5 Things to Do in Vancouver This Week (June 15-21)

1. DOXA and Chill

Thursday June 18 – Friday June 26

Take in your pick of over 60 films at this year’s DOXA Documentary Film Fest, all online. Included in the lineup is Pier Kids, a powerful feature about homeless queer and trans youth of colour living on Christopher Street Pier in New York. Expect spontaneous vogue scenes à la Paris is Burning in this character study by Elegance Bratton.

More Info: doxafestival.ca

2. Join in the Juneteenth March

Friday June 19, 4:00 p.m.

Following Black Vancouver’s two stationary protests at the Art Gallery and the Olympic Cauldron, the organization has announced their first official march on Juneteenth, this Friday. Organized by Nova Stevens and Shamika Mitchell, the march will begin at Jack Poole Plaza and (like marches throughout history) express community values, morals, and wants. You can find out more about Juneteenth, or “Emancipation Day,” in our webpost or online.

More Info: blackvancouver.com

3. Celebrate Strength

Friday June 19, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Sage Bullick and Deirdre Pinnock are both Employ to Empower entrepreneurs and residents of Vancouver’s DTES. Tune in on Youtube for live screenings of two films that challenge the stigma surrounding what’s known as one of Canada’s top five poorest postal codes. Employ to Empower is a charity that supports residents of the DTES with access to development and entrepreneurial resources—you can learn more about them (and donate!) here.

More Info: eventbrite.ca

4. Be a Climbing Cinephile

Friday June 19 – Friday June 26

The Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival kicks off virtually this week. Log on to see Vancouver-produced movies On the Verge (covering rock climbers who fight against the logging of old growth trees) and The Terminator (following Allison Vest’s journey to Canadian climbing history). Also screening is Climbing Blind, a UK film that tells the story of Jesse Dufton’s attempt to be the first blind person to make a ‘non-sight’ lead of Scotland’s Old Man of Hoy sea stack.

More Info: vimff.org

5. Commit to Culture

Sunday June 21

This Sunday is National Indigenous Peoples Day, and Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) has come up with a ton of creative ways to learn, reflect and celebrate. Check out educational tools, make future travel plans, and watch some movies this weekend— “commit to learning about the land where you live,” says ITBC.

More Info: indigenousbc.com