Vancouver Moving Theatre (VMT) has been awarded the City of Vancouver’s 2008 Cultural Harmony Award.

The award, which recognizes Vancouver Moving Theatre contribution to building cultural harmony in Vancouver and the Downtown Eastside, was presented by Mayor Sam Sullivan to Vancouver Moving Theatre’s co-founders- Executive Director Terry Hunter and Artistic Director Savannah Walling -in a ceremony at City Council Chambers on Tuesday October 28.

Two days later on Thursday October 30, Vancouver Moving Theatre was honoured with the planting of a tree and a plaque bearing the company’s name in the Vancouver Park Board Cultural Harmony Grove, located east of the Burrard Marina at the south foot of the Burrard Street Bridge.

The City of Vancouver established the Cultural Harmony Awards in 1996 to recognize individuals and organizations that display a significant and sustained commitment to the promotion of cultural harmony in the City of Vancouver.

Selection was made by an independent jury panel, on the basis of the following criteria- achievement: the significance of the achievement itself; scope: the range of activities; impact: the potential for fundamental and lasting change; and method: the manner in which the activities were performed.

A summary of the jury’s comments state they were impressed by the fact that VMT’s cultural and theatre productions involve diverse communities in the DTES, Strathcona and Gastown areas; create and build bridges between communities which see themselves reflected in the process and the work; and give voice to marginalized groups and cultures thereby enhancing understanding of their distinct characters and issues.

As Vancouver Moving Theatre celebrates 25 years of compelling productions and creative partnerships it is wonderful to be honoured with the 2008 Harmony Award, which follows the recent presentation of the 2008 British Columbia Community Achievement Award to Terry and Savannah.

On behalf of Vancouver Moving Theatre Society I would like to thank all the individuals and organizations throughout the Downtown Eastside and beyond with whom we have had, and continue to have the honour and pleasure to partner with. This recognition would not have been possible without you. Together we are building community.
In particular I would like to give big thanks to two colleagues and friends: Charles Barber (City Opera) for his nomination of Vancouver Moving Theatre, and Ethel Whitty (Carnegie Community Centre) for her letter of support. Thank you!

Yours truly,

Ann McDonell, President

Vancouver Moving Theatre Society

Terry Hunter and Savannah Walling were among forty-five outstanding British Columbians named the recipients of the fifth annual BC Community Achievement Awards by Premier Gordon Campbell and Keith Mitchell, chair of the British Columbia Achievement Foundation.

“As British Columbia celebrates its 150 anniversary this year, we recognize the strength of our province is founded in the spirit, ideas and passion of our people,” said Campbell. “It is a privilege to acknowledge the efforts of these individuals who work for the betterment of our communities and our entire province.”

“These individuals have shared the most valuable of today’s commodities, their time and compassion and, in doing so, have positively contributed to their communities.” added Mitchell. “We’re honoured to celebrate the contributions of these exceptional British Columbians.”

An independent advisory council selects the recipients of the British Columbia Community Achievement Awards. The 2008 advisory council members are Kurt Alberts, Mayor of Langley; Terry Lake, Mayor of Kamloops; Marcia Smith, Managing Partner of National Public Relations and past Community Achievement Awards recipients Sandra Heydon of Chemainus and Grace Wong of Vancouver.The British Columbia Achievement Foundation is an independent foundation established by an initial endowment of $6 million from the Province to recognize and celebrate B.C.’s spirit of excellence in the arts, humanities and community service. The Community Achievement Awards, launched in 2003, were the first initiative of the foundation, followed by BC Creative Achievement Awards, the BC Award for Canadian Non-Fiction and the Time to Read award for early literacy