News and Events

February greetings from the Vancouver Society of Storytelling! We have been busy preparing for our new fieldhouse residency at Slocan Park. It’s all very exciting, and we can’t wait to have you over for a housewarming party in March! Stay tuned for more details.

Will you be our Valentine? Come celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Mountain Storytelling Series, a new collaboration between the VSoS and the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival. The series features 10 great tellers in two concerts: 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM. Bring your Valentine and have a great day of adventure and story. There will be chocolate and chai tea, of course! Interested in volunteering at the Mountain Storytelling Series? Please emailnorthshorestory@gmail.com if you can help at either the afternoon or evening show. We will need folks to man the VSoS table, serve refreshments, and sell tickets.

But Valentine’s Day is still two weeks away! Join us TONIGHT for “Mountain Stories” with the North Shore Tellers (aka North Shore Cric? Crac!) at the Silk Purse, West Vancouver. As always, find more wonderful storytelling events below.

Are you interested in planning and assisting with storytelling events? The VSoS Programming Committee welcomes members who are interested in supporting community initiatives and liaisons. If you are interested, please contact Abegael Fisher-Lang atafisherlang@gmail.com and Nadine Pluzak at npluzak@gmail.com.

Warm wishes,

Kristy Woodcock
President, Board of Directors
Vancouver Society of Storytelling
www.vancouverstorytelling.org

Social Media:
www.twitter.com/VSOStorytelling
www.facebook.com/pages/Vancouver-Society-of-Storytelling/125386724198672
www.youtube.com/channel/UChDhniYtBEyKyhiZk-lVU0w

1. North Shore Tellers 
Sunday, February 1, 7:00pm
The Silk Purse Gallery
1570 Argyle Ave, West Vancouver, BC
Admission: $7-12
Info: northshorestory@gmail.com

North Shore Tellers (aka North Shore Cric? Crac!) presents “Mountain Stories,” featuring Kira van Deusen, Patrick Lucas, Tony Rainbow, Aline LaFlamme, Mike Ewan, and Abegael Fisher-Lang.

2. The Flame: Story Slam Edition
Wednesday, February 11th, 7:00pm
Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main Street
Contact Joel Wirkkunen & Deb Williams: theflame@telus.net

Love The Flame? Have a story? Too shy to pitch? Then this February is your chance! ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIGN UP!… It’s that simple. Names will be put into a hat and drawn on the night. We’ll get through as many stories as possible and our guest panel of judges will select their three favourite stories at the end of the show and award prizes of untold fortunes!

*IMPORTANT NOTE*
All Story Slam entrant’s STORIES MUST BE 5 MINUTES OR LESS!
Over the 5 minute mark? You’ll be given 30 seconds to wrap it up. No exceptions!

How To Sign Up:
Email joelwirk@telus.net with “STORY SLAM” in the subject heading.
a) Name.
b) One-line story synopsis.
c) Short answer to: “Who was your first love and why?”

Example: a) My name is Bob Jones. b) My story is about how my dog saved my life. c) ‘My first love was my 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Kane who told me how smart and talented I was one day after recess, which I sadly mistook as her overture of unbridled passion. It ended in heartbreak on the last day of school.’

Sign up soon and dare yourself to play with an open flame!
We look forward to hearing from you.

3. Rain City Chronicles
Wednesday, February 11
Famee Furlane, 2605 East Pender St.
Admission: $16.37

Join Rain City Chronicles and Sad Magazine for our second annual Valentine’s Day inspired evening of storytelling and song with the theme”Unlucky in Love.” Tickets on Eventbrite.

4. Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival 
Saturday, February 14
St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 1805 Larch Street
2:00pm and 7:30pm concerts

Mountain Storytelling Series, a new co-venture of VSoS and the   Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival featuring 10 great tellers in two concerts at 2:00pm and 7:30pm. A world premiere! Bring your Valentine and have a great day of adventure and story. Chocolates and chai tea, of course.

Come out to support our first collaboration with VIMFF and hear some great tales of adventures on mountains and coastlines. Check the www.vimff.org website for details.

5. Listen! Laugh! Enjoy! Stories for YOU!
Sunday, February 15th, 7:00pm
St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 1805 Larch Street
Admission: $7.00, includes tea; please bring treats
http://www.vancouverstorytellers.ca

Celebrating Valentine’s Day with “Love’s Splendours & Blunders!”

Storytellers Mary Gavan, Chen Ha, Priscilla Jones, and Philomena Jordan.

Emerging teller: Shayna Jones from Chilliwack.

Hot from Flame Telling: Jennifer Martin

Contact Mary Gavan: mary@marycelticstory.ca
604-683-1575     604-683-1575

6. Nigerian Stories for Black History Month
Thursday, February 19th, 7:00-8:30pm
Alice Mackay Room, Lower Level
Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch
350 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC
Admission: Free

In celebration of Black History Month, storyteller Comfort Ero will bring a taste of Nigerian stories to Vancouver. A teacher and writer with more than 17 years storytelling experience in Canada, she will bring the wisdom of a Nigerian village grandmother’s stories into our Canadian lives. In partnership with African Stages.

7. Oral Storytelling Circle
Sunday, February 22th, 3:00-4:30pm
Tommy Douglas Library
7311 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC

*Please note NEW location during Metrotown branch’s renovations*

Join us for an afternoon of storytelling featuring tales of “Companions on the Road.” This monthly event is suitable for adults and teens. Refreshments will be provided. FREE but space is limited; register online, by calling 604 436-5400, or in person at the library.

NOTE: If you want to learn the art of storytelling and attend our workshop and attend our workshop, email: storytelling@bpl.bc.ca to register.

http://www.bpl.bc.ca/events/oral-storytelling-circle

8. African Stages Event
Monday, February 23, 6:00-7:00pm
Tommy Douglas Library
7311 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC

Tommy Douglas Library invites story lovers of all ages to join Nigerian-Canadian storyteller Comfort Ero of African Stages for a celebration of Black History Month with folktales from Nigeria. Growing up in her native country, telling stories was the way families were entertained before video games and television. A storyteller would alert everyone with a cry of “Tohio” and the listeners would reply “hia hia, hiahiakpo!” which means “tell it, we are listening!” Comfort is inviting you to Tommy Douglas Library and you can answer “tell your story, we are listening!”

No registration for this free event, but for more information please call Tommy Douglas Library at 604-522-3971.

Vancouver Island Workshops and Events

1. Around Town Tellers
Friday, February 13th, 7:30-9:30pm
Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo, 595 Townsite Road, Nanaimo, BC
www.aroundtowntellers.com
Tickets: $5.00 at the door. Refreshments and treats available.

Theme: Treasures in the Attic

For more information: 250-245-0003 or aroundtowntellers@gmail.com

2. Stories at Fern
Monday, February 16th, 7:30-9:00pm
1831 Fern St. (Park on Begbie.), Victoria, BC
Admission: $5.00, Students $3.00 (includes tea and goodies) No admission for VSG members

The Victoria Storytellers Guild welcomes you to hear and tell stories on the 3rd Monday of each month from September through June (except in December and June when we meet on the 2nd Monday of the month instead). More info: Please visitwww.victoriastorytellers.org or phone 250-477-7044.

3. House Concert with Mary Dessein – Storyteller/Harpist
Sunday, February 22, 1:30pm
#1 – 657 Harbinger St.
Admission: by donation.

Mary has been a storyteller and musician for 19 years and the host of Global Griot, a weekly radio program of stories and music from around the world for 14 years. She will be bringing her warmth, humour and harp to help her tell us the stories she has selected for us. For more information and to reserve a place (seating is limited) call Lee Porteous – 250-370-2964.

1. Epic Odyssey Weekend
April 17-19, 2015
Cavallotti Hall, 2060 E. Wellington Road, Nanaimo, B.C.

On April 17, 18, and 19, you are invited to enjoy all or part of The Odyssey as it was meant to be heard — and as Homer first told it — from the heart.  Join storytellers from across Canada and the United States in this exciting weekend event.

To allow you to enjoy as much of the story as you are able, we have structured the weekend so that you can attend all or part of the event. Schedule and tickets can be found at http://www.talesforthetelling.org/the-odyssey.html

2. Fanning the Embers
April 17-19, 2015
St. Andrew’s Retreat House
Hood Canal, WA

Each year, the South Sound Story Guild hosts a storytelling retreat. For more information and registration please visit the retreat’s web site: www.fanningtheembers.org

For storytellers in the northwest region Fanning the Embers Retreat provides an opportunity for us to gather informally in a relaxed environment. Together we share successes and frustrations, our dreams and nightmares, our questions and aspirations. And stories! Lots of stories!

Fanning the Embers has become a northwest storytelling tradition. We are sure this year’s gathering will be just as rejuvenating for participants as years past.

3. Powellswood Garden Storytelling Festival 
July 24-25, 2015
Federal Way, Washington
http://powellswoodfestival.com

July 24th & 25th 2015 PowellsWood: A Northwest Garden plays host to this annual 2-day festival of the art of storytelling. The first day, internationally-renowned storytellers engage registered guests with workshops designed to turn everyday people into tellers of their own stories. Full-pass participants even get a chance at “Tea With the Tellers” on PowellsWood’s fabled Garden Room Terrace. The second day, it’s all telling, all the time, with special secret spots in the 3-acre garden set up with tents featuring storytelling tracks for adults, families, and children.

Aboriginal Storyteller in Residence

Are you the library’s next Aboriginal Storyteller in Residence? Vancouver Public Library’s Aboriginal Storyteller in Residence brings together communities in Metro Vancouver through stories, workshops and readings. Experienced Aboriginal storytellers are invited to apply for a four-month, full-time contract. Deadline to apply: Friday, February 6, 2015. For more information, visit:http://bit.ly/vplstoryteller2015