Happy Birthday, Canada!

After being fully blessed by our Queen Elizabeth and having acknowledged our most important and recent victory, the Olympic Gold Medal for hockey, I felt extremely motivated to finish editing my interview with Nick Noorani. I know… it’s a gift from a late guest, but I made sure that I kept the most important clips from my conversation with Nick. It’s also a double gift; since most of Nick’s Canadian milestones were conquered on past Canada Days.

Enjoy!

I am having the busiest week of my life, but it feels really gooooood! I recorded this videolog last Saturday and spent the whole weekend trying to make my 2006 Dell laptop talk to my new 2010 Canon Rebel T2i camera. As you can guess, things didn’t go as smoothly as I expected.

Last Saturday I interviewed the founder and publisher of The Canadian Immigrant Magazine Nick Noorani. I’ve known Nick for a year now and his passion for helping immigrants and making Canada a better country for everyone is a real inspiration to me. I am still trying to befriend my new camera with my old laptop and even although Adobe Premiere is completely installed, it might take a while to edit my talk with Nick. Be patient with me and stay tuned!

I also talked about my participation in the Women in Leadership Foundation (WIL) mentorship program in this video. I am extremely excited about the program and only 2.5 hours away from the official launch of this year’s program.

I am also planning on uploading my videos from Tuesday’s Brazilian craziness on Commercial Drive very soon. I must confess that it’s very hard to be Canadian during the World Cup, but since this country is about diversity, I might get a passing grade this month!

Talk to you soon,

Veronica

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I just discovered that I have 100 days to become a real Canadian. Scary eh?!? I really don’t know how this videolog series will unfold, but I would love to interview you if you consider yourself a real Canadian!

Leave a comment or fill out my contact form.

Talk to you soon…

Apparently, every time that I get overwhelmed by inspiring stories, I have a hard time translating them into a concise blog post. That’s one of the most ironic situations that a trained journalist can face. However, instead of ignoring Northern Voice 2010 and pretending that it didn’t happen in my life, I am showing up for duty and re-establishing this blog’s purpose.

Northern Voice 2010 was my first blogging conference and I still can’t understand why it took me so long to get out there and start meeting people like me. Well, according to Kimli Welsh’s presentation, I learned that I am not the only blogger who gets intimidated by the idea of leaving the safeness of a URL. Luckily, lots of familiar avatars stopped by to say “hi” to me, giving a friendly face to their strong online presences.

For me, this year’s conference was all about finding my voice online. I have been blogging for over 5 years now, but even after several metamorphoses MadameHeringer.com still feels like it only makes sense to me (Yes… I am completely ignoring thousands of monthly unique visitors and behaving like a drama queen!). However, Monica Hamburg and Dave Olsen’s workshop was the best validation that I could wish for. Blogging takes time and effort to find your niche and voice, but also it’s about having fun and experimenting with new mediums. Lesson learned!

Stefani Cameron’s How to Screw Up Your Personal Blog session was the most resourceful and sincere story that I heard at Northern Voice 2010. In a nutshell, stick to who you are and respect your boundaries. Readers are smart people and they know when you’re faking!

Northern Voice 2010 was a 2-day long event about blogging, Twitter and online marketing. From creating podcasts to copyright laws, it covered it all. I got a lot out of the sessions and plan to bring some multimedia experiments to this space in the following months. Stay tuned, my Northern Voice experience has just started!

Illustration by Edel Rodriguez

I can’t believe it took me so long to go to the opera for the first time. And what a debut! Vancouver turned out dressed to the nines for the opening night of Vancouver Opera’s production of Marriage of Figaro at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. I went for the music and the opportunity to wear very high heels at the beginning of the week, but came home a true opera fan. Gosh, why did it take me so long?

Since I am a former TV producer and actress (I know… shame on me for taking so long to meet Mozart’s opera!), it’s always a challenge for me to truly appreciate any show. I am always looking for the behind the scenes gaffes, for the actor who forgets his line, for the lighting that missed the main character. Vancouver Opera’s Marriage of Figaro passed the test! Every single actor was fantastic and Jonathan Darlington’s orchestra nailed it from beginning to end.

Julie Boulianne’s Cherubino was the most delightful performance of Marriage of Figaro. I felt like a little girl when I noticed that it was a lady in a male role, but it took me less than 5 minutes of watching Boulianne to forget this detail. Chris Alexander’s stage direction is impeccable, his transitions are so smooth and involving that it really transported me into Marriage of Figaro’s world.

Tomorrow (Tuesday, May 4th) is Marriage of Figaro’s last night at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Yes… it’s sung in Italian, but you’re allowed to read the subtitles! If you need a second opinion before buying the tickets, Tris Hussey, Gus Fosarolli, Peter Andersen, Kelsey Dundon, and Vancouver Opera’s blog will provide  you with all good reasons to make this investment!

The last time I watched a performance by Grupo Corpo, I was living in Brazil and the soundtrack of the show was composed by João Bosco. I fell in love with Grupo Corpo while watching their performances of Bengelê and Santagustin at Teatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro. Since 2002, I have been chasing them around the world and if it wasn’t for my good friend Lili Viera de Carvalho, I would have missed their performances in Vancouver.

Corpo means body in Portuguese. Grupo Corpo is the realization of Paulo Pederneiras’ ambitious dream of mixing contemporary dance with genuine Brazilian music. Grupo Corpo has given life to over 30 different shows and toured through several countries. Grupo Corpo is eye-catching for its powerful and defiant way of introducing a human body to movements and concepts that are beyond imagination. Its Latin American take on contemporary dance ads an extra sparkle for its audience, and watching one of their performances always leaves you having trouble believing what you’ve seen.

PARABELO

Photo Credit: José Luiz Pederneiras

Parabelo was the first act of the Vancouver show. Meant to be a re-creation of the Brazilian Sertão, it is described by its creator Rodrigo Pederneiras as the most “regional” concept that Grupo Corpo has brought to life. Parabelo is as intriguing as its title.

The impressive soundtrack created by Tom Zé, one of the most polemical Brazilian musicians, and José Miguel Wisnik brings to the stage the exact feeling associated with the hard reality experienced in the Northeast of Brazil. However, the beauty of Grupo Corpo’s choreography and audacity of mixing xaxado, forró and frevo with modern dance makes Parabelo an unforgettable experience.

BREU

Photo Credit: José Luiz Pederneiras

The rock and roll approach that Lenine gave to Breu’s soundtrack is conveyed by Grupo Corpo as a fight between darkness and sound. Lenine’s wild guitars also set the tones of violence and brutality that fill the stage.  Apparently, choreographer Rodrigo Pederneiras asked Lenine to have fun while composing BREU’s soundtrack. Lenine certainly followed his instructions by adding uncomfortable and rebellious sounds to Grupo Corpo’s darkest show.

The second act of the Vancouver show completely challenged gravity. Jumping from the floor while twisting and balancing bodies against each other were ordinary tasks for the cast of BREU. Compared to the first act, BREU was too rushed and I didn’t feel that it conveyed a full story to me in its 45-minutes. It was beautiful to watch, but I’d love to see more darkness and young anxiety through a structured story that could better relay the spirit of Pederneiras’ vision.

Grupo Corpo is now on its way to Europe and will be back on the stage on May 8^th and 9^th at Teatro Municipal de Valencia, in Valencia, Spain, and May 12^th at Gare du midi, in Biarritz, France. For more information, visit http://www.grupocorpo.com.br/site

The 8^th edition of the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival (VLAFF) is rapidly approaching and the final touches are being made on this year’s festival. Even though opening night is only happening on September 2^nd, VLAFF organizers are accepting design ideas for VLAFF’s 8^th edition poster only until this Friday, April 30^th .

The contest is open to all British Columbia-based artists. Submissions are limited to three entries per person. Design concepts will be judged according to their public appeal, content and marketability. The winning artist will receive a $500 prize and exposure on VLAFF’s website and newsletters.

Click here, for more information about the VLAFF 2010 poster contest.

Good Luck!

The National Volunteer Week is an opportunity for non-profit organizations to appreciate the work of their volunteers Canada-wide. I particularly see this week as a chance to inspire other people to engage in their community, share and connect with others.

You’re probably thinking that I am so pro-volunteerism because of my job at ISSofBC. You guessed right! Before moving to Canada, I would never consider working for free. Volunteerism was an activity only possible after retiring or winning the lottery! However, since my work requires me to engage, train and encourage volunteers, I realized back in 2008 that I had to roll up my sleeves and start my volunteer career in Vancouver.

After 2 years working as volunteer at different non-profit organizations, I can tell you that it is fun! From TV Host to dog handler, I’ve tried it all! I am currently balancing my full-time job at ISSofBC with my online communications coordination work at Vancouver Latin American Film Festival, and a pet visitor (with Ipanema) position at Yaletown House. I can proudly say that every single volunteer opportunity brought more opportunities to my life than I could imagine when I first accepted then. The feeling of accomplishment and both professional and personal connections that I gained from my unpaid positions have been working as a fair trade for me.

If you are excited about getting involved in the community, you can learn more about the organizations before you commit to a specific position by attending the Timeraiser Vancouver on September 23rd. If you can’t wait until September, Go Volunteer has been the source of all my volunteer positions and will probably have something for you as well!

Are you currently a volunteer at a non-profit organization? Where? What is the best story you have to share so far?

For those who don’t believe that social media is changing the way people interact and consume art, 300 people attended the Twitter/Art + Social Media’s opening reception at Diane Farris Gallery last Thursday to prove them wrong. In an informal setting, connected Vancouverites enjoyed the art over a beer while sharing how they discovered the exhibit on facebook or through a tweet, confirming that art is becoming more and more connected and accessible on a global scale.

Diane Farris Gallery has a history of forward thinking. The gallery launched its first website in 1996 when less than 1% of the world’s population had access to the internet, so when Mia Johnson presented the original idea for Twitter/Art + Social Media, it was a done deal. According to the exhibit’s curator, Lili Vieira de Carvalho, Diane Farris herself has always been interested in the possibilities of the internet and how online communities can support artists.

“If you are an artist who is sharing your process or artwork online, you are building an audience. You can also find people who care about the same issues as you and want be part of your creative process,” added Vieira de Carvalho.

Peter Combe, Iran’s Ahmadinejad Prepares for Avatar Premier, 2010.

The juried exhibit selected works from over 40 artists who use social media as an inspiration, a tool to connect with their audience, and to promote their work. However, Twitter/Art + Social Media is not only an art exhibit, it also intends to give back to the community through a series of free events:
On April 13th at 4:00pm, publicist Rebecca Coleman and photographer Kris Krug will facilitate a ‘Social Media for Visual Artists’ workshop.

On the 17th, Diane Farris Gallery will host an art and social media panel with the Twitter/Art + Social Media selection committee: Dr. Maria Lantin, from Emily Carr; Hank Bull, Executive Director of Centre A; Kris Krug, Vancouver-based photographer and Vancouver Film School professor; and Lili Vieira de Carvalho, Associate Director of Diane Farris Gallery.

On the 27th, the 8th edition of Draw by Night – A Drawing Party will take place at Diane Farris Gallery.

Please contact Diane Farris Gallery at (604) 737-2629 or email facebook@dianefarrisgallery.com to register for these events. Seats are limited.

Twitter/Art + Social Media exhibit is open Tuesday – Friday from 10am to 5:30pm and Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Diane Farris Gallery is located at 1590 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC.

Hong Kong city skyline before and during Earth Hour
Photo Credit: Ringo Ma on Earth Hour News Website

The World has already started to turn off its lights at 8:30pm in cities around the world with citizens demanding effective actions on climate change. Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia and in its 4th edition has over 5 million people pledging their support. According to the WWF, we have only 5 more years to reverse the impact of the industrial damage before climate change becomes inevitable. Helping our planet is easy and simple! You can initiate your own revolution in 5 simple steps:

1 – Don’t drive, take the bus!

I don’t drive. In theory, I know how to drive, but I have never had to. Living in Rio de Janeiro and Vancouver, driving sounds like an indulgence since you can go anywhere using the public system. I do understand that everybody likes the comfort of their cars and that driving is required in some cases. If that’s your situation, join a car pool, make new friends, and ride or share a car with someone else.

2 – Recycle

I love the cities that I’ve lived in because they’ve been making it easy for their residents to recycle their garbage and help the planet. Here in Vancouver, recycling starts inside your house and is supported by local waste management companies. In Rio de Janeiro, there is a wide network of aluminum can collectors and several social projects transforming garbage into art and new products. Brazil is also the pioneer in Tetra Pak recycling, which makes me really proud of our Brazilian engineers.

Contact your city’s website to learn more about the your local recycling guidelines. If your city doesn’t have a recycling program in place, contact your representative and demand one!

3 – Buy in bulk and opt for products with less packaging

It sounds really simple, but it will make a real difference in your pocket and in the future of our planet. Buying things in bulk and with less packaging will reduce your trips to the garbage and increase your savings. If the products that you buy are individually packaged, the cost of the packaging is reflected in the price.  Also, try to buy products that have been packaged in recycled materials and show other companies that you’re ready for a change.

4 -Change your light bulbs

I know that you know that your electricity bill will get cheaper. If  the investment seems too high at first, consider that you will only have to change your light bulbs again in 1.5 to 2 years from now and you will see how much money you can save.

5 – Get out there!

Watch less TV and go for more walks. Rollerblade, skateboard, go out and take pictures of your beautiful planet! See the change that you are bringing to the world and have fun!