Latest news with #JohnLutz
CBC
5 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Search for B.C.'s Best Symbol: Round 1 — Coastal
When you look at all the symbols that define British Columbia, there may not be one with more meanings to different people over the last 200 years than the totem pole. "They both symbolize, I think, what's the best and the worst of British Columbia history, all wrapped in that one symbol," said John Lutz, a University of Victoria historian who wrote the chapter on totem poles in the book, Symbols of Canada. From their origins in pre-colonial British Columbia as visual representations of family histories, to their 20th-century use as an appropriated tourist symbol across Canada, to the modern campaign of returning them to home communities, totem poles have served as different symbols of identity, power and community. There are many reasons for that, but symbols often derive meaning from their visual impression on people — and as Lutz points out, totems make quite an impression. "They were refined in this very monumental, I want to say, showy style," he said. "For the family [that carved it], it was essentially a statement of history. But for the casual observer, this was a piece of magnificent, magnificent art that was unlike anything else anywhere in the world." 64 Symbols, 1 Winner In the Search for B.C.'s Best Symbol, the totem pole is one of 16 symbols associated with coastal British Columbia in its own section of the bracket, along with other symbols of transportation (Ferries and SkyTrains), fashion (yoga pants and Gore-Tex jackets), food (Nanaimo bars and pirate packs), and much more. Voting will take place over several weeks. A series of one-on-one matchups will narrow the number of symbols from 64 to 32, 32 to 16, and eventually down to one champion: Animals (voting takes place on Mondays). Nature (voting takes place on Tuesdays). Coastal (voting takes place on Wednesdays). Provincial (voting takes place on Thursdays). While the coastal symbols may be well known, Lutz said B.C.'s diverse geography and history mean that the winner from this section may not galvanize all of the province. "Within the geographic diversity, of course, we have B.C.'s Indigenous culture and history. We've got many waves of settler cultures that have come and contributed and mixed it all up," he said. "So that's the real challenge for the competition, I guess, is to find something that we can all get behind." Voting is open until 10 p.m. Pacific time on Wednesday.
Glasgow Times
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Kym Marsh to star in Single White Female stage play coming to Glasgow
The British soap opera star will lead the upcoming production of Single White Female, which will arrive at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow from June 2 to 6, 2026. Actor and singer Kym Marsh, best known for her roles in popular television shows such as Coronation Street and Waterloo Road, will take on a major role in this reimagined version of the 1992 film, which was based on the bestselling novel by John Lutz. Read more: Cast announced for Matthew Bourne's hit show coming to Glasgow The new stage play, written by journalist and broadcaster Rebecca Reid, mixes dark humour with suspense as it brings the story into the modern era of social media. It follows Allie, a recently divorced mother trying to balance single parenthood with launching a tech startup. When she advertises for a lodger to help manage her expenses, she meets her new roommate Hedy – but what starts as a perfect arrangement soon takes a dark turn. Kym said: "I am so excited to be bringing this brilliant, brand new and thrilling play to theatres across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. "I remember being totally gripped by the movie when I first saw it in the cinema and could never have imagined back then that I'd be starring in the world premiere of its life on stage. "Get ready to be thrilled, shocked, and entertained, and watch out for those stiletto heels." Read more: X Factor star to star in top musical at King's Theatre in Glasgow The production is directed by Gordon Greenberg, whose credits include Heart of Rock and Roll on Broadway and Guys & Dolls in the West End, and produced by JAS Theatricals, ATG Productions, and Gavin Kalin Productions. Full casting for the production is expected to be announced soon. The Glasgow dates form part of the play's wider theatre tour across the UK and Ireland.
