5 Things to Do in Vancouver This Week (February 8-14)

1. Arc’teryx’s Backcountry Academy

February 8 to 12

This virtual academy is meant to unite explorers and teach mountain safety through films, discussions, and inspirational speakers—it’s all about the climb, right? There’s avalanche safety training, two panels (“Diversity and Inclusion in the Outdoors” and “Ski Touring in the Time of COVID”) and even a backcountry ski photography workshop for those peak-worthy pics.

2. Science World’s Arctic Voices

Opens February 11

Science World’s newest exhibition brings the Arctic to Vancouver (and apparently sub-zero temperatures, too). Arctic Voices is a new 8,000 square foot exhibition with interactive elements that teach audiences about whale species, bear facts and animal adaptation.

3. Dalina’s 50-Mile Menu

Through March 14

On February 7 local cafe and grocer Dalina launched their Oroweat Organic 50 Mile Menu, and everything on it is—you guessed it—grown within 50 miles of Vancouver. The three sandwiches are loaded with local goods like arugula, lemon balm, and basil from Barnston Island Herbs (Surrey), Parmigiano-Reggianostyle cheese from Golden Ears Cheesecrafters (Maple Ridge) and pork belly provided though Cioffi’s Meat Market (Burnaby) and sourced from Britco Farms (Langley).

Credit: Flower: Southern magnolia/Location: Ukedo, Namine town, from Atsunobu Katagiri’s Sacrifice series, 2013 –2014

4. A Future for Memory: Art and Life After the Great East Japan Earthquake

February 11 to September 5

It’s been a decade since the triple disaster (9.0 magnitude earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown) that hit Japan in 2011, and a group exhibition at the Museum of Anthropology is commemorating the event—and exploring themes of hope in tragedy.

Credit: Brendan Fernandes, “Free Fall: For Camera,” 2019, video still. Image courtesy of the artist and Monique Meloche, Chicago.

Inaction by Brendan Fernandes

February 12 to April 3

Brendan Fernandes’s Free Fall: for Camera is a film created in response to the 2016 shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Florida. It’s being shown for the first time in Canada in Inaction, a new exhibition at the Richmond Art Gallery comprised of the film and nine sculptural works. Though initially inspired by violence in 2016, the themes of marginalization and resistance still ring very true today—proving there’s still much work to be done.