Pancouver is not just an arts and culture media outlet. It’s also a state of mind.
It’s rooted in the idea that we should all be on a level playing field. That’s regardless of our ethnicity, national origin, race, sexual orientation, gender identification, ability or disability, religious beliefs, or proficiency in English or other languages.
These are also the values underscoring The Society of We Are Canadians Too. The Vancouver-based registered charity was created in 2017 to advance the public’s appreciation of visual and performing arts. It does this by producing art exhibitions, presentations, and events.
The Society of We Are Canadians Too also provides a forum for qualified artists to exhibit, present, or perform their works.
Pancouver is the society’s newest initiative to advance public education. With an online media outlet, the society provides a platform available to anyone with a computer, tablet, or cellphone and an Internet connection.
We want to share stories about Metro Vancouver artists with the world. For the first time, this type of cultural coverage is being offered English and different languages on the same website.
Two Charlies worked together
This website came about as a result of discussions between Vancouver arts enthusiast Charlie Wu and his good friend Charlie Smith, a veteran Vancouver journalist and the former editor of the Georgia Straight.
So, when Charlie Wu invited him to join the society to help create the Pancouver website, Charlie Smith didn’t hesitate. He saw it as an opportunity not only to share stories about the arts, but also to elevate Canadians’ understanding of what motivates this creativity.
Charlie Smith believes that journalists need a deep appreciation for the history of the countries where these artforms originated.
Canada is not the only nation coming to terms with its colonial past. Colonialism was also a fact of life—and left a lasting imprint—across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Australia.
Here at Pancouver, we hope to shed light on how this history has shaped artistic creation in Vancouver.
As part of our mission to elevate understanding, we will also be providing educational opportunities to artists, arts groups, and aspiring journalists about how to tell their own stories through the media. And with the consent of people interviewed, we will share our stories with other media outlets for no charge to help spread the word.
Let’s all learn together and use this knowledge to build a better world.
