization to support our mandate. If you want to learn more or get involved, come by our store or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Get Involved! – The Learnary

We believe there is necessary beauty in the messy & unpredictable work of people coming together to create, play, lean and build. Lend your hand to The Learnary! As we adjust from the pivots of the pandemic closures, we are (re)building structures to support community participation. In the meanwhile, reach out to us directly with your ideas.

Some of the ways you can get involved:

host an event at the Community Curiosity Table
donate items for resale
consign items you make with us
offer workshops
lend a hand with the day-to-day: we keep a volunteer list of jobs at the till
create a window display
lend a curiosity item for neighbours to explore
make invitations for activities at the curiosity table
come in and clean - people are messy
share about us on social media, write reviews, tag us etc.
come play and join-in our events.

Quilting In Space

One of These Blocks Was Made on the Space Station - Quilting Digest

THE REST ARE FROM AROUND THE WORLD! In 2013 NASA Astronaut, quilter, and artist Karen Nyberg spent five months aboard the International Space Station. During that time she made a quilt block, which makes her the first person to quilt in orbit. Her creation, a 9-inch square red, white, and blue star, served as the inspiration for the 2014 International Quilt Festival’s “Astronomical Block Challenge (AstroBlock).” Quilters from around the world were invited to submit a block for a global community quilt. Karen aboard the Space Station with her completed block. In response to the challenge, NASA received over 2,400 star-themed blocks from quilters all across the globe. The blocks were sewn into 28 king-sized quilts by a team of NASA and Johnson Space Centre volunteers.

St. Anne's Knitting Group

https://www.stannessteveston.ca/news/calling-all-knitters

St. Anne’s Knitting Group has again started meeting at the church on Thursdays from 1 to 3pm. The group knits toques, scarves and baby items for a variety of worthy causes. Knitters of all levels (including beginners) are welcome! Knitting instruction is available if needed. Come and knit, or just join us for fellowship and a cup of tea!

West Coast Knitters Guild

https://www.westcoastknitters.org/about-us

West Coast Knitters’ Guild (WCKG) is a group of enthusiastic crafters whose prime interest is to enjoy and encourage the skill and artistry of knitting and crochet. We choose to call ourselves a Guild as a means of demonstrating that we value skill and achievement in knitting and crochet, and that we want to encourage the ongoing development of our members’ individual talents.

Each year we participate in Holiday Craft fairs, with proceeds going to Nova House. Our members also create numerous hats, scarves, mitts, and blankets which are donated to a variety of charities around the Lower Mainland.

We collect clean, scent free and unused yarn as well as other fibre craft materials to distribute to charities and organizations in need of materials. The gathering of donations is done year-round, so please contact us if you have any such yarn or notions that you would like to donate. We are happy to help find a knitter or crocheter who will love your donations! Unfortunately, we do not accept knitted items.

CLICK! For Babies Purple Hat Campaign
The Period of PURPLE Crying is a normal, but frustrating period of increased crying that all infants experience in the first few weeks and months after birth. In order to educate parents about this phase, the BC Children’s Hospital collects and distributes purple hats to babies born in October and November. Hats may be knit or crocheted; they should be sized for newborns, and must be at least 50% purple. Details are available on the CLICK! For Babies website.
Hats are collected at the September Guild meeting by Glenda M. and at many local yarn stores.

Lighthouse Harbour Ministries

https://sealight.org/patterns-for-toques/

One of the ways that Lighthouse Harbour Ministries’ workers are able to tangibly demonstrate the Lord’s care for seafarers is by providing them with warm, knitted hats. Over the history of the Ministry, many, many devoted volunteers have kindly supplied knitted hats to the Ministry and they are very much appreciated by the seafarers. If you might be interested and willing to knit for Lighthouse, we would greatly appreciate it.

Knitted Knockers Canada

https://knittedknockerscanada.com/

Knitted Knockers are special handmade breast prosthesis for women who have undergone mastectomies or other procedures to the breast. These soft comfortable lightweight prosthesis are available for FREE (request yours here). They are knit with love by our wonderful volunteers.

Some women find traditional breast prosthetics too expensive, heavy, sweaty and uncomfortable. Also traditional prosthesis often cannot be worn for weeks after surgery.

Knitted knockers on the other hand are soft, comfortable, beautiful and when placed in a regular bra they take the shape and feel of a real breast. Knitted knockers can also be used to fill the gap for breasts that are uneven and easily adapted for those going through reconstruction by simply removing some of the stuffing. Some women prefer to weight their knocker with a pebble or a small stitch in bra to keep them in place. The knitted knocker can also be used in your prosthetic bra or in a post-op camisole as a lightweight choice. The purpose of this site is to help connect volunteer knitters with breast cancer survivors to offer FREE knitted knockers.

Knit and Crochet 4 A Better World (KNC4ABW)

KNC4ABW Learn, Make and Donate - Stories - Neighbourhood Small Grants

We are Knit and Crochet 4 a Better World and our project focussed on expanding our hobbies of knitting and crocheting to donating finished, handmade garments to the transient community. This project began as we wanted to help the transients using our knit/crochet projects and also find more people with the same interest to help and learn new skills. When we discovered this grant system it was a great opportunity for us to not only reach our goals but connect with people from the community that were interested – it didn’t matter what level they were at, all were welcome and encouraged to discover new skills. We have 18 new participants, and about 10 old participants. What we discovered was people loved to learn new skills and were all excited to try out new things. Many were also enthused with the idea of supporting the transient community in our area while exploring a hobby. We built engagement with community members as learning a new skill together while working to a common goal sets a healthy environment for bonding and interests in expanding one’s social circle.

Pottery, drawing and painting

Arts and crafts classes, City of Vancouver

Drawing, painting, and crafts | City of Vancouver

Drawing, painting, and crafts - Vancouver's beauty naturally inspires the artist in all of us.

Pottery & ceramics | City of Vancouver

Are you a novice or experienced potter looking for studio space or courses to improve your skills? Vancouver offers numerous venues for drop-in pottery clubs and ceramics classes.

Facilities include wheels for throwing, slab rollers, extruders, and kilns.

Pottery studio locations: Britannia, Douglas Park, False Creek, Kensington. Kerrisdale, Roundhouse, Trout Lake, West Point Grey, West End Community Centers

Potters Guild of BC

Gallery of BC Ceramics | Vancouver, BC

about the guild | potters (galleryofbcceramics.com)

The Potters Guild of British Columbia (PGBC) is a non-profit society that serves the needs of the BC Ceramic arts community. Established in 1955, the PGBC is British Columbia's largest and oldest organization for ceramic artists . From 1986-2018 the PGBC operated the Gallery of BC Ceramics on Granville Island. Since closing our brick and mortar gallery, the PGBC is pivoting to other projects to support our member artists. In May 2021 the PGBC opened Vancouver's only publicly accessible fee-for-service gas kiln. The kiln is located at the Mergatroid building, 975 Vernon Drive. This project was made possible with grant funding from the City of Vancouver, the Province of British Columbia, and our wonderful landlord Morley Faber.

Richmond Potters Club

https://www.richmondpottersclub.com/

The Richmond Potters' Club is a non-profit community organization which brings together a diverse group of potters whose goals are to develop their artisan skills and promote ceramic arts in Richmond. We work in partnership with the city to provide adult pottery classes to the public.
We contribute to the community by donating our pottery to charitable organizations who use it to further their initiatives. The Richmond Potters’ Club participates in community events such as Culture Days and also hosts two large pottery sales each year in April and November. To date, we have over 120 members who share a passion for making pottery and volunteer their time to make the Richmond Potters' Club successful.

Pottery Works

About (potteryworks.ca)

Pottery Works is a studio and gallery space located in New Westminster BC, sponsored by the Community Living Society. A collective of talented painters, potters and jewellers create original works of art for exhibition and sale. Some of the PotteryWorks artists receive support, others attend independently; each inspiring one another to reach their artistic aspirations.
Working artists provide instruction for those who want to improve their skills and talents.
The artists of PotteryWorks and the Color Collective, exhibit their work at art shows and galleries around the Lower Mainland.

The Gathering Place, art and music programs

Art and music programs | City of Vancouver

Art and music programs - Our art and music programs are open to everyone with a current membership card and recreation pass.

Pottery - Learn the basics of wheel throwing, hand building, glazing, and firing techniques. Enrolment is ongoing and new students are welcome.

Classes are Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:30am to 4:30pm

Art classes - Join us weekly for the following art classes

Monday 12pm-3pm: Art theory with drawing and water colour painting
Friday and Saturday: Art classes, reach out to the front desk to inquire about specific times

Richmond Artists' Guild (RAG)

Resident Art Groups - City of Richmond, BC

Richmond Artists Guild

Richmond Artists Guild was founded in 1955 with the goal of providing a forum for local artists to meet, improve their skills and learn more about art. Members are welcome at all levels from beginner to professional, to encourage, learn from and support each other while fostering arts in our community. The Guild offers weekly life drawing, long pose & plein air sessions, and regular guest artist demos & group shows. Our monthly meetings feature a guest artist demonstration or critique and the opportunity to build friendships within the local art community. The Guild hosts both a Life Drawing group, and the plein air group Men In Hats which paints outdoors from Spring into Fall, and shares a studio space weekly in winter. Our members participate in numerous groups shows and painting demonstrations throughout the year, and the small works sale Guess Who each November benefitting Richmond Food Bank. We support the Youth awards for the Grand Prix of Art and annually sponsor a local student to join our Life Drawing sessions.

Riverside Arts Circle
Kathy Forbes, 604-275-6724, grey5ft2@yahoo.com
Pat Thorson, Co-chair, 604-247-6933, pthorson@shaw.ca

Men In Hats

https://richmondartistsguild.com/about-mih/

“Men in Hats’ is group of plein air artists consisting of men and women. Founded in 2007 by Dave McHolm, Bob Henrich, John Beatty, Larry Tillyer, Dennis Magnusson and Marv Skelton the original goal was to paint outdoors every Tuesday at various locations throughout the Lower Mainland. The name derives from the fact that we all wore hats during the first summer of existence, which was uncharacteristically warm for the Vancouver area. On one of our first outings someone said ‘Here come the Men in Hats’ and at the time, that expression seemed to fit our persona so it has stayed with us. We have discovered a great camaraderie painting outdoors. It is fun! We enjoy each others company, respect our mutual work, and give advice when asked for. Men in Hats consists of water colourists, Oil painters, Acrylic painters, and pastel painters. We now work all year round, renting studio space tor the winter months and sharing the costs. The Events page of this website will display when and where we are painting at any given time , also giving an alternate in case it is raining or cancelled.

Port Kells Art Club

https://portkellsartclub.ca/

Our mission is to encourage the development and promotion of arts in the Langley community and to support artists of all skill levels to reach their potential by offering them participation in classes, workshops and local art exhibitions. Location of all meetings and art instruction: Eric Bysouth Rotary Field House, 21355 – 57 A Ave., Langley, B.C.

Surrey Arts West

https://artswest.ca/

Artswest’s mandate is Artists helping Artists. Artswest provides a positive
experience for both new and experienced artists alike. The group provides:
– connections between new and experienced artists
– demonstrations from professional artists
– opportunities to show their work
– volunteer opportunities in the Surrey Art Community
– stepping stone for artists wanting to make the leap
to a professional designation.
Artswest Art Group meet 3rd Monday of the month (Sept to May) 6:45pm, Newton Community Cultural Center, 13530 72 Ave, Surrey. Membership $35.00 annually. Guest are welcome, $10.00 per meeting. (Can apply to membership at any time). Contact: Wendy@artbywendy.com

The Sierra Club of BC Learn to Draw Animals webinars

https://sierraclub.bc.ca/learn-to-draw-b-c-wildlife-art-lesson-series-with-julius-csotonyi-webinar/

Learn to draw webinars featuring endangered beings and acclaimed illustrator Julius Csotonyi. Share and draw together with family and friends!

Richmond Chinese Calligraphy & Painting Club

https://www.richmond.ca/culture/howartworks/cultural-centre/artgroups.htm

Artists Helping Artists

about | AHA Burnaby

A.H.A. (which stands for Artists Helping Artists) is an art studio collective where individuals of all abilities and skill levels are encouraged to come together to make art of all kinds! We provide artists with studio space, affordable materials and the opportunity to pursue their aspirations concerning artistic expression. A.H.A. believes art is a vital element in tolerance and inclusion and a large percent of our membership is made up of artists with complex needs. Registration is open to any person over the age of 16 who would like to create art or who would like to support artists in the production and marketing of art. No art experience necessary.

Gardening, nature, minerals and jewellery

Richmond Garden Club

Richmond Garden Club - Home

Richmond Garden Club was formed in 1957 by a group of like minded gardeners who wanted to share their expertise on all aspects of gardening in an urban environment! Our work continues today with our educational endeavors and as we leave our mark on many beautification projects throughout Richmond.

http://www.richmondgardenclub.ca/completed-projects.html

Richmond Garden Club community projects - We are so proud of our commitment to help beautify our community that we live in! Our Club offers volunteer gardening opportunities. Getting involved in these projects has many benefits by increasing your knowledge of gardening, relieving stress when surrounded by nature and keeping fit while enjoying the great outdoors!

http://www.richmondgardenclub.ca/about-us.html

Volunteering and community projects - maintenance of Paulik Park, flower containers on Steveston boardwalk, Richmond Cultural Centre rooftop garden, YouTube gardening series in partnership with Richmond Public Library.

All meetings are held at Richmond Cultural Centre, 7700 Minoru Gate, the 4th Wednesday of every month, except for July, August and December, 7pm to 9pm.

Disabled Independent Gardeners Association (DIGA)

Home - Disabled Independent Gardeners Association (digabc.org) The Disabled Independent Gardeners Association (DIGA) provides opportunities for people with physical disabilities to actively participate in gardening. Operating in Metro Vancouver BC, we offer workshops, garden tours, customized adaptive tools, and our volunteers work one-on-one with DIGA members tending to fully accessible plots in community gardens. Our community gardens have wheelchair accessible pathways and raised beds. Many also offer roll-under table-top gardens. Gardening offers many quality of life benefits and social inclusion when working together in community gardens, which is why we encourage active participation, from planning their garden, tending to plants, and sharing their harvests with the support of helpful volunteers. Our knowledgeable volunteers can advise and support gardening, lend a hand tending to gardens or arrange custom garden tools for people with physical disabilities.

Volunteer - Disabled Independent Gardeners Association (digabc.org)

The Disabled Independent Gardeners Association (DIGA) volunteers love to garden and are enthusiastic about sharing their skills to help people with disabilities enhance their gardening experience. Together, volunteers and members make gardening more accessible and achievable. Volunteers meet and work with clients at various community gardening locations to nurture and harvest plants. Volunteers are also needed to tend to community garden plots, water (where irrigation systems have not been installed), assist at garden work parties, and more!

The Sharing Farm, Richmond

We Are The Sharing Farm | The Sharing Farm Society

The Sharing Farm grows food to feed Richmond families in need. The Farm is run by community members for community members, and is dedicated to providing fresh, healthy, local produce to our less fortunate neighbours. The Sharing Farm operates on a small budget, but thanks to the generosity of our over 1,000 yearly volunteers and the devotion of a small core of part-time staff, The Farm is able to provide thousands of pounds of fruits and vegetables every year to community meals throughout the city and the Richmond Food Bank. Our vegetables are on the plates of up to 2,000 people a week!

Volunteering | The Sharing Farm Society

Get Dirty. Leave With Great Stories. The Sharing Farm is Richmond’s community farm. We strive to be an agricultural community center where everyone is welcome and bonded by a common goal to help our neighbours in need. Volunteers are the lifeblood of The Sharing Farm, with hundreds of people helping out each year in a variety of ways. The Farm is inclusive of all faiths, genders, cultures, and abilities. We are a blend of the gregarious and introverted, the young and the wise, and newbie and novice gardeners. Covid-19 Update - Drop-in volunteering sessions take place on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 9 AM – 12 PM, beginning April 12th. Stay for as little or as long as you like! After every Monday and Friday volunteering session, we’re now offering a variety of snacks and sips for our hard working volunteers. From hot coffee to ice cold lemonade, we’ve got you covered!

Vancouver Fruit Tree Project

https://www.vancouverfruittree.com/

We reduce fruit waste and redistribute it within our communities.

We’re a grassroots organization on a mission to strengthen Vancouver’s food security by harvesting backyard fruit trees and delivering it to organizations serving members in our community who typically have reduced access to fresh produce.

https://www.vancouverfruittree.com/volunteer

VOLUNTEER: We rely on the efforts of dedicated volunteers to do what we do. Whether you’re looking to get involved in your community, help reduce waste and improve local food security, or meet new people, our team is here to welcome you.

Fruit Picking - The essence of what we do. Fruit Pickers harvest fruit in small teams to be redistributed to those in need. Volunteer as it suits your schedule (and get to keep some of the spoils!).

Fruit Rescue Lead - If you’re interested in more of a leadership position, our Fruit Rescue Leads are responsible for leading picks, creating a safe and fun environment, and delivering the harvest to our community partner.

Canvassing - Ready to take to the streets? We have printouts you can deliver to mailboxes, doorsteps, or that neighbour with that bountiful apple tree. Thanks for helping spread the word!

Vancouver Food Runners

https://www.vancouverfoodrunners.com/about-us

At Vancouver Food Runners, we believe in turning surplus food into meaningful change. We create connections between local businesses, nonprofits, and volunteers to ensure surplus food reaches essential community food programs. We believe good food belongs to people, not landfills!

https://www.vancouverfoodrunners.com/volunteer-with-us

Volunteer on your own schedule and make a direct impact by delivering surplus food to essential community food programs and social service organizations.

Community Gardens, City of Vancouver, BC

Community gardens and orchards | City of Vancouver

Find a community garden - The map below provides a current listing of community gardens across the City, including the garden organizer and contact information. This information can also be found on the City’s Open Data Portal. This map is maintained by staff to the best of our knowledge but may have inaccuracies. To add a community garden to the map, or update your garden’s listing, please contact foodpolicy@vancouver.ca. Many gardens currently have a waitlist for plots. These waitlists are managed by each garden, not by the City.

Community Gardens, City of Richmond, BC

https://www.urbanbounty.ca/programs/welcome-to-the-community-gardens/

In partnership with the City of Richmond, Urban Bounty looks after 16 garden sites across Richmond with over 760 members of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. The food grown in each plot belongs to the registered gardeners, and cannot be used or sold for any commercial purposes. The Richmond Community Garden plot fees pay for a portion of the costs of running the program such as: purchasing liability insurance on behalf of all gardeners using the public gardens, maintaining common supplies such as tools and equipment, and administrative costs.

Richmond’s Urban Bounty plans for more accessible community gardens, Valerie Leung, November 4, 2021, Richmond News

https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/richmonds-urban-bounty-plans-for-more-accessible-community-gardens-4722499

Plans to make Richmond community gardens more accessible are being brought to the table by a local non-profit. Urban Bounty, previously known as Richmond Food Security Society, is working with the City of Richmond to increase accessibility at local community gardens in order to make them more inclusive for those with mobility challenges or disabilities.

Community Garden Accessibility Toolkit, City of Victoria, Public Health Association of BC and Surrey – Can You Dig It!

https://phabc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/22-04-26-CYDI-CGAT-FINAL.pdf

The primary purpose of this toolkit is to explore how Universal Design principles can be applied to the physical, built environment in community gardens. It provides an easy-to use guide for garden coordinators to help ensure their community gardens work towards becoming physically accessible for everyone.

Finn Slough Heritage & Wetland Society

Finn Slough Heritage & Wetland Society

Welcome to the Finn Slough and the Finn Slough Heritage & Wetland Society. The residents and fishers who live and work in this unique community invite you to explore the pages of this website and uncover the many delightful aspects of the "Slough"; its Finnish roots, the who's who of wildlife and plants, current events related to our community and its role in the rich heritage of the Fraser River. Discover Finn Slough! Click on the buttons to the left and be sure to visit our Gallery to view images collected from artists. Finn Slough (or sometimes Gilmore or Tiffin Slough) can be found on the south arm of the mighty Fraser River in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. The Slough is bounded on the Fraser River side by Gilmour Island and on the north by a dyke built to protect Richmond. Access to homes on the Gilmour Island side of the Slough is by a wooden draw-bridge, creating a definite sense of isolation from the nearby urban areas of Richmond and Vancouver.

The Richmond Nature Park Society

http://www.richmondnatureparksociety.ca/

The Richmond Nature Park Society is a non-profit organization aimed at promoting natural history and natural history education in Richmond, BC. The Society works in partnership with the City Of Richmond to provide natural history education opportunities that encourage residents and visitors to Richmond to learn about the environment and natural history of this community. Through a formal partnership agreement with the City of Richmond, the Nature Park Society provides governance, determines programs, sets policy, fundraises for programming and exhibits, hires programming staff and advocates on behalf of the Richmond Nature Park. Through our partnership agreement, city staff assist the Society in its mandate by facilitating our programs and activities.

http://www.richmondnatureparksociety.ca/index_pr_Volunteering.html

Volunteers play an important role at the Nature Park. They help with educational programs, special events and park operations.

Volunteer bird-watchers and botanists add to bio-inventory databases.

Weekend volunteers help maintain the trails and other features of the park, and may be involved in set-up for public programs and festivals. Trail maintenance involves the cutting and removal of invasive shrubs and application of bark mulch to wet or uneven areas.

Wildlife Garden - Volunteers are involved in development, planting and maintenance of this garden, which demonstrates ways of attracting wildlife. Duties include watering, weeding and preparation of beds.

Best Birdwatching Trail In Richmond

Best Bird Watching Trails in Richmond | AllTrails

Explore the most popular bird watching trails near Richmond with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.

Bird Sightings at the Richmond Nature Park

Richmond Nature Park, Metro Vancouver District, BC, CA - eBird Hotspot

Decolonizing the birds, The Globe and Mail, Marcus Gee, August 4, 2021

Decolonizing the birds: Birdwatchers look for more inclusive titles for species with naturalists’ names - The Globe and Mail

About 150 North American species bear the names of people, often the naturalists who ‘discovered’ them. Some are seeking to change that – and they’ve opened a can of worms in the ornithological world

Langley Field Naturalists

http://www.langleyfieldnaturalists.org/

The Langley Field Naturalists Society is a non-profit organization that aims to promote enjoyment, understanding and conservation of the natural environment. Most of our members live in Langley City or Langley Township, British Columbia, but residents in other areas are also welcome to join. Our meetings are on the third Thursday of the month, except July and August, at 7:15 pm at the Langley Music School, 4899 207 St., Langley. A brief business session is followed by the evening program and refreshments.

Nature Vancouver

https://naturevancouver.ca/

Founded in 1918, as Vancouver Natural History Society, Nature Vancouver offers a variety of activities with a focus on nature education, and enjoyment and conservation of natural environment. We organize EVENING PROGRAMS (from September to April), FIELD TRIPS (throughout the year), an annual SUMMER CAMP and occasional workshops, and more.

Whether you are just discovering the natural beauty of Vancouver and BC or are an experienced naturalist, we know you will enjoy the atmosphere and camaraderie of Nature Vancouver.

At present our EVENING PROGRAMS are presented online via ZOOM Video Conferencing.

We are hoping to commence hybrid in-person / online presentations in the near future. This would allow us to enjoy the social aspects of a live meeting, and still access a wider range of presenters, and accommodate those members who prefer to view from home rather than attending in-person. Sections provide a greater focus in specific areas of nature:

Citizen Science Advocacy Team – Nature Vancouver

Citizen Science has grown rapidly yet many of us don’t know what it is or how we can become engaged in citizen science activities. Nature Vancouver Director, John Martin, has set up a citizen science advocacy team to provide information and support to those who wish to pursue citizen science projects.

Birding Section – Nature Vancouver

At present the Evening programs of the Birding Section are held online. These programs are open to the public and members are encouraged to invite their friends. The Birders’ night programs are held on the First Thursday of each month from (September to May) at 7:30 p.m. The link to the Zoom meeting is published in e-News on the Monday of the week.

Botany Section – Nature Vancouver

The Botany section presents a series of free evening programs with a botanical focus (plants and fungi) for Nature Vancouver members and the general public. We’re looking to build connections and welcome new members with snacks and a featured herbal tea, plus the opportunity to bring photos of your ‘mystery’ plants and get some help identifying them. You can also learn more about our “plant of the month” or watch a Plant ID for Beginners PowerPoint.

Conservation Section – Nature Vancouver

For several decades the Conservation Section has played an active role in conservation in the Metro Vancouver area and has worked with other local organizations to conserve natural areas around BC. The conservation section is not very active at the moment, but information on conservation issues is circulated to members on our weekly email circulation.

Geology Section – Nature Vancouver

The Geology Section focuses on the geology of southwestern BC, mainly through a series of self-guided tours. From time to time field trips are organized that are posted on Nature Vancouver EVENTS CALENDAR.

Marine Biology Section – Nature Vancouver
The Marine Biology Section focuses on educating and fostering interest in nearby marine life and coastal habitats through a speaker series and nature walks.

Photography Section – Nature Vancouver

The Photography Section is chaired by Ron Long. From time to time, Ron conducts workshops to help members improve their photography skills. Ron also organizes an annual photo competition.

Volunteer Opportunities – Nature Vancouver

VOLUNTEER: All the activities and programs offered by Nature Vancouver are made possible by large group of dedicated volunteers. There are many opportunities for new volunteers to get involved.

Members are always needed to:

Lead field trips
Organize events and activities
Support and help section committees
Help at our evening programs.

For more information, please EMAIL us or use CONTACT US FORM. Or better still, talk to a board member or section committee member at one of our EVENING PROGRAMS.

VanDusen Botanical Garden

VanDusen Botanical Garden | VanDusen Botanical Garden (vandusengarden.org)

The Garden is jointly operated by the City of Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association, a charitable non-profit organization. Our two organizations have worked together for more than 40 years under a shared vision of making the Garden cherished locally and renowned internationally.

Download the VanDusen Botanical Garden Map

VanDusen Botanical Garden | Volunteer (vandusengarden.org)

Thank you for your interest in volunteering your time and talents with the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association. A wide range of volunteer opportunities are available with the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association, both at VanDusen Botanical Garden and Bloedel Conservatory. Each year, approximately 850 volunteers contribute their time and talents in education, visitor experience, governance, administration, fundraising and special events. Volunteers are pivotal to enhancing visitors’ learning and engagement experience and contributing to our mandate to connect people to plants and help them understand their role in Earth’s ecosystems.

The mission of VanDusen Botanical Garden and Bloedel Conservatory is to engage people of all ages and walks of life in the importance of biodiversity to our lives, and to foster a lifelong love of plants and gardens by virtue of their participation in our programs and services. We’re excited that you are interested in volunteering to be a part of this mission.

UBC Botanical Gardens

Explore our Garden - UBC Botanical Garden

UBC Botanical Garden is a place where visitors of all ages can explore and learn about plants from every corner of the world.

Volunteering - UBC Botanical Garden

Get to know UBC Botanical Garden with exclusive tours and seasonal training. Join us to discover and share the natural treasures of UBC Botanical Garden. As a UBC Botanical Garden Volunteer, you have opportunities to gain knowledge, share your skills, meet other nature and plant enthusiasts, and meet people of all ages. From students to seniors, we welcome all ages and abilities to come to the Garden to make a meaningful contribution to this amazing place. We have opportunities for many talents and interests and training is provided. We look forward to seeing you in the Garden. We host seasonal orientations to share available volunteer opportunities and welcome new volunteers to the Garden. Check back for dates for our next volunteer orientation. Volunteer opportunities may only be available seasonally. As our most active months and need for volunteers is April through October, we open volunteer applications in February. Please note that UBC Botanical Garden does not offer planting or gardening opportunities for volunteers.

The BC Bird Trail App

The BC Bird Trail Mobile Experience - Look Up, Stay Grounded

Our new mobile app is designed to make it easy and fun for birders of all levels to discover BC’s best birdwatching locations on the go. Designed with nature lovers and bird enthusiasts in mind, The BC Bird Trail Mobile Experience is the perfect digital companion for your next outdoor birding adventure, now available for download via the Apple App Store and Google Play.

With this app in your pocket, you’ll have the opportunity to earn points and badges as you discover expert insights and check in at iconic birding hotspots in participating Bird Trail regions and communities. As you earn points, check in on the app to track your progress alongside other birders on the app’s leaderboard!

The Sierra Club of BC

https://sierraclub.bc.ca/about/

Sierra Club BC works to support people stewarding abundant ecosystems and a stable climate, while building resilient, equitable communities. We advocate for a rapid shift away from fossil fuels to a low carbon, equitable economy. We work to inspire British Columbians to value nature and to defend it. In particular, we focus on children and youth to foster environmental literacy and to encourage the environmental leaders of tomorrow. Sierra Club BC relies on science-based research and peaceful, democratic means to advocate for change.

Take Action Centre - Sierra Club BC

EVERY VOICE COUNTS. MAKE YOURS HEARD. TAKE ACTION NOW!

https://sierraclub.bc.ca/about/join-the-club/

VOLUNTEER WITH US! The lands, waters and our relatives—from the salmon to the towering cedar—are in danger. But it’s not too late. Together, we can protect the breathtaking web of life which works hard to sustain us all. You are needed! Join a growing movement of people who are sharing their time and talent to help protect our shared home. Do you love to create art? Are you interested in helping kids connect to nature? Maybe you want to donate funds or are interested in being a Climate Ambassador? Or perhaps you want to share your idea for action with us?

Richmond Gem and Mineral Society (RGMS)

https://www.richmond.ca/culture/howartworks/cultural-centre/artgroups.htm

https://richmondbclapidary.wordpress.com/

RGMS, founded in 1957 as the Richmond Gem and Mineral Club, is a nonprofit, family-oriented society formed to foster and promote the hobby of rock collecting, and to preserve the cultural art of lapidary and silversmithing. We do this by encouraging members to go rockhounding at shows and in the wild, and take the basic training courses offered, such as: rock identification, lapidary, silversmithing, lost wax casting, carving, wire wrapping, and facetting; and to continue exploring their interests during open workshop hours.

BC Lapidary Society

https://www.bclapidary.com/rock-mineral-club-directory.php

The British Columbia Lapidary Society is an umbrella organization of 31 community clubs across the province. Below is a list of our member clubs and their respective contact information. If you are interested in rocks, gems, minerals, and the earth sciences, consider joining your local club. Most clubs host monthly meetings, field trips, and annual rock and gem shows.

Photography

Photography, City of Vancouver

Photography | City of Vancouver

Richmond Photo Club

https://www.richmond.ca/culture/howartworks/cultural-centre/artgroups.htm

Richmond Photo Club (photopursuits.com)

Founded in 1980, our club includes a range of beginner, intermediate, and advanced photographers shooting a wide variety of subjects. We meet from September to June on the second, third and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 P.M. in the Painting Studio on the second floor of the Richmond Cultural Centre at the corner of Granville Avenue and Minoru in Richmond, BC. Come along and meet us! You are welcome to attend two meetings at no cost before deciding whether to join the club.

Minoru Seniors Photo Club (55+)

Minoru Photo Club – Photo Enthusiasts

WELCOME. Who are we? What do we do?

We are a friendly and welcoming group of seniors.
We are mainly amateur photographers.
Our skills range from beginner to expert.
Our membership reflects the multicultural nature of Canada.
Best of all, we provide a fun, friendly, non-competitive atmosphere.
We meet throughout the year on the second and fourth Mondays of the month, from 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm at the Minoru Activity Centre,
If you want to hang out with fellow senior photographers, check us out!

MEETING INFORMATION - Meetings provide peer instruction on topics suggested by our members. We focus on understanding camera equipment and shooting techniques. We share our knowledge and skills with software processing methods. Members receive advice if they are having concerns with their images. We also have monthly themed challenges and “show & tell” sessions. We regularly organize photoshoots in local area of interest, we use transit or carpool to our destinations. Please consult our Calendar for information on our next meeting.

Langley Camera Club

https://www.langleycameraclub.ca/

Welcome to the Langley Camera Club! At our photography club, we get together to promote and advance photography as an art form and to relax and enjoy photography with friendly associates. Members are encouraged to be active in our hobby and promote friendly competition. We provide instruction and helpful advice to improve on existing and ever changing new techniques. Members are encouraged to produce new work and share images with each other. We exhibit photographic work of club members – both inside the club and in our community. Our club meets virtually three times a month via Zoom and in person once a month for special educational programs. Please see the calendar for meetings scheduled.

History and museums

City of Richmond museums and heritage sites

About Museum and Heritage Sites - City of Richmond, BC

Richmond is a city proud of its unique and significant heritage. Heritage can be anything of a physical, cultural or social nature that is unique to, and valued by, a community and passed from generation to generation. While the stewardship of the City of Richmond’s heritage resources is led by Museum and Heritage Services, there are many organizations and individuals within the city that contribute to the preservation, presentation, and documentation of Richmond’s heritage.

Artefact Collection - City of Richmond, BC

Artefacts in the City of Richmond’s 20,000+ artefact collection tell Richmond stories, past and present –- from First Nations baskets, to bog horseshoes and Chinese opera costumes. The Collections mandate is to collect and maintain objects that have historical, social and/or cultural significance to the community of Richmond and contributes to an understanding of the past and present human behaviour, customs, activities, events and institutions. Objects may be used in displays at one of Richmond’s many heritage facilities or to support educational programs. Richmond Museum - City of Richmond, BC

The Richmond Museum collects, documents, researches, preserves, exhibits and interprets objects of historical and cultural significance to the development and history of Richmond. Explore the culture and history of Richmond in the museum’s constantly changing exhibition gallery or through its online exhibits.

Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site - City of Richmond, BC

Britannia Shipyards is an authentic representation of a once thriving community of canneries, boat yards and residences. Many of the buildings date back to 1885 and tell the stories of multi-ethnic residents and workers at the Britannia Cannery and Britannia Shipyards: Chinese, European, First Nations and Japanese. This collection of buildings has national value and was designated a National Historic Site in 1991 by the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board. London Heritage Farm - City of Richmond, BC

London Farm is a four-acre agriculturally-themed park with the historical London family farmhouse as its centrepiece. Re-created rooms in farmhouse and the barn depict how the London family would have lived in the early 1900s. The surrounding park site illustrates early rural life in Steveston, with gardens designed to represent the London family’s tenure, an orchard of heritage fruit trees, a reconstructed barn, agricultural exhibits, chicken coop, beehives, community gardens, and public amenities. An original slough in the centre of the site has been restored into a pond, providing habitat for birds and waterfowl.

Steveston Museum - City of Richmond, BC

The Steveston Museum and Post Office is situated in the centre of Steveston Village. The Museum is comprised of three areas, each with their own history and offering unique but complementary experiences that celebrate and share the history and heritage of Steveston and its residents.
About the Steveston Tram - City of Richmond, BC

The Steveston Tram museum features Tram Car 1220, one of the original trams that ran on Richmond’s interurban rail system. Today, the beautifully restored tramcar and the building that houses it, allow visitors to experience authentic interurban rail travel and learn about early 20th century transportation. Designed to house Tram Car 1220, the museum was built around the original tracks of the BC Electric Railway Interurban Network across the street from where the Steveston Station once stood. You can still spot the original railroad path and power poles around the tram today.

https://www.richmond.ca/services/volunteering.htm

Opportunities are available in the following areas:

Friends of the Richmond Archives

https://www.richmond.ca/city-hall/archives/about/Friends.htm

The Friends of the Richmond Archives was established in 1987 to support the work of the City of Richmond Archives and to promote the preservation and understanding of Richmond's history.

In addition to supporting a unique publishing program for local Richmond history and carrying out a busy community exhibit program, the Friends also contribute funds for specialized archival equipment and projects at the City of Richmond Archives. The Friends have also endowed a UBC award for students in the Masters of Archival Studies Program and have supported a number of programs for local students in Richmond. If you would like to become a member of the Friends of the Richmond Archives, you can print out the membership form (see link below) and send it to us along with ten dollar ($10) per person annual membership fee. As a member, you will receive in the mail the semi-annual Archives News (the newsletter of the City of Richmond Archives), notifications of special events at the Archives, opportunities for volunteer involvement with the Friends, and an invitation to the annual Archives Tea.

British Columbia Genealogical Society

BCGS Home — BCGS

BCGS is entirely run by volunteers who do everything from answering research queries, managing and staffing the BCGS Genealogical Library, arranging for guest speakers, photographing Lower Mainland cemetery markers, to attending community events and much more in between. You may volunteer for one event, or for a short project, or you might like to take on a regular year-round activity. By volunteering, you'll meet new people, get to know other BCGS members better, learn new skills, and have some fun! If you'd like to volunteer, speak with a BCGS Board member or the Library Administrator, or to someone at the Hospitality table at a meeting. Let us know what you're interested in, and if you have special skills or experience to offer, please let us know about those, too.

Museums and Historic Sites in Richmond, BC

https://www.visitrichmondbc.com/things-to-do/arts-culture-and-history/museums-and-historic-sites/

Immerse yourself in history and you’ll discover that Richmond’s roots are as dynamic and fascinating as the city we know it as today. Take some time to visit Richmond’s museums or historic sites, and prepare to be amazed.

Steveston Historical Society

Steveston Historical Society – Preserving and promoting Steveston since 1976 (historicsteveston.ca)

Our Society has been in place since 1976 to preserve and promote the history of Steveston, British Columbia.

Volunteer Opportunities – Steveston Historical Society (historicsteveston.ca)

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the Steveston Historical Society. As we are a non-profit organization, we greatly appreciate any time, knowledge, and expertise that you are able to contribute. Passionate About Steveston's History? Become a member of the Steveston Historical Society and help us in our mission to preserve and promote the history of Steveston.

London Heritage Farm, Steveston

https://www.richmond.ca/culture/sites/londonfarm.htm

London Farm is a four-acre agriculturally-themed park with the historical London family farmhouse as its center piece. Re-created rooms in farmhouse and the barn depict how the London family would have lived in the early 1900s. The surrounding park site illustrates early rural life in Steveston, with gardens designed to represent the London family’s tenure, an orchard of heritage fruit trees, a reconstructed barn, agricultural exhibits, chicken coop, beehives, community gardens, and public amenities. An original slough in the centre of the site has been restored into a pond, providing habitat for birds and waterfowl.

https://stevestonheritage.ca/visit/london-farm/

Experience rural life in Richmond during the 1890s to 1920s at this Edwardian farmhouse built in 1906 and its surrounding gardens, once home to the London family and their farm workers.

https://stevestonheritage.ca/visit/london-farm/join-us/

Volunteers are an important part of our seasonal events and programs. Please check back for future opportunities, or visit the City of Richmond’s Volunteer page.

Gulf of Georgia Cannery, Steveston

https://gulfofgeorgiacannery.org/learn-more/

Experience the stories of Canada’s West Coast fishing industry and learn about the significance of the canning industry and the village of Steveston. The Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site’s group programs include guided tours of the historic salmon canning line and a lesson on the technology and the people who worked in this booming industry at the turn of the 20th century. Groups both local and from afar will enjoy exploring their connections to our West Coast fishing history.

Volunteer | Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society | Steveston BC

The Gulf of Georgia Cannery is a National Historic Site located in picturesque Steveston Village. Our designation as a National Historic Site means that the cannery holds great significance in the economic and cultural history of Canada. Surrounded by a vibrant community of active fishing fleets, residential neighborhoods, and small businesses, the Cannery is a family-friendly part of many seasonal celebrations. Additionally, during the high tourism season of summer, visitors come to Steveston to indulge in fresh seafood and to learn the diverse history of fishing on Canada’s West Coast. As a non-profit, volunteers are a crucial part of our operations. Volunteers streamline our daily operations and assist with work behind the scenes, inspiring folks of all ages. By volunteering with us, you can be part of our cannery story!

Britannia Shipyard, Steveston

https://stevestonheritage.ca/visit/britannia-shipyards-national-historic-site/about/

Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site is an 8-acre heritage park set on the scenic banks of the Fraser River. The site is the original location of early canning, fishing and boatbuilding operations. Arranged along a wooden boardwalk, the unique landscape and collection of heritage buildings tell the stories of the diverse community of people who lived and worked in Steveston over the past 150 years.

https://stevestonheritage.ca/visit/britannia-shipyards-national-historic-site/join-us/volunteer/

Join the volunteer crew at Britannia Shipyards National Historic Sites in a variety of roles and opportunities for people of all backgrounds. Volunteers are an important part of our season events and public programs. Opportunities:

Heritage Site Greeters and Wayfinders

Help welcome guests to our heritage sites with warm and friendly greetings! These volunteers help our visitors navigate our 8-acre site, and inform the public about what our site has to offer.

Dockside Volunteers

During the summer season, we occasionally open our waterfront docks to the public. Volunteers will interact with visitors and with visiting boat captains, while ensuring the public’s safety.

Special Event and Cultural Program Volunteers

Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site has year-round opportunities for volunteers to help at our public events. Some of these include:

Family Day
Doors Open
Richmond Culture Days
Richmond Maritime Festival
Winter in the Village

School Programs Volunteer

Are you passionate about education and working with children? Volunteers will assist our school programs facilitator to ensure a smooth and enjoyable educational experience.

Steveston Tram Society

https://stevestonheritage.ca/visit/steveston-tram/

The Steveston Tram museum features Tram Car 1220, one of the original trams that ran on Richmond’s Interurban rail system. Today, the immaculately restored tram car and the building that houses it, allow visitors to experience authentic Interurban rail travel and learn about early 20th century transportation.

Designed to house Tram Car 1220, the museum was built around the original tracks of the BC Electric Railway Interurban Network across the street from where the Steveston Station once stood. You can still spot the original railroad path and power poles around the tram today.

https://stevestonheritage.ca/visit/steveston-tram/join-us/steveston-tram-volunteers/

VOLUNTEER: Help connect visitors to the Steveston Tram and Richmond’s transportation history.

We welcome volunteers 16 years old and up who enjoy learning new things, working as a team, and sharing their enthusiasm with the public. Training and support are provided, and roles are flexible to suit different interests and schedules.

Special Event Volunteers (Short Term): Support fun, one-time or seasonal events throughout the year. Tasks may include helping with activities, sharing basic Tram information, and assisting with crowd flow. This role is ideal for volunteers who enjoy a variety of experiences or short-term commitments.

Greeters (Long Term): Be the friendly first face that visitors meet. Greeters welcome guests, share a brief history, highlight key features of the museum, and help set the tone for a great visit.

Greeters enjoy chatting with people, wearing a Tram uniform, and volunteering regularly (at least twice a month for six months).

Specialist Volunteers (Long Term): Do you have specialized knowledge in trams, trains, or public transit? Specialist volunteers enjoy sharing their expertise with visitors, wearing a Tram uniform, and typically commit to volunteering a minimum of twice a month for at least one year.

Museum of Anthropology (MOA), Vancouver

Home - Museum of Anthropology at UBC

MOA is committed to promoting awareness and understanding of culturally diverse ways of knowing the world through challenging and innovative programs and partnerships with Indigenous, local and global communities.

Volunteer - Museum of Anthropology at UBC

Please note: MOA will be postponing the 2021 Volunteer Associates recruitment, in light of the COVID-19 virus outbreak. Find out more details here. Please check this page for information about when recruitment will resume, or subscribe to MOA e-news for regular updates. If you have already submitted an application, we will be in touch with you directly. Are you interested in museums and world arts and cultures? Do you like meeting new people? Are you an active learner? If so, you should consider joining our friendly team of MOA Volunteer Associates. MOA volunteers contribute their time and expertise to many of the programs, activities and events at the Museum. Our success depends on the support of enthusiastic volunteers who benefit from thorough training and ongoing educational opportunities.

The success of MOA and its Volunteer Associates program is linked to being a diverse and welcoming place for all. Join us to work toward a more inclusive world. We encourage people of all identities, backgrounds and communities to contribute their experiences to the MOA Volunteer Associates.

VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATES + COMMITTEES

Volunteers become members of a self-governing Volunteer Association that works under the direction of MOA staff to meet many of our public education, research and collections needs. There are several volunteer committees through which volunteers can contribute their time and skills. Click on the links below for further information about each committee:

Vancouver Maritime Museum

Vancouver Maritime Museum | A hidden gem in Kitsilano (vanmaritime.com)

VANCOUVER MARITIME MUSEUM A HIDDEN GEM IN KITSILANO. Visit A family-friendly museum. Open Tues – Sun 10-5. BOOK NOW. Exhibitions. See what’s on view in the museum. HOURS. Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Also open on statutory holidays (except Christmas). Our safety and health procedures ensure visitors can safely enjoy the museum

Volunteer | Vancouver Maritime Museum (vanmaritime.com)

Volunteer with the Vancouver Maritime Museum. Meet new people and make a difference. Our community of volunteers help the museum in many ways, from supporting education programs to helping to organize collections and assisting at special events.

Education Volunteers: We are always looking for energetic people who like working with children and are available weekdays to help with education programs. Our volunteers work with students in preschool to grade seven in programs that explore maritime themes including the working harbour, coastal exploration and boats of all types. Volunteers also help out with public programs that introduce maritime history, science and culture to people of all ages. Training is provided to all education volunteers.

Curatorial Volunteers: help with exhibit installation and design, cataloguing, condition reports, photographing artifacts and more.

Library Volunteers: primarily with cataloguing. However, other functions may include processing new acquisitions, shelving and assisting with reference inquiries. Library volunteers must have completed a minimum of one year of the Library & Information Technology Diploma Program. Experience working in a library and some cataloguing experience or completed relevant courses preferred.

Special Event volunteers: help guests, give event info to the public and perform a variety of other duties during large special events like exhibition openings and festivals.

How to Apply: Complete a volunteer application form and send it to the volunteer coordinator:

Programs @ Vancouver Maritime Museum 1905 Ogden Avenue Vancouver, BC V6J 1A3 Phone: 604 257-8306 Fax: 604 737-2621 Email: programs@vanmaritime.com

An interview will be scheduled to ensure that there is an appropriate match for both the applicant and the Vancouver Maritime Museum. References are required.

Collections, Google Arts and Culture, virtual museums and art galleries

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner?hl=en&tab=pop

Stamp and coin collecting, model railway and street car enthusiasts

BC Philatelic Society

British Columbia Philiatelic Society Home Page (bcphilatelic.org)

The BC Philatelic Society — the “BC Phil” — has existed since 1919. Its purpose is to educate and publicize the hobby of philately to as wide an audience as possible, to recruit new members, and to form bonds with collectors and clubs throughout North America and abroad. It is affiliated with the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada, the American Philatelic Society, and the Northwest Federation of Stamp Clubs. With 71 members, including 3 stamp dealers, the Society meets on most Wednesday nights at the West Burnaby United Church, 7551 Gray Ave, Burnaby, BC. It sponsors the annual VANPEX stamp exhibition and bourse. Members have access to the society’s philatelic library, may buy and sell in the society’s monthly auctions, and receive its newsletters.

Numismatic Society, North Shore

Vancouver, North Shore Numismatic Society - Coin Club

Are you looking for a Coin Club to join in Vancouver? Or just wanting to meet like-minded collectors in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere? We are a non-profit society working for the advancement of numismatica at all levels. Membership is open to all interested parties. (You don't have to be a member to come along)

A Numismatic Presentation
Show-and-tell
a Coin Auction!

Our Club Meetings are on ZOOM. Zoom in and meet us . Non-members are very welcome.
Subscribe to our email to receive meeting reminders.

Write to Mike Souza for Zoom login details : info@northshorenumismaticsociety.org

Steveston Historic Tram

Steveston Tram - Steveston Heritage Sites - Richmond BC

Visit the museum to explore Tram Car 1220, one of the last interurban tram cars which serviced the city from 1913-1958. For 55 years, the interurban tram transported people between Steveston to Vancouver, New Westminster, and as far away as Chilliwack on the BC Electric Railway Company line. Step inside the beautifully restored tram, and learn about the communities and the passengers that it serviced – not all of them human!

Meet Meribeth: Tram Restoration Volunteer - Steveston Tram (stevestonheritage.ca)

From 2016 to 2019, one of the BC Electric Railway’s remaining Interurbans, Tram Car 1220, was lovingly restored by dedicated volunteers and staff members. Now on display at the Steveston Tram museum, visitors may experience a piece of Richmond’s past and learn about the area’s history. Meribeth is one of these dedicated volunteers who helped with the restoration project.

Fraser Heritage Railway Society

Fraser Valley Heritage Rail Society – Surrey's Heritage Rail (fvhrs.org)

Come to Cloverdale and experience the Heritage Rail Adventure!

It all starts at the Cloverdale railway station. This station is the exact replica of the original station built in 1910. In the station you may meet characters from the past telling you their story. You will see “Bill’s Corner Store” selling goods that can only be bought here.

On the outside patio you may experience some live musical performances – some amateur and some professional. Then there are the trains! You will board a fully restored B.C. Electric Interurban Railcar, and ride on a short journey, where you’ll be given the history of the car and told the story of the car’s restoration before returning to the station.

The adventure continues as you get off the train and enter the Discovery Centre world. The learning part of your adventure is seeing our movie in the #1207 theatre. Ring some bells, toot some horns and see the graphics on the story boards.

Buzz down the tracks on the Honey Bee Express. Race on the Family Quad Car. Earn your distinguished button by riding the Velocipede. A very rare experience!

The time goes quickly. About an hour. You are guided out of the centre past our Honey Bee hives and our wildflower meadow back to the Cloverdale Station.

A wonderful, unique railway adventure!

FVHRS is 100% Volunteer-run - We are actively looking for volunteers to help support the activities and operations of the society.

You don’t need to be an engineer to get involved! Click here to learn more.

Volunteer – Fraser Valley Heritage Rail Society (fvhrs.org)

Join Our Amazing Team of Volunteers - Do you want to learn how to drive BCER 1225? Talk to the passengers and tell stories about ‘the good old days’ on the rails? Greet and guide passengers on board, or at the stations? We are always looking for volunteers!

We offer a comprehensive (and fun) orientation session for all of our volunteers.

Volunteers are needed on weekends during our operating season of May through to October to help with greeting guests, ticket sales, guided tours and more.

Additionally, we are always seeking volunteers with electrical, mechanical and woodworking skills to help maintain and restore the cars.

Delta Model Railway Club, Tsawwassen, BC

Delta Model Railway Club

Since 2008 we have been a club that is dedicated to the hobby of model railways.
Our club has a permanent location in Tsawwassen, BC. The club has a HO scale and an N scale layout. Members also participate in the continuous building and maintenance of our layout, trains, and other equipment. We follow the guidelines as outlined by the National Model Railway Association. The club’s facilities are available to all members every day.

This society is a member-funded non-profit society registered in the Province of British Columbia. It is funded primarily by its members to carry on activities for the benefit of its members and the community at large. Don’t have the room to build a layout at home to stretch out those passenger/freight trains? Whether you are new to the hobby or an expert, the Delta Model Railway Club is the place for you.

Highlights:
- HO Scale

- 30FT- 8Track Staging yard

- 2 Mainlines [East-West] bound with an ample amount of long passing sidings.

- Passenger yard

- Switching yard

- Approximately 13 Miles / 20 KM Scale Track length and growing.

Under construction:

- Scenery: mountains, rivers, tunnels, etc

- Aspects of BC and Delta

- Full-service roundhouse

- Freight shipyard

- HOn3 Narrow Gauge short line.

How to find us - We are located in the heart of Tsawwassen at the Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall.

Planning a visit? Please make sure to contact us via email or phone.

Public open hours will be posted in the coming weeks.

1249 56 Street, Tsawwassen, BC. Phone: 604-943-8392

Vancouver train EXPO

Vancouver Train Expo | British Columbia's biggest train show !

It's official! Vancouver Train Expo 2023 is on. November 4th 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday November 5th 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Pacific National Exhibition Forum Building, Vancouver, B. C. Operating model train displays in all sizes, modelling demonstrations, activities for children of all ages, vendors and much more!

Engine 374, Roundhouse Community Centre

Engine 374 - Roundhouse Community Centre

West Coast Railway Association Partnership - The Engine 374 Pavilion is run in partnership with the West Coast Rail Association (WCRA), the Vancouver Park Board, and the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Association. The pavilion is staffed by volunteers through WCRA several hours per day, seven days per week year-round (depending on volunteer availability). The Engine volunteers are enthusiastic supporters of all things “rail” and are happy to give visitors from all over the world a tour of the engine and provide some background on its interesting and colourful history as well as that of the CPR, turntable, and the history of the Roundhouse and Yaletown.

Volunteer - Roundhouse Community Centre

Together Let’s Make a Difference - Volunteering through the Roundhouse Volunteer Program is not only a great way to meet new people, it’s a fun and rewarding way to give back to the community. Throughout the year, the Roundhouse assembles a dedicated group of volunteers who participate in a range of activities and events. From youth volunteers to a faithful team of older adults, our volunteers represent the diversity of the community, sharing their specialized skill sets and experiences with one another.

Pubic speaking, theatre, libraries, reading/writing, radio operation, emergency response and tech su

Richmond Toastmasters

Richmond Toastmasters

Welcome to the official website of Richmond Toastmasters. We are a Toastmasters club located in Richmond BC focusing on empowering our Members to become more effective public speakers, communicators & leaders...and we have fun doing so! We normally meet at South Arm Community Centre. We invite guests to join us in our welcoming and supportive setting for some inspiration and comraderie! Do you want to:

Communicate clearly in meetings?
Mingle comfortably at any party?
Speak confidently in front of an audience?
Participate and learn in a supportive club atmosphere?
Improve your listening skills, time management, ability to think on your feet, or your leadership skills?

If so, visit Richmond Toastmasters, where we explore the boundaries of our speaking and leadership skills.

Richmond Centre for Disability (RCD): Services and Activities - Public Speaking

https://rcdrichmond.org/ServicesActivitiesWorkshops/ServicesActivitiesWorkshops.php

Does your brain go blank when speaking in front of others? Come to gain more confidence and become a master of speech! January, April & September Terms (See schedule for exact dates) Every other Thursday 4:00 – 5:30pm Total 10 Sessions in this term, Cost: $10

Contact Person: Dina ( dina@rcdrichmond.org )

The Naked Stage

https://www.nspsociety.com/

What is Naked Stage? While our name might imply an erotic happening, it’s the stage that’s naked, not the performers. Our performances don’t have movement, extensive lighting, sound systems or props. The stage is bare except for the actors, seated on stools, with their scripts on music stands in front of them. Our focus is on characters and story – much like radio plays.

The Richmond Public Library

Richmond Public Library (yourlibrary.ca)

The library is open and our friendly staff are ready to assist you! Come in today to study, use a computer, pick up holds, browse collections, and check out materials.

Starting September 14, our four library branches will be open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 9:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 5:00pm. The Hamilton book dispenser is available Monday to Friday from 2:00pm to 6:00pm and Saturdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

For the latest information about available library services and current hours of operation, visit our Hours & Locations page.

To register for our online and limited in-person programs visit our Events Calendar for the most up-to-date program listings..

The City of Richmond continues to require the wearing of masks in all indoor City-operated facilities.

Richmond Public Library | Programs & Events (yourlibrary.ca)

Seniors
Adults
Digital
Indigenous
Kids
Newcomers
Teens

https://www.yourlibrary.ca/volunteering

VOLUNTEERING: Want to give back, learn new skills, or get community work experience? Check out RPL’s volunteer opportunities! Email us with any questions or inquiries. Please note that book shelving, sorting, and check-ins/check-outs are staff responsibilities, and volunteers are unable to assist in these roles. Please contact the Friends of the Library if you are interested in volunteering to help with book sales and library advocacy opportunities.

City of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada - Volunteers

Tech Buddies - Richmond Public Library - 2022 Fall (Adults)

Provide hands-on help with technology learning to seniors at various community centres and seniors' facilities in Richmond. Volunteers should be 55+, tech-savvy and comfortable teaching technology basics on phones, tablets, or laptops. Additional languages are an asset.

Specific Tasks: Offer advice and guidance to older adults on a variety of devices in a patient and friendly manner, and corresponding with their needs, interests, and skill levels. Set up and take down equipment and supplies for each session, as needed.

The Vancouver Public Library

About the Library | Vancouver Public Library (vpl.ca)

Vancouver Public Library has been dedicated to meeting the lifelong learning, reading and information needs of Vancouver residents for more than 100 years. Last year, VPL had nearly 6.5 million visits, with patrons borrowing nearly 9.5 million physical and digital items including books, ebooks, movies, music and magazines. Across 21 locations, VPL is the most-visited major urban library per capita in Canada.

Accessibility | Vancouver Public Library (vpl.ca)

Vancouver Public Library makes every effort to accommodate library users with disabilities through the provision of the Accessible Services department, by highlighting the libraries accessible facilities and features and actively pursuing a more accessible web experience.

To learn more about accessibility please choose from one of the 3 options provided below.

1. Accessible services

2. Accessibility at the library

3. Web accessibility

Friends of the Vancouver Public Library

Get Involved (friendsofthevpl.ca)

VOLUNTEER: We love volunteers! Our volunteers are a wonderful group of people with diverse backgrounds, who all share a common love of libraries and reading.

If you are a Friend (member) of the Vancouver Public Library already, we invite you e-mail us a resume and a note about your interests. Please note that as we are an entirely volunteer-run organization it may take some time to get back to you. We may also contact you with opportunities based on the volunteer interests that you check off when you become a member.

If you are not a Friend (member) yet – consider joining us.

Please note that all volunteers must be 18 years or older.

Volunteers with Friends of VPL help with our many fundraising activities and with the running of the Society. Although volunteers do not work in the Library, they contribute to the programs, collections, and activities of the VPL.

Simon Fraser University (SFU) Continuing Studies, Lectures and Events

https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/lectures-and-events/by-date.html

Engage with the community through one of SFU Continuing Studies’ public lectures, events, or forums. Most are free, and admission is open to anyone. Some events require reservations.

Simon Fraser University(SFU) Public Square

https://www.sfu.ca/publicsquare.html

SFU Public Square - Engaging the world.

https://www.sfu.ca/publicsquare/aboutus.html

About - SFU Public Square, a signature initiative designed to spark, nurture and restore community connections, establishes Simon Fraser University as the go-to convener of serious and productive conversations about issues of public concern.

More than a single place or program, SFU Public Square assembles the hearts, minds, and talents of diverse communities to promote inclusive, intelligent, and inspiring dialogue.

Amnesty International

Who We Are - Amnesty International Canada

Amnesty International is a global movement of over 7 million people in more than 150 countries working together to protect and promote human rights. Our vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments. Our mission is to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated. We believe that we are at our most powerful when we stand together for human rights. Each person, no matter who or where they are, can make change happen by acting in concert with others who share their vision of a world where everyone lives in dignity. People are the strength of our organization. It is because so many people speak out for justice that Amnesty International is able to achieve remarkable things.

Get Involved: Your Guide to Taking Action with Amnesty International - Amnesty International Canada

Get Involved: Your Guide to Taking Action with Amnesty International

There are countless opportunities to get involved with Amnesty International.

Our Activism Guide is your resource for the latest campaigns and actions.

MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: FIND A GROUP NEAR YOU Amnesty has community groups and action circles across the country. Join one near you today! ATTEND AN EVENT Check out our events page for upcoming Amnesty activities in your community. JOIN THE URGENT ACTION NETWORK To receive urgent appeals on an ongoing basis. TAKE ACTION NOW The full list of online and letter-writing actions is available on our website.

Vancouver Writers Fest

About | Vancouver Writers Fest

Our mission: We connect people to exceptional books, ideas and dialogue through year-round programming that ignites a passion for words and the world around us.

Inclusivity at the Festival | Vancouver Writers Fest

Inclusivity at the Festival: The Vancouver Writers Fest strives to create a welcoming space for everyone to engage with ideas that can transform our world. Safety, inclusion and acceptance are essential components of our Festival and our values.

Programs | Vancouver Writers Fest

Incite: Presented by the Vancouver Writers Fest and the Vancouver Public Library, Incite offers conversations with authors every two weeks from January to June. Celebrated writers and new talents with recently-released books discuss their latest works, answer questions about their creative process and speak to an overarching theme. Incite is presented thanks to the support of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association and the Government of British Columbia.

The Festival: Our flagship Festival every October welcomes more than 100 writers from across the globe to share their stories and ideas with 17,000+ audience members.

Volunteer | Vancouver Writers Fest

Our flagship Festival will take place October 18–24, 2021. While health regulations continue to evolve, we are currently planning a hybrid festival, which means the potential return of some in-person events.

Volunteers are the backbone of the Vancouver Writers Fest, and we look forward to being able to recruit more volunteers this year after 2020’s digital-only Festival.

Volunteer opportunities will be shared closer to Festival season, in August. Until then, please use our contact form for specific inquiries.

Volunteer activities may include:

Program Guide Distribution

Author Hospitality
Administration
Box Office
Book Sales
Raffle Ticket Sales
Social Media Support
Photography and Video

Federation of BC Writers

FBCW - Home (bcwriters.ca)

We are British Columbia's Community of Writers.

FBCW - Purpose Statement (bcwriters.ca)

THE FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS WILL:

Promote excellence and professionalism in the literary arts in British Columbia
Improve the status of the literary arts in British Columbia by encouraging publication; providing information on markets and workshops; sponsoring readings, workshops and seminars; and establishing communication between writers and interested agents and markets
Encourage greater recognition of British Columbia writers and their achievements regionally and nationally
Provide information on the Province’s literary resources to the people of British Columbia
Work cooperatively with other provincial and federal agencies and organizations concerned with writing and writing standards
Encourage and support young emerging writers in British Columbia

FBCW - Join us (bcwriters.ca)

WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS! Membership in The Federation of BC Writers is open to everyone who writes (published and unpublished). The FBCW also invites editors, teachers, librarians, booksellers, publishers and others with an interest in British Columbia’s vibrant writing and publishing community to join.

To see the benefits of membership please visit our Members Benefits page.

Volunteer Opportunities (bcwriters.ca)

Members Make It at the Fed. Our organization can only be as strong as members make it; and the stronger the Fed becomes, the more it can help BC writers achieve their creative and business objectives. Please consider taking on any of the volunteer opportunities listed on this page.

Poetry in the Park, City of Vancouver

Poetry in Parks "Fresh Local Poetry" pilot project | City of Vancouver

Quirk-e (Queer Imaging & Riting Kollective for Elders)

https://quirk-e.ca/

QUIRK-E stands for Queer Imaging and Riting Kollective for Elders. We are queer elders who since 2006 meet weekly in Vancouver, BC to connect, care and create community.

QUIRK-E engages in

Creativity by writing and imaging
Resilience by aging with pride while telling our truths
Advocacy by speaking out, performing, and sharing our work

Statement of Inclusion: We declare our adherence to the Canadian and BC Human Rights Codes, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including but not limited to prohibition of discrimination based on Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital or family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age.

Richmond Amateur Radio Club (RARC)

Richmond Amateur Radio Club (RARC) | Richmond Amateur Radio Club (rarclub.net)

The RARC club is committed to educating the community about Amateur Radio and help people to become licensed “Hams”. Once you have a license we also support you in raising the level of your license. We offer class for all three level of amateur radio licenses twice a year. generally starting in Feb. and Sep., see the License Class Schedules section of the website for more details. We also offer license exams every odd month of the year on the second Saturday of the month.

Due to COVID-19, meetings are held the second Friday of every month using Zoom. Everyone is welcome to attend even if you are not a member. See out newsletter for the zoom information.

To become a member of the club, use the application form found here. You do not have to have a “Ham” license to join, just an interest in amateur radio.

reBOOT Canada

https://www.rebootcanada.ca/

We provide computer equipment, training and technical support to charities, non-profits and people with limited access to technology from locations in Vancouver, Toronto and Peterborough.

https://www.rebootcanada.ca/about/

reBOOT Canada is a registered charity incorporated in Ontario on May 3, 1995, with the primary purpose of making the internet and digital tools accessible to under-served communities and individuals across Canada so they can be connected, build capacity for self-sufficiency and improve their employment and education prospects. We are guided by the core values of sustainability, innovation and environmental stewardship, accountability and education. Our Mission is to enable all Canadians to become fully functioning members of society through providing subsidized access to technology. We are working to bridge the digital divide that exists within organizations, and individuals who cannot otherwise afford access to technology.

Repair Cafes - CITY OF VANCOUVER

Repair cafés and zero waste fairs | City of Vancouver

Have a small appliance, electronic item, or piece of clothing that needs fixing? As part of our vision to be a zero waste community by 2040, the City, along with our partners, host free, convenient repair events in Vancouver to make it easier for residents to get items fixed that might otherwise end up in the landfill. The more we can repair, reuse, and recycle, the longer products stay in circulation. Join us at the next repair event and fix that hole in your favourite shirt or get that reading lamp working again. You might even see your “inner repairer” come to life to help you fix your own item.

Repair café volunteers needed

The Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC) is seeking repair café volunteers.

If you are passionate about waste reduction, helping the community, or repairing items, learn more and register to volunteer.

Repair Café - SPEC

In cooperation with the City of Vancouver, SPEC is hosting 8 repair cafes for 2023 in support of the City’s Zero Waste by 2040 goals and SPEC’s Zero Waste Committee education and advocacy programs. Book one free appointment time slot between 9:00am-1:00pm to receive in person repair help from our volunteer repairers.

What is a Repair Café? Started in Amsterdam in 2009, Repair Café is a global initiative that aims to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills, and to change society’s “throw-away” mindset.

Repair Café brings together local repair volunteers with a knack for repairing who are willing to lend their knowledge and show event participants how to carry out repairs.

The more we can repair, reuse, and recycle the longer products stay in circulation.

Get Involved! Volunteers are integral to the functioning of a repair café. We are currently seeking volunteers for the following roles: Registration/check-in, Event Support and Fixers

Repair Events - SHARE REUSE REPAIR

Repair Cafes return to Vancouver! In cooperation with the City of Vancouver, SPEC is hosting 8 repair cafes for 2023 in support of the City’s Zero Waste by 2040 goals and SPEC’s Zero Waste Committee education and advocacy programs.

Call for volunteers and fixers for Repair Cafes. SPEC (Society Promoting Environmental Conservation) in partnership with the City of Vancouver offers FREE community repair cafes because the more we can repair, the longer products stay in circulation, and this means less waste. They are seeking volunteers for a variety of positions, including greeters, set up/take down, and fixers. If you are passionate about waste reduction, helping the community, or repairing and fixing items, they look forward to having you on the Repair Cafe team!

Reuse & Repair Cafe, Richmond

Richmond supports a circular economy by encouraging residents to use, reuse or repair and recycle items multiple times to help reduce waste and reliance on natural resources..

Let's reuse to reduce waste. You’re invited to drop-off small, clean items, in good working order.

How It Works
Swap it - drop-off items for others to choose from and pick out new-to-you items.
Leave it - leave items, without taking anything new
Take it - everyone is welcome to take items

Reuse & Repair Café - City of Richmond, BC

Remote control sailing

Steveston Remote Control Sailing Club

https://www.stevestonrcsailing.com/about-srcs

SRCS is a group of individuals who share an interest in RC sailing and racing. Headquartered in Steveston BC, we utilize the beautiful sheltered waters of Steveston Harbour. Our main racing venue is at Imperial Landing with its long lineal dock that is perfect for launching and following an RC boat. Founded in 2017, as an informal group sailing Soling One Meters and Dragon Force 65s (DF65), membership swelled and the Club emerged as a registered society in the spring of 2018. By that time International One Meters (IOM) had been added as our third formal fleet. The Club is open to any class of RC sailboat with organized racing of the official fleets being the primary activity. Most members also join the Canadian Radio Yachting Association (CRYA), the national body promoting radio controlled sailing in Canada. If you are interested in joining SRCS please make contact through stevestonrcsailing@gmail.com or by dropping by the Imperial Landing dock during one of our scheduled race days or by following the steps outlined below.

RC sailing a fast-growing hobby on the Steveston waterfront - Richmond News (richmond-news.com)

A fast-growing hobby on the Steveston waterfront hosted the Canadian Championships on the weekend. The dock at Imperial Landing was the site of the Dragon Force 65 National Championships — featuring radio controlled 65-cm yachts doing a series of races over two days. The event was hosted by the Steveston Radio Controlled (RC) Sailing Club that has seen its membership swell from four to 53 members over the last couple of years. The club hosts regular races two Sunday afternoons each month for the 65 cm class and also on Thursdays for a larger fleet until the end of November. “We do have a lot of spectators on a good day. You can hear them cheering for different colour boats,” said club member Al Oliver. “The public likes it and word of mouth and social media has generated interest too.

Woodworking, woodcarving, cedar bark weaving, building construction and building supplies

Woodworking, City of Vancouver

Woodworking | City of Vancouver

Learn to use power and hand tools to build projects using wood. If you are an experienced woodworker, you can drop-in to use the tools and the studio space.

Richmond Carvers Association

Instruction and projects | Richmondcarvers.com | British Columbia

We are a non profit organization dedicated to the advancement of woodworking as a hobby and as an art form. Started in1988 the society has grown to over 74 members with skill levels ranging from beginner to internationally acclaimed expert.Members meet for carving sessions every Wednesday from Mid September to mid June at from 6:30pm to 9:00pm.

Please feel free to drop in any time at Hugh McRoberts School, 8980 Williams Rd, Richmond, BC. Meetings will resume on September 14, 2022.

Richmond Carvers Society welcomes new members -- woodcarving club open to all ages--no experience level required -- instruction and projects

COMING SOON - virtual carving show, October 15, 2022

2020 Show Album | Richmondcarvers.com | British Columbia

Woodworking Shop at Minoru Seniors Centre (55+)

https://minorucentre.ca/seniors-services/

Seniors Centre at Minoru Centre for Active Living, 7191 Granville Avenue Richmond, BC

Phone: 604-238-8450 Fax: 604-718-8462 Email: seniors@richmond.ca

This new facility includes a lounge, full-service cafeteria and a range of activity rooms, including an arts studio, woodworking shop, billiards room, multipurpose rooms and a dedicated entrance and lobby. In partnership with the City, the Minoru Seniors Society provides a comprehensive and expanded range of programs and services.

Woodworking/woodcarving schedule:

https://minorucentre.ca/seniors-services/seniors-facility-pass-activities/

Additional $36 per year on top of $28 per year Seniors Facility Pass

Tetra Woodworking shop at the Blusson Spinal Institute in Vancouver

Pacific Region - Tetra Society of North America Vancouver volunteers are offering classes for anyone with a disability interested in learning how to use woodworking workshop to produce craft projects. Launched in 2011, the Tetra shop project is helping people with significant mobility limitations to make beautiful arts and crafts, handy items like bookshelves, footstools and ballpoint pens, and fun ones like birdhouses and planters. Participants discover new skills and hobbies and have fun at the same time.

Tetra Woodworking Shop, in Vancouver - YouTube

Video of Tetra Woodworking Shop featuring workshop participants

Tetra Societys Fully Accessible Workshop (rcdrichmond.org)

The workshop provides a unique opportunity to learn and practice craft skills in a 620-square-foot, fully accessible workshop. The shop is located in the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre (818 West 10th St., Vancouver) and has power saws, drills, sanders, wood burning kits and a variety of hand tools. “We encourage people to do whatever they can physically do,” explained Tetra volunteer George Shipley. “We are there to advise and instruct people, and to guarantee safety when using the tools.

Britannia Community Services Centre, East Vancouver

Britannia Community Services Centre 55+ Programs and Highlights | (britanniacentre.org)

Cedar Hat Weaving

Learn how to create a woven cedar hat using techniques handed down over thousands of years. Though most hats will follow traditional shapes, there is room for creative interpretation with guidance from Todd and skilled volunteers. Each participant will have access to the tools and cedar warps and wefts to complete their own Cedar Hat.

Britannia Elders Arts — Arts and Health: Healthy Aging Through the Arts

In Fall 2016, the Britannia group began a new project with Haida weaver Todd Devries.

Thursdays at Britannia Todd shares his weaving practice with a group of Elders and seniors learning to make cedar hats. “Everything we need to know about weaving, we learn from the spider,” Todd says. “You start with 4 warps or strands (the spider’s legs) and weave in a weft strand or weaver, and form the Haida cross, and then weave around the legs of the spider, as a spider would when spinning its own web. Around and around.”

Britannia Cedar Bark Hat Weaving and Arts & Health: Healthy Aging Through the Arts

https://vimeo.com/665865070

Cedar Bark Hat Weaving, sometimes called H.A.T.T.A., is part of Arts & Health: Healthy Aging Through the Arts, a Vancouver Park Board initiative bringing together artists with seniors and Elders for collaborative art projects. artsandhealth.ca. Our work takes place on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Healthy Aging through the Arts, City of Vancouver

Arts & Health: Healthy Aging through the Arts | City of Vancouver

Habitat for Humanity

https://www.habitatgv.ca/habitat

Habitat for Humanity's mission... Is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.

Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver is one of 58 Habitat for Humanity affiliates across Canada and among more than 3000 affiliates around the world.

Habitat for Humanity is an inclusive, non-profit, non-government organization. Through volunteer labour and donations of money and materials, Habitat works with families in need to build safe, decent and affordable housing.

https://www.habitatgv.ca/applytovolunteer

Whether building a home, stocking shelves at one of our ReStores or hosting a table at one of our events, contributions by volunteers are priceless. At Habitat Greater Vancouver, we have over 350 active volunteers! Help us bring homeownership to more families, sooner. Join our roster of committed volunteers today.

APPLY TO VOLUNTEER. Unfortunately we can ONLY accept volunteer who are a minimum age of 18 years old on our build site or in our ReStores. Build a Home. Through volunteer labour and donations of money and materials, we build safe, decent and affordable houses alongside Habitat Families. No skills are required, but if you have some to offer, even better!

Our operational build site is situated in Mission, B.C. Open Monday-Friday (8:30am-3:30pm), with the occasional Saturday. If this is too far for you, check the ReStore section for other opportunities to get involved.

JOIN OUR BUILD TEAM!

Events - Apply to be one of our event ambassadors and spread awareness for Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver through signature events and collaborative fundraisers.

We unfortunately do not have any events planned for 2021. Stay tuned!

ReStores - As a volunteer at the ReStore, you can complete transactions and serve customers, assist with merchandising or test/fix items (carpenters, electricians, cabinet makers, plumbers), and also work on our donation truck team (drivers and crew members). We have six ReStore locations – Abbotsford, Chilliwack, two in Burnaby, Langley and North Vancouver.

Men's Sheds Canada

https://mensshedscanada.ca/

Men’s Shed is a group of men who get together in their community to develop new skills, discover new interests, and make new friends. But it’s so much more than that. For many men, aging and retirement can lead to loneliness and a loss of purpose; and that’s where Men’s Sheds come in. Symbolic of that backyard workshop where men share stories and tinker with woodworking or electronics, a Men’s Shed is grounded in the idea that men communicate more effectively when they’re “shoulder to shoulder” with other men. Originally founded in Australia in the 1990s, the grass roots Men’s Sheds movement has expanded to more than 15 countries around the world. It began to take root here in Canada in the early 2000s and has grown steadily since. Canada currently has four provincial Shed associations and over 140 Sheds operating across ten provinces, with potential for exponential growth in the coming years. A registered charity, Men’s Sheds Canada was formed in 2022 to support both the strengthening of existing Sheds and the expansion of new Sheds across the country. Although a relatively new organization, we have emerged as a driving force for innovation within the men’s health sector and are at the forefront of addressing the pressing issues of men’s mental health and social isolation.

Music, dance, theatre and art

Music and singing, City of Vancouver

Music and singing | City of Vancouver

Enjoy music and singing in Vancouver. Take lessons or enjoy a performance in Vancouver's recreation facilities.

Richmond Singers

Richmond Singers

The Richmond Singers . . . Women Who Love to Sing! Our purpose is to sing, in harmony, a variety of music for the enjoyment of the members as well as to give public and private performances for the listening pleasure of others. Covid-19 Update - In light of the spreading Covid-19 virus the Richmond Singers and the Richmond Singers Ensemble have decided to cancel all concerts for the upcoming season. The health of everyone in the choir and in our community is our biggest priority. We don't wish to take the chance of spreading the virus.

United Voices Choir (UVC)

United Voices Choir – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

ABOUT UVC - The United Voices Choir (UVC), is an inclusive choir based in Vancouver, BC, which focuses on larger choral works with orchestra and soloists. Under the artistic direction of Dr. Greg Caisley, our energetic, passionate and talented Artistic Director, our previous performance repertoire ranges from Bach’s St. John Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, as well as works by Brahms, Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn, Fauré, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns, Finzi, Vaughan Williams and Lauridsen. Our planned repertoire for the 2021-22 season features Rheinberger’s Messe in C, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, and Haydn’s Te Deum at our fall concert, the return of our popular Christmas Sing- Along Messiah, and a special return of Bach’s St. John Passion for our spring concert. We are a friendly, caring, sociable, and supportive group of approximately 50 diverse members. Amongst us you will find young people, retirees, and those in between. Our musical skills range from amateur to more advanced singers who all share a love of choral music and a desire to sing together with others. We rehearse on Tuesday evenings, September through April, from 7.00-9.30pm. We also attend two hour bi-weekly sectionals on Saturday afternoons.

Vancouver Welsh Men's Choir

Find Out More About the Vancouver Welsh Men's Choir (vancouverchoir.ca)

Located in the beautiful city of Vancouver, our men’s choir is made up of approximately one hundred auditioned members, led by professional musicians. We are a diverse group of individuals, all coming together from different cultures and backgrounds (not just Welsh people!). However, we all have one thing in common: a passion for singing. We love to perform both traditional and contemporary choral songs, and always have fun with our music, with each other and with our audiences.

Elektra Women’s Choir, Vancouver

About – Elektra Women's Choir

Our Mission - To inspire and lead in the choral art form through excellence in performance and the creation, exploration, and celebration of women’s repertoire.

Distinctive Excellence - Under the leadership of a world-class conductor, Elektra inspires a strong following through consistent excellence in performance, a rich palette of sound, and open and professional presentation of who we are and what we do. Elektra is based in Vancouver, BC.

Auditions – Elektra Women's Choir

Interested in joining Elektra Women’s Choir? We are always looking for highly experienced and skilled, classically-based sopranos and altos. Please listen to our recordings if you are considering auditioning. If you feel your vocal skills and music literacy are a good fit with Elektra’s style of music, we would love to hear you!

Richmond Concert Band

Richmond Community Concert Band (richmondconcertband.ca)

The Richmond Community Concert Band has an extensive history in Richmond.
Formed in 1973 by the then-Branch 5 of the Royal Canadian Legion as Branch 5 Legion Band , we grew rapidly to the present complement of 30 - 40 musicians, with typical concert band instrumentation (reeds, brass and percussion). Music Director Bob Mullett became our leader in 1978 and is the driving force behind the Band's continued development and progress. Branch 5 Legion continued to support the Band until it closed its Westminster Highway location in 2001.
We then became the Richmond Community Band Society, adopting the name Richmond Legion Community Band to recognize the organization from which we sprang. From time to time we are also called the Richmond Legion Concert Band, Richmond Legion Community Concert Band and the Richmond Community Concert Band. With musicians from all walks of life, the Band performs a variety of concerts, parades and formal and informal civic functions in Richmond and nearby communities. Here you will see some of our recent performances

Brass, Wind and Wire

https://ce.deltasd.bc.ca/news-events/news/brass-wind-and-wire-a-recreational-concert-band-for-beginners/

Brass, Wind & Wire is an adult community band comprised of musicians of all ages who congregate under the direction of an instructor to enhance their playing and performing skills with concert band instruments. Dust off a previously-learned instrument or learn a new one!

The group provides a no-pressure environment where you don’t have to worry about making the odd ‘squeak’ or ‘squack’ with your instrument. It’s a place where, as long as you put an honest effort into learning, listening, and practicing, you will be guided on the road to becoming a better musician.

Richmond Music School

About | Richmond Music School

The Richmond Music School is the largest and oldest non-profit music school in Richmond. Since it was established over 40 years ago in 1979, the school has been a committed contributor to the cultural life of Richmond. Founded by a group of parents who wanted a quality music education for their children in the community, the School was formally incorporated as a Society and received its charitable status in 1980. As a founding member of the BC Association of Community Music Schools, the Richmond Music School must adhere to a high standard of professional criteria to which commercial schools are not bound. Our focus is on the accessibility of music education to all sectors of the Richmond community with an emphasis on program excellence and community work.

Volunteer | Richmond Music School

The Richmond Music School is the largest not-for-profit music school in Richmond dedicated to high standards in teaching music, in both private and class settings. You can help our society grow by becoming a voting member, volunteering on our Board of Directors, telling your friends and family about us, making a donation, or promoting us on social media. We are currently seeking passionate individuals to join our Volunteer Squad. If you would like to become a volunteer, please fill out the form below or contact us here.

Steveston Folk Guild

Steveston Folk Guild

It is nearly 12 months since the last SFG concert at Britannia Shipyard. Like most of us, we thought the situation would be somewhat normal by last Fall. Sadly that has not happened, and Britannia reports that no news regarding our resuming of the monthly concerts is on the horizon for at least Spring/Summer. Hopefully we can resume concerts over the summer months if the Covid-19 situation allows.

In the meantime I will try to keep things alive by showcasing some of our regular performers from over the years which hopefully will keep our music community in the loop.

Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS)

Home - Vancouver Adapted Music Society (vams.org)

Learn to make music or sing, compose, record, produce and build performance skills with VAMS! Express yourself. Create something of value to other people.

Vancouver Adapted Music Society supports and promotes musicians with physical disabilities in the Metro Vancouver area. We operate Canada’s only fully-accessible recording studio, release CDs, create music videos, and promote concerts.

Formed in 1988 by two musicians with high-level disabilities, VAMS shows that disability is not a barrier to creativity. Accessibility is central to everything we do. Participants explore and discover music and their own capabilities.

Learn to make music or sing, compose, record, produce and build performance skills with VAMS!

VOLUNTEER: We also have volunteer positions which will look great on your resume.

VAMS playlist

Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS) - YouTube

The Gathering Place, art and music programs

Art and music programs | City of Vancouver

Art and music programs - Our art and music programs are open to everyone with a current membership card and recreation pass. See our main reception area to obtain your free Gathering Place membership.

Music jam - Bring your instrument and come out to one of our casual jam sessions. A sound system and some instruments are available.

Music jams are on Wednesdays from 1pm to 3:30pm in the theatre space

Music Therapy Association of BC

Mission & Values - Music Therapy Association of BC (mtabc.com)

MISSION & VALUES - to promote excellence in music therapy practice, research, education and development, to further the awareness of music therapy in British Columbia and across Canada, and to serve as an organizational agency for our members. MTABC is a provincial association in cooperation with the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT). Members with MTA credential (certified Music therapist accredited) provide competent professional services, are fully qualified and certified with CAMT, and adhere to organizational bylaws and code of ethics.

Music Therapy TED Talks - Music Therapy Association of BC (mtabc.com)

Canadian Music Center (CMC) British Columbia

https://bc.cmccanada.org/about/

CMC BC operates a small performing arts centre in downtown Vancouver on Coast Salish territory, including a street-level and completely accessible 45-seat black box performance and rehearsal space — the Murray Adaskin Salon — which is fully equipped for A/V recording, screenings, and live-streaming. An adjacent lobby provides a box office & production booth and upstairs is a 16-seat CREATE Board Room and free public-lending library of Canadian music — the Barbara Pentland Library. We produce unique composer-centric concerts and offer composition education programs, an awards program recognizing extraordinary contributions to Canadian music, an exclusive music print and bind service, and our facilities are available for rental for events, performances, and rehearsals.

Canadian Music Centre in British Columbia (cmccanada.org)

Please explore! We offer an extensive collection of unique music videos and animated scores, produce a vibrant concert series in collaboration with leading arts organizations in BC; a public lending library of Canadian music; the Murray Adaskin Salon performance space and the CREATE Board room; a music print and bind service; educational, awards, and scholarship programs; a Digital Archive of the history of new music in BC; and Centrepulse, our bi-weekly newsletter – the go-to listing of new music concerts and releases and composer opportunities in BC.

BC Ukulele

About BC Ukulele

The B.C. Ukulele.org website was originally created as a resource for ukulele teachers in British Columbia, Canada. Over the years, the site has expanded to include resources for all ukulele players and enthusiasts. It provides a direct link to the three major performing groups in the province of British Columbia, as well as other prominent ukulele artists locally and on the international front.

We hope that you will find the information on this site useful for you or your group as the ukulele enjoys a resurgence in popularity. Many new groups and young, talented musicians have appeared on the ukulele scene. On this site we try to provide a directory to some of these groups and clubs in the province.

Dancing and Dance Residencies, City of Vancouver

Dancing and dance residencies | City of Vancouver

DanceSport, Robson Square, Vancouver

DanceSport BC | Robson Square

Starting June 30, running every Friday until August 25.

June 30th marks the first Friday back to DanceSportBC’s 2023 Robson Square Summer Dance Series! Everyone is welcome to this fabulous and free outdoor dance event, no partner, no experience required. The night starts with a lesson designed for beginners and people looking for a refresher. The lesson is followed by lots of social dancing and spectacular performances by local professionals and students of all ages and skills from nearby dance studios.

The music begins each night at 7:15, followed shortly by a free beginner lesson at 7:30 pm.

Social Ballroom Dancing has been at Robson Square on Friday nights since 1979! With more than 500 attendees a night, people of all ages gather for a fun-filled night of dancing. Whether you are a dance professional or have two left feet; on your 3rd date or your first; with a group of friends or getting to know a new city, these Friday night dances are for you.

Scottish Country Dancing

Full Club List - RSCDS Vancouver

Dancing In and Around Vancouver – Come and Join Us!

If you live in Vancouver, there is a Scottish Country Dance Club offering classes near you.

For further information on class levels, fees, and to find a club near you, refer to the comprehensive one page list of classes (from the September-October 2013 White Cockade), or pick a club that fits your schedule from the information below, or send Email Message to Fran Caruth or call 604.922.6842.

Note: Most classes run September through April (generally), so check with the contact listed outside of this time period if you are are visitor looking for a drop-in evening.

Dance Classes Resume This Fall

We are delighted to announce our plans to restart some dance classes this fall. As we are committed to the health and safety of our dancers, we will follow all Provincial Health Orders. There may be some restrictions on dancing (i.e. existing members only to start – fully vaccinated only). Also, times, dates, venues, costs, etc. may be subject to change or cancellation. For more information about clubs in your area, refer the List of Clubs & classes 2021-2022.

Danceability

About Danceability Studio - DANCEABILITY STUDIO

Danceability is a dance studio in Richmond, BC with over 30 years history in our community. We offer dance classes in ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre, hip-hop, lyrical and flamenco for all ages and levels. What we really want you to know... is that we are more than a dance studio. We are a community and a family. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the benefits of dance and are proud of the positive and inclusive environment you find at our studio. All our classes teach classical technique in an light, engaging, atmosphere - most of all, we believe dancing should be FUN! We also love to give back to our community and outside the classroom, our students can be found performing at community events and at care facilities around the lower mainland. If you're an older student coming back to dance, we have fabulous adult classes for all levels. Don't worry if you're a bit rusty, all our adult classes are flexible and non-judgmental, it's all about doing what you can and not worrying about what you can't (yet). It's never too late to start and trust us, you absolutely CAN do it!

Lorita Leung Dance Academy

Adult Chinese Dance - Vancouver Lorita Leung Dance Academy - Chinese Traditional Contemporary Dance School

ADULT CHINESE DANCE

It is never too late to reap the benefits of Chinese dance. From the beginner student to those who haven’t danced in many years, we have an adult class suited to you. Adult classes focus on basic technique, Classical shen yun training and folk/ethnic dances. Aside from fun and exercise, adult classes offer an opportunity to learn more about Chinese dance culture and experience the different styles of Chinese dance, ranging from Classical to Folk and Ethnic. Adults also have the option to perform at our annual A Year in Motion concert if they so choose.

Imperial Ballroom, Richmond

Imperial Ballroom

Located in the bustling city of Richmond, B.C., Imperial Ballroom is a boutique style studio equipped with top quality dance floor & sound system. It is designed and engineered for the dancer in mind. When Directors Han Ly and Crystal Li decided to bring their skills as competitive dancers into reality, they envisioned a high-energy, chic and inspiring alternative. The meticulously maintained Imperial Ballroom is staffed by the two passionate Directors who are available to help you hone your craft and maximize your dance skills. Join us, don't put off learning to dance any longer, call today for your introductory dance lesson and consultation.

All Bodies Dance

https://www.allbodiesdance.ca/

All Bodies Dance Project (ABDP) is a radically inclusive contemporary dance company based on the unceded and occupied territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations (Vancouver, BC, Canada). Since 2014, ABDP has been working at the intersection of community and professional dance practice through a process that questions “who has access to dance?” as makers, performers, and audience members. ABDP invites dancers of all kinds to engage in the endless possibilities of individual and collective movement through classes, performance and mentorship opportunities. In the company’s artistic practice, differences are regarded as creative strengths as we explore the choreographic possibilities of mobility devices, access needs, and celebrate different ways of moving and perceiving. ABDP creates innovative dance works for stage, screen, and public spaces that explore the artistic potential of difference. Our work celebrates diversity in all its forms—body, mind, age, gender, background, and experience—and redefines who belongs in dance.

Gateway Theatre, Richmond

https://www.gatewaytheatre.com/who-we-are/

A stage for richmond. Sometimes it feels like we as a community are overlooked – as a suburb, a second city, an in-betweener. But we know as well as anyone that this city shouldn’t be underestimated. It has a diversity that is unmatched, and a potential that is unlimited. It deserves more than it gets – it deserves to be heard. at Gateway, we provide a platform for the whole community to contribute to, and benefit from, the performing arts. A place where you can learn from others, see yourself represented, and take pride in the rich cultural landscape that Richmond has to offer.

https://www.gatewaytheatre.com/support-volunteering/

Become a Gateway Theatre Volunteer. Gateway Theatre provides the perfect way to get involved with your community while supporting the arts. Volunteers are an integral part of our organization. As a Gateway Volunteer, you’ll help host patrons and guests at events; you’ll be a greeter, ticket taker and usher, and provide our patrons with information about Gateway programs. Above all, as a Gateway Volunteer you’ll set the mood for our venue!

Volunteering for all. Students - Have fun while you develop job skills. Can you commit to just eight shifts per year? Gateway Theatre provides the perfect way to get involved with your community while supporting the arts. Adults - Get involved with your community. Are you friendly and outgoing? As a Gateway volunteer, you’ll help host patrons and guests at events, but most importantly help set the mood for our venue. SENIORS - SUPPORT THE ARTS AND UPLIFT LOCAL THEATRE. Whether you work as a greeter, ticket taker, usher, or you provide our patrons with information about Gateway. As a volunteer you play an integral role in our organization.

Realwheels, Vancouver

Mission & History | Realwheels | Theatre for People with Disabilities

Our mission is to create and produce performances that deepen understanding of the disability experience. We tell stories in which disability itself is not the focus of the conflict, but rather forms the landscape on which universal issues are debated onstage.

Vision: Full inclusion and integration of disability both on and off Canadian stages;
a barrier-free diverse performing arts world that reflects the real world and all of its people.

Core Values:

Authenticity in representing disability;
Innovation in content, presentation and/or technology;
Inclusiveness in working with professionally trained artists with disabilities;
Advocating for equity on behalf of performers, backstage workers and patrons with disabilities.

Under Rena Cohen’s leadership, we expanded our community practice, fostered the development of a growing number of emerging artists with disabilities, cultivated meaningful dialogue between artists/community members with disabilities and non-disabled artists, and addressed both physical and attitudinal barriers that prevent access to the performing arts. After 10 outstanding years with the company, Artistic Director Rena Cohen announced she’ll be moving on from her position. (CLICK to read public statement). Today, Realwheels remains committed to creating and producing innovative professional works that reflect our values. We’re involved in vital community projects, and we’re taking the lead on projects that increase equality of access for persons with disability, both locally and nationally. We continue to be an integrated community. Disability isn’t binary with a simple on or off. Many of us exist somewhere along the spectrum; we are all challenged on some level. We’re interested in how those challenges are managed, as well as how to develop as a broader community to ensure that everyone has the same opportunities.

Acting Academy for Adults with Disabilities | Realwheels Theatre

Realwheels Acting Academy is a unique professional training program, specifically tailored to anybody that self-identifies with the disability community and/or who is D/deaf, including but not limited to people with disabilities, disabled people, people with hidden disability, and neuro-diverse individuals. Realwheels Acting Academy provides everybody access to professional actor training. We believe that the performing arts capacity of everybody is abundant, diverse, and creatively rich. Our new program puts you at the forefront: together with you, we want to create a barrier free, diverse performing arts world that puts real people center stage. This completely free program reflects your needs, abilities, and range of experiences. You will acquire creative, technical, and lifelong learning skills that will foster your professional and personal growth. Whether you’re a beginner or you’re taking the next step in pursuit of a professional career, this program is for you. You have the talent. We are here to help you thrive.

Realwheels would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather, create, and learn is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

Program Dates: September 2021 – June 2024 (twice a week afternoon classes)

Location: Vancouver, BC

Cost: Free (each participant will receive a stipend to lower barriers to participation)

Class Size: 15 students max (18+ years old, all levels are welcome)

Application Deadline: June 30, 2021

Theatreterrific

About | Theatreterrific

Theatre Terrific pioneers inclusive opportunities for artists of all abilities to develop performance skills and collaborate in the production of theatrical works. Through its work, Theatre Terrific challenges audiences to be open to the impact of thought provoking art. Theatre Terrific pioneers inclusive opportunities for artists of all abilities to develop performance skills and collaborate in the production of theatrical works. All of Theatre Terrific’s classes, workshops, community, and professional productions are made up of people of all colors, abilities, genders, and backgrounds. This means that at any given time, a cast or class may include people who may have mental health issues, developmental challenges, physical challenges, or simply practicing actors who want to learn new methods of inclusive theatre development.

Kickstart Arts and Culture

Kickstart – Disability Arts and Culture (kickstartdisability.ca)

Founded in 1998, Kickstart Disability Arts and Culture is a multidisciplinary professional Disability Arts non-profit committed to showcasing the artistic excellence of artists working within the field of Disability Arts and Culture and supporting disabled artists in BC and across Canada as they continue to push the boundaries of what Disability Arts and Culture can do in this world. Kickstart is rooted in the history of Disability Arts and Culture as being tied to a community and cultural movement, and has prioritized supporting the arts and cultural practices of artists who exist at multiple axes of intersecting oppressions. As an arts organization founded and run by disabled artists for disabled artists, having artistic and administrative leadership who identify as disabled, ensures that decision making is driven by people from within the community it serves. Such a model has provided an example within the field of arts and culture, in that Kickstart both started and continues as an organization that is run ‘for us/by us’; rather than simply providing programming for marginalized communities.

https://kickstartdisability.ca/support/volunteer/

VOLUNTEER: Want to get involved in the local Disability Arts Community?! Have a skill set you feel would be valuable to our organization?! We’d love to hear from you! All abilities welcome!

Bowling and darts

Lawn Bowling

https://www.lawnbowls.com/clubs/richmond-lawn-bowling-club

Richmond Lawn Bowling Club, 6131 Bowling Green Road, Richmond BC

Bowlers must take home their own bowls, footwear and other personal equipment and properly dispose of their own waste materials.

https://www.richmond-news.com/in-the-community/opening-ceremony-for-new-richmond-lawn-bowling-club-on-saturday-11784554

The new lawn bowling clubhouse in Minoru Park is holding its grand opening on Saturday and the public is invited to attend. In addition to a ribbon-cutting ceremony and welcoming remarks from Mayor Malcolm Brodie, there will be lawn-bowling demonstrations – weather permitting – prize giveaways and light refreshments. A public art installation will also be unveiled at the event.

Bowling League, Surrey, BC

https://www.leaguesecretary.com/bowling-centers/sandcastle-bowl-bar-grill-surrey-british-columbia/leagues/12092

Sandcastle Lanes, 1938 152Nd Street. Surrey, British Columbia Canada

Darts BC Association

https://www.dartsbc.ca/leagues

A growing community supporting darts in British Columbia.

Hobbies, clubs and associations

Community arts and craft associations and special interests clubs

Weaving, knitting and sewing

Pottery, drawing and painting

Gardening, nature, minerals and jewellery

Photography

History and museums

Stamp and coin collecting, model railway and street car enthusiasts

Pubic speaking, theatre, libraries, reading/writing, radio operation, emergency response and tech su

Remote control sailing

Woodworking, woodcarving, cedar bark weaving, building construction and building supplies

Music, dance, theatre and art

Bowling and darts

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