A group of Langley grandmothers who help African orphans has teamed up with a globetrotting photographer who recent visited Kenya.
The Langley Gogos host a fundraising photo exhibit of the works of John Gordon on Oct. 17.
Doors at the Douglas Recreation Centre open at 2 p.m. with a slide presentation at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $10 and the event will raise funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation which helps children of AIDS victims.
“Our group began with four members in late 2011 and now have 20 members,” said local Gogos coordinator Carole Albertson.
She calls the Langley Gogos (gogo is an African term for grandmother) a group of “concerned grandmothers and grand others.” The gist is grandmother groups around the world help African grandmothers who are raising their grandchildren because the parents have died from AIDS.
“We meet at Michaud House, third Tuesday of the month and participate in craft fairs, sponsor a tea at Michaud House every August, and put on a Rant at St. Dunstan’s Anglican Church in Aldergrove every spring,” she explained.
Because all GVG groups do their own fundraising, 90 per cent of what they raise goes to Africa, Albertson noted. The SLF works with grassroots organizations in Africa to provide food, school uniforms and fees, HIV and grief counselling, medical care, adequate housing and bedding, home visits, and more.
Author at Arts Matter
Author Lawrence Hill will reading from his new book The Illegal, his fourth, and The Book of Negroes at Langley Fine Arts School next Monday.
He’s been greatly influenced by his parents’ work in the human rights movement.
Organizers of the Arts Matters lecture series considered rescheduling but decided to go ahead with the originally announced date even though it is also federal election day on Oct. 19.
The evening will start with student performances inspired by Hill’s work, including a dance performance by Langley Fine Arts School alumni, Marissa Gold.
Lawrence Hill’s talk will end with a Q&A session followed by a book signing.
The lecture starts at 7:30 p.m. and is the first Arts Matter event this season. The school is at 9096 Trattle St. Tickets are $15 for students and $20 for adults.
Also in the series is Wade Davis, a photographer, author, filmmaker and ethnobiologist, in early 2016.
Hey kids
On Saturday, local kids up to age six can take train rides, see raptors, enjoy a free barbecue and other activities while their parents learn about the community resources for families.
CHILD Day is Oct. 17 at the Aldergrove Kinsmen Community Centre, 26770 29th Ave., and is a kind of one-stop-shopping for information on kids’ health, learning, and development. There’s even free consultation on children’s behaviour or development.
The event runs 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and is hosted by the Langley Early Childhood Development Committee.
Braaaaiiiinns
Zombies are coming back to Fort Langley.
The Red Canvas, formerly the Fort Langley Studio, is hosting the third annual Zombie Walk Oct. 17.
There will be a prize for best costume, popcorn, candy, music and much more.
Need a bit of help to become a zombie?
Special FX makeup artists will be on site to make people look gruesome by donation.
The undead will start walking at 3 p.m. Go earlier if makeup is needed. The makeup artists will be available starting at 1 p.m.
Organizers have posted more information, including the rules for well-mannered zombies, on the gallery website.
Au naturel
Join the Langley Field Naturalists on Oct. 16 for a fall trip into the Skagit Valley for mushrooms, mammals and birds amid the fall colours. This is a full day, so pack a lunch, snacks, bug spray and water. For more information, call Jude at 604-538-8774.
On film
Langley-raised Chelsey McMullen just had her second feature-length film shown at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF).
Michael Shannon Michael Shannon John (www.msmsj.ca) is the story of adult siblings who only learn of each other’s existence and the odd naming choices after their father’s death.
In addition to VIFF, the film has been booked for the Calgary International Film Festival and screening on Super Channel in 2016.
The film is about a fallen Hamilton police officer, his mysterious past, and his grown children. John Hamner went from being a cop to a life of crime, dying due to bad business dealings.
His four children, Michael and Shannon in Canada and Michael and Shannon in Thailand, share their fragmented memories in the unique documentary.
“I am very excited to have this film have its world premiere at VIFF. Though I live in Toronto now, B.C. is my home and the Vancouver film scene has always been extremely good to me,” said McMullan.