Vancouver's Leader in Transition toward Strong, Resilient, Complete Communities

*Salon d'Elan Vital Returns!

Event Details

Time: December 2, 2012 from 1pm to 4pm
Location: Kits, near beach. Address to be sent to RSVPers a couple days before.
Phone: RSVP here or to Ross at [email protected]
Event Neighbourhood and Type: kits, salon d'elan vital, discussion, potluck, food, community
Organized By: Ross Moster, Laura Lee Coles, Kits Village and Village Vancouver
Latest Activity: Dec 4, 2012

Export to Outlook or iCal (.ics)

1 member likes this

Event Description

Salon d'Elan Vital ( "vital" or “life" force) was one of the predecessors to Village Vancouver. Running from 2006-09, my wife Laura Lee and I (and salon participants) organized monthly discussions on the arts, culture, science, ecology and the environment, peak oil, sustainability, community, technology, place making, music, traveling, the future, living in the city, growing food, the Downtown Eastside, spirituality, the banking system and the economy, and anything else that struck our collective fancy.

Sometimes we brought in outside speakers, sometimes participants facilitated topics, and other times there was no set subject and we just let it go where it wanted to go. (Some of our most satisfying dialogs fell in the latter category.)

We typically got together one Sunday a month from 1-4 pm. Sitting around a warm fireplace on a rainy Sunday winter afternoon (or gathering in a beautiful outdoor setting on a sunny Summer afternoon) and sharing good food and conversation with friends and neighbours had a way of making one lose track of the time, and it wasn't unusual for gatherings to last 'till 5 or 6 on occasion.

Discussions which led to the establishment of the Loutet Park Urban Agriculture Farm Project in North Vancouver started as part of a Salon dialog on imagining a more resilient Vancouver, and our Drop-in Spaghetti Nights also got their start thru Salon. As we grew, we added potlucks, movie nights, and other activities.

Gradually, I got the old activist itch and started looking at ways to combine discussions and social activities with tangible projects and actions, and this led to Village Vancouver getting started. As Village grew and Laura Lee went back to get her MA, there was less time available to organize Salons, and the last one took place in Summer 2009. But we've always had fond memories of these gatherings, and lately have found ourselves thinking about starting them up again.

Now they're back! Our 1st get together will be on Sunday, December 2nd, and we warmly welcome your participation. A potluck, followed by a discussion. The topic - if any - to be determined. (Suggestions welcome.)

Be well,
Ross (VV Convenor) and Laura Lee

Comment Wall

Comment

RSVP for *Salon d'Elan Vital Returns! to add comments!

Join Village Vancouver

Comment by Ross Moster on December 2, 2012 at 1:25am: Hi Bina,

Glad you're interested. If not tomorrow, then next time.

Cheers,
Ross

Comment by Ross Moster on December 2, 2012 at 1:23am: Hi Karen,

I'll leave a message in the morning with the address.

Cheers,
Ross

Comment by Bina Salimath on December 1, 2012 at 10:21pm: Hi Ross and Laura Lee,

Such a lovely idea! Tomorrow is tentative coz there is Santa Parade going on. But most certainly for the next one.

Thanks,
Bina

Comment by Elaine Bland on December 1, 2012 at 2:33pm: Hi Laura Lee and Ross,
Unfortunately can't make it this time but hope to catch up again soon. Hope it goes well.

Comment by Ross Moster on December 1, 2012 at 12:45pm: Soup sounds good, Sharon. See you tomorrow.

Comment by Ross Moster on December 1, 2012 at 12:41pm: Hi Jamie,

You've brought up an interesting subject, and one worth discussing.

Tomorrow's salon will be a " let it go where it wants to go" discussion. It looks like you're unable to attend, but perhaps we can make how to make Vancouver a friendlier place a future topic?

Comment by Sharon Zvonar on December 1, 2012 at 12:36pm: I'll be there (with soup)!

Comment by Ross Moster on December 1, 2012 at 12:23pm: Great, Malin. See you then!

Comment by Malin Hansen on November 29, 2012 at 2:43pm: Nora and I plan to participate. We should be able to come by after her nap, i.e. if not 1pm we will be there at 2pm.