Ikebana has deep roots that began hundreds of years ago. Philosophically, it contains the meaning of life. From the aspect of fine arts, it expresses the thriving beauty of plants.

The sensation of Ikebana is all encompassing to me. Ever since my first Ikebana lesson in 1980, I have not been able to part from it. I started teaching in 1994 in Taiwan, and continued to do so for almost four years, and then started again in 2001 after having immigrated to Vancouver in 1999. I have been invited to share and demonstrate Ikebana at the White Rock Garden Club, the Green Club and at the ARS’ (American Rhododendron Society) annual meeting.

It is my honor to be the president of the VIA for 2008 and 2009. I thank you all for your support and condolences when my husband passed away last June. I felt heavy-hearted and lost for quite a while, but with your love I have the courage to step forward with the VIA. I must express my sincere appreciation to my seniors who led VIA in the past years and managed to showcase the specialty of each Ikebana school in Vancouver. We have wonderful Spring Shows every year, which demonstrates the principle of Ikebana: Harmony. I will do my very best to make roots of Ikebana in the hearts of all nature-lovers.

At the end of March, we have been invited to participate in the Vancouver Orchid Show at the VanDusen Floral Hall. The show is on Saturday March 29th, 9 to 5 and Sunday March 30th, 10 to 3. Each school will have two arrangements and up to three stems of orchids for each individual work. Please contact your head teacher for a "$1.00 off" coupon if you would like to see the show.

The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is also well underway at the end of March. We are again joining the "Cherry Zen" demon-stration at the Bistro Café in QE Park on April 5^th. It is free and open to the public. See Judie’s article on the following page for more details.

Furthermore, in celebrating the 80^th year of diplomatic relations between Japan and Canada, the Japanese Consulate has included our Spring Show on May 3^rd and 4^th, on the Anniversary Event List. This is a great occasion to reflect on the past 8 decades of friendship and cooperation between our two countries.

Apart from the passion of flowers, I would like to ask you to apply your cleverness, thought-fulness and creativity in your works to explore all aspects of this ancient art, while embracing the future of Ikebana, thus making its spirit well-known amidst Canadian society.

I do hope that our life-long goal is to pursue the true meaning of Ikebana. At the beginning of this year, I wish for your continuous support so that the Vancouver Ikebana Association will be successful even more.

Cecily Chang,

VIA President

President Cecily Chang

Vice President Joan Fairs

Second Vice Kaz Takahashi

Secretary needed immediately! If you can make it to our afternoon executive meetings, as well as the evening gatherings, four times a year, please step forward.

Treasurer/ Membership position. If anyone is interested in taking care of our money, please let the president know.

Library/ Past President Linda Achiam

Members of the Ikenobo, Sangetsu and Sogetsu schools created beautiful Ikebana for the Early and Late Chrysanthemum shows in the fall of 2007, hosted by the Point Grey Chrysanthemum Association.

The growers who provided the blooms were delighted to see their mums used in such original and creative ways, and visitors to

the show were very impressed. Some were seeing Ikebana for the first time and found the designs fascinating.

The members of the Point Grey Chrysanthemum Association are most grateful to the ladies who took the time to design Ikebana as this adds a very special dimension to the shows. We always look forward to seeing what beautiful surprises the Ikebana artists will present.

Many thanks from all the members of the PGCA.

Marie Ogryzlo, Sogetsu
Show Chairman

Early Mum Show group arrangement

by Sogetsu

Late Mum show arrangement by

Joan Fairs of Sangetsu

When: May 3^rd and 4^th, noon to 5 pm

Where: Oakridge Centre Auditorium

Deadlines: March 31^st to let your School’s contact person know of your intention to display.

Membership fees: $20.00 must be paid by March 31^st to be eligible to display.

Set-up: Auditorium set-up Friday, May 2^nd, 1:00-3:00. Please come and help!

Ikekomi: May 2^nd, 3:00-8:00 pm.

Demonstrations: 1:00 and 3:00 both days

Tickets: Each displaying member should get 5 tickets to sell. You don’t need one to get in, yourself. Advance tickets are $5.00; $6.00 at the door. Call Joan Fairs if you need more tickets (604-522-6105).

Materials list: Please leave a list of flowers and branches used for your arrangement when it is set up on Friday, so we can make up info cards.

Arrangement

by Hollis Ho of Sogetsu

Spring is in the air and the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival starts its third year with a press conference and cherry tree planting at Van Dusen Gardens on Thursday, April 3rd at 10:30 in the morning.

VIA has already established a presence in this event and will participate in the opening with a mini-workshop prior to the tree planting.

This event will also be the official announcement that Van Dusen will become the new home for the cherry blossom festival.

Continuing the tradition from last year VIA will also be a part of the Cherry Zen event at Queen Elizabeth Park on April 5th. Come out to see all the schools demonstrate at 10:30 in the morning. It will be at the Bistro Café next to rhe Season’s in the Park Restaurant. Stay on for an afternoon of haiku and tree viewing.

Judy Glick, Sogetsu

Our annual Christmas potluck get together was hosted again by Mrs. Joan Fairs at her beautiful house in Burnaby on November 27^th.

Even though the weather played with us again, bringing snow to Vancouver, about 15 members braved the elements and met for a great time together.

It was a lovely evening. Joan had her whole house decorated, the Christmas tree was up and the festive music made for a wonderful background for everything.

It’s been a few months now, but I can still remember the wonderful hot apple cider and food we had that evening. The cheese puffs, the delicious Japanese noodle salad, chicken and mushroom dishes, just to name a few, were extraordinary. It was like a culinary journey through Canadian, Chinese, French, and Japanese cooking.

Instead of our usual gift exchange, we decided to again make a donation to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre.

If you missed it in 2007 we encourage you to attend this year, as it is a great way to meet people from our association in a wonderful relaxing atmosphere.

Andreea Beutel, Ikenobo

Secretary VIA

Check out our new "look" to the VIA website at: www.vancouver-ikebana.ca. Our events list has lots of upcoming info on it.