Hairshow adds colour to B.C. event

A group of Mennonites from Vancouver and the Fraser Valley added some colour to their second annual Abbotsford International Hair Show on August 9, 2003. Hair dye and free colouring books were used to witness for peace as thousands of people from across Canada and the States looked at the awesome power of the military aircrafts on display.

The ‘hair’ show and the “Unofficial Abbotsford International Airshow Colouring Book” were intended to promote a fun, peaceful alternative to the airshow. In addition to the free hair styles offered at last year’s event, a professional face painter coloured the faces of both young and old.

The colouring book, a new addition to the event, told the story of a refugee family from Laos who came to Abbotsford through a church sponsorship. When the family heard the roar of the military planes from the nearby airshow, they panicked and ran for cover under a picnic table.

The colouring book, distributed with free crayons, attempted to show that these planes are more than neat technology but are also the cause of much human suffering. Approximately 700 colouring books were distributed.

Sporting purple freaked-out hair, pastor Roland Balzer of Highland Community Church said, “I thought the colouring book and the hair show served as a questioning presence.”

“What looks like entertaining technology to us, actually represents fear, violence and domination to others,” said Bruce Guenther, a pastoral intern at Langley Mennonite Fellowship.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the hair show competition. Angela Neufeld won hands down with her “shock and awe” hair style (a foot-high flame supported by wire). Other hairstyles included the “cluster bomb”, “radioactive deplete uranium site” or people who just wanted to have a bit of fun with the temporary hair dye.

Next year the coordinating committee hopes to involve more of the many Mennonite churches in the area in a larger event, such as a “Sing for Peace”.

The sponsors of this year’s event were Mennonite Central Committee B.C., Project Ploughshares, Langley Mennonite Fellowship and West Abbotsford Mennonite Church.

To get a glimpse of the colouring book, visit MCC B.C.’s website.—Angelika Dawson, MCC BC