News and Events
Regenerative Coffee Farming and Mayan Resilience in Guatemala
Mayan farmers are at the forefront of the struggle for environmental justice in
Guatemala. Meet Neydi Juracan, National Coordinator of Campesino Committee of the Highlands (CCDA), and hear about the CCDA’s work to protect the land using fair trade coffee as a tool for social justice including land reform and food sovereignty.
Join World Community to welcome Neydi on Sunday, May 11 th at 7 pm in the Common House at Creekside Commons Co-housing (2202 Lambert Drive, Courtenay).
The CCDA was founded in 1982, during Guatemala’s 36-year civil war, to defend the rights of workers on large coffee, sugar and cotton plantations, to recover lands taken from the Mayan communities over the past centuries, and to promote and recover Mayan culture and spirituality.
It wasn’t until after the armed conflict ended in 1996 that the CCDA was able to work more freely on the issues of land reform and livelihoods. The CCDA used the Peace Accords to obtain land for member communities in the Lake Atitlán region. “In 1996, World Community Development Education Society brought the first fairly traded coffee to the Comox Valley” notes Janet Fairbanks. “At that time, the coffee available to us was from Nicaragua and we have maintained our relationship with the farmers there but we have also been keenly interested in political situations affecting campesinos in Guatemala and other countries in Central America. Many of our members have been to the highlands of Guatemala and supported the work of the CCDA and other organizations there.”
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet a dynamic young Indigenous leader and hear about the current situation in Guatemala. Everyone is welcome to attend. FMI: Janet (250 334-1840)
World Community AGM
Mark your calendars for our Annual General Meeting on Sunday, November 10 th at 2 pm at Creekside Commons, 2202 Lambert Drive, Courtenay, BC.
Volunteer opportunities
Fiesta Fair Trade Fair – November 16 and 17. We need a few people to sell our fair- trade products. Contact Chris Carter: chriscmp1@gmail.com or (250) 334-2699
Campbell River Global Market –November 30 and December 1. To volunteer, contact Janet Fairbanks: fairbanksbradley@gmail.com or (250) 650-1885
Film Series: Moving Day
What would you do if you suddenly lost your housing? World Community’s next film, Moving Day, screens at 7pm, Thursday March 16 at the Stan Hagen Theatre, North Island College. Doors will open at 6:15pm to check out the displays from local groups working on these...
Film Screening and Discussion – ‘Love in the Time of Fentanyl’
As BC continues to lose an average of six people each day to the toxic drug poisoning crisis, what is the current situation in the Comox Valley? How can we get past stigma to respond with compassion?
Join World Community and partner groups on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7pm at the Stan Hagen Theatre, North Island College, for an evening of film followed by a panel of Comox Valley advocates and agencies to learn about our local situation.
Tickets On Sale for the 32nd World Community Film Fest Opening Night
Experience opening night of the 32nd World Community Film Festival! The film festival showcases engaging and inspiring documentaries that highlight social and environmental justice stories from Canada and around the world. This critically acclaimed film festival is an incredible place to fuel your passions for community and planetary well being.
Dear Audrey – Thursday, December 1st -7pm
Dear Audrey (89 min.) is a new award-winning documentary about remarkable love that endures through all the challenges that Alzheimer’s can present. World Community’s film series continues with this extraordinary film on Thursday, December 1st at 7 pm in the Stan Hagen Theatre, North Island College, Courtenay. Everyone is welcome. Admission is by donation.
Let’s Talk About The Climate Crisis – Tues. Sept 17th
Our four-part series ‘Addressing the Climate Crisis: Activism, Adaptation, and Resilience’ continues on Tuesday September 17, 7 pm at Upper Native Sons’ Hall with a climate communications panel covering issues from personal...
World Community Addresses the Climate Crisis
World Community is hosting a series of four special events on the theme ‘Addressing the Climate Crisis: Activism, Adaptation & Resilience’. The series of films, panel discussions, and presentations will highlight some of the positive actions taking place in our...
World Community AGM to Focus on Food Security
World Community (Development Education Society) is holding its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, July 4 at 7 pm at Creekside Commons (# 100 – 2202 Lambert Drive, Courtenay). World Community is focusing on some of the challenges, as well as opportunities, we are...
Film Screening: Resilience -Tues. May 28th at 7 pm
Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope (60 min.) at the Stan Hagen Theatre, North Island College, Courtenay. Recent research has shown how homelessness, drug addiction, obesity, and even cancer and heart disease are often linked to adverse childhood...
Film Screening: What is the Electric Car? – Tuesday May 14, 7pm at NIC
Climbing gas prices and environmental concerns are encouraging people to consider making the shift to various electric modes of transportation. World Community will screen the film at the Stan Hagen Theatre, North Island College, Courtenay . This entertaining and...
This Mountain Life to screen April 30th
The awe that mountainous landscapes evoke is universal. World Community is pleased to present the multi award-winning film, This Mountain Life (77 min.) at 7 pm on Tuesday April 30 at the Stan Hagen Theatre, North Island College, Courtenay. For some people, the draw...
Guest Speaker: Andrew Nikiforuk
Tuesday, April 9 at 7pm - Stan Hagen Theatre, North Island College, Courtenay. Many politicians and environmentalists champion technology as the solution to all of our problems. What if technologies are accelerating our problems? What would the solutions be? These...
Film Screening: March 12th Sgaawaay K’uuna (Edge of the Knife) (105 min)
630pm - Sid Williams Theatre, Courtenay SGaawaay K’uuna (Edge of the Knife) is a 105 minute 2018 Canadian drama co-directed by Hluugitgaa Gwaai Edenshaw and Jaada Gyaahlangnaay Helen Haig-Brown. It is the first feature film spoken only in dialects of the Haida...
Film Series – The Devil We Know – Tues. March 5th, 7pm at NIC – Stan Hagen Theatre
The DuPont corporation revolutionized home cooking with Teflon's non-stick cookware and its key chemical ingredient, C8. But how safe is it? World Community’s film series continues with a screening of the eco-thriller, The Devil We Know (88 min. - North Island...
Film Series – “Best of Fest” Tuesday, Feb. 19th – 7pm at Stan Hagen Theatre, NIC, Courtenay.
The votes are in from the recent World Community Film Festival and the audience picks for “Best of Fest” resulted in a tie between two inspirational films to be shown as a double bill. First up will be Holly Near: Singing for Our Lives (63 min.) Singer, songwriter and...
Programmer Picks for World Community Film Festival
The 28th World Community Film Festival brings a dynamic program that will move and inspire
audiences in five venues in downtown Courtenay Feb. 1 and 2.