(These are FREE listings. Email: EditorVoice@gmail.com)
Canada Cancer Society
Help us build our Daffodil Campaign in April in the City of Surrey and Abbotsford community. We are looking for volunteers to donate 2 to 4 hours on weekends throughout April. Please call 604-837-6837 to volunteer in Surrey, call 604-533-1816 to volunteer in Abbotsford.
Surrey Libraries: Filing Personal Tax Return
Surrey Libraries are offering free clinics for those eligible, at City Centre, Guildford and Strawberry Hill branches. A volunteer from DIVERSEcity, trained by the Canada Revenue Agency, will help prepare & electronically file (if eligible) your tax return. You must be a Surrey resident and your income falls within these guidelines: Single Person: $30,000. Single parent with child: $35,000. Each additional child: $ 2,500. Couples: $40,000. Investment income under: $ 1,000. You have a simple tax return (no self employment, no bankruptcy, no forms for deceased, no capital gains / losses and no rental income). The clinics operate on a first come, first serve basis. For details, visit the Libraries or www.surreylibraries.ca
Richmond Library: Free Income Tax Clinics
Richmond Public Library, in partnership with the Family Christian Fellowship, is offering free Income Tax Clinic to help those with a low income file their income tax returns. The clinics take place on Saturday: April 26 between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in Community Place Room at the Brighouse (Main) Branch located at 7700 Minoru Gate. If you’re a single person with a maximum income of $30,000, a couple with a maximum income of $40,000, or an adult with one child and a maximum income of $35,000, then you qualify for this free service. Sessions are 45 minutes per person and couples must sign up for one time slot each. To register, call 604-231-6413 or visit the Brighouse 2nd floor information desk. Bring all relevant documents such as T4 and T5 slips.
Free Tax Clinic
Eligibility: Low income Permanent Residents who have been in Canada for 5 years or less. Locations: MOSAIC Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway; MOSAIC Vancouver, 2nd floor, 1720 Grant Street. Service dates: April. Appointments: Have your PR number ready and call required: 604 254 9626 (Vancouver) or 604 438 8214 (Burnaby).
South Asian Seniors: Potluck
Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian senior members to a potluck on April 26, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. There will be a live entertainment program by our Parivar members from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Shanti Niketan Hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple, 8321 – 140th Street, Surrey. Registration required for non-members & participants. Contact Surendra Handa at 604-507-9945 for registration.
South Asian Family Association: Mother & Daughter
South Asian Family Association (SAFA) is hosting their annual Mothers & Daughters – Part 6: on April 26 at 6 p.m. at Vancouver’s Fraserview Hall at 8240 Fraser Street. Come and honour your mother (or daughter) and share your personal story about mother & daughter relationships. Participate in our popular “Aaja Billo Nachiye” Dance Competition, Zumba lesson, Boliyaan competition, entertainment, open dance floor and exquisite food. Tickets available at Kamal’s Video Palace in Surrey and Main Video in Vancouver or call 778-688-3996 for only $20 for a fun-filled evening.
Sai Japa
All devotees are invited at Hindu Cultural Society and Community Centre of B.C. (3885 Albert Street, Burnaby) to participate in Sai Japa on Saturday, April 26 at 5 p.m. Remembrance of Samadhi Day of Satya Sai Baba. Program: 5:15-6:15 p.m. – Bhajans / Kirtan. 6:30-7:15 p.m. – Sai Japa. 7:30 p.m. – Priti Bhojan. Contact: Rajubhai at 604-327-8259,Vijaybhai at 604-986-5958, Kantibhai at 604-522-7989, or Mandir at 604-299-5922.
All Star Wrestling
Presents April Anarchy on Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. At Alice Mckay Building, Cloverdale Fairgrounds, 6050A 176 Street, Surrey. Featuring former ECW, WWE, TNA Star, the Innovator of Violence, Tommy Dreamer teaming with Moondog Manson to take on Kyle Sebastian & Collin Cutler aka Cougar Meat – and much more. Your host will be Scotty Sweatervest. Tickets are $20 front row, $15 ringside rows 2-4, $12 bleachers. Available at
www.allstar-wrestling.com or at Central City Comix, 10221 King George Highway, Surrey, Comics Scene at 8912 152 Street, Surrey. For more info, call 604-710-0872.
Punjabi Language Education Association
Punjabi Language Education Association’s 11th Annual International Mother Language Day on Sunday, April 27, 1:30-4:30 p.m., at Balti House Restaurant, 8220 – 120 Street (Scot Road), Surrey. This year’s function will be dedicated to the Komagata Maru Centenary. Presentations by Punjabi students. Representatives from municipal and provincial governments will share their views about the difficulties in having Punjabi language education classes started in elementary and secondary schools. The audience will also be given time to voice their opinions and engage in an open dialogue. PLEA invites everyone to be part of the annual celebration of Punjabi language. Free event. Refreshments. For more information, contact: Balwant Sanghera at 604-836-8976, Sadhu Binning at 604-437-9014, Parvinder Dhariwal at 778-838-1121 or Paul Binning at 778-889-8255.
South Asian Seniors: Eat Right, Lose Weight
Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian adults / senior members as well as non-members to attend a presentation on ‘eat right – lose weight’ by Bijal Thoda, nutrition & weight loss consultant on April 27, 2-3:30 p.m., at Shanti Niketan Hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple, 8321 140th Street, Surrey. There will be a question-and-answer session. Tea and light snacks will be served. Contact Surendra Handa at 604-507-9945 for more information.
Earth Day Pilgrimage to Burns Bog
On April 27. The annual pilgrimage engages several ethnic and religious people in a spiritual journey to connect with the environment and to celebrate the sacred ground of Burns Bog – the largest dome-peat-bog on the west coast of North America and the largest wilderness area in the urban setting of North America also. It is a home of hundreds of species of plants and animals. Join us in protecting it. All are welcome. The event will begin at 1 p.m. at the entrance to the Delta Nature Reserve (beside Planet Ice Delta) with a gathering followed by pilgrimage. For further information, call Dara at 604-572-0373, Rob Dainow at 604-523-0123 or Acharya Dwivedi at 604-507-3099.
Learn More About Richmond
Find Your City, Find Your Voice workshop, hosted by the City of Richmond and supported by UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning, provides immigrants the opportunity to engage with the City of Richmond and learn how they can participate in local government within their community. It takes place on Thursday, May 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Brighouse branch of the Richmond Public Library, 100 – 7700 Minoru Gate. Admission is free. Seats are limited. To reserve your spot, email Eliana Chia at eliana.chia@richmond.ca.
Vancouver Satsang Cultural Society
2014 South Asian Heritage Musical Celebration. Come and celebrate the struggle and successes of Indians from Canada, Guyana, Trinidad, Surinam, Mauritius and Fiji on Saturday, May 3 at 6 p.m. at 2215 Pender Street East in Vancouver. Free admission. Dinner included. Contact Chamaylee at 604-945-9510 for complementary tickets.
Cloverdale Antiques & Vintage Fair
In the Show Barn at the Cloverdale Rodeo & Exhibition Grounds, 17763 62 Avenue, on May 3 and 4.Show hours: Saturday – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $6 at the door. Children 13 & under free with an adult admission. ATM & snack bar. Wheelchair accessible.
Documentary on Sri Lankan Civil War
South Asian Film Education Society (SAFES) & South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy (SANSAD) present “No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields Of Sri Lanka” (2014), a 49-minute documentary in English by director Callum Macrae on Sunday, May 4, 2-5 p.m., in Room 1800, SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. There will be a discussion following screening. Moderator: Chelliah Premrajah. The documentary is on the last days of the civil war in Sri Lanka in 2009 and is a devastating indictment of the human rights violations by the Sri Lankan army. Admission is free. RSVP Chin Banerjee: cbanerjee@telus.net
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
Richmond Public Library will be hosting the six-week program “Chronic Disease Self-Management” in English on Mondays from May 5-June 16 from 1-3:30 p.m. The program will take place at the Brighouse (Main) Branch in the 2nd floor community place, 7700 Minoru Gate. To register, visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, call 604-231-6413 or register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/events. This workshop is designed for people with one or more chronic conditions. It will teach you to better manage your health, discover useful tips to maintain an active lifestyle, and communicate effectively with your health care team. Family members and friends can also attend.
Richmond Centre for Disability
“Promoting a new perspective on disability”. Dealing with hidden challenges? The Richmond Centre for Disability (RCD) invites you to a screening and discussion of the acclaimed film, “Love Simple.” Where: Richmond Cultural Centre Performance Hall, 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond, on Wednesday May 7, 6:30-9 p.m. Admission is by donation at the door. For more information, call Dave at the RCD 604-232-2404 or visit website: www.rcdrichmond.org
Special: BC Victims of Homicide
Are you living with the traumatic loss of a loved one? Are you in need of support? The BC Victims of Homicide, an initiative of the BC Bereavement Helpline, is hosting an eight week traumatic loss grief support group for the South Asian community in Surrey in partnership with Valley View Funeral Home. When: Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., starting May 7 and ending June 25. Cost: Free – but registration is required. Space is limited. Languages: Punjabi, Hindi and English. Facilitators: Jas Cheema and Manjeet Singh. To register or for more information, contact Jas Cheema by phone at 604-561-2700 or by email at: jascheema@shaw.ca. Please refer this group to your network or to anyone who may benefit from it.
Shakti Dance
Presents “Five Faces’ – a montage of five unique Bharata Natyam dance performances by Anusha Fernando and Sujit Vaidya. Written and narrated by Anusha Fernando.Visual art by Sue Leibik. On Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Norman Rothstein Theatre, 950 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver. Tickets: $20 / $15 for children, seniors and arts workers. Tickets available at Banyen Books (604) 737-8858 and Gaia’s Fair Trade (604) 886-7117. For information, contact shaktidance@shaw.ca or (604) 733-3439.
Indo-Africa Charitable Society Charity Event
For the past seven years, Indo-Africa Society has been raising funds to provide free essential services to the poor in rural Gujarat, India, and rural Uganda such as medical camps, medication, water wells, meals and other amenities that we in the west take for granted. Free meals are also offered on a monthly basis to the homeless in Vancouver. On Saturday, May 10 at 6 p.m. at Riverside Banquet Hall, 14500 River Road, Richmond. Tickets: Adults – $25. Children under 12 – $10. Table of 10 – $225. Keynote address by Dr. Banthia and Dr. Bhanji, Gujarati-style meal, entertainment by Vancouver singers Sheila Siekham, Pravin Narottam, and Anzoom Nathani accompanied by DJ Sham, cash bar. For additional information or to purchase tickets, call Vasant Lakhani at 604-987-1925 or email: vasantlakhani@gmail.com or visit www.vasantlakhani.com.
Quran Memorization Competition
Muslim Association of Canada is holding the 12th Annual BC Quran Memorization Competition: * Preliminaries: Saturday, May 17 * Finals: Saturday, May 24. At MAC Masjid & Community Centre at 2122 Kingsway, Vancouver. The competition is open to participants of all ages, males and females, from all parts of the province. Participants may register for both memorization and recitation. Sponsors needed for the Quran Competition Awards – call 604-434-7526 or email: mac.centre.vancouver@gmail.com. Registration deadline: May 10 at 11:59 p.m. Information and registration: quran.islamicinfocenter.org.
Annual Show of Gujarati Seniors
The annual cultural program for all ages is on Sunday, May 18 at 3 p.m. at Michael J Fox Theatre, 7373 MacPherson Avenue, Burnaby. Tickets: $20. Light refreshment (1-2:30 p.m.). Tickets: Contact Sarojben Desai at 604-523-9360 and Rameshbhai Gandhi at 604-294-0360.
Surrey International Children’s Festival
The Surrey International Children’s Festival is celebrating their 10th Anniversary. Festival dates: May 22-24. Thursday / Friday: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday: 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at Surrey Art’s Centre box office. The Arts Centre Box Office can be contacted at 604-501-5566.
7th Uganda Medical Mission
Indo-Africa Charitable Society (Canada). Venue: Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited – Lugazi: medical, dental & eye camp from August 4-15 to provide primary examinations and treatments to needy Ugandans. Donation: US$650 (non-refundable) or equivalent in other currencies per person. Register by May 31 by contacting Vasant Lakhaniv(H) (604) 987-1925, vasantlakhani@gmail.com, www.indoafricacharity.com,www.vasantlakhani.com. All participants arrive by August 3 committed fully till the end of the mission.
Canada India Education Council
Presents “The Business of Education” dinner event at Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Vancouver, on Friday, June 6, 5-9 p.m. Learn about BC’s new education quality assurance standards (EQA) and examine the confluence of ‘business’ with education. How do we measure ‘ROI’? BC is committed to increasing international students by 50% by 2016. Interesting in attending / sponsoring? To view the agenda / speaker profiles, visit: http://canadaindiaeducation.com/bc/
