I loved seeing this celebration of female friendship and maternal love on Valentine’s Day. This holiday was instituted over 1500 years ago as a religious celebration to honour the martyrdom of St. Valentine. But today it has become a Hallmark holiday for couples to signify their love for each other through exchange of Valentine cards and gifts. At this time in contemporary society, when almost half of North American adults live alone or are single, and surveys show that one in three experience loneliness, it Is valuable to acknowledge the value of other positive social relationships as well as romantic love. Steel Magnolias does that.

Vancouver, BC: As I listened to Debra Sparrow, Musqueam weaver and preserver of first Nation’s history, welcome us with eloquence and humor to the territory of the Coast Salish peoples, I couldn’t help reflecting on the fact that most of those in the theatre had probably came from anywhere but here. For some, home is where they came from. Others don’t look back and home is where they are.