SUMMER IN THE CITY

Summer programs at the Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre are in full swing

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many key community spaces were forced to shut their doors, including the Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre. Prior to the pandemic, the dynamic centre on Hanson Street, in Whitehorse, offered “a whole array of female empowerment types of programming,” said executive director Sofia Ashley, citing bike-repair and oil-change workshops as examples.

Once they reopened, there was a process of rebuilding, which focussed on reinstating ongoing services such as the drop-in hours and the Community Kitchen meal program on Wednesdays and Fridays. Now that those essentials have been re-established, Ashley explained that they have “a bit more energy and a bit more capacity to be experimenting with these kinds of broader things.”

One of these things is a weekly Bollywood dance class with Miltra Antony. The class began as a trial, in April, and was immediately popular. Ashley credits the program’s success to the instructor.

“She’s lovely, she has a superinfectious energy [and] she wanted to contribute, so we tried out a Bollywood class on a Wednesday evening and quickly had 10 women sign up, and [they] had a lovely time.

“You don’t have to be a great dancer; that’s not the point,” Ashley continued. “Miltra has a lot of lived experience; she has a lot of joy she brings to … I don’t know … I’ve been thinking about it as, in the times that we’re in, there’s a lot of overwhelm, there’s a lot of darkness, there’s a lot of uncertainty, there’s a lot of really terrible global things happening and we can get immobilized in the fear and the negativity and the overwhelm of it all.

“And so, like, joy and rest and time for yourself to do something playful and fun is a really important part of taking care of your mental health and also giving yourself some of that care that maybe you need.”

The other program that Ashley highlights is the Moms and Kids Summer Program. Activities are aimed at kids aged 5 to 8, but Ashley is quick to point out that moms can also bring their infants and toddlers. The program provides recreation opportunities for families who may not otherwise access them. For example, many of the outings are spent exploring the Wilderness City’s natural wonders.

“Every single neighbourhood in town has massive, beautiful, really wonderful, really cool trail networks and things to explore, and they’re all accessible by city bus—but if you don’t know that and you don’t know where to go to check it out, it can seem inaccessible,” Ashley said.

One week, families might visit the Wildlife Preserve; and another week, they go to Long Lake. There are also fun, crafty activities such as making zines … or polymer-clay bracelets, with artist Lara Melnik.

The program is an opportunity to connect with nature and with other moms. It can make single parenting less lonely, Ashley said.

The Moms and Kids program happens every Friday afternoon until early August, when the centre’s summer student, Sierra Link, goes back to school.

The Bollywood dance class and Moms and Kids program is part of the centre’s larger purpose as a community hub and resource for women.

“When I say ‘women,’ I mean all women, as well as folks who identify outside the gender binary— that’s kind of who we’re open to these days,” Ashley said.

“Our mandate really is to be here until all women are living equal and thriving in life, and we know that that’s not really the reality. And we do that by creating a safe space for people to just be, sometimes, or to come and access support and resources, which largely looks like referrals to other places.

“It’s really about self-determination, fundamentally, and supporting women where they’re at, with whatever steps they want to take.”

The centre also has a strong activism side that encourages women to explore feminism and what that means to them.

“We’re also about creating community, and I think that, certainly, with the pandemic and the shifts that we’ve seen and with the, like, increasing poverty and increasing income gaps, we’ve become a bit more like a socialservice agency; but, like, really, at our heart we’re a centre for collective feminist action. This is our women’s centre—Our, with a big ‘O’.”

Ultimately, Ashley said that the centre is meant to be for the community and that they always welcome new programming ideas. The Bollywood dance program resulted from Antony expressing an interest in being involved. Ashely would like to see more of that engagement with the centre.

“I’d love for women in our community to think about their relationship with the centre.

“We are your women’s centre, too. We are for everyone.”

To learn more about what’s happening at Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre, follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/VFWCYT ■

Whitehorse Events

ART SHOWS

Until July 28 Paintings from the Boreal Forest by Ava P Christl The Northern Front Studio

Until July 29 Good-Natured Ribbing by Dakota Hagan Arts Underground

This exhibit focuses on the relationships between space, queerness and the natural world.

Until July 31 Art by Niki Parry Baked Cafe New collections displayed there my Yukon lakes collection and my Cabins collection.

Until Aug 25 The Forgetting by Suzanne Paleczny YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery Whitehorse based artist, Suzanne Paleczny navigates the impacts of her parents’ dementia, she explores the fluid nature of memory, and the importance of memory in the making of the self through the construction of a personal narrative. https://shorturl.at/ yFSZ7

Until Aug 25 The Nahanni by Neil Graham YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery

A Whitehorse-based painter, takes us on a voyage along the magnificent Nahanni River with dynamic paintings that capture one of North America’s most breathtaking wild rivers. https://shorturl. at/houLO

Until Aug 25 Chilkoot Connections & A Precious Place Screening YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery An exhibit featuring traditional and contemporary art inspired by the Chilkoot Trail and A Precious Place video series which shares the connection and stories of those who live and work in this treasured place. https:// tinyurl.com/2s3r6emm

Until Sept 30 Bringing Back the Light – Healing Dugout Canoe Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre A unique interpretive experience. Learn about the history and the process of carving an 800 year old cedar tree into a 25ft functional watercraft. Create a traditional piece art or craft

LIVE MUSIC

Wed Jul 26 & Aug 2 Whitewater

Wednesday Night Jam 7:00 PM The Local Bar An open mic kinda show and all you have to do is bring in your instrument, find Jack and/or Peggy and we’ll set you up! No need to be shy.

Wed Jul 26 & Aug 2 Live Music

Thursdays 7:00 PM 98 Hotel

Wed Jul 26 & Aug 2 Ginger Jam 7:00 PM Lefty’s Wel Wed Jul 26 & Aug 2 Live DJsThursday Throwdown 9:00 PM The Local Bar.

Thu Jul 27 ‘Round Back: Brigitte

Jardin 8:00 PM Guild Hall Brigitte Jardinjoined by local musicians, performs their first set with exclusively Francophone repertoire, allowing them to immerse in the singular poetry of the French language. The 2nd set, performing in English, embracing the classic country sound. Tickets online https://tinyurl.com/ jxdreajw

Fri Jul 28 Mainstreet Concert Series: Ryan McNally 4:00 PM A series of concerts with local artists presented by Music Yukon.

Fri Jul 28 Karaoke (Members & Signed in Guests) 7:30 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Come practise your high and low notes! Or just watch!

Fri Jul 28 ‘Round Back: Stockstill & Rose 8:00 PM Guild Hall A high energy show features Amelia Rose on fiddle and vocals and Mike Stockstill on banjo. Together, they deliver a unique blend of traditional bluegrass and old time music with fiery Eastern European/Balkan tunes. Tickets online https://tinyurl. com/3p6ppurx

Fri Jul 28-30 Loon Returns 9:00 PM

An environmental operetta following in the tradition of Canadian music icon, R Murray Schaefer. Featuring members of the Problematic Orchestra.

Sat Jul 29 ‘Round Back: Local Boy –

The Robotic Experience 8:00 PM Guild Hall An immersive hip hop presentation featuring the invaluable essence of musical stylings by Jeremy Parkin, and the high level rap performance by Kelvin. These two kings shape a sine wave into the golden ratio. Tickets online https:// tinyurl.com/mu48ya4j

Sat Jul 29 Keytars are Forever

Tour Pt 1 9:00 PM Lefty’s Well Encore performance, featuring Q the Comandante, John from Dawson and NiTPIK. Advance Tickets online. https://t. ly/CUCdq