World music and dance festival
A full-day outdoor festival of music, dance, ethnic
food, artisan vendors and more will help to kick off Congress 2013 at the University
of Victoria. Join the fun with South Pacific dancers, African dance and drum, a
gospel choir, marimba music, and bellydancing (with audience participation).
From 4 p.m., former Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe will emcee an afternoon of music and dance by local Asian cultural groups, including Taiko Drummers and Lion Dancers. Enjoy the full sensory experience with a feast of ethnic food choices, sweet treats, food tastings and the ScholarSIP (beer) tent. As well, there will be international artisan fair with local jewelry, art, carvings, clothing etc. Come celebrate the unique cultural diversity of Greater Victoria. Bring the family and make a day of it.
What: “WorldFEST @ the Edge”
When: Sunday, June 2 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Outdoor Celebration Stage (near McPherson Library), UVic
First Peoples drummers will call Congress 2013
delegates to join Elders at four key gathering spots around the University of Victoria’s
Ring Road (representing the four tribes on Vancouver Island). From there they
will gather at a ceremonial entrance at Celebration Square where participants
will be greeted by Indigenous drummers and dancers. This will be followed by a
special dedication of a new podium created by master carver Charles Elliott
(OBC, OC).
Additional festivities include a pit cook and
authentic Indigenous meal, a First Peoples artisan fair, carving demonstrations
and special musical performances on the outdoor concert stage.
What: “First Peoples Circle Celebration and Dedication Ceremony”
When: Monday, June 3, 4:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: Celebration Square (near McPherson Library and First Peoples House)
Concert headlined by Buffy
Sainte-Marie
One of Canada’s leading musical icons will treat
Congress 2013 delegates and the UVic community to a special concert. Buffy
Sainte-Marie, OC is a Canadian-American Cree singer-songwriter, visual artist,
educator, and social activist. Join us at the outdoor Celebration Stage. This
family-oriented evening of musical performances also features Maureen
Washington and Art Napolean.
What: “Buffy Sainte-Marie Concert”
When: Wednesday, June 5 from 4:30 to 9 p.m. (B. Sainte-Marie at 7:30)
Where: Celebration Stage (near McPherson Library), UVic
Stars in planetary search
converge
The biggest stars in the search for new planets are
coming to Victoria.
With hundreds of extra-solar planets discovered in
recent decades, attention is turning anew to how such planets form and evolve
around their host stars, as well as whether any of the planets are habitable.
That topic is the subject of discussion at a June 4
keynote public talk by Debra Fisher, a Yale University astronomy professor who
has discovered hundreds of exoplanets, including the first-known
multiple-planet system in 1999. Fisher will address why we search for habitable
planets similar to Earth—because we are interested in finding life elsewhere.
The talk is part of the June 2-7 International
Astronomical Union symposium, co-sponsored by the University of Victoria with
the University of Toronto, which is bringing together 250 of the brightest
minds probing planetary evolution.
What: “Habitable Worlds: The Search Continues” with Debra Fisher
When: Tuesday, June 4, 8 p.m.
Where: Victoria Conference Centre
The second annual World Oceans Day celebrations take place Saturday,
June 8 in Victoria's Bastion Square co-hosted by the University of Victoria's
Office of the Vice-President Research, Ocean Networks Canada and the Maritime
Museum of BC.
Highlights of this annual sea fair featuring indoor and outdoor family
activities include a special kids zone and a wide variety of local groups eager
to share their oceans-related knowledge and expertise. Representing UVic are
the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, and departments of biology and
geography, and Ocean Networks Canada.
Ocean Networks Canada will also celebrate with a World Oceans Day Film Festival on Sunday,
June 9 at Cinecenta in the Student Union Building. The event will include four powerful films dedicated to improving our
understanding of the ocean, threats to its health and what must be done to
protect and restore it. Between each of the films, UVic scientists will discuss
their ocean research and there will be a sneak peek of ONC’s own OceanAlive
TV show airing in September.
What: “World Oceans Day”
When: Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 28 Bastion Square, downtown Victoria
Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
What: “World Oceans Day Film Festival”
When: Sunday, June 9 from 1:30 to 5 p.m., and 7 to 10 p.m.
Where: Cinecenta Theatre, Student Union Building, UVic
Admission is by donation (suggested $10).
