Shared Journeys is a program that embraces West Vancouver’s rich cultural diversity, bringing people together through stories, conversation, and activities. By exploring what we have in common, as well as our differences, this program inspires openness, respect, and curiosity. Shared Journeys invites us to make new connections and to help build a strong and welcoming community.
This program was launched July 4, 2019 with an unveiling of the book chose for our One Book, One Community district-wide reading program and a performance by Vancouver’s Inter-Cultural Orchestra.
Past Shared Journeys events include:
One Book, One Community
One Book, One Community was a District-wide reading and discussion program that encouraged West Vancouverites to come together and explore ideas by reading a single book: Homes: A Refugee Story, by Abu Bakr al Rabeeah and Winnie Yeung. At Book Chats led by Library facilitators, people engaged in conversation about compelling themes, develop new connections through stories, and learned about the cultural diversity of West Vancouver.
Homes: A Refugee Story | Further Readings
Where We Came From
This two-part lecture series examined the complex migration patterns and legacy of racism that shape our community and featured:
Superdiversity. Daniel Hiebert, Professor, Dept. of Geography, UBC.
Does Canada’s history of racism continue to shape our communities? Henry Yu, Associate Professor, Dept. of History, UBC
Connecting our Stories
Connecting Our Stories was a panel discussion on the ways that stories connect us and the diverse journeys to this place. Guest panelists included: Winnie Yeung, author of Homes: A Refugee Story (WVML’s inaugural Shared Journeys One Book, One Community title); Chepximiya Siyam’/Chief Janice George, hereditary chief and master weaver from the Squamish Nation; Ahmad Danny Ramadan, award-winning Syrian-Canadian author and LGBTQ refugee activist; and Maureen Lee, District Principal of Student Support Services for the West Vancouver School District. The panel was moderated by Alexander Dirksen.
Winter Celebrations
This all-ages event celebrated the many ways winter is celebrated around the world and in our own community. Participants learned about different cultural celebrations, made festive crafts, and enjoyed holiday treats.
We acknowledge the Squamish Nation, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, and the Musqueam People, who since time immemorial have lived on the land now referred to as the Greater Vancouver and Sea to Sky regions.
Thank you to our Shared Journeys funders: the West Vancouver Foundation and the West Vancouver Memorial Library Foundation.