this event w i l l be the prototype for an annual regional event leading up to the 2010 W i n t e r O l y m p i c s and beyond. "People w i l l be invited to come and travel the landscape, to journey through the site o n the d a y " says D o l l y H o p k i n s of The Public Dreams Society. " T h e y w i l l both witness, and interact themselves, w i t h the many activities." T h e emphasis is o n c o m m u n i t y involvement and interaction. "It about respect, knowledge and s h a r i n g , " Vanessa Richards says. People w i l l bring their o w n cultural offerings, whether music, dance or slow f o o d . "It is a type of Pot L u c k of c u l t u r e , " Richards says. M o u n t a i n M a r d i Gras w i l l encourage people to dream and to imagine themselves newly and more meaningfully connected to each other. The N o r t h Shore is a rainforest community. Water is an element we k n o w well and can celebrate. It is hoped that partners and participants w i l l find themselves in an environment, f r o m w h i c h to expand ideas of public art and recreational play. Working in partnership w i t h regional artistic, cultural and business communities, M o u n t a i n M a r d i Gras aims to create an event for the region, generating local and d e s t i n a t i o n t o u r i s m ; an event that w i l l p r o v i d e opportunities for our artists, communities and businesses to showcase the social, creative, recreational and ecological ideals of the N o r t h Shore region; finally an event that w i l l encourage collaboration and fellowship amongst diverse and Aboriginal communities, creating new forms, that capture the spirit and goodwill of this place, and our people, in the 21st century. In 2010, as everyone k n o w s , the W i n t e r O l y m p i c s and Paralympics are coming. These are sporting events, but more than sport w i l l benefit. The Olympic Three Pillars of C u l t u r e , Sport and Environment spell that out. 2010 Legacies N o w actively assists communities discover and create unique and inclusive social and economic opportunities, leading up to, d u r i n g and beyond the 2010 O l y m p i c s and Paralympics Winter games. T h e i r Arts N o w programme is i m p r o v i n g British C o l u m b i a n s ' access to and participation in the arts and music, while strengthening community based arts organizations throughout British C o l u m b i a . Programs also focus on community celebrations, arts in education and the exchange of best practices i n creative production and business skills. y à All photos courtesy of Public Dreams Society C reative Art R ehabilitative Expression Aita Therapy Centre www.AitaCentre.com 209 Lonsdale 604- 987Avenue 7212 We provide therapeutic and rehabilitative programs and services to older adults with physical and/or cognitive frailty and their caregivers. www.arts-alive.ca January | February