The recent Rio Theatre vs. B.C. Liquor Control debacle has caused widespread discontent among locals and the remaining supporters of single-screen movie theatres. According to new liquor laws, theatres with liquor licenses are now able to both screen movies and serve alcohol--just not at the same time. Furthermore, showtimes would have to be scheduled in stone, which is difficult, as live performances at venues are subject to change. Owners are still unsatisfied with the latest concession; however, it doesn't seem to be any new news. The frustration can be traced back to nearly a century ago. 1920-...


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Recently, Vancouver Sun Op-Ed writer Douglas Todd sparked some controversy when he advocated for the abolition of foreign signs, namely Chinese, in Richmond. On the same day of the same paper, Harvey Enchin countered the topic by stating that to restrict Chinese signs would be 'un-Canadian'. A few days later, Todd then shared a few letters, of which he received from people of Chinese or Asian descent, who supported his view. However, these letters are undoubtedly from residents who have already, if not fully, integrated themselves into the English-speaking community. In simplest terms, an immigrant...


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When was the last time you went out and bought a CD or a DVD? Yesterday? Last week? Last year even? I can’t even remember the last time I bought a CD. DVDs are a little different for me because there are some movies that I like having in my collection. That being said, I wouldn’t consider myself a DVD collector by any means. I, like many others, get my music or movies over the Internet, but with the downtown location, HMV, closing, I can’t help but feel a little sad that the store won’t be there anymore. For those of you who don’t know, recently, the British-owned megastore, HMV, closed...


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What is the first word that comes to mind when I say 'cheerleading'? Flips, jumps, girly and the movie, Bring It On come to mind for me. Although all of those are cheerleading-related, cheerleading has grown from much more than just pumping up the crowd at sporting games. Cheerleading has become a sport of its own. I asked a couple of current cheerleaders how they became involved in this sport. “It was something new that I've never tried before,” said Carlo Villadiego, a cheerleading newcomer. However, what encourages most people to stay in cheerleading is more than just a good workout,...


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Are you young and out of work? Are you worried about your future career prospects? Well, I can't help you, but I know someone who can: Tammy Tsang. Tammy is a fierce young entrepreneur who just successfully organized the XYBOOM Conference. Just in case you missed the buzz around town, XYBOOM was a conference about rising concerns of youth unemployment (Generation Y), as Baby Boomers begin to retire from the workforce while Generation X is reluctant to hire Gen Y'ers because of factors such as inexperience, and an inflated sense of entitlement. Many think that there aren't enough Gen X'ers to fill...


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What have you done for at-risk youth lately? I don’t know about you, but I’ve just attended the Salon Series: Liberated Transparency, which makes me a better person than you. But I digress. Salon Series is a place where speakers are invited to talk about various issues around the city, and everyone is invited to share their ideas in an open, positive setting. This Salon, titlted “Liberated Transparency”, was about mental health and youth at risk. It was organized by Sarah Jamieson, a self-described “sports philanthropreneur”, and one of the most vibrant, energetic people I have ever...


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According to the hyped “end of the world” theories based on the purported ancient Mayan predictions, the world is slated for termination on December 21, 2012. But is humankind really going to meet its end by the end of this year? Could civilization be drowned in apocalyptic floods, seared by the scorching sun, destroyed by a colossal meteor, thrown overboard by breakaway continents, or by some other predicted world-ending catastrophe? Like with all end of the world theories, it’s probably a good idea to obtain a healthy dose of skepticism before freaking out or jumping to rash conclusions...


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On Friday, December 2nd, 2011, hundreds of high school students from all over the Lower Mainland gathered at Vancouver Technical Secondary School for the International Human Rights Day Symposium, held by Canada ALPHA (Association for Learning & Preserving the History of WWII in Asia). The Symposium consisted of a series of workshops to raise awareness on atrocities that took place during the Asia-Pacific War (1931 - 1945) in advance of December 10th, International Human Rights Day. As a History 12 student, I attended these workshops myself, with the most significant one being about Comfort...


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The holidays are always an exciting time for many of us to get together with family and friends and engage in festive activities. Christmas is just around the corner and that usually means big dinners, family reunions, and gift exchanges. However, many of us know how daunting it can be to be organized around this time of year; whether it’s preparing those dinners, preparing your house for family visits, or scrambling to get the perfect gift for everyone, it’s going to be a little overwhelming. Usually preparing for everything requires hitting the malls (which would be an impressive feat if you were...


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Thank goodness finals are over and the holiday season is upon us! Kick start your holidays by hitting the slopes, and shredding some serious air! Brace yourself for the cold weather, and gear up from head to toe. Don't get caught in the cold without the proper equipment and gear. Essential must-haves: 1. Goggles- nothing hurts more than snow hit your eyes like shards of glass, throw on protective eye wear to prevent wind and debris hitting you in the eyes 2. Helmet- If you're planning on perfecting jumps, you are going to need protective head gear to break your fall from bailing! 3....


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It's the most wonderful time of the year! Stay tuned for carolling, cookies, treats, holiday dinners and yes, christmas shopping. Don't panic! There are eight days until Christmas and that leaves plenty of time to get those presents under the tree. Here are some fast and efficient ways to get your holiday shopping done in a matter of hours (or minutes, depending on your time restraint)! Don't be Ebenezer Scrooge! Instead, be the Santa of your family and friends! 1. Making a list, and checking it twice The planning process is possibly the most time consuming, therefore, the key element to getting...


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As soon as I walked into the Union Gospel building on East Hastings Street last Saturday, December 3, 2011, the atmosphere changed. The room was filled with live music, along with conversations of people from the Lower Mainland. There was an undeniable feeling of warmth and joy in the air, and as I stepped into the crowds to explore this event, I understood why. Founded in 2009 by celebrity photographer, Jeremy Cowart, Help-Portrait is a world-wide phenomenon taking place in 46 countries around the world and for the third time this year in Vancouver. Its purpose is to provide free photo-taking...


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