Mood Swing (October 16, 2025)

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Mood Swing (October 16, 2025)

Does anyone still need to figure out their Halloween costume? I usually have mine decided before a single leaf has fallen, but this year I was feeling uninspired. Luckily, after a quick browse of old faithful Pinterest, I found my muse. A simple dress and some crafting materials from around my apartment are all I need to bring the vision to life.

With a paintbrush in hand and the spirit of Jack Skellington himself in my heart, I’m set to spend my weekend putting together the DIY costume of my dreams. If you’re still looking for that Halloween inspiration to strike, I've got a full week of mostly free events to get those creative juices flowing.

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xʷən̓iwən ce:p kʷθəθ nəw̓eyəł: Manuel Axel Strain’s multimedia exhibit remembers teachings from ancestors and the land

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xʷən̓iwən ce:p kʷθəθ nəw̓eyəł: Manuel Axel Strain’s multimedia exhibit remembers teachings from ancestors and the land

The soft aroma of Devil’s Club drifted through the air. A mixture of Indigenous flowers, juniper, sage and cedar dusted the ground, remnants from the opening of Manuel Axel Strain’s solo exhibition at the Richmond Art Gallery (RAG), titled xʷən̓iwən ce:p kʷθəθ nəw̓eyəł ((((Remember your teachings)))), which opened on September 13 and runs until November 9, 2025.

Around the gallery hang large photographs of natural and urban settings interwoven with clouds, trees, and waters, punctuated by pictograms in bold, vibrant colours. At the centre of the gallery stands the exhibition’s focal point: a physical re-interpretation of a traditional longhouse. 

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Clan of the Painted Lady: Jennifer Chiu's Intimate Documentary on Hakka Heritage

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Clan of the Painted Lady: Jennifer Chiu's Intimate Documentary on Hakka Heritage

A still camera frames an elder in her family kitchen. She is tidying up surfaces with a towel and inspecting the pipes of the sink. The dim lights create distinct contours of shadow and light. A voice emerges from beyond the frame—Dad, can we film you smoking outside? A man’s voice responds: No. His wife finishes drying her hands and looks at the camera, shakes her head and walks away. The lens lingers on the frame without subjects. A narrator’s voice sums up the interaction for viewers: ”In my community, many things are left unsaid. For my family, privacy is both a virtue and a protective measure. It is also a wall.” 

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SAD Again Sister Act: Burlesque Dancers Villainy Loveless and Lola Frost Keep it in the Family

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SAD Again Sister Act: Burlesque Dancers Villainy Loveless and Lola Frost Keep it in the Family

Who are Villainy Loveless and Lola Frost? Their names alone are enough to spark curiosity, and the sharp contrast of Villainy’s platinum blonde hair and Lola’s short brunette bob only adds to the intrigue. Unsurprisingly, their hair is the least interesting thing about them. Rebecca Slaven writes “Chante and Danielle are women you immediately want to know,” and I couldn’t agree more.

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Mood Swing (October 2, 2025)

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Mood Swing (October 2, 2025)

As much as I’ve been lamenting the end of summer, I have to admit I’m a sucker for the spooky season. Walking on crispy fall leaves, dressing in outrageous costumes and watching scary movies are some of my favourite activities, after all. Outside my apartment window is a beautiful view of the changing leaves, which I will soak up every second of before they inevitably fall victim to the incoming rain. 

With the spooky season comes a range of spooky events! Creature features, horror-inspired improv and a witchy art show await you in this week’s list. (Don’t worry, there are some more uplifting options too for all you scaredy cats out there). Read on to find your next scare and don’t forget to subscribe to the Mood Swing newsletter to get the list straight to your inbox every Thursday!

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Mood Swing (September 25, 2025)

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Mood Swing (September 25, 2025)

I’ve come across a serious problem while putting this list together every week: a debilitating case of FOMO—fear of missing out. I’m a serial planner, so often I find my time booked up before I even discover some of the super cool events featured. This month has been particularly dreadful, since I’ve been away on a work trip to Toronto that’s now bled into a family visit in Calgary. 

While I’m grateful to have fulfilled my lifelong dream of visiting Niagara Falls, I am simply devastated to miss some of the absolute banger events on this week’s list. So please, for me, take some time this week to tip a drag artist, drink some chai or share an excerpt from your high school diary, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Mood Swing newsletter to get the list straight to your inbox every Thursday!

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Inside The Bucket Collective: Vancouver's New Experimental Film Collective

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Inside The Bucket Collective: Vancouver's New Experimental Film Collective

Founded by Chris Chong Chan Fui, Marianne Thodas, Morgan Sears-Williams, Noé Rodriguez and Terra Long, The Bucket Collective describes itself as a “lo-fi container of possibility.” In practice, that container has held hands-on workshops on phytography and experimental film processes, as well as screenings that prioritize accessibility and collective exchange. 

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