July 2021 at Place des Arts
home to our arts community
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Greetings!
This past month, our staff was greatly impacted by the discovery on the premises of the Kamloops Residential School. As a school that values the sense of being a home for all our students, this issue felt very close to our hearts and pushed us to act. Please read our response below. We are aware of the latest discovery in Saskatchewan and know that this is sadly just beginning. As a place that values education, we will use our platform to share much-needed resources and to provide a space for people to participate and share their thoughts.
On a happier note, summer camps, classes and lessons are starting this month. We're looking forward to seeing happy faces in our facility.
This month, if you're looking for a pick-me-up or something to do when staying cool, view our Coquitlam Youth Theatre's year-end performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare's classic comedy. You can also take a look at our Scholarship recipients' performances and read about their experiences at the link below.
Wishing you a happy and cool July,
Aurora van Roon
Communications Coordinator
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Our Coquitlam Youth Theatre tackles Shakespeare for their year-end performance! |
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Place des Arts’ Coquitlam Youth Theatre (CYT) students filmed their year-end production of Shakespeare's classic and whimsical play, A Midsummer Night's Dream.
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In support of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc
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To show our support for the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and those affected by the recent findings at the Kamloops Residential School, 215 paper cut-out figures representing each child found on the grounds of the school are on display in our lobby from June 14-September 30, 2021.
We invite you to add thoughts, wishes and hopes for a safer and more inclusive future to orange hearts that will also be displayed. If you wish to participate, please ask the Registration Desk at Place des Arts for an orange heart. After you have written your thoughts down, return it to the Registration Desk to be displayed.
We will also be collecting cash donations that will be donated directly to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, which will be used towards the work that is needed for further investigation and to memorialize the children. You can give your donation to the Registration Desk. Donations will be collected until end of day September 30, 2021.
Furthermore, join us on September 30 for Orange Shirt Day, by wearing an orange t-shirt to promote awareness in Canada about the residential school system and the impact it has had on Indigenous communities.
This is not the past, but an ongoing search for truth, justice and change for Indigenous communities.
Things you can do to help:
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Write a letter to your Member of Parliament to demand they take action and request funding for forensic archeology investigations in consultation with Indigenous communities. The Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society created a template you can use to create your letter. View the template here.
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Read and adhere to this document created by the Kamloops Indian Band that expresses how you can support them.
- Join us on September 30 for Orange Shirt Day by wearing an orange t-shirt to promote awareness in Canada about the residential school system and the impact it has had on Indigenous communities.
The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day at 1-866-925-4419. In BC, a toll-free First Nations and Indigenous Crisis Line (1-800-588-8717) is offered through the KUU-US Crisis Line Society.
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Meet our 2021 Scholarship Recipients |
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Place des Arts awards annual scholarships to help students in their pursuit of excellence in the visual, literary and performing arts. This year, we awarded $3,900 to 10 deserving students in music, literary and theatre arts in recognition of their artistic excellence and achievement.
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As a part of our Our Community series, we want to introduce one of our new dance teachers, Amanda Lau!
Amanda (she/her) is a performing artist, choreographer, dance educator and vocalist with over 15 years of training in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, stage, tap, street jazz and ballet. She performed across BC with Vancouver Tap Dance Society’s touring ensemble, TAPCO. Amanda is a dancer on the NLL Vancouver Warriors Dance Crew and a Captain of the SFU Athletics Dance Team. She adjudicated at the Performing Arts BC Regional Festivals and Tri-Cities Got Talent for many years. Amanda studied with Arts Club Theatre and The Gateway Conservatory for musical theatre and acting. Past nominations include "Best Supporting Actress" (CTC Awards) and "Outstanding Supporting Performance" (Ovation Awards). Amanda is at SFU studying Communication and Education, a peer mentor and a Board Director for a non-profit society.
What does Belonging mean to you?
“Belonging is building a community of support where people empower each other to learn and grow.”
Amanda will be teaching in the 2021-2022 season! She will also be available for private, semi-private and trio dance lessons! View her classes here.
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Important things to remember for our Summer programming |
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Place des Arts' Summer programming begins on July 5!
Before you show up on your first day, here are some things we recommend:
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in the community (socially distanced edition)
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We are excited to share our newest board member, Luana Magno's exhibition nice to meet you project: Stories of Migration on view at the Port Moody Station Museum over the summer.
In 2020, Luana Magno participated in the Tri-Cities Local Immigration Partnership’s Diversity in Leadership Project. As part of this project, diverse voices were brought together to explore their journeys through storytelling.
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"There is a reason the word belonging has a synonym for want at its center; it is the human condition."
Jodi Picoult
Writer
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