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SFU contributes to Surrey becoming
Canada’s first City of Refuge

> Surrey executive director expands on Surrey’s role in protecting the rights of artists

Jessica Frankson
The Peak

 

riter and journalist Housam
Al-Mosilli, who was born and
raised in Syria, was arrested three
times and tortured by Syrian security
because he was reporting on anti-
government demonstrations. He was
forced to flee from his home country
in 2012 and did not find a safe place
to call home until August 2013.
Al-Mosilli is one of many artists
worldwide whose stories of persecution
prompted SFU to partner with the City of
Surrey to create a committee, resulting
in Surrey becoming Canada’s first City of
Refuge for persecuted artists and writers.
Surrey will join with more than
60 cities worldwide that have been
accepted into the International Cities
of Refuge Network (ICORN). This is an
organization that aims to protect and
promote writers and artists who are at
risk. The program has placed over 140
artists and writers into safer homes,
where their artistic abilities can be put to
use without fear of persecution. [CORN
not only places the artists in a host city,
they also assist the writer in distributing
their works. This opportunity gives
the artist a strong voice in the world.
Najati Tayara, a writer from Syria,
wrote in a testimony to ICORN’s
effectiveness that the organization gave
him “two years to organize [his] life, and
to enrich and activate [his] experience.”
While in his host city, Tayara continued
to write for “Arabic newspapers and
websites,” the difference now being
he was able to write without fear that
he would be harmed for his work.
“SFU’s Surrey campus is thrilled
to partner with the City of Surrey and

Imagine Port Coquitlam unveiled

“EC

KPU [Kwantlen Polytechnic University]
to help designate Surrey as Canada’s
first City of Refuge,” said SFU’s Surrey
campus executive director Steve Dooley
in a press release from the City of
Surrey. “We are working to open doors
that might have otherwise been closed
on these important literary voices.”
Dooley explained to SFU News that
while the refuge is here there will be
opportunities for the writer to be part
of the Surrey and SFU community. He
continued to say it shows “that we

> Cultural vision at the forefront for community

Aaron Guillen
Staff Reporter

 

Wie rapid developments changing
the landscape of the Tri-City area,

the necessity for an updated cultural
landscape is long overdue. The City
of Port Coquitlam aims to display the
community’s diversity and appreciation
for art through their cultural plan,
Imagine Port Coquitlam. The update to
the cultural projections of the city comes
15 years after their last revision in 2001.
“By extending community
engagement beyond existing audiences,

using a variety of engagement tools, and
delving deeper into the question of How
We Live, the Imagine! Port Coquitlam
cultural plan articulates strategies that
are rooted in local context and will see
a vibrant and active arts, culture, and
heritage scene, and animated space and
facilities,” stated the city’s cultural plan
document.

From over a year of consultations
and surveys, the community has noted
the value of festivals, musical theatre,
culinary and visual arts, and walking
tours. In addition, the community has
recognized their appreciation for the
city’s small-town spirit, the abundance

recognize and value literary excellence,

no matter what the underlying struggle.”

The process of opening Surrey’s
doors to the first artist has begun.
A committee composed of the City
of Surrey, SFU, KPU, and the Surrey
Public Library is currently working on
the next step in the process, which is
selecting a candidate and fundraising
for their arrival. The committee is
searching for an artist or writer who
will thrive in the Surrey community.
Ina recent interview with The

of parks and trails, and the fact that it
is the birthplace of Terry Fox, a national
hero. For many, areas of improvement
lie in the recognition of local talent, the
teaming up of arts and cultural groups,
and a promotional boost to cultural
events and services.

In the coming weeks, Port
Coquitlam residents can expect to hear
feedback on a new cultural roundtable
thanks to Carrie Nimmo, the city’s new
manager for arts and culture programs.

“We are looking for a few more
members to represent specific areas
such as young people in theatre and
music [...] for the cultural roundtable.

 

Image via icorn.org

Peak, Surrey Councillor Judy Villeneuve

stated that the ideal candidate will

be someone who is willing to “talk

about their writing, and share their

experiences” with the community.
Similar to the ambitions of Dooley,

Villeneuve hopes to see the artist “inspire

our own students, as well as remind

our citizens that we take so much for

granted. In Canada, we can express freely

in our arts, while writers and artists

elsewhere don't have this ability.”

The format will be open and we are
looking for diverse representation
from the community. [This] will be an
opportunity to network, share ideas and
resources and work together to develop
new cultural initiatives,” she explained
to Tri-City News.

The meeting, which is the first of
10 planned in the upcoming year, will
be held on November 24 from 4:30-6:30
p.m. at Leigh Square. In addition, council
member Darrell Penner is heading up
the new festivals committee, promising
to take a closer look at revamping the
organizational process for current and
future events.