Because Diwali is new to me, I started doing some digging about what its all about. The first thing that caught my eye was the amazing decorations…henna, rangoli and so many lamps (also known as diyas).

I am also struck by the fact that it celebrates the triumph of such important things:

• light over darkness
• good over evil
• knowledge over ignorance

Now Diwali is celebrated all over the world…and across Canada. Find out what’s happening in your city and check it out this weekend! I was able to find events in Toronto and Vancouver…if you know of events happening in other cities in Canada, leave a note in the Comments section with the details!

(Photo credit: Subharnab)

Today we met with some girls from the Britannia Secondary School in Vancouver. While at the school we were also surprised by a visit from Plan Canada’s newest spokesperson, Filipino-Canadian pop star, Elise Estrada.  Elise is very excited about being part of Plan’s Because I Am A Girl campaign and she is looking forward to spreading awareness about the plight of girls around the world.

After Elise and the girls from Britannia Secondary compared a few stories about school life and life in the spotlight, we had the chance to meet some of the Britannia Secondary girls and discover how they were playing their parts in influencing positive change.

The girls came from a variety of backgrounds, but they all had one thing in common. They wanted to change things for the better, and they were on their way to do it! Some thought on a local scale with plans to help the hungry or impoverished in their immediate communities, but some thought on a global scale with hopes of spreading happiness as a blanket cure for many of the world’s problems. They were part of a school club called Global City Club.  One of the girls in the club remarked, “In joining the global city club it feel like I am able to create change in the world, I am able to actively participate in activities that are doing something”.  The best part about this club was that not only do they themselves participate in helping to bring about positive change, but they also encourage members of their school to do the same!

Afterwards we made a brief stop on Vancouver’s Commercial Drive to shoot some footage, when I came across the most delicious samosa I have ever had!  It almost knocked me off my feet.  Commercial Drive is home to an unbelievable variety different scents, flavours, people and cultures –more streets in the world should be like Commercial Drive.  So far, Vancouver has been a bastion of healthy eating and healthy thinking.  You are what you eat, I guess.

I’m off for another samosa!

Torey