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All week on February 19 -25, 2024, culture and heritage organizations across the province are going to be hosting events to celebrate Heritage Week.
Use our Heritage Week Calendar to find events. Filter by cost, location, kid-friendly, virtual and more!
When you attend an event, take a photo, tag us at @heritagebcanada, and use #BCHeritageWeek to show your support for the conservation and ongoing stewardship of heritage in BC!
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Syrian Heritage Storytelling Day
February 24 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
By Donation (no one will be turned away for lack of funds)
This February Full Moon Day, immerse yourself in the vibrant art of Traditional Syrian Storytelling during BC Heritage Week at Soumak Boutique, nestled in the Kids Market on Granville Island in Vancouver, BC.
Step into a realm of enchanting narratives spun by the gifted storyteller, Masa Kateb (artist bio below), and travel to humanity’s most ancient capital city, Damascus, Syria, from the shores of the Salish Sea, while embracing intersectionality and cultivating a sense of intentional growth.
✨ About Traditional Syrian Storytelling:
Traditional Syrian Storytelling is an art form steeped in centuries of history and culture, passed down through generations as a cherished oral tradition. It transcends mere entertainment, serving as a powerful medium for preserving heritage, fostering community bonds, and imparting invaluable lessons from the past to inspire the present and future generations.
✨ Summary of logistics:
🗓️ Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
⏳ Time: From 11:00 am to 5:00 pm (Stories will start at the top of the hour, and last for 20-25 minutes each)
📍 Location: Soumak Boutique, Kids Market, Granville Island (1496 Cartwright St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Y5)
🤍 Cost: By donation (no one will be turned away for lack of funds)
🗣️ Language: Stories will be told in Arabic & English
🪑 Seating is limited with some rugs on the floor. Feel free to bring a cousin* if you prefer (*cushion. This was a fun typo, so the organizers decided to keep it in)
🚽 Washrooms available on site
Drop-in | Open to all ages | All are welcome
✨Event Highlights:
– Experience the art of Traditional Syrian Storytelling
– Get inspired to boost your own intentional growth process
– Enjoy delightful refreshments including coffee, tea, and treats available throughout the day
– Explore Syrian culture through stories while being surrounded by handmade Syrian art at Soumak Boutique
– An opportunity to browse and purchase handmade treasures (many of which are made by refugees)
✨ This event is a celebration of the richness of Syrian heritage, reminding us of the beauty found in our differences and the incredible power of stories to bring us closer, realizing that we have more in common than we assume. Whether you’re young or young at heart, join us for a day filled with cultural richness, community connections, and the timeless art of storytelling.
✨ We look forward to celebrating BC Heritage Week with you, Layer by Layer!
@HeritageBCanada #BCHeritageWeek
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🎙️ About the Storyteller:
Masa Kateb is a ‘Hakawatieh,’ a Storyteller from the most ancient Capital City on Earth, Damascus, Syria.
Seeking to preserve her heritage, Kateb offers a fresh perspective to what Syrian/Arab culture is about. She founded Awzan Events, striving towards co-creating intentional, inclusive and meaningful intercultural community events to inspire the world to be a better place for all. Doing so by weaving five impactful channels: Arts, Culture, Education, Healthy Living & Spirituality.
Masa co-founded Quantum Care Coaching during the COVID-19 global health crisis, where she coaches on Leadership and Growth alongside a revolutionary Health Scientist, advancing a holistic health practice that’s been transformative to her own active healing-and-growth journey on the shores of the Salish Sea in Vancouver, BC. Canada.
Masa manages communications and marketing with Still Moon Arts Society, working with a dedicated team to inspire vibrant and connected communities by creating artistic experiences and nurturing a passion for nature. She loves sunset walks, and lives a life of voluntary service to a higher purpose, with great hope in our collective consciousness.
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💝 About Soumak Boutique
The idea for Soumak Boutique was inspired by the support groups formed for refugee women and adolescent girls in the aftermath of the war in Syria. These groups utilized their artisan skills to create beautiful handmade products that share refugee journey and reflect on their unique culture. The experience was both arduous and inspiring, and highlighted the incredible potential of artisan women despite their struggles. Today, Soumak Boutique operates in Canada with a mission to empower refugee and women artisans.
Soumak Boutique takes pride in promoting this rich culture, reviving its heritage, and educating people about Middle Eastern history and culture through artwork. The boutique is also committed to being a sustainable business with a strategic focus on producing goods that are made in small batches and require a craftsman’s skill.
Soumak Boutique is the brainchild of Rasha and Elvira, two passionate Middle Eastern women who share a deep love and admiration for Middle Eastern handcraft art and culture.
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Soumak Boutique and Awzan Events respectfully acknowledge, with gratitude, that we am currently experiencing life on the unceded and traditional territories of the xʷmə𝜃kʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations. We further recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis, the Inuit peoples, and all Indigenous peoples around the world, especially in Palestine.