THE DUNDARAVE FESTIVAL

The Ultimate
Canadian Christmas

WEST VANCOUVER ❈ BRITISH COLUMBIA
  • Shine in the Forest of Miracles
  • Be a Festival Founder
  • 2022 Forest of Miracles
  • Sustainably Spectacular
  • The Love & Joy Blog

5/12/2009

The Dundarave Nativity

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture
Master Carver Bill Seminoff and Elder Wendy Charbonneau
We might never know who carved this nativity setting of old growth red cedar, but the devotion and love the carver poured into these works remains vibrant and alive today.  Its in the patina of the wood, masterfully brought back by our eminent friend Bill Seminoff.  This carver speaks volumes about the First Christmas in the unconventional composition of the figures.  The Shepherd, the King, the Angel and an ever watchful Joseph have faces representing all races.  The Infant Jesus is not in a manger, lying like an object removed from the real world of human life.  He's on the lap of his Mother, seated in her love for him and reaching out to everyone who approaches.  All of these figures stand without a roof over their heads, and witness to the fact that the world can change forever and for good even in a condition of homelessness.

Today we unveiled the Dundarave Nativity, and for the first time saw these carvings blessed by a paddle song.  Elder Wendy Charbonneau, whose many times great grandfather Chief Capilano welcomed Captain Cook to the waters off Dundarave Beach, sang the paddle song of her grandmother, a friend of Emily Carr.  There was a gentle grace to this moment, as determined and subtle as the return of spring itself.  Under a warm and speckless sky, after the blessing, Gleneagles and Irwin Park students echoed her call to peace and deep Christmas joy as they sang to hundreds of their friends, family and beautiful strangers.

Be sure to visit the Dundarave Nativity this season.  If you'd like to share its spirit with people on your holiday list, contact us about the Festival's Christmas card featuring the Dundarave Nativity -- festivaloflights@shaw.ca  -- or purchase them here.

Picture
Face to Face with Christmas

Share

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

Details

    The Dundarave Festival Society

    We are a circle of friends working in the Dundarave Festival of Lights Society to bring to life the promise of Christmas in our community, a season of life, passion and purpose that leaves no one in the cold.  This is community-driven social change, in the true spirit of Christmas and the best spirit of our community.

    Picture

    Archives

    October 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    December 2012
    September 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009

    Categories

    All
    1914
    Aboriginal
    Al Mitchell
    Armistice
    Autumn
    Ballad
    Barefoot
    Bc Auditor General
    Benedict Xv
    Bonfire
    British Properties
    Canada
    Canadian
    Canadian Heritage
    Carols
    Christmas
    Christmas 2011
    Christmas Eve
    Christmas Spirit
    Christmas Tree
    Christmas Trees
    Christmas Truce
    Community
    Donne
    Doubledee
    Dundarave
    Dundarave Beach
    École Pauline Johnson
    Elderly
    Firefighters
    George Capilano
    George Vancouver
    Golden Rule
    Great Canadian Landscaping
    Hero
    Homeless
    Homelessness
    Homelessness Action Week
    Hope
    Jared Diamond
    John Babcock
    Karen O
    Karen O’Shannacery
    Kindercorps
    Kris Doubledee
    London Riots
    Lookout Emergency Aid Society
    Love
    Manhattan
    Mayor Mike Smith
    Miracle
    Morris Dancers
    Motown
    North Pacific
    North Shore
    North Shore Dragon Busters
    Order Of British Columbia
    Rembrance Day
    Royal Hudson
    Seniors
    Silent Night
    Snow
    Squamish Elders
    Squamish Nation
    Stille Nacht
    Superman
    Super Storm
    Tacloban
    Thames River Festival
    Thanksgiving
    West Vancouver
    West Vancouver Centennial
    Wildcoast Productions
    Winnipeg
    Winter
    World War I
    Wwi
    Ypres

    RSS Feed


We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the Dundarave Festival is located on the  unceded sovereign territories of the
Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh),​and xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.


We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

Copyright © Dundarave Festival of Lights Society. All rights reserved.
PRIVACY ADVISORY: This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”). Google Analytics uses “cookies”, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States . Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above. 
  • Shine in the Forest of Miracles
  • Be a Festival Founder
  • 2022 Forest of Miracles
  • Sustainably Spectacular
  • The Love & Joy Blog