>> Turn off the Lights and Watch the Stars on October 17--Lights-Down Event in Kofu Valley
>> Candle Night Summer Solstice 2009--Report on June 21
>> Event report: Dim It 2009--Hong Kong
>> Enjoy the Starlight--The International Year of Astronomy 2009
>> Event: 'Dim It' in Hong Kong-- Lights-out Event on June 21 (Updated)
>> Many People Enjoyed Candle Night--Candle Night Saskatchewan, Canada
>> Brief Report on Candle Night December 2008
>> Candle Night in Slovenia--Event Report in December 2009
>> Candle Night in Zenryouji Temple--'Go home make a wish'
>> Recreating Ancient Night of 'Heian' Dynasty--Lights-down at Kyoto Gyoen Forests
>> Event Report: Dim It--Hong Kong
>> Event Report: Lights Out Day in China
>> Event Report: Lights Out Day--Taiwan
>> Event Report: Candle Night Korea
>> Over 65,000 Facilities to Join--MOE's Lights Down Campaign
>> Event Update: Candle Night Korea
>> Brief Report of Candle Night Winter Solstice 2007
>> Artist's Performances--Candle Night in Governador Valadares, Brazil
>> Getting the Candle Night Message Across to the World--Fuji Xerox Co.
>> A Family's Wishes on Candle Night--The Story of Ivory
>> Effects of MOE's "Lights Down" Campaign June 2007
>> Candle Night in Taipei 2007
>> Candle Night Summer Solstice 2007 in Tokyo
>> MOE's 'Lights Down Campaign'--Black Illumination 2007
>> Mauritius held the 2nd Candle Night.
>> "Five-minute Action" took place in Europe, Feb 1, 2007
>> Reports from Overseas--December 2006
>> Candle Night Winter Solstice 2006--Kobe, Japan
>> Preparation also Underway in Candlelight--South Korea Winter 2006
>> A Brief Report of Candle Night Summer Solstice 2006
>> MOE's Black Illumination 2006
>> National Candle Night in Mauritius 2006
>> Milk Carton Lanterns Lighting up Kumamoto
>> Beeswax candle workshop and volunteer meeting at JFS
>> Candle Night Winter Solstice 2006--Rikkyo University
>> A Living Organism--Candle Night in Sapporo 2005
>> Candle Night in Shanghai 2005
>> Greetings to Candle Nighters on the other side of the world.
>> Candle Night in South Korea 2005
>> Candle Night at Harajuku Cat Street
>> 'Candle Night'-Summer Solstice 2004 in Japan
Many People Enjoyed Candle Night--Candle Night Saskatchewan, Canada
The first Candle Night in Regina, Saskatchewan, was held with much enthusiasm on December 21, 2008.
The Province of Saskatchewan is located on the prairie in midwest Canada. The summer is comfortable, dry and moderate. The average summer temperature is 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, but winter temperatures can get as low as 25 degrees below zero Celsius. In January and February, it is freezing cold--sometimes it could be an astonishing 45 degrees below zero. It snows less because the freezing temperatures are said to keep snow away. Akira Watanabe, one of the organizers of the event said, "It is very impressive to see the road stretching straight on the prairie, slightly covered with snow, under the clear cold blue sky."
It was a clear sunny day on December 21 when the Candle Night event was held. The event site, "The Exchange", is where many cultural and other community events are held. Candle Night was a lengthy event held from 3:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon and again from 6:00 to 9:00 in the evening. Some 50 people joined the afternoon event, while 110 came to the evening gathering. The event was picked up on the Leader Post, a local paper and Global TV, a local TV and radio station. It was also introduced on a website for immigrants in Canada. Twenty-six businesses supported the event. Some artists in the area volunteered their artistic talents.
Candle holders decorated at the center of the performance stage were created by Ms. Carol Cairns, a rising artist in the area. They were globe-shaped holders made of Japanese "washi" paper.
At the afternoon event, "Briarpatch", a national newspaper dealing with environmental topics gave an exhibition at their booth. An information booth to introduce Japan was also there. Local beeswax candle creators, Greg and Lynda Rideout held demonstrations for participants. About 90 percent of the candles at the event were their candles, either by their donation or by purchase.
At the evening event, a live acoustic concert was performed by local musicians. A story-telling performance was also held, featuring the earth, the environment, peace and human relations. There was also an auction.
The performers included:
Brett Dolter (Guitar & Vocal)
Scott Fulton (Drum), Carl Johnson (Guitar & Vocal)
Etienne Soulodre (Flute, Tenor Saxophone)
James Donais & Megan Leach: "A Story of White and First Nation Friends"
Hilary Craig: Raven Brings the Light
Kevin McKenzie "What I heard from My Mom"
Akira Watanabe "The Flight of the Hummingbird"
The event was held jointly by Regina EcoLiving, an organization that is engaged in environmental activities and the dissemination of information in Regina City, and Little Japan on the Prairies. Organizers are: Malin Hansen of Regina EcoLiving, and Kiyohito Hirakata and Akira Watanabe of Little Japan on the Prairies. Many Saskatchewan citizens, Canadians of Japanese origin, and Japanese who live in Saskatchewan participated in the event.
Participants who enjoyed the event gave the following comments:
Great way of celebrating the special night!
The most comfortable atmosphere I've ever been as a storyteller.
It's a dream setting any storyteller dreams of.
Great experience!! Great success!!
Watanabe would like to hold the next Candle Night event with local event organizers that have been working for ecological fairs and lantern festivals.
If you have a chance to visit the city in the summer of 2009, why don't you join them?
Yuko Kishikami
Candle Night Committee
Related URLs:
Ms. Hilary Craig: Raven Brings the Light:
http://coldwatercounselingcenter.org/raven.aspx;
Regina EcoLiving http://www.reginaecoliving.ca/
Photo courtesy of Akira Watanabe, Little Japan on the Prairies
Event Report--Candle Night December 2008
