North Shore Celebrates Picture Diversity

It was an evening full of award-winning photography, local theatre and awareness raising as the North Shore Neighbourhood House played host to the first ever North Shore Picture Diversity Photo Contest awards. Managed by the North Shore Multicultural Society on behalf of the North Shore Welcoming Action Committee and made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of BC, the awards ceremony was held on Thursday, November 25th.

Designed to provide a visual image of our community that demonstrates how people from many cultural backgrounds connect around shared interests., the contest challenged participants to photographically represent what they saw as an inclusive society. The ceremony was immediately followed by Headline Theatre’s interactive play, “Us and Them” which explored ideas about inclusion and belonging.

1st prize went to Erika De Torres for her submission, Music is Universal, a beautiful testament to the power of music to bring society together. As De Torres stated “Without a doubt, music is diverse. However, the love for music is in everyone and that love is able to connect us. Whether it is classical, rap, pop or K-pop, the love for music has the ability to reach out to people. It has the ability to connect and to share experiences, through conversation or even through hearing someone’s iPod on too loud on the bus. We are connected by rhythms, tones and most importantly, beauty. Although everyone’s tastes may be different, the love for music truly brings us together.”

Jeff Barnes poignant tribute to his children, Fun For All At Summer Day Camp, took 2nd place. In capturing the joy experienced in a day at camp, Barnes expressed the following: “When we moved to Canada, we did so because of all the opportunities here for our children. This was a great moment at one of the many summer camps here on the North Shore, when they joined in and became part of the community.”

The endearing and timeless tradition of the Girl Scouts of Canada was forever immortalized in Janine Thornton’s 3rd place submission, The North Shore, A Great Place to Explore. From behind her lens, Thornton captured the rocky slopes and gorgeous water views of the North Shore after a Brownie sleepover on the hard floors at the Phyl Munday Nature House at Light House Park.

De Torres, Barnes and Thornton, in addition to being awarded a variety of prizes including an Apple 32GB iPad, will also have their work featured in a travelling exhibition touring local libraries throughout the North Shore starting at the 14th and North Vancouver Lonsdale branch.

Words by Anna Black, EAT Communications.  Photos by Jeremy Lim, Jeremy Lim Photography.