Darren Lee, crowned #1 Elvis tribute artist in the world at the Memphis Elvis Competition, is coming to town. On his rise up the Elvis ladder, Darren has received a ton of awards and accolades that undoubtedly fueled his rise to the top. Darren spent 11 consecutive years starring in the American Superstars show on the Vegas Strip. The Queen even awarded a Diamond Jubilee for excellence in his field. Darren is the first to perfectly re-create Elvis’ 1968 comeback special at the Queen Elizabeth and Michael J. Fox Theatres. Tri-Cities Entertainer of The Year & 5 years starring in his Burn’n Love dynamite show in Maui – Darren Lee IS Elvis!

Tickets are $35 and are available online at www.venablestheatre.ca
The Venables Theatre Box Office is located at 6100 Gala Street in Oliver. We are open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Purchases over the phone can also be made during these hours at ​250-498-1626

Presented by Sonic Flower Promotions, Blow any Elvis cobwebs away for good. Come spend a night with The King!​

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On September 11, 2001, a blind man escaped the World Trade Center by walking down 78 flights of stairs with his guide dog. Days later, America fell in love with Mike and Roselle and the special bond that helped them both survive one of the country’s darkest days. Since 9/11, Mike Hingson speaks to audiences about his experience on that day as well as to discuss his thoughts on life and dealing with change. He has become a recognized internationally acclaimed public speaker who captivates audiences with his personal and compelling story.  He also teaches his listeners new ways of looking at life and their worlds by helping them to visualize from his viewpoint how to live, function and thrive.

Now you too can be inspired by this 9/11 survivor on Thursday April 4 7:00 p.m. Tickets are only $12.50 and are available online at www.venablestheatre.ca

The Venables Theatre Box Office is located at 6100 Gala Street in Oliver. We are open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Purchases over the phone can also be made during these hours at ​250-498-1626.​

On Saturday April 20, prepare for an evening of “hit after hit” sings from country stars
George Canyon, Charlie Major, and Doc Walker, with Manny Blu.

George Canyon rose to becoming one of Canada’s hottest Country Music stars in the early 2000’s and has won countless accolades and awards, including Juno Awards, CCMA Awards, and ECMA Awards to name a few. He has been inducted into the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame, recorded 12 albums, and was recently presented a certified Platinum Award for his debut album ‘One Good Friend’. With country hits like Just Like You, I Believe in Angels, Drinkin’ Thinkin’, Daughters of the Sun, I Got This, I Want You To Live, Slow Dance and many, many more. He is also highly regarded humanitarian, strong supporter of the military, and, most important, a proud father and devoted husband.

With over 20 Top 10 singles, Doc Walker is one of the most recognized Canadian country acts of the past two decades. The group has received multiple Canadian Country Music Awards, including Fans’ Choice, Group or Duo of the Year, CMT Video of the Year, Single of the Year, and Country Music Program or Special of the Year. In addition, Doc Walker has been nominated for several JUNO Awards for Country Album of the Year, including a win in 2009 for the album Beautiful Life.
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Charlie Major is a true Canadian legend. He has sold nearly half a million records in Canada alone, and has been the recipient of 3 Juno Awards and 7 CCMA Awards. Rising to the forefront of the Canadian Music scene in the early to mid-nineties, Major holds the distinction of having six consecutive #1 hits (every single released) off his debut album.

Tickets are $57 and are available online at www.venablestheatre.ca

The Venables Theatre Box Office is located at 6100 Gala Street in Oliver. We are open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Purchases over the phone can also be made during these hours at ​250-498-1626.​

In support of a nationwide initiative, the Double O Quilters (and friends) of Oliver, BC have recently completed 6 Quilts of Valor. Guild members are pictured here with 5 of the quilts.

These quilts will be delivered to representatives of Veteran’s Affairs in Penticton and then given to veterans in the South Okanagan who are ill or injured as a result of their service to Canada. A worthy endeavour indeed !

You are invited to attend the Oliver and District Heritage Society’s

2019 Annual General Meeting

Wednesday May 8, 2019

7 pm

Quail’s Nest Arts Centre, 5840 Airport St., Oliver

The business portion of the meeting will commence at 7 pm, followed by a presentation by our guest speaker (TBA).

To see the full meeting agenda, please visit our website at www.oliverheritage.ca

While all are welcome, only current members in good standing will be eligible to vote.

To renew your membership, stop by the Museum or Archives buildings, or renew on our website here.

Want to get in touch? Call the Archives at 250-498-4027 or email us at info@oliverheritage.ca

The Oliver & District Heritage Society has some new and returning faces this year. Julianna Weisgarber was selected as the new Executive Director and began her new role on Jan. 2nd. Julianna previously worked as the ODHS Collections Manager, and spent four years training and supervising staff and interns, improving collections care, assisting the public, and developing events and programs. Julianna brings 7 years of museum experience to her role, and is a graduate of the University of Sydney’s Master of Museum Studies program and the University of Northern British Columbia‘s Anthropology program. Passionate about community engagement, Julianna is looking forward to building new opportunities for the Heritage Society to engage with Oliver residents.

Also joining the ODHS is Veronica Parkes, who started in her new role of Curator on March 4th. Veronica is a trained conservator and graduate of the Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management program at Fleming College and previously worked for the Kelowna Museums Society. She is the recipient of a degree in Ancient Mediterranean Studies and Medieval Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. Veronica will be maintaining the artifact and archival collections and developing programs, exhibits, and events that will increase the Heritage Society’s interactions with other organizations and with the general public.

The Society’s current goals are to expand services and engage with the community in new ways, which means sometimes leaving the confines of the buildings themselves. Plans include developing educational kits that can be used in classrooms, creating programs for people who cannot visit, and increasing the number and variety of special events. Julianna and Veronica will be hard at work on these objectives over the next year. Feel free to stop by and say hello to them when you next visit the Museum or Archives.

Julianna Weisgarber

Executive Director

Oliver and District Heritage Society Museum and Archives

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

I acknowledge that my work place is within the unceded ancestral and traditional territory of the S’yilx-Okanagan Nation.

SOCS FINAL CONCERT 2018-2019 SEASON –  Friday, March 29, 2019

South Okanagan Concert Society decided to blow the budget and bring in the irresistible Ô-Celli, cello octet, to complete the 2018-2019 concert season.  That translates into eight (yes 8!) musicians drawn from prominent European orchestras from Paris to Belgium to Britain.  This is a cosmopolitan  ensemble which is represented by five different nationalities.  Together they share a passion for the extraordinary richness of their instrument.  Their concerts are characterized by originality and dynamic presentation.

The concert you absolutely should not miss takes place at the beautiful new Venables theatre in Oliver at 7:30 pm on Friday, March 29, 2019.  Tickets are on sale at www.venablestheatre.ca or at the box office Tuesdays to Thursdays from 10 to 3 pm.  Thanks to our generous sponsors, tickets are very affordable.  Two or more tickets in advance cost only $21/ticket.  A single ticket in advance is $23.  Single tickets at the door are $25.  Children and youth are encouraged to attend for $2.50.

Many of you fell in love with the cello when you experienced Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s  solo rendition of Schubert’s Ave Maria at the wedding of Prince Harry.  The instrument, closest to the human voice is one of the few which carries being multiplied.  When played together with others, the beauties of this intrument add up, giving birth to a unique, full vibration and exceptional sound.

Prepare to be taken on a fabulous journey through a repertoire of both original and arranged pieces.  The cellists eagerly travel through a wide musical panel, ranging from Verdi to Piazzolla with sweeping nods to Nino Rota and Marquez.

If you come ¾ hour prior to the concert start, you can enjoy listening to talented young local pianists perform in the foyer as you meet with friends.  After the concert stay and enjoy a post concert no-host reception in the glittering foyer and meet the musicians in a relaxed atmosphere.  There will be a nominal fee for beverages.  Appetizers will be provided as a good will gesture.  This is where you can learn more about the upcoming concert series planned for next year and take advantage of some exciting economic incentives (bring cheque books or credit cards) when you order your tickets for next year.

Oliver, BC – A few building improvements at the Oliver Archives are helping the building to “go green.” Those projects are the installation of a number of solar panels on the Archives building roof and the replacement of the building’s furnace and air conditioner.

You may have noticed the solar last week as you drove along Fairview Road. The panels were installed February 1st by Argon Electrical and Solar Services, and they are going to do big things for the Oliver & District Heritage Society which operates the Archives.

“We are a non-profit society with a limited budget. This project will help us to reduce our energy costs over the next 25 years so that more of our resources can go towards serving the public,” said Julianna Weisgarber, Executive Director for the Heritage Society.

Following a similar move by the Oliver Food Bank, the Oliver & District Heritage Society decided to go solar in 2018 under the leadership of its Board of Directors headed by President Vance Potter and former Executive Director Manda Maggs. They had been approached by local solar advocates who evaluated the building and found it suitable based on orientation and surface area. The installation was made possible by a generous bequest gifted to the Heritage Society to be used for building improvements. The final determinant was the cost-savings. It is estimated that the panels will produce 90-95% of the building’s total electricity use in a year at a fixed cost of 9 cents/kilowatt-hour. With an expected return of nearly 7% in the first year, the panels should pay themselves off in approximately 12 years and last for another 13.

The new furnace and air conditioner are also having an impact on the building’s carbon footprint. The old HVAC system was almost 20 years old, and the Board had been planning to replace it for years. The new gas furnace is more energy efficient than the old model and will significantly reduce gas consumption and heating costs. The new air conditioner has more than doubled cooling efficiency, taking it from 6 to 14 percent. Guardian Plumbing and Heating completed the installation of both units over the last week.

The new systems will help ensure the preservation of the archival materials housed inside the building by providing more stable environmental conditions during warm and cold months and improved control over temperature and humidity changes, which can damage archival records.

Both upgrades offer the benefit of enhanced sustainability, both for the environment and for the Society. To the Heritage Society, it’s a win-win situation.

The Oliver Community Theatre Society and Frank Venables Theatre are pleased to announce that Leah Foreman has been hired as Theatre Manager.

With over 20 years experience working in theatres and performance venues, Ms. Foreman is familiar with everything from large performance spaces such as Roger’s Arena in downtown Vancouver, to mid-size venues such as the Arts Club and very small companies like Green Thumb Theatre. She’s worked in numerous venues with professional artists in all disciplines from children’s entertainers, contemporary dance, dramatic arts and comedy, to all forms of musical presentations. At times in her career she’s held a range of positions from stage manager and production manager, to operations manager, venue manager and promoter’s representative for major artists agencies, tours, festivals, venues, parades and even rodeos.

Tom Szalay, president of the Board of Directors of the Society said “We are extremely pleased to have Leah join our team as her love of all the arts, but especially the performing arts is very strong, and she backs that up with solid experience working in many aspects of theatre operations, production and presentation. And there’s a bonus – she’s actually from the Okanagan.”

Leah Foreman grew up in the South Okanagan and graduated from Osoyoos Secondary School before going on to get her Diploma in Stagecraft from Douglas College. Leah is thrilled to be able to return to the Okanagan with her young family. Her new position as Theatre Manager at the Frank Venables Theatre begins April 1.

Duo Fortin-Poirier
“Memoires”
Concert Review by Anita Perry*

The South Okanagan Concert Society delivered a winner in their main concert series on Friday February 15 at the Venables Theatre in Oliver. The moment pianists Amelie Fortin and Marie-Christine Poirier stepped on stage as the effervescent Duo Fortin-Poirier, the atmosphere crackled with energy.

The evening opened with Edvard Grieg’s Valses Caprices. From the engaging sense of play to the subtleties of rubato, Duo Fortin-Poirier played with beautiful control and complete understanding of the character of these two waltzes. It was a perfect beginning to the evening

Next came two selections from Antonin Dvořák’s Legends. The composer’s intent was to encourage the listener to create their own legend of the imagination. Fortunately, the Duo Fortin-Poirier made this a delightful task in providing complete expressive control and effortless melodic voicing.

The program continued with Souvenirs by Samuel Barber. Here, the ability of the Duo Fortin-Poirier to reveal the essence of the music and the composer’s meaning really shone. The “Valse” was not only lilting, but the performers also swayed gracefully, their arms dancing in time to the music. They captured the boisterous and clownish character of “Schottische”, the precision required of “Galop”, and the comic essence of “Two Steps”. Unquestionably, the highlight of this set was “Pas de Deux”, a sensuous introspective melody with sinuous and melancholic lines. Thanks to the large screen projection of the players’ hands, the audience could see how sections of the music required the performers to cross hands over each other.

After intermission, the concert continued with a lovely work by Astor Piazzolla entitled Adios Nonino. Written upon the death of the composer’s father, the music is heartfelt and anguished. Given its complexity and use of rubato, there were times the pulse was completely obscured, yet Duo Fortin-Poirier’s entries were uniformly clean. A dramatic and passionate performance.

The following composition, Chroniques d’une coupe a blanc, (Chronicles of a Clear Cut) was a new work written especially for Duo Fortin-Poirier by Quebec composer Vanessa Marcoux. This three-part work describes the lifespan of a tree, from the moment it springs into being until machines arrive to cut it down. The score required the use of experimental techniques such as tapping on the keyboard cover and dampening strings inside the piano to create an evocative and moving work.

It was during Vocalise by Serge Rachmaninoff that being able to watch the performers’ movements on the large screen was especially fascinating. While continuing to pass beautiful melodic lines effortlessly and seamlessly one to the other, the two pianists were often playing on top of each others’ hands. Amazing and exquisite.

The evening finished with William Bolcom’s, “The Serpent’s Kiss” from The Garden of Eden. (See attached video.) This rag-time number was full of humour and drama, complete with foot stomping, tongue clicking and even some whistling. Altogether a delightful romp which brought the audience to its feet in a well-deserved standing ovation.

It is clear Duo Fortin-Poirier understands the inherent drama of music, the subtext of each musical thought and the essence of the composer’s message. Thanks to the South Okanagan Concert Society and its many sponsors for providing this inspiring evening of music.

*Anita Perry is a Summerland music teacher, composer and reviewer.

Munday Media & Design Wins Premier’s People’s Choice Award at the The 2019 Small Business BC Awards Gala

OLIVER, BC, CANADA – February 22, 2019 – Last night at the Vancouver Convention Centre the best and brightest entrepreneurs gathered to celebrate each other at the BC Small Business Awards. Tony Munday of Munday Media & Design was the successful winner of the Premiers’ People‘s Choice Category sponsored the Government of BC.

The Premier’s People’s Choice Award celebrates BC’s amazing entrepreneurs by recognizing a small business that is at the heart of their community. The Premier’s People’s Choice Award is presented to a BC small business that can demonstrate that they have the unwavering and loyal support of their community. This award is for a small business that can show that their community thinks they go above and beyond.

Minister Bruce Ralston, BC Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology tweeted, “It was my pleasure to present this year’s Premier’s People’s Choice Award to @TonyMunday of Munday Media & Design of #OliverBC. Congratulations to all of @SmallBusinessBC Award winners and nominees that work hard to make BC successful for people. #SBBCAwards”.

At the beginning of his acceptance speech Tony made sure the represent his community with a proud, “Greetings from Oliver BC, Canada’s Wine Capital!” Tony went on to say, “This has been very humbling experience. The staff at Munday Media nominated our business for the award as a surprise to me, and our fantastic community of Oliver supported us during the voting process helping us win this award. Thank you!”

About the Small Business BC Awards
The Small Business BC Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of BC’s entrepreneurs. These awards are a celebration of the contributions small business owners make to their local communities and to the global economy. The Small Business BC Awards are presented by Small Business BC with Canada Post as the
Title Sponsor.

About Munday Media & Design
Munday Media & Design oers custom design, print and sign services to businesses and organizations who want to engage, captivate and leave a long-lasting impression on their clients and customers. Whether it’s branding, logo creation, print or digital, their team of experts is ready to assist. Thanks to a strong background in the BC Wine and Tourism industries, Munday Media & Design’s work can be found throughout the province.
Media Contact:
Tony Munday
250-485-7000
info @ mundaymedia.com
www.mundaymedia.com