Powell Street Festival

Powell Street Festival 【パウエル祭】Japanese Canadian art & culture summer festival, plus year-round programs and events! The Powell Street Festival takes place every BC Day long weekend.

Powell Street Festival (PSF) is the largest event of its kind in Canada and the longest running community arts festival in the Lower Mainland. We provide a venue for emerging and established, professional and amateur, and traditional and contemporary artists in the Japanese Canadian and Asian Canadian communities. We also participate in co-presentations with other arts organizations throughout the year and produce our own programming as part of an annual season.

12/03/2024

🎉 It’s Giving Tuesday, and we’re asking for your help to reach our $10,000 goal for the Japanese Canadian Youth Cohort program—just $1,000 to go!!

This program empowers young Japanese Canadians by connecting them with their heritage, providing mentorship opportunities, and fostering pride and belonging through hands-on event experience. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the next generation.
💖 Every donation counts! Help us cross the finish line today by donating via CanadaHelps. You'll receive a tax receipt for your contribution.
Thank you for believing in our youth and supporting the future of our heritage!
👉 Donate here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/powell-street-festival-society/campaign/japanese-canadian-youth-cohort/

11/15/2024

🥅 Help Us Reach the Finish Line for the Japanese Canadian Youth Cohort Program! 🥅

We’re so close to reaching our goal for the Japanese Canadian Youth Cohort Program!🌟 Thanks to the incredible support of our community, we’ve raised $8,500 toward our $10,000 target, and we just need a final push to get there!

Your donation today will make a lasting impact. This program provides young Japanese Canadians with opportunities to connect with their heritage, work directly with mentors, gain hands-on event experience, and engage with their community in ways that foster pride and belonging.

Every contribution counts—by helping us reach this final stretch, you’re empowering the next generation to carry forward their cultural legacy and strengthen our community for years to come. Join us in making a difference! 💪💪💪

🔗 Donate Now: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/powell-street-festival-society/campaign/japanese-canadian-youth-cohort/

Thank you for believing in our youth and in the future of our heritage.
(Powell Street Festival Society is a non-profit registered charity. Charitable number: 129467908RR0001.)

11/15/2024

Last Sunday, we came together at Oppenheimer Park to share a warm meal, make art, and celebrate the spirit of the harvest season. We are deeply grateful to our amazing volunteers for helping bring this event to life!! 💕

Special thanks to Oppenheimer Park & Carnegie Centre, VJLS-JH, WePress, Fujiya, Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm, Athiana Acres, VanCity, and the City of Vancouver for your support.🍂🍲

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to each person who played a role in making Minori Harvest a memorable day. 💛

📸 by Matthew Chun and Megumi Y.

11/13/2024

🌸 Empower the Next Generation through the Japanese Canadian Youth Cohort! 🌸

The Japanese Canadian Youth Cohort program offers young Japanese Canadians (ages 19-29) a unique chance to connect with their heritage, build leadership skills, and engage deeply with their community. Through hands-on cultural experiences, mentorship, and transformative events, JCYC helps youth forge lasting connections and honor their roots.

Your support makes this possible! Every donation keeps this vital program thriving, ensuring young leaders have access to life-changing opportunities. Join us in shaping a bright future for our community.

🔗https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/powell-street-festival-society/campaign/japanese-canadian-youth-cohort/

10/24/2024

🌟 Japanese Canadian Youth Cohort Program is a unique opportunity for young Japanese Canadians (aged 19-29) to immerse themselves in their cultural heritage, develop leadership skills, and engage with their community through live events 🌟

Powell Street Festival Society is seeking donations to keep this vital program thriving! By donating, you’ll help nurture the next generation of Japanese Canadian leaders and ensure they have access to life-changing experiences in culture, history, and community building.

📹 Message from Sydney, a 2024 Youth Cohort member: " [...] It felt like I discovered a whole new community — I sound cheesy but I felt honestly kind of reborn. After the festival, getting to talk to other Hafu of my generation around my age and getting my mind blown over and over and over again at how many experiences we shared and how many feelings we shared about our identity as Japanese Canadians. [...]"

Why Support the Youth Cohort Program? Your donation enables us to offer hands-on experiences in cultural event production, education in Japanese Canadian culture and history, mentorship from elders and professionals, networking opportunities with artists and cultural producers, intergenerational relationship building and community engagement!

By contributing, you empower young people to connect deeply with their roots and play a meaningful role in preserving and sharing their heritage. Together, we can shape a brighter future for Japanese Canadian youth!

🔗 Donate Now:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/powell-street-festival-society/campaign/japanese-canadian-youth-cohort/

Thank you for your generosity. Your support makes a real difference!

Join us for Minori (実り) Harvest at Oppenheimer Park! Warm up with a bowl of delicious butternut squash miso soup 🎃🥣, the...
10/10/2024

Join us for Minori (実り) Harvest at Oppenheimer Park! Warm up with a bowl of delicious butternut squash miso soup 🎃🥣, then unleash your creativity at our block printmaking workshop 🎨🧑‍🎨—design your own stamp and create unique cards or artwork!

🗓️ Sunday, November 10
🕛 Starting at 12:15 PM
📍 Oppenheimer Park | 488 Powell St. at Jackson Ave.
🎟️ Free community event

https://powellstreetfestival.com/minori-harvest-2024/

This event is supported by Oppenheimer Park & Carnegie Centre, VJLS-JH, WePress, Fujiya, VanCity, and the City of Vancouver.

📣 The Powell Street Festival Society is looking for volunteers not just for the festival, but for our year-round programs as well! If you're passionate about community and want to get involved, we'd love to have you on board. Email us at [email protected]

Last Sunday, we gathered to celebrate the Vancouver Asahi with an exciting ball game at Oppenheimer Park ⚾🌟This annual e...
09/21/2024

Last Sunday, we gathered to celebrate the Vancouver Asahi with an exciting ball game at Oppenheimer Park
⚾🌟

This annual event commemorates the legendary Japanese Canadian baseball team that made an incredible impact both on and off the field. We also had the honour of unveiling the Vancouver Nisei Baseball Team Sign, recognizing the perseverance and teamwork of the Nisei team who fought against post-war injustices. A huge thank you to our volunteers and supporters for making this event possible! Your efforts hugely helped create a wonderful day of ball, hot dogs, and community spirit!
🙌

📷 by Matthew Chun

Join the Powell Street Festival Society team as our Program Coordinator! We're looking for a dedicated and organised ind...
09/18/2024

Join the Powell Street Festival Society team as our Program Coordinator! We're looking for a dedicated and organised individual to help curate and manage Japanese Canadian arts and cultural programming. Work with a dynamic team to produce the Powell Street Festival, Canada’s largest celebration of Japanese Canadian culture!

✅ Full-time position

✅ Flexible hours

✅ $20-$26/hour + benefits

If you're passionate about community, arts, and culture, we would like to hear from you!

📅 Apply now - position open until filled.

👉 Visit the link for full details: https://powellstreetfestival.com/get-involved/jobs/

⚾️ Join us for the Vancouver Asahi Tribute Game as we commemorate the legendary Japanese-Canadian baseball team and thei...
09/09/2024

⚾️ Join us for the Vancouver Asahi Tribute Game as we commemorate the legendary Japanese-Canadian baseball team and their impact on Japanese Canadian history!
This year we have the honour of unveiling the Vancouver Nisei Baseball Team Sign, in partnership with the Vancouver Nisei Baseball Committee. We will commemorate the resilience, perseverance, and teamwork of the Vancouver Nisei Baseball Team as they conquered racism, inequities, and post-war injustices from 1951 to 1960.

📅 Speeches and photos start at 10:15am!
🌭 Enjoy free ball games, hot dogs, corn, and summer fun for all ages and skill levels!
📌 Oppenheimer Park

Learn more and Pre-register on https://powellstreetfestival.com/16th-asahi-tribute/

Hosted by Powell Street Festival Society with support from Oppenheimer Park, Vancity, and more.

🗓️ Join Us for a Powerful Weekend of Remembrance and Reflection! 🗓️This September, commemorate the 117th anniversary of ...
08/23/2024

🗓️ Join Us for a Powerful Weekend of Remembrance and Reflection! 🗓️

This September, commemorate the 117th anniversary of the 1907 Anti-Asian Riots in Vancouver with two impactful events led by author and artist Henry Tsang (). Don’t miss this chance to engage with history through food, art, and immersive storytelling.
 
🗓️ RIOT FOOD HERE - Sat, Sept 7
Experience a revival of the RIOT FOOD HERE pop-up food art project. Chef Karima Chellouf will reimagine the cuisines present during the 1907 Anti-Asian Riots—European, Chinese, Japanese, Indigenous, and Punjabi—at the Chinese Canadian Museum. Alongside the food, Henry will reflect on his projects, including the 360 Riot Walk and his book “White Riot.”
 
🕕 Time: 6:00-8:30 PM
📍 Location: Chinese Canadian Museum (51 E Pender St)
💵 Cost: $50/annual pass holder; $55/general admission visitor
Get your tickets through the link in ’s bio!
 
 
🗓️ 360 Riot Walk –  Sun, September 8
360 Riot Walk is an interactive walking tour tracing the path of the 1907 Anti-Asian Riots. Immerse yourself in the time’s history and social and political context. The soundtrack is available in four languages of the local residents of the period: English, Cantonese, Japanese, and Punjabi. This will be the last 360 Riot Walk tour of the year!
 
🕚 Time: 11:30 AM
📍 Location: Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (487 Alexander St)
💵 Cost: $15-20
Register through TicketTailor—link in ’s bio!
 
Let’s honor the past, reflect on its impact, and continue the dialogue for a more inclusive future. We hope to see you there!

🎬 Catch GUIÁN at VLAFF 2024! 🎬We’re thrilled to share that Vancouver Latin American Film Festival. is featuring GUIÁN, a...
08/22/2024

🎬 Catch GUIÁN at VLAFF 2024! 🎬

We’re thrilled to share that Vancouver Latin American Film Festival. is featuring GUIÁN, a heartfelt documentary that explores the untold stories of her grandmother's past, connecting Chinese and Costa Rican heritage in a moving journey. Don’t miss this beautiful film that bridges generations and cultures.🌏🎥

📅 Date: Wednesday, Sept 11
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Cineworks (300-1131 Howe St.)

📣 GIVEAWAY 📣 (*** On Instagram only)
For a chance to win a pair of tickets to this special screening, head over to our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/powellstfest/ and enter our giveaway! 🎟️✨

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powellstfest/
Learn more about the film: https://vlaff.org/guian

Don’t miss out on this incredible film experience at https://vlaff.org/

*** Please share if you can!📢 We're Hiring! 📢The Powell Street Festival Society is looking for a new Executive Director!...
08/07/2024

*** Please share if you can!

📢 We're Hiring! 📢

The Powell Street Festival Society is looking for a new Executive Director!

After nearly a decade of exceptional leadership, Emiko Morita will be stepping aside. We're inviting passionate individuals to apply and help us continue celebrating Japanese Canadian arts and culture.

Join us and be part of the legacy! Apply now through our LinkedIn job posting.

🔗 https://powellstreetfestival.com/get-involved/jobs/

The 48th Annual Powell Street Festival is here, and of course, the much-anticipated Sumo tournament is back! 🎉 If you’re...
08/03/2024

The 48th Annual Powell Street Festival is here, and of course, the much-anticipated Sumo tournament is back! 🎉
 
If you’re curious but not yet confident enough, join a free sumo workshop hosted by Sumo Sundays on Saturday, Aug. 3 (12:30 PM) at the Vancouver Japanese Language School & Hall (.jh) to learn basic techniques!
 
Don’t miss the sumo tournament at the Demo Area in Oppenheimer Park on Sunday, Aug. 4 (2:15 PM). Arrive early to get a seat!
 
Interested in competing? Visit the sumo booth between 11:30 AM to 1 PM on Sunday to sign up (first come, first served). All bodies, experiences (including beginners), and genders are welcome to participate!
 
A special thank you to our sponsor, Fujiya!
Thank you for your ongoing support of Powell Street Festival. Fujiya’s founder, Shigeru Hirai, has long been involved with Sumo at the Festival. He belonged to the Sumo Fun Club and loved getting folks to sign up for the tournament, which he also MC’ed!

08/03/2024

🌟 Support the Next Generation of Japanese Canadians! 🌟

Powell Street Festival Society is soliciting donations for our Japanese Canadian Youth Cohort program! This vital initiative offers young Japanese Canadians (aged 19-29) the opportunity to connect with their cultural heritage and build community through live events.

Why Donate?
Your support helps us provide:
⭐️ Training and education in event production, culture, and history
⭐️ Networking opportunities with cultural event producers and artists
⭐️ Hands-on tasks that foster inter-generational relationships
⭐️ Mentorship from elders and non-profit professionals
Volunteering experience with over 200 Festival volunteers

By donating, you empower young Japanese Canadians to engage deeply with their heritage and contribute to their community. Your generosity makes a significant difference in their lives.

🔗 Donate Now:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/powell-street-festival-society/campaign/japanese-canadian-youth-cohort

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and support. Together, we can make a tangible difference!

📹: 🌟 Hear from 2021's cohort about their transformative experience! Watch the video message and see how your donation makes a difference🌟

Along with many beloved returning vendors, we are thrilled to welcome some exciting new participants to this year’s Powe...
08/02/2024

Along with many beloved returning vendors, we are thrilled to welcome some exciting new participants to this year’s Powell Street Festival! 🌟🎉
 
Introducing Tatchan Noodle, serving up delicious Soki Soba, a traditional Okinawa noodle dish that you won’t want to miss. 🍜✨
 
We’re also excited to have OHME! joining us, offering a variety of tasty freeze-dried fruit in 10 flavors and freeze-dried yogurt bites in 2 flavors. 🍓🥭🫐
 
And don’t miss Taco Nori, bringing an amazing lineup of nori tacos 🌮🍣
Come and explore these new vendors and many more at Vancouver’s largest Japanese Canadian summer festival! See you there! 🎊🇯🇵

📷1: Tatchan Noodle
📷2: Taco Nori
📷3: OHME!

Along with many beloved returning vendors, we are thrilled to welcome some exciting new participants to this year’s Powe...
08/02/2024

Along with many beloved returning vendors, we are thrilled to welcome some exciting new participants to this year’s Powell Street Festival! 🌟🎉
 
Introducing Tatchan Noodle, serving up delicious Soki Soba, a traditional Okinawa noodle dish that you won’t want to miss. 🍜✨
 
We’re also excited to have OHME! joining us, offering a variety of tasty freeze-dried fruit in 10 flavors and freeze-dried yogurt bites in 2 flavors. 🍓🥭🫐
 
And don’t miss Taco Nori, bringing an amazing lineup of nori tacos 🌮🍣
Come and explore these new vendors and many more at Vancouver’s largest Japanese Canadian summer festival! See you there! 🎊🇯🇵
 
📷 1: Tatchan Noodle
📷 2: Taco Nori
📷 3: Ohme!

【Thank you for supporting PSF!!】Since 1989, the David Lam Centre has championed intercultural dialogue on social, cultur...
08/02/2024

【Thank you for supporting PSF!!】

Since 1989, the David Lam Centre has championed intercultural dialogue on social, cultural, and economic issues, blending contemporary and historical insights. Join our vibrant community of Asia-Pacific scholars and students, or attend our sponsored events where you can engage with the local community at Simon Fraser University and beyond!
 
📷 Photos from a recent event, “Survivors of the Atomic Bomb.” The delegation arrived in Vancouver on the “Peace Boat” for a one-day visit. Hosted by the David Lam Centre and the School for International Studies, the public talk on July 8 was deeply emotional and impactful, as shared by attendees.
 

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410/111 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B1G4

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

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