Thank you all so much for your continued support for the Powell Street Festival Society!
With a change in venue just one week before the festival our attendees didn't seem to notice, as 2014 was another huge success with over 12,000 people in attendance. What I saw happen during this one week shows just how passionate and committed the people involved with the festival are. We received many positive reviews for the timely and respectful decision making, graceful coordination, and the seamless transition by the staff, board of directors, and coordinators. We even received comments from attendees that they felt we’d been having a big block party for years.
It has been a privilege to be on the Board of Directors for just over 10 years, and President for the past 4 years. I have gained so much professionally and personally and will continue to be involved in a different capacity as I step into my new role as Past President. I am glad to introduce Lia Cosco who as Vice-President will be stepping in as Interim President as we re-organize the Board. Lia has been with PSFS since 2010 and I know she will lead the organization with enthusiasm and passion.
I appreciate the PSF Society not only for its strong reputation in Japanese Canadian arts and culture, but also for the commitment to the historic Japanese neighbourhood, and community connections. With the Festival’s recent strategic planning, the board now has greater clarity to lead the festival with focused vision, mission and values.
I have enjoyed meeting and getting to know many individuals and organizations in the Japanese Canadian community and feel fortunate to have had this opportunity to connect with you. I thank you for your support during my tenure and look forward to seeing you in the community.
I want to extend a special thank you to Kristen Lambertson, General Manager and Programming Director, for whom I have great trust and respect for in representing the festival, and the staff, Kazuho, Alba, Whitney, and Owen who delivered above and beyond what is already an extremely busy Festival time. I also want to thank the Board of Directors, Advocacy, Programming, Fundraising, Festival Committee members, and our Knowledge Philanthropists for their contributions for the success of the festival in giving the gift of time.
It has truly been my pleasure to work alongside such an amazing group of people including the board, staff, and volunteers who are so passionate about the Powell Street Festival Society. See you next year!
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Photo of Katari Taiko at the 2014 Powell Street Festival by Jeanie Ow
I'd like to start by expressing my gratitude to Nina Inaoka Lee, for her service to the Society over the last 10 years, and as President for the last 5 years. Nina's tireless dedication and perpetual optimism has been integral to building the forward thinking strategies of the Society today. We have all – staff, volunteers, board members, committee members – learned from her work, her ideas and her dedication. Nina, we will miss your active presence. Thank you showing us what it truly means to be a Powell Street Festival member and volunteer. You have all shown us what it means to have this organization in our identity, in our hearts, and in our minds.
As your Interim President, I hope to continue to guide the Society in the direction it has been forging over the last year. With a new strategic plan, we are invigorated to re-imagine, re-design, re-realize the potential of our Festival and programming. We look forward to engaging you all in the coming year in this process! Thank you for your continued support.
Saturday December 6, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Vancouver Playhouse
Tickets: brownpapertickets.com
Katari Taiko, the first taiko group formed in Canada, is a constantly changing and intensely creative hybrid. In celebration of its 35th Anniversary, Katari Taiko is presenting a special concert featuring its own contemporary and traditional music and that of guests, Chibi Taiko, Sansho Daiko, Sawagi Taiko and Vancouver Okinawa Taiko. All of the groups will join Katari Taiko in the premiere a brand new collaborative work inspired by the return of the wild salmon to the Fraser River. Photo by Jeanie Ow Back to top
Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 8pm Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 650 Hamilton Street, Vancouver Tickets: $69 / $59 / $49 northerntickets.com
On Thursday January 29, 2015 the Kodo Drummers of Japan return to Vancouver with their groundbreaking new program, Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery. Amidst reverberations like rumbles in the earth, large serpents coil, demons and lions move wildly. They surface from the gloomy dark, eerie at times, and in some respects, even nostalgic… Read more... Back to top
For more information on the various Community Events that PSFS supports and/or thinks that might be of interest to you, please click here
Do you have a Japanese-Canadian or Downtown Eastside community related event? Powell Street Festival Society is happy and excited to offer our community partners the opportunity to submit their own special events to our newsletter. It’s our little way of saying thank you for your hard work in our community! Send us via Community Event Submission Form.
Thank you all so much for your continued support for the Powell Street Festival Society!
Message from Interim President: Lia Cosco
