The First Weekend Club (“FWC”) is celebrating 10 years of promoting and raising awareness for Canadian films and talent. Founded by Anita Adams in 2003, the club has since supported over 300 home-grown films and hosted over 200 special events and screenings with the goal of building a strong audience for Canadian films. I caught up with Anita last week to chat about FWC’s journey so far, its impact, and its future:
“It’s like climbing Mount Everest and pushing a boulder up the hill,” Anita laughed. “It’s fun, I love what I do, I really really do. But, I was really ignorant and naive when I first started out, I had no clue what would be really involved.” Over the last decade the club has supported The Delicate Art of Parking, One Week, Starbuck, The Corporation, Hit N’ Strum, Take This Waltz, C.R.A.Z.Y., It’s All Gone Pete Tong, and Scared Sacred – to name just a few.
“I thought, you tell people about Canadian films and they’ll come out. But it’s hard to make noise and get people to pay attention with all the other clutter and noise that’s going on out there in the marketplace.”
When the First Weekend Club was established it was initially a hobby “on the side” but Anita says it has become a full time career, and then some. Her passion first lay with acting, and she recalls some words of inspiration she received at a workshop with Cameron Thor who came up to Vancouver from Los Angeles.
“He said to the group that it’s so important that you commit to your dreams and follow your dreams. Only by following your dreams will you find the path you were meant to be on — and it might be completely different than what you set out to do but that’s the way you find what you’re supposed to do.” Anita says that’s what really spoke to her and she feels that her pursuit of an acting career led her here, on the path to be where she was meant to be in life. Her big project now is launching Canada Screens, an online video on demand pay-per-view service that will stream Canadian films and entertainment.
“We raised funds for two phases of development with [an] Indiegogo campaign now I’m just trying to get more funds in the door to hire more IT support in the door before we launch it.” They hope to continually add new titles, about 100 a year, and will launch with at least 50 or 60 exclusively Canadian features.
“I believe that [Canada Screens] is going to be a successful operation. Even if it isn’t, the skills that I will walk away with from this experience, the life learning and the friendships that have developed are really worthwhile.” Setting out on the film festival circuit to promote the video on demand service, Anita hopes to find supporters and build some buzz with film-loving audiences across the country.
If you would like to support the upcoming Canada Screens online Canadian film portal, you can join the First Weekend Club. Membership is free and you’ll receive all the latest information about Canadian film screenings in your area and updated project information for Canada Screens.
The Women in Aviation Sea to Sky Chapter — which promotes the passion and potential of Women in Aviation through advocacy, education and advancement — is presenting The Spirit of Leadership: A High Tea Adventure along with the Aviation Leadership Foundation. This speaker series is a part of the Aviation Leadership Foundation’s “Tea Talks” program which is inspired by TEDTalks. The event will take place next week in Vancouver where special guests will lead intriguing and insightful sessions at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia.
The tea will feature speakers including Jeff Glickman. Mr. Glickman will take participants on a journey of his search for the remains of Amelia Earhart and her aircraft. Our other speakers will engage the audience in their own stories of courage, adventure, and leadership. An opportunity for questions and mingling will follow the presentations. With a vintage aviation theme and all the makings of a proper English afternoon tea, a journey through time will tantalize the taste buds with the stories and spirit of leadership.
Photos courtesy of the Aviation Leadership Foundation
Other speakers include Barbara Ross-Denroche, President, Chair and Co-Founder of The Refinery Leadership Partners Inc, and a member of global organizations including Women Presidents Organization, International Women’s Forum and the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs BC.
The event takes place from 2:30pm to 4:30pm (registration and networking starts at 1:30pm) on Tuesday, July 30, 2013. Following the event, attendees are welcome to the Georgia Hotel Rooftop Terrace Reflections Lounge for cocktails and networking.
This will be the perfect afternoon escape for all people who love adventure, high tea, aviation, leadership and/or history. With a focus on adventure, all guests will have the opportunity to connect with other professionals who share a passion for leadership. Tickets are currently available online.
If you would like to attend this afternoon of tea, talks, and inspiring conversation, I have a pair of tickets to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow the Aviation Leadership Foundation on Twitter, and the tag #TeaTalks, for updates about their events. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 5:00pm on Sunday, July 28, 2013.
Update The winner is Dayna Wilson!
Granville Street is often the focus of historic Vancouver photo features, with its neon lights on theatre row and ever-changing retail landscape. However, it’s just as fascinating to take a look back at some of downtown’s other key business districts, such as Robson Street.
For the popular social media “Throwback Thursday” theme today, the Robson Street Business Association posted a historical photo of their thoroughfare on Twitter. This has inspired me to feature good ol’ Robsonstrasse in today’s archive photo collection:
1893. 1000 block of Robson. Archives# SGN 1079.1.
1948: Howe and Robson, looking east. Archives# Str P258. Leonard Frank Photos.
1914 Courthouse on Robson at Hornby. Photographer: F.Gowan. Archives# Bu P347.2
1950s. Robson at Hornby. Archives# 2008-022.055.
1939: Robson at Cardero. VPL# 25033. Dominion Photo Co. & 1928: Burrard at Robson. VPL# 6587. Leonard Frank.
1941. Houses on Robson at Homer. Archives# Bu N518.
Robson Street was named after John Robson who was the Premier of BC from 1889-1892. It began its commercial history early on with retail shops and restaurants springing up in 1985. It also became known as Robsonstrasse which was “a reflection of the European shopkeepers who operated the many small delicatessens, patisseries, and chic boutiques that populated the street.” [Source: RobsonStreet]
1965. Robson and Hornby. Danceland & CKNW. Archives# CVA 447-351.
1968. Robson at Seymour. Archives# CVA 447-353.
1981. Robson and Burrard. Archives# CVA 779-W06.05.
1981. Robson and Thurlow. Archives# CVA 779-W09.36.
1969: Thurlow at Robson. Archives# CVA 780-402
& 1974: South side Robson at Thurlow. Archives# CVA 778-326.
1976: Thurlow at Robson. Archives# CVA 780-406.
1974. 1100 Block Robson, north side. Archives# CVA 778-341.
1974: South side of 1100 & 1200 block Robson. Archives# CVA 778-343 & CVA 778-354.
1974 Bus stop at Burrard & Robson. Archives# CVA 69-19.19.
For more historical photos, visit the Vancouver Public Library and City of Vancouver Archives.
The Harmony Arts Festival, presented by Odlum Brown Limited, will once again celebrate arts, culture, food, and music in West Vancouver this summer. Running from August 2nd until August 11th, 2013.
Families will love Artsy Kids Outdoor Studio, Spirit of the West and others will perform during the Sunset Concert Series, the Art Market will showcase local artists and designers on Argyle Avenue between 14th and 16th Street, and the Waterfront Lounge will be open daily at the foot of 15th Street for casual dining and entertainment from the Pacific Arbour Garden Stage. A full festival guide will be distributed in the North Shore News on Sunday, July 28th, 2013.
Other signature events include RARE, sponsored by Fresh St Market, which will take place on August 8th. This culinary evening is inspired by the West Vancouver Museum’s collection of notable Canadian artists including Emily Carr, Gordon Smith, Jack Shadbold and more. The beachfront at Lawson Creek Studio will transform into a contemporary casual dining lounge featuring Rodney’s Oyster House. The knowledgeable staff from house wine will be on site to serve the beverages.
Best of the West
The third annual Best of the West is another signature event, happening August 7th. Thirteen of the North Shore’s best restaurants will be paired with thirteen BC wineries and tasked with creating the perfect complementary dish. The evening’s guests will vote on their favourite, with the winning restaurant and winery team crowned BEST of the WEST for 2013.
Thanks to Harmony Arts, I have a pair of tickets to give away for Best of the West on August 7th. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment here naming a Harmony Arts event or artist (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow the Harmony Arts Festival on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about upcoming events and activities. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, August 1, 2013. Must be 19+ to win this contest and attend Best of the West. Please enjoy responsibly.
Update The winner is Tracy!
The Church at the Hollywood will host screenings of Back to the Future next month to help raise funds for the restoration of the 1930s-era movie house they currently occupy on West Broadway.
The Hollywood made Heritage Vancouver’s Top 10 List of Endangered Sites this year and it’s one of the last remaining movie houses in the city. After falling into disrepair and closing in 2011, two local churches took over the space in 2012 and have been slowly bringing the theatre back to its former glory.
“Not everybody agrees with having a church here, but the overall feeling is that everyone loves this building and recognizes the heritage of it,” said [Sarah] Kift. “We feel we are able to steward that, for at least as long as we can.” [Source: Metro News Vancouver]
Leading the charge to revitalize the theatre, the Church at the Hollywood is hoping to raise $20,000 so they can repaint the facade and repair the iconic neon “Hollywood” sign. This is all a part of their “Love the Hollywood” campaign.
Back to the Future in events will be held on Friday, August 2, 2013 and Saturday, August 3, 2013 and will feature a costume contest, live music, a real Delorean, and more. The film will be screened in 35mm format. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the door for multiple screening times during those two days.
Hopefully by the time Back to the Future II‘s future date of October 21, 2015 rolls around, the Hollywood will be restored and revitalized thanks to these efforts.
