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Culture Days 2022 will move closer to pre-COVID-19 events while taking pandemic lessons

Culture Days 2022 will move closer to pre-COVID-19 events while taking pandemic lessons

The 2022 edition of Culture Days is weeks away and plans are afoot to make this year’s event a return to form for the festival.

The 2022 edition of Culture Days is weeks away and plans are afoot to make this year’s event a return to form for the festival.

Several new, old and remixed events are on the calendar for this year’s observance, which starts Sept. 23 and runs until Oct. 16. A lack of public health orders and restrictions around COVID-19 will allow organizers to have full capacity events indoors and out.

“We’re still on the post-COVID-19, trying to make sure we have lined things up, but we’re very grateful to have received funding from Hudbay, from the Flin Flon School Division and of course, from the arts council – and we are planning activities,” said lead organizer Crystal Kolt.

“We’re still trying to get a feeling as to what people want to do, but this is what I know – there are some really exciting events happening that are a little bit different than the norm.”

That includes makeovers of longtime Culture Days events. One such change is the Human Books event, which has usually featured prominent Flin Flonners at the Flin Flon Public Library to share stories and their backgrounds with interested onlookers. That event, as the public has known it, has changed – Kolt said it has been replaced with a wine and cheese evening where wines will be paired with books at the library.

Other events will stay on from previous years, like the Dancing Down Main Street event, the Walking Through a Volcano tour, the Wild Things outdoor market, a film screening from the Central Canada Film Group and a return of school programming and the Superstar program, which teaches local schoolkids skills and techniques used in circus training.

Out-of-town performers will also be a major part of this year’s Culture Days, which will include two incoming acts during the course of the events. Juno award winner Serena Ryder will perform at the Flin Flon Community Hall Oct. 16, with the Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers coming from Winnipeg to perform at the hall Oct. 1. Those shows will sandwich the Wild Rice Cabaret, which is set for Oct. 8 and is a charter event for Culture Days.

Yet more events are still in the planning stages and will not likely be firmed up until closer to opening day.

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Move for Freedom – GlobalNews Events

Move for Freedom - GlobalNews Events

Move for Freedom is a fundraising event on August 6 to prevent human trafficking and provide aftercare for survivors. To join, choose an activity you love (like hiking, biking or yoga), create a team and set a fundraising goal. On August 6, participate from wherever you live to help survivors find healing! Sign up at MoveforFreedom.org.

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Move for Freedom – GlobalNews Events

Move for Freedom - GlobalNews Events

Move for Freedom is a fundraising event on August 6 to prevent human trafficking and provide aftercare for survivors. To join, choose an activity you love (like hiking, biking or yoga), create a team and set a fundraising goal. On August 6, participate from wherever you live to help survivors find healing! Sign up at MoveforFreedom.org.

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Even as COVID cases rise, large events like graduations, concerts move forward

Even as COVID cases rise, large events like graduations, concerts move forward

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – COVID cases are rising once again, but there are no government mandates on the horizon, even as more and more gatherings are happening toward the summer months.

“We’re not instituting any more measures,” said Amanda Johnson, general manager of Blue Note Hawaii. “It really is up to people if they want to wear a mask while they’re here. We understand.”

Blue Note Hawaii reopened in November of last year with performers behind plexiglass shields and with limited capacity. Those restrictions are gone, and masks are no longer required to attend an event or work there.

That’s not changing, even as COVID hospitalizations are also rising.

“If we get up to 100 patients in hospitals, that will start to cause us some concern,” Hilton Raethel, the head of the Hawaii Healthcare Association, said six days ago.

We’re getting very close. The association says hospitalizations due to COVID jumped from 68 last week Friday, to 93 on Monday. There were 91 hospitalizations on Wednesday.

Being vaccinated twice isn’t enough.

“With the new variants that we’re seeing, if you’ve only had two shots, you are at risk upwards of 70% of being hospitalized, and you could have very severe consequences,” said Dr. Scott Miscovich of Premier Medical Group.

High school graduations are also around the corner, and the Department of Education is leaving most of the decision-making up to each school.

“Schools have a flexibility to determine event specific details to maintain the health and safety of all attendees,” said Interim School Superintendent Keith Hayashi.

With no Aloha Stadium, Mililani High School’s seniors will have their commencement at the Stan Sheriff Center on the UH Manoa campus on Monday. Each graduate will be allowed eight guests.

Several other high schools that had used Aloha Stadium are also moving to the Stan Sheriff. And since its indoors, masks will be required by the DOE.

Another large gathering is planned Saturday morning, with a Christians United In Prayer event at the State Capitol. Organizers are expecting 500 people for the outdoor event, with no restrictions.

“Everything is by faith, so we just trust in God that everything that we do is by faith” said Event Coordinator Sandra Tilo Ulu.

Miscovich said it’s not just the gatherings. Those rising visitor numbers are also a factor in the latest surge, especially with masks optional on planes.

“The variants are coming here sooner, and the infectivity of different variants coming and spreading is sooner, likely because we’re such a melting pot with people coming from each direction,” he said.

Miscovich said he and other health experts believe the latest surge will last another six to eight weeks.

Copyright 2022 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

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Events, hospo leaders crossing ‘fingers, toes, everything’ for move to orange

Events, hospo leaders crossing 'fingers, toes, everything' for move to orange

Major players in events and hospitality say a shift to the orange traffic light setting would give them back a sense of control over their businesses at a time when they desperately need certainty.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will announce the latest review of Covid-19 settings on Monday, which could see the country, or certain regions, move from “red” to “orange” – and the end of 200-person limits on indoor gatherings.

The red setting also mandated seated table service at restaurants and bars and hospitality needed this lifted, according to Jeremy Smith, director of the Trinity Group, which owns Wellington hotels, restaurants and bars such as The Arborist and Lulu’s.

“The late night venues need people to stand and dance to get back to a semblance of normality.”

READ MORE:
* Covid-19 NZ: Cabinet set to decide whether traffic light setting moves from ‘red’ to ‘orange’
* Covid-19: Vaccine passes gone by midnight – but businesses can keep using them
* Only ‘niche’ arts and entertainment venues will check vaccine passes

Paris Lokotui, of the Pulse, secures the ball from Ali Wilshier, of the Steel, during the ANZ Premiership match in May, 2021. The teams are set to clash again on April 11.

Joe Allison/Getty Images

Paris Lokotui, of the Pulse, secures the ball from Ali Wilshier, of the Steel, during the ANZ Premiership match in May, 2021. The teams are set to clash again on April 11.

Trinity Hotel had 15 guests on Sunday night, in a 60-room hotel, he said.

“As long as we remain in red our businesses will be negatively impacted. As business owners we hope the announcement is made on Monday to go to orange and allow us to have control over our businesses without restrictions.”

The World of Wearable Art (WOW), which has faced cancellations of its annual show for two years running, had pencilled in dates for this year for September and October at Wellington’s TSB Arena.

Jeremy Smith, managing director of the Trinity Group says his Trinity Hotel had 15 guests on Sunday night, in a 60-room hotel.

Supplied

Jeremy Smith, managing director of the Trinity Group says his Trinity Hotel had 15 guests on Sunday night, in a 60-room hotel.

“We can’t go ahead unless we’re in orange,” chief executive David Tingey​ said.

“We have fingers, toes and everything crossed, hoping for a change that makes it all possible.

“I’d be kidding if I said I was super confident, but I am confident, and we have a supportive audience and a supportive city “

Organisers had ruled out having any sort of virtual show after consulting with designers, Tingey said.

A move to orange would also see indoor sports stadiums full again, Netball Central and Central Pulse chief executive Fran Scholey said.

World of Wearable Art chief executive David Tingey says he’s crossing his fingers and toes for a move to orange.

BRADEN FASTIER/Stuff

World of Wearable Art chief executive David Tingey says he’s crossing his fingers and toes for a move to orange.

It would mean a full house when the Pulse clash with Southern Steel at TSB Arena on April 11, she said.

“Currently we have 200 people in a 3500-seat stadium,” Scholey said.

Event promoter Phil Sprey​, who has been in the industry for more than 30 years, said stability was desperately needed if New Zealand expected artists and major events to return.

“The quicker we get back to some sort of normality and stability when it comes to political decisions the better. With these changes sort of dropping all the time nobody trusts anybody any more … everybody is a little gun shy.”

Sprey, who has brought the likes of Elton John, Kiss, and Bon Jovi to our shores, said he wasn’t promoting any artists at the moment and was considering retirement given the pandemic.

“If you’re not a major international promoter insurance is nigh on impossible to get, because of the various twists of Covid. People like ourselves can’t afford to not have insurance.”

In other announced changes, the vaccine pass system becomes voluntary, vaccine mandates are eased and outdoor gathering limits are eliminated from 11:59pm on Monday.

If we want crowds like this, at the ANZ Premiership netball match between the Pulse and the Tactix at TSB Arena in August 2020, we need orange, industry leaders say.

Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

If we want crowds like this, at the ANZ Premiership netball match between the Pulse and the Tactix at TSB Arena in August 2020, we need orange, industry leaders say.

Wellington City Council is yet to announce it will lift vaccine pass requirements from its public venues, but this was likely to happen on Wednesday, media spokesperson Victoria Barton-Chapple​ said.

The passes would be lifted at some point, but the process was a legal requirement, she said.

Hutt City, Upper Hutt and Porirua City councils are lifting vaccine pass requirements at all venues from April 5.

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Council votes to move forward with quest for elite horse event

Council votes to move forward with quest for elite horse event

Fort Worth, a city with a historic reputation for horses and equestrian pursuits, is on a quest to secure one of the world’s leading equestrian events.

The City Council on March 29 authorized execution of an agreement with the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau (doing business as Visit Fort Worth) and the Split Rock Jumping Tour, LLC (SRJ) to pursue hosting the 2026 Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Cup Finals for Jumping and Dressage at Dickies Arena.

The official announcement of the host site won’t be made until June 1, said an optimistic Fort Worth Sports Commission Executive Director Jason Sands. With the exception of one year, the event has been hosted by a city in the United States or Europe every year since it began in 1979. It will also be outside those nations in 2024 when it goes to Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. last hosted in 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska, which is also hosting in 2023. Las Vegas was a recent host with one of the highest total attendances for the event, drawing 86,000 in 2007.

Fort Worth was encouraged by the FEI to make a bid to host following the success of the FEI World Cup Qualifier at Will Rogers Memorial Center in December.

“Booking this prestigious, international equestrian event would be a huge win for the city. We take great pride in our western culture and our great history of hosting equestrian events and being able to secure an event of this magnitude would be further proof that Fort Worth is a world class sports destination,” Sands said.

Sands noted that the city has hosted and is scheduled to host a wide range of high profile events, and he credits that to the city’s vision to build Dickies Arena. These events include music legend Paul McCartney coming to town in May for his first concert in Fort Worth since 1976; the recent first and second rounds of the men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament; and many more.

“We’ve always known Fort Worth was a fantastic city, but we now have a spectacular venue that can host a variety of different events, and we are leveraging this new asset to bring in major events,” Sands said. “These events are driving millions of visitors’ dollars into our local economy and our city is thriving as a result.”

The 2019 event, held in Gothenburg, Sweden, was broadcast in 130 countries and generated 887 million impressions across all media platforms, according to a report from city staff. The estimated attendance and economic impact for the event, if held in Fort Worth, is 60,000 attendance and an estimated $21 million in direct spending.

The cost of hosting the event is currently estimated at $8.1 million, said Fort Worth Public Events Director Mike Crum.

“The host organization (SJR/Visit Fort Worth/City of Fort Worth) plans to recover that investment through a combination of revenues that include ticket sales, hospitality sales, and sponsorships,” he said.

City staff is forecasting $11.3 million in revenue and said the event must generate 72% of forecasted revenue to financially break even.

The city’s public events department provided the council with a financial breakdown:

  • The city will cover the initial host fee of $110,000, along with promotion/production expenses estimated at $900,000. This includes marketing, equine transport, stall setup, venue rent, etc.
  • Visit Fort Worth will cover additional expenses associated with promotion/production estimated at $500,000.
  • The city and Visit Fort Worth  will be repaid from the Event Trust Fund, currently estimated at $1.6 million.
  • SJR will cover remaining event expenses.
  • The parties agreed to a three-way split of profit or loss, with the city’s share capped at $1 million profit or loss and Visit Fort Worth’s share capped at $500,000.

Mayor Mattie Parker said the invitation to bid is yet another exciting example of how Fort Worth is gaining international recognition.

“World-class events like the FEI showcase our outstanding Cultural District and its premier event venues, especially the state-of-the-art Dickies Arena, as well as Fort Worth’s strong reputation as a leading destination for equestrian events,” Parker said. “The FEI opportunity and the many other significant sporting events landing in Fort Worth are all examples of how our Fort Worth Sports Commission is propelling the sports tourism industry in this city.”

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Health Department hosts “Move til your get your groove” events

Health Department hosts “Move til your get your groove” events

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -A national campaign launched by the CDC is coming to Savannah to get people outside and moving. On Wednesday, the Coastal Health District is hosting an event to encourage exercise even when you aren’t at the gym.

This entire goal is not only to get you moving but also to just look at your surroundings a little different and how you can use what is around you to stay active wherever you are.

The chronic disease prevention team wants to make physical activity an easy choice because regular physical activity helps prevent chronic diseases.

On Wednesday at Forsyth Park, a strength and conditioning coach will lead a free activity to show you how to use benches, curbs, playground equipment and whatever else you might find in your neighborhood park as a guide to get moving.

The coastal health district is encouraging the entire family to come out as they will have something for all ages and fitness levels. “When we can get the entire family involved, having the kids learn from an early age that physical activity is part of the normal day and having their parents be the examples of that is invaluable,” said Christina Gibson the Disease Prevention Coordinator at the Coastal Health District.

This is the first, DASH & Move til you Get Your Groove event and they plan to host them once a week for the next few weeks. The Chronic Disease Prevention team is hosting the events at 12:30 p.m. on the following Wednesdays:

  • March 30, Forsyth Park (meet at the basketball court)
  • April 6, Lake Mayer (meet at the runner’s statue at park entrance)
  • April 13, Daffin Park (meet at the entrance to Optimist Field)
  • April 20, L. Scott Stell Park (meet at the tennis courts).

Copyright 2022 WTOC. All rights reserved.

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Cities on the move: How is urban transportation changing?

Cities on the move: How is urban transportation changing?

Event summary produced by The Globe and Mail Events team. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.

How should urban mobility evolve in view of climate change, health and safety, and changing societal norms? At a time when sales of new and used vehicles are booming, businesses embrace remote working, and more retail shifts to e-commerce, what solutions will support the movement of people and goods in cities? The Globe Drive Mobility Summit examined these questions and more during a virtual event on March 3, zeroing in on strategies for leaders to leverage new opportunities to create safer, inclusive and sustainable transportation.

Matti Siemiatycki, associate professor with the department of geography and planning at University of Toronto and Petrina Gentile, contributing writer for Globe Drive with The Globe and Mail kicked off the afternoon discussing how city and regional mobility has changed during the pandemic. They also looked at what lies ahead as cities see a boom in private vehicle purchases.

Up next, Jordan Chittley, editor of Globe Drive with The Globe and Mail moderated a panel on clean vehicles featuring Brandy Giannetta, vice-president of policy, regulatory and government affairs with the Canadian Renewable Energy Association; Mike Buff, senior manager of product and programs with Electrify Canada; Scott MacKenzie, senior national manager of external affairs with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. and Carolyn Kim, director of transportation with Pembina Institute.

After a short break, Oliver Moore, urban affairs reporter with The Globe and Mail tackled new solutions for public transit. The panel included Patrick Condon, professor and James Taylor chair in landscape and liveable environments with UBC; Michael Sutherland, director of urban solutions with Hatch; and Karla Avis-Birch, chief planning officer with Metrolinx.

The last panel of the day, moderated by Adrian Lee, content editor for the Opinion section with The Globe and Mail examined ‘The 15-Minute City’ and what it means for equality and sustainability. The discussion included Emily Reisman, partner with Urban Strategies Inc.; Darnel Harris, executive director of Our Greenway and Lon LaClaire, general manager of engineering services with the City of Vancouver.

To view their full conversation, please see the video playback below, and for more information on upcoming Globe Events, visit our events hub at tgam.ca/events.

The Globe and Mail presented the event with sponsor support from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc.

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Sport-IOC urges federations to move or cancel events in Russia, Belarus

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International sports federations should either move or cancel sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarus, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday, a day after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Russian troops entered Ukraine through Belarus when the invasion began on Thursday. Ukraine’s chief of staff said on Friday that the Russians were now using an airfield in Belarus to line up troops to assault Kyiv.

“The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee reiterated today the IOC’s strong condemnation of the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government and the government of Belarus through its support in this,” the IOC said in a statement.

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It said international sports federations “should take the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian and Belarusian governments into account and give the safety and security of the athletes absolute priority.”

The IOC’s executive also said that Russian and Belarusian national flags should not be displayed at international sports events.

Russian athletes at the Beijing Games did not compete under their flag and their anthem was not played at any ceremonies, following sanctions imposed for the widespread doping across many sports exposed after the 2014 Sochi Games.

The invasion of Ukraine led to Russia losing the Champions League final, the Formula One Russian Grand Prix and skiing World Cup events among many others. (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Tomasz Janowski)