The Universal Cultural Society of Canada and the City of Burnaby are teaming up to celebrate Diwali this Sunday. The festival of lights will include food, traditional invocations and performances, including breakdancing and Bollywood fusion groups.
"Diwali marks an auspicious occasion for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains representing the triumph of good over evil - a theme that can be celebrated by people of all cultures," said Arun Suri, the society's president.
The celebration is at the Bonsor Recreation Complex on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10. For more info, call 604376-3783.
COLLECTIBLES SALE
The auxiliary to the Burnaby Hospital is holding another collectibles sale. There will be some items for stocking stuffers, a mink stole, dishes and, most likely, some great vintage finds.
The sale is at the Burnaby Hospital in the third floor kiosk, on Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Money raised goes towards helping patients at the hospital.
Donations are appreciated, and volunteers will pick them up if need be.
Call 604-524-6365 or email [email protected].
HELP THE HOMELESS
With the possibility of one of the coldest winters in years around the corner, SFU students in the Beedie school of business are holding a clothing drive for homeless youth.
"It's unacceptable," said Carmen Cheng, one of the student organizers. "All these youth my own age, on the streets because of abuse, forced to face the harsh conditions of homelessness. When we heard how cold this winter will be, we came together to make a meaningful impact on the community."
The students are collecting new or gently used clothes until Nov. 14. People can drop off donations at Nesters Market in the UniverCity development on Burnaby Mountain, or at the SFU campus: either in the West mall complex on the second floor or the West academic quadrangle, by Renaissance Coffee.
If you have 10 or more coats, the students will pick them up. Just email students4coats@gmail. com. For more info, check out their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/students 4coats.
? A second group of students enrolled in the same business school at SFU is also collecting items to keep the homeless warm this winter. They are collecting winter clothes and accessories for Lookout Emergency Aid Society.
They will have donation boxes at Burnaby's Eileen Dailly pool on Nov. 5 and 6, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more info, go to winterof warmth.weebly.com.
? Blanket B.C. Society is collecting donations for the season. The non-profit group gathers blankets for distribution to the homeless. To help, drop off donations until Nov. 6 at Brentwood Town Centre.
For more info, go to www. blanketbc.org. Gregory Ould is the founder of Blanket B.C., which he runs with the help of his young son, among other volunteers.
? The Burnaby Teachers' Association is running its Sock it Poverty campaign for the third year.
The annual drive collects donations of socks, toques, gloves, scarves, cash and toiletries for the Burnaby Task Force on Homelessness.
The items are collected through local schools, but people can donate at the association headquarters at #115, 3993 Henning Dr., during office hours, from 8: 30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, call association president Richard Storch at 6042948141 or email [email protected].
Have an item for Here and Now? Send it to reporter Jennifer Moreau at [email protected].
