Our world has been shocked at the developments in Ukraine and Russia.  The devastation of war; fear for security; economic impact and millions of refugees have caught the imagination and heart of millions around the world.   In the South Okanagan many are wondering what they can personally do to help Ukraine.  Our small communities have big hearts of kindness and compassion proven most recently in the collaborative work of the Cold Weather Sheltering for the homeless on the coldest winter nights of the past two winters.

The Seventh-day Adventist churches of Oliver and Osoyoos with the support of the Town of Oliver and Venables Theatre are sponsoring a Ukrainian Charity Benefit Concert.  Admission is free and concert attendees will have the opportunity to select several bona-fide Canadian charities to support in the humanitarian crisis of the Ukrainian people.   The concert will feature video stories of evacuees helping to put a real “face” on this crisis.

We are very pleased on such a late notice to book Canadian-born, Award-Winning, Multi-Genre Artist, Gina Williams.   Ms Williams is a singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, producer, and film & television actress.  An engaging and entertaining performer, this “Modern Day Renaissance Woman” – continues to defy stereotypes while touching hearts.  Ms Williams performs Pop, Rock, R&B/Soul, Jazz, Gospel, Christian, Dance, Caribbean/Latin, and Classical music at numerous festivals and concert stages around the world including audiences in Kiev, Ukraine.

The concert is free to the public and will open with several talented, local youth musicians.  We would be very grateful for you to share the information of this exciting concert and charity opportunity with your congregations and distribute the flyers.  Together, we can make a difference!

One Hundred X One Hundred Book Arrives in Oliver

Oliver, BC – A long-awaited event has come to pass: the One Hundred X One Hundred/ x̌cəcikst X x̌cəcikst local history book has arrived and is now available at the Oliver Archives! The book, which started in 2021 with funding from the Oliver Community Arts Council and a Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage: Community Anniversaries Program grant, has been a labour of love for the many contributors and partners who worked on showcasing stories from Oliver and the Osoyoos Indian Band and chronicling the growth of the present-day community.

The book, which is affordably priced at $9.99 + tax, contains 96 pages of full colour historic and contemporary photos, artwork, maps, history, and even interactive QR codes that allow readers to find additional content online. The cover includes the 100 X 100 Project logo created by local artist Emilie Herbert.

Co-editors Jenna Bower and Ken Favrholdt brought their own unique touches to the project. Jenna Bower, Curator of the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, ensured the sukʷnaʔqinx oral histories were upheld. Bower, who studies her native language at the OIB Language House in Oliver, worked with elder Sheri Stelkia to add accurate transliteration of words and phrases in nsyilxcen throughout the book and recorded spoken phrases that can be listened to using the book’s QR codes. Ken Favrholdt brought a historical geographer’s eye for details of the past, as well as decades of writing experience as a local history author to choosing images and refining the text.

While paper shortages and supply chain issues led to delays late in 2021, with the help of a small book review committee and the assistance of ODHS president Vance Potter, OIB facilitator Terry Baptiste, and printer Munday Media, the book finished its long journey from community-submitted tales and pictures to attractively-bound local history volume, which is sure to grace coffee tables for years to come.

ODHS Executive Director Julianna Weisgarber stated, “This book is the work of many individuals, and we thank everyone for their enthusiasm for the project, for submitting their stories and bringing in photographs, and for directing our attention to the topics and people that needed to be included. The end result is a beautiful local history souvenir of the 100 X 100 year that residents can be truly proud of.”

To order your copy of One Hundred X One Hundred book/ x̌cəcikst X x̌cəcikst, please contact the Oliver Archives at 250-498-4027 or email info@oliverheritage.ca.

For more information contact:

Rebecca Rizzo

Curator

Oliver and District Heritage Society Museum and Archives

www.oliverheritage.ca l 250.498.4027 l 430 Fairview Rd, Oliver BC

Learn how to spin, skein, felt, dye, knit and more — all with luxurious, soft alpaca wool.

GNR Alpaca Boutique in Oliver announces the following workshops. Call or email for future dates. 416-526-0503 info@gnralpacaboutique.ca Location: 7171 Tucelnuit Drive OR your location (plus mileage) Minimum three students except where noted. All workshops include materials in the price.

3D Wet Felting Vessels ($50): 3 hours

Nuno Scarf ($60) 3 hours

Felted Scarf ($75) 3 hours

Felted Hat ($105): wet felt a one-of-a-kind felted hat 4 hours

Felted Soaps ($15): 2 felted soaps are completed in the 1 hour workshop

Yarn Dyeing ($65): alpaca or llama, 2 different bases, 2 skeins, 2 different methods of dyeing

Introduction to Spinning ($40): 1 on 1, learn preparing fibre, carding, using a Lendrum wheel, spin 2 singles and ply together to make your own skein of yarn.

Knitting class: ($60) learn to knit thrum mitts using amazing alpaca yarn

Knitting with Beads: ($25) learn to insert beads into your knitting

Blending Boards and Rolags ($40): playing with fibre to create batts and rolags for felting or spinning projects 3 hours

Felted Flowers and Beads ($25): 2-3 hours

Felted Cuffs and Bookmarks ($20): 2 hours

Felted slippers: ($95) wet felt one-of-a-kind pair of slippers

Needle Felted Animals ($30) owls, penguins, ladybugs, hedgehogs 3 hours

Ready for an evening of laughs?  The Anything You Can Do Comedy Tour features some of Western Canada’s funniest comedians who are masters of their craft. Celebrate International Women’s Day with a night of comedy with three hilarious ladies. Gather your friends—this show is perfect for a girls’ night out, (don’t worry, you can bring your guy friends too)!

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO Comedy Tour
Sunday March 13th
7:30 p.m.
Venables Theatre
TICKETS $30
​Recommended 16+

Headliner Erica Sigurdson is a Canadian comedian, writer, producer, and haberdasher. Sigurdson has Icelandic ancestry. She is a two-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee, a Leo Award-winning comedy writer and is regularly featured on CBC Radio’s smash hit The Debaters. She has been performing stand-up across Canada for ten years, has travelled to Afghanistan to entertain the troops and was a semi-finalist in the Seattle International Comedy Competition.

Yumi Nagashima is a Tokyo born, Vancouver based comedian, actress and writer. She made her stand-up debut in 2016 and realized that stand-up is what she was born to do. Don’t let her petite and gentle demeanor fool you — she has a savage wit! Her comedy has taken her around the globe, thanks to invitations from Montreal’s Just for Laughs showcase, the Jakarta International Comedy Festival, and Comedy Central Asia in Singapore. 

Rounding out the evening is host Katie-Ellen Humphries. Katie-Ellen is a standup comedian, writer and sketch performer who currently splits her time between Vancouver and New York. Whether sharing comedic confessions or disappearing into uproarious and dramatic characters, Katie-Ellen’s remarkable point-of-view resonates on the stage, page and screen. Her sensibility (that falls somewhere between the library and the locker-room) and sharp wit make her a favourite of audiences of all kinds. 

We’re excited! Let us answer all your arts-related questions! Drop by and visit our booth at the WOW Trade Show on Saturday March 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. We’ll have door prizes, memberships, and lots of information about arts events.

The South Okanagan Concert Society is celebrating as we welcome the Cheng² Duo with a sense of real gratitude as concerts featuring marvelous classical musicians resume again.

The Cheng² Duo (“Cheng Squared Duo”) last performed here in 2018 to rave reviews.  A dynamic brother and sister team, cellist Bryan Cheng and pianist, Silvie Cheng, will demonstrate their “virtuoso fireworks” and “impeccable technique” on Friday, March 18^th at 7:30 pm on the Venables Theatre stage.  Tickets are available ONLINE HERE or at the theatre box office, open 10 am to 3 pm on Tuesdays to Thursdays.  If you need assistance just call the box office at 250 498 1616.

The dynamic siblings have quickly become an audience favourite wherever they perform.  The obvious affection between the two extends into the music itself.  It is hardly surprising they have established a reputation for being invited to return engagements at prestigious venues including New York’s  Carnegie Hall.

Silvie and Bryan are quintessentially Canadian.  Silvie describes their background as international, as do so many Canadians.  Born in Tokyo, Japan, she moved to Ottawa as an infant with her parents who are of Chinese heritage.  Bryan, 7 years younger than Silvie and now 24, was born in Ottawa.  Both are multi lingual.  They perform all over the world and say, “We are proud to represent Canada wherever we go.” 

Despite the difficulties the pandemic has created for musicians, cellist Bryan recently was a winner at the 2021 Geneva International Competition. His sister, a New Yorker, was recipient of the Rubinstein award for exceptional promise in piano performance.  She closed out 2001 with a week long solo piano stint at the Empire State Building.

Christmas this year meant family and some skiing in Canada before the duo left for performances in London, England followed in February by a trip to South Africa.

Bryan soon won first prize in the South Africa Foundation International Strings Competition.  In addition he was awarded two special prizes recognizing, among other things, his performance of Baroque work.

Never ones to miss opportunities the siblings took part in an adventuresome safari game drive before Bryan played Dvorak’s Cello Concerto with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

This March Silvie and Bryan are doing a recital tour of Alberta, B.C. California, Ontario and Quebec.  They have had international accolades for their “musical sensitivity”, “phenomenal virtuosity”, “passionate, invigorating…masterful performances”.   Get your tickets quickly and be prepared for a very special evening of fine music.