Tall ships on the menu

Local business owners and Richmond chamber members are invited to a special breakfast next Tuesday dealing with the Richmond Tall Ships 2002 festival.

The economic benefits and business opportunities for this August's event will be discussed.

The breakfast, entitled "Everything you wanted to know about the Richmond Tall Ships," will be held at Richmond City Hall (6911 No. 3 Rd.). Featured speakers include Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie and event coordinating committee chair Janice Podmore.

The breakfast is at 7:30 a.m., with registration beginning at 7 a.m. Call 604-278-2822 for ticket info.

Bike routes get $750,000

Cycling routes around Greater Vancouver will get up to $750,000 from TransLink this year.

Combined with municipal funding, the total invested in regional bike infrastructure - "greenway" paths, cycling-lane markings and other works - could reach $2.3 million.

"It's a form of transportation more people are using," TransLink chair Doug McCallum said.

"We have to spend at least some money on it."

Diamond tunes up for Children's Festival

Richmond children's performer Charlotte Diamond and the Hug Bug Band return to the Vancouver Children's Festival for their 17th consecutive year.

Diamond first attended the festival as a parent when her sons were just in preschool. She then volunteered as a storyteller and an usher.

With the release of her Juno Award-winning album 10 Carrot Diamond in 1986, she became one of the festival's featured performers. Over the past 17 years, the festival has been an important influence in the shaping of Diamond's internationally successful career.

On Thursday, May 30 at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 2 at 2:30 p.m., she will feature songs from her latest CD Charlotte Diamond's World, which received a Juno Award nomination and won a Parents' Choice Award.

Many children already know "I am a Bubble," "Leave the World a Little Better" and "Look Through the Kaleidoscope," written for the annual Richmond Kaleidoscope Festival. Other songs include "The Hug Bug," "Dicky Dinosaur," "I am a Pizza" and "Four Hugs a Day."

At 11:30 a.m. on May 31, Diamond will be launching her new French language CD, Nous sommes tous comme les fleurs (Each of us is a Flower).

The festival runs May 27 to June 2 at Vanier Park in Vancouver. For tickets call 604-280-4444.

For information on-line, see www.charlotte diamond.com or www.vancouver

childrensfestival.com

Gateway nabs nominations

Gateway Theatre's production of Wildcat was nominated recently in three categories for the 20th annual Jessie Richardson Awards.

Simon Johnston, Gateway's artistic director, was nominated for Best Original Play or Musical for writing the play that explored a day in the life of famous Mohawk poet Pauline Johnson.

Also nominated were Nicole Robert, who played Pauline's sister, for best supporting actress, and Phillip Tidd for set design.

The Jessies recognize excellence in professional theatre in the Greater Vancouver area. This year's awards will be presented June 16 at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver.

Obaachan wins five Leos

A documentary based on the story of a Steveston pioneer was the big winner in this year's Leo Awards.

Obaachan's Garden received five Leos, including awards to director Linda Ohama for best screenplay and cinematography. The documentary also won for best overall sound, sound editing and picture editing.

In the film, Ohama chronicled the life of her grandmother, Asayo Murakami, who lived in the house named for her on the Britannia Heritage Shipyards site.

The Leos honour B.C. film and television.

Entertainers wanted for Tall Ships

Tall Ships Challenge festival organizers are looking for locals interested in participating as entertainers for this August's event.

Scheduled for Aug. 8 to 12, the event's organizers are particularly interested in performances with a maritime theme, those which represent ethnic and cultural traditions and ones which would appeal to all ages.

Anyone interested is asked to download an application form at www.richmondtallships.ca or call 604-233-3335.

The deadline for applications is Monday, May 27.

Last week, it was confirmed that some 20 tall ships are coming to Steveston.

The Japanese sail training vessel Nippon Maru is scheduled to make an early visit, coming in early July and docking at the pier at the foot of No. 3 Road.