ART WITHOUT BORDERS – Sister city to visit Oliver – by Marion Trimble
Visitors from Oliver’s sister city, Chelan, Washington, are making a day trip to visit on Friday, May 29. The invitation to Oliver was made after a group of Oliverites made the trip south to Chelan last year. During this trip, being hosted royally by our American cousins, a return trip was proposed. This month, nine visitors from Chelan are coming to visit here for the first time.
It’s a tremendous opportunity to get to know our neighbours. Over the years, mayors and council representatives, have formed friendships borne from official visits to each others city. An expansion of that friendship to include all interested is the goal of those organizing this trip. These first exchange road trips have been organized by a couple of local artists. They emphasize everyone is welcome. Long lasting benefits to our town’s tourism, businesses and for everyone to meet new friends exist in creating an ongoing annual sister city exchange.
Our visitors will arrive in the morning and be taken on a downtown walking tour hosted by Tara Hovanes. Proudly showing off Oliver’s uniqueness provides the tour focus. Of interest to our guests will be the several businesses displaying artwork by local artists . “Welcome Chelan Visitors” signs displayed by Main Street businesses will delight our guests as they wind their way north on the east side of Main Street and down to the Station Visitor’s Centre. On the way we’ll stop at several businesses displaying art, the Oliver Chronicle and office of our MLA, Linda Larsen.
Midday, the entourage will take a lunch break at the Oliver Legion. Everyone is invited to come. The Legion is generously opening their doors with a special menu at $15.00 per person. Afterwards, we’ll continue on the tour visiting shops on the West side of Main Street, the museum and town hall before heading to Medici’s for a gelato while viewing the Oliver Sagebrushers art on the walls. Heading back to Main Street , the tour visits the Oliver Art Gallery before finishing up at the old Fields Store parking lot to view the wall mural painted by Leza Macdonald and Sally Franks.
We say goodbye briefly as we meet again later for a potluck dinner, 6-8 pm, at the Quail’s Nest. Everyone is invited to attend. Bring a potluck item and if you wish a sample of your art or brochures from your business. After welcomes from our mayor, representatives from Oliver Tourism and the Oliver Arts Council, there’ll be time to mingle, greet our guests and make plans for the next exchange visit.
If you plan to attend either the lunch or potluck or both, please let either Marion Trimble or Tara Hovanes know which event you’ll attend. Contact olivercac @ gmail.com and the arts council will forward your RVSP. Wear a nametag!
