Whether you’re fascinated by the stars or need to feel a sense of belonging in turbulent times, you’re likely to find a group that appeals to you, thanks to Jane’s Walk, an event that takes place once a year in multiple locations around the world, including Calgary.
The event is making a comeback this weekend with volunteers leading walks in areas in and near Calgary, such as St. Patrick’s Island, East Village, the Elbow River Valley, Prairie Winds Park, Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, and more.
“Jane’s Walk is in honour of Jane Jacobs, who was an advocate for meaningful development in cities,” said Sara Jordan-McLachlan, a naturalist at the Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society, in a conversation on the Calgary Eyeopener.
“These Jane’s Walks are an opportunity for people to connect with aspects of their city that perhaps they haven’t noticed before in a way to engage with the vibrancy of the city,” she added.
Jordan-McLachlan, who is working with the Miistakis Institute on a long-term project in the city called Calgary Captured, hopes to answer questions on local wildlife while leading a walk at Weaselhead Flats on Friday.
“The walk is going to kind of focus on the ‘Calgary Captured’ cameras that we have in the park and what we’ve found through that,” she said. “But we’re also going to be looking at what is going on in the Weaselhead right now.”
Fighting mental health stereotypes
For Harpreet Hans, hosting a Jane’s Walk in northeast Calgary is a way to shatter mental health stereotypes among members of the South Asian community.
The Federation of Calgary Communities organizes the free Jane’s Walks every year.
Hans, a group facilitator at Punjabi Community Health Services (PCHS), hopes to help participants feel more supported through deep-breathing exercises, meditation, candid conversations, and a long walk around Prairie Winds Park on Friday.
For Harpreet Hans, hosting a Jane’s Walk in northeast Calgary is a way to shatter mental health stereotypes among members of the South Asian community. (Submitted by Harpreet Hans)
Hans wants to help spread awareness about the importance of reaching out to someone you trust in times of need instead of shying away from difficult conversations.
“The focus is how important it is to have a support system because I think, especially in South Asian communities, people are afraid and sometimes embarrassed to share about their mental health to either their families, either to their friends,” she said.
Hans plans to divide the participants into groups and suggest topics for them to discuss.
“As the walk progresses … some mental health activities and groups will happen, so they will get to know each other and then they will talk about [a] few things,” she said.
Drawing the city’s landscapes for a different perspective
For Calgary-based artist and author, Carolyn Fisher, there’s no better way to share her love for Calgary’s varied landscapes than to draw them.
Fisher is leading an Urban Sketch Walk on St. Patrick’s Island on Saturday evening. Participants have been asked to bring along paper, pens, crayons, and other drawing supplies for the event.
“We’re going to make a circuit around the island and we’re going to stop every few minutes, maybe every 15 minutes at some place in order to draw,” Fisher said, before adding they’ll also try a few warm-up exercises and “talk about the ways that we can use drawing to see our surroundings a little bit better.”
Fisher chose St. Patrick’s Island for the walk because she believes it has a lot to offer, such as a bird’s eye view of the city, the Bow River, a trout pond, and more.
Fisher’s Urban Sketch Walk doesn’t need you to be a proficient artist or painter to participate.
“All you have to do is get a pen and put it down on the paper and see what comes out of the end,” she said. “There’s something profound that comes out of that, whether you think so or not, there’s probably something special that other people can see, even if you can’t see it yourself.”
LONDON (AP) — With a few daubs of a paintbrush, the Brontë sisters have got their dots back.
More than eight decades after it was installed, a memorial to the three 19th-century sibling novelists in London’s Westminster Abbey was amended Thursday to restore the diaereses – the two dots over the e in their surname.
The dots — which indicate that the name is pronounced “brontay” rather than “bront” — were omitted when the stone tablet commemorating Charlotte, Emily and Anne was erected in the abbey’s Poets’ Corner in October 1939, just after the outbreak of World War II.
They were restored after Brontë historian Sharon Wright, editor of the Brontë Society Gazette, raised the issue with Dean of Westminster David Hoyle. The abbey asked its stonemason to tap in the dots and its conservator to paint them.
“There’s no paper record for anyone complaining about this or mentioning this, so I just wanted to put it right, really,” Wright said. “These three Yorkshire women deserve their place here, but they also deserve to have their name spelled correctly.”
It’s believed the writers’ Irish father Patrick changed the spelling of his surname from Brunty or Prunty when he went to university in England.
Raised on the wild Yorkshire moors, all three sisters died before they were 40, leaving enduring novels including Charlotte’s “Jane Eyre,” Emily’s “Wuthering Heights” and Anne’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.”
Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Society, welcomed the restoration.
“As the Brontës and their work are loved and respected all over the world, it’s entirely appropriate that their name is spelled correctly on their memorial,” she said.
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.
Alleged Fraud Scheme
Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.
Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.
Massive Seizure of Artworks
In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.
Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.
Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed
In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.
Court Proceedings Ongoing
The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.
Impact on the Local Art Community
The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.
For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.
As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.
While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.
Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.
As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.
