Della Burford at the International Children's Festival

 

What a wonderful part of Vancouver - the annual Children's Festival with participating performers from all over the world.

 
at the Vancouver International Children's Festival at Salish Sea Day

The administration , such a Lucy Lareau and many others were busy organizing a fantastic day.

Since the day was focused on an environmental theme the opening ceremonies were done by native elders Leonard George of the Tsleilwaututh Nation and
Abner Thorne of the Cowichan Nation who sang with Holly Artnzen.

"Holly Arntzen and the Dream Band" sang from the Salish Sea CD, and did lots of wonderful things.

Holly believes kids learn about the environment through music and singing and communities working together and she sang with the children's choir of Moberly school .

A Giant clay castle was made by everyone as each one added a little to make the whole.

In the Alcan Imagination Station you could make Fantasy Hats with reycled materials. The Planetarium folks, plus Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canda, GVRD, and the Vancouver Marine Science Centre did many activites to helped us to explore sea creatures including making paintings by pressing rubber fish and star fish on paper. Through the large white tents woven a
Parade of stilted figures including an Eagle, Blue Heron,

and to everyone's surprise later there was also a
Public Dreams Dinosaur.
Della and the Eagle Child were happy to be part of the Vancouver International Children's Festival and see so many children caring about the environment on Salish Sea Day.

Della went back Saturday and it was a day full of creativity and imagination. She met puppeteer Matthias Kuchta from Germany who used life sized textile puppets to bring out the depth and richness of th Grimm Brother's story. He used child participation and was able to show the imagination and magic of the child to everyone in the audience.

Another show called "Art Gaffaw" is about being an artist. It was cleverly done by artistic performer Jim Jackson. It was a Circus of Art - through the eyes of a clown. We see what happens when easel's speaks, portraits come alive, and still life's dance. He tells his story with magic, juggling and really giant bubbles. After the show Della wandered out to see the beautiful summer day in Vancouver and all the outdoor activities.

There was a a Giant Stick Like puppet talking to a child dressed as a fairy. Yes! It was time for magic and imagination at the Vancouver International Children's Festival.
Thanks to all the children and "child withins" of the adults weaving a tapestry together!

Della with the Eagle Child telling "The Magical Earth Secrets" story.

See the main page in Dodoland