SCREEN ROLES ABOUND FOR 10-YEAR-OLD VANCOUVERITE
CHANCE’S ENCOUNTERS
Showbiz has been very good to Adam Hurstfield, a.k.a. Adam H. After an early R&B-hip-hop singing career in Mexico and Central America, he returned to Vancouver, set up as a music producerdirector and recorded the likes of Elise Estrada, who will headline the Albatross Music Festival here Sept. 14-15. Now he literally has another chance. That’s his and Aby Cervantes’ son Chance, who began screen-acting in 2011 at age four and, after pictures like Mark & Russell’s Wild Ride, Darc and Project MC2, is on a roll today. Now on three TV series, including multiple episodes of Ghost Wars, he’s on hold for a Disney starring role. On one day recently, he booked for Nickelodeon’s animated Paw Patrol and the feature film Eggplant Emoji. Making a somewhat out-ofcharacter pitch to director Jake Szymanski (Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates), Chance reportedly said: “You need an obnoxious kid, and I’m the obnoxious kid. Shall we sign?”
“Chance is really good at knowing his audience,” Adam said, beaming.
SHIPSHAPE AGAIN
Lifeboats save those in peril on the sea. But who saves imperilled lifeboats? That worried feted marine artist John Horton when his 52-foot Steveston Lifeboat was badly damaged during a 2015 crew-training exercise, and repairs drained his billfold. Built in Pearl Harbour in 1944, the vessel became former Royal Navy coxswain Horton’s property in 1988. Its Canadian Lifeboat Institution volunteer crew has reportedly undertaken some 600 maritime rescues since. Aided by corporate and individual donations, the vessel was refurbished and renamed Delta Lifeboat. With a Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft moored alongside, Delta Mayor Lois Jackson and other dignitaries fronted a dedication ceremony at Ladner’s government wharf, whereupon Horton and crew resumed their interrupted duties.
GO FOR IT
The Canadian Coast Guard will host The This IS You event Oct. 5 with professional aircraft pilot Kirsten Brazier’s Achieve Anything Foundation (achieveanything.ca) reminding young women that all aviation, aerospace, marine and defence jobs are within their reach.
STAND FAST
Recreational watercraft makers might benefit from John Horton’s 1987 The End of Sail painting. It shows a man propelling a dinghy with a transommounted oar. Such easy-tomaster “sculling ” is speedy and, for someone who accessed his Eagle Island home that way, ideal for rainy days. It could be the next big thing for standup paddle boarders.
VAULTING AMBITION
Science World and Dirty Apron cooking school’s youth programs benefited from a recent banquet for 130. The Alfresco title fitted the locale: Science World’s rooftop patio. Dirty Apron chef David Robertson’s students did virtual handsprings helping prepare a tuna, sablefish and beef short rib meal. One youngster, vault specialist Malia Bulat, 11, did so literally at Hawaii’s Aloha Gymfest and numerous B.C. gymnastic tournaments, with more ahead. The Alfresco event reportedly raised $20,000 for Science World’s after-school programs for inner-city Grade 1-to-7 students.
POOL PARTY
Founded in Brisbane, Australia, the League of Extraordinary Women “inspires the next generation of female entrepreneurs.” Around the Westin Bayshore hotel pool recently, its local chapter staged a show of Zao Swimwear that city-based designer-principal Paulina Camizao debuted to U.S. retailers at the Curva Las Vegas industry exposition. Modelling the classic-hinting suits were members of the agency that ever-entrepreneurial global fashion model Liz Bell founded in 1992. The event will repeat in January, organizer Julia Wong said, although likely not outside.
SITUATION RED
Radio station 650 CISL hasn’t exactly handed Red Robinson his head on a platter. But the AM broadcaster’s switch to a sports format means the veteran DJ’s weekly four-hour show will die at 4 p.m. Sunday. Joining him on-air will be music-biz heavy Bruce Allen, of whom Robinson said: “He’s a gentleman who survived in a field full of crooks and rotters by brains and being tough.” Robinson himself survived by generating huge 1950s listenership for emergent rock ’n’ roll. Perhaps he’ll close Sunday with the Four Tunes’ doo-wop version of Marie, the tune that launched his career on CJOR at 4:05 p.m. on Nov. 12, 1954. As noted here 50 years later, Robinson “put the bop in the bop sh’bop sh’bop, and the ram in the rama-rama ding dong.”
WORD KEPT
Saloon-jazz vocalist Kenny Colman survived a 1985 brain tumour, vowed to “keep singing till I lose my hair,” and died, still coiffed, still singing, at age 85 this week.
CLASS ACT
Organizers, exhibitors and attendees are revving up for Luxury & Supercar Weekend Sept. 9-10. Some $250 million worth of vehicles costing to $4.5 million each will occupy VanDusen Botanical Garden lawns. For classic elegance, let’s hope Dr. Robert Follows returns with his 1933 Talbot that can still hit 130 km/h, albeit not on bridges where modern exotics sometimes disgrace themselves.
DOWN PARRYSCOPE
Imperial Oil charged 4.4 cents a litre in 1907 when Canada’s first filling station opened at Cambie and Smythe, but gas won’t be available at any price downtown when the same company’s Burrard-atDavie Esso station goes pumps up.