Marion Boyd, member of the local Grandmothers for Africa chapter, attended the Reflection & Renewal Conference in Vancouver on March 11th and 12th.  As she puts it, “It was an amazing conference that renews my faith in humanity!”

Reflection & Renewal:  10 years Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, Stephen Lewis Foundation

by Marion Boyd

The sound flowed over us, back and forth, resonating as 300 woman sang in the call and response style of Africa:  “We will not rest.   We will turn the tide.”   The women from Canada and from Africa were gathered in Vancouver March 11 & 12^th to celebrate ten years of solidarity not charity, ten years of hard and determined grassroots work, ten years where dignity,  mutuality and women’s spirit triumphed in fifteen countries where whole communities were torn apart and as many as 1 in 3 citizens had AIDS.   What do you do when 36 million people have AIDS?  What do you do with 17 million orphans?  As one African grandmother put it, “Sitting and crying is not a solution.”   A Canadian grandmother added,  “It wasn’t enough to just write a cheque.   We had to connect.” Another added, “If you think its time to retire, its time to work!”

So the Grandmother to Grandmother idea was born.  It was a collaborative system not a heirarchy.  It was inclusive and respectful.  It emerged as a mass movement, a global movement with the face of a grandmother.   It broke the isolation, stilled the fear and created a sense of community that sustained.   Gradually, very gradually, African grandmothers began to regain hope, a sense of survival.   They got up every morning to face fear, loss, illness but working together with Canadian grandmothers they gradually found their voice, realized they were worthy and could speak up and claim basic human rights.

It has taken ten years but they are demanding their governments help with health care, pensions, education. They are asking us in the developed world to be aware that our ‘free’ trade (TPP) agreement serves the pharmaceutical companies while depriving the poor of less expensive generic drugs to fight AIDS.  They are fighting for land titles.  They are slowly resurrecting their communities.   Not every need is sated but they have a sense of dignity and hope and they are feeling better.   Together we sing and we laugh and we move forward.

So what next?    Ilana Landsberg-Lewis (pictured),  Executive Director of the Stephen Lewis Foundation and a passionate human rights lawyer, wants to be able to fund the 100 to 200 new proposals the Foundation gets each month.  Already they have funded over 1,400 initiatives and partnered with over 300 community based organizations in 15 countries.   We want to double the number of grandmother groups in Canada that raise money for the Foundation.  We want the grandmother to grandmother campaign to go global and find voice in international discussions at centers of power.

There is so much that has been done.   There is so much that still needs to be done.

One of the inspirational African grandmothers who spoke concluded with these words: “Please don’t stop.  We need resources.  We need you. Please don’t rest.  I’m begging you guys!”     And here in Oliver, we won’t stop.   If you’d care to join us we meet in the Oliver United Church the first Thursday of each month at 1 pm.

Pictured:

Local President Shirley Polk with Mariam Mulindwa of Phoebe Education Fund for AIDS Orphans, Uganda

Marion Boyd, Oliver Grandmothers for Africa group, with Mariam Mulindwa of Uganda, Ida Nambeya of Zambia and Siphwe Holphe of Swaziland

Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, is a labour and human rights lawyer and named one of the 25 top women of influence in Canada in 2012.   She is the Executive Director of the Stephen Lewis Foundation and a passionate advocate for human rights.

Stephen Lewis, diplomat, politician, former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations and UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS to Africa and the Chair of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

March 15, 2016

The Oliver Community Theatre Society has teamed up with Canadian company TixHub to offer the convenience of a new on-line Community Box Office for events at the Frank Venables Theatre.

Launching this week, the new Community Box Office is accessible 24/7 through the Venables Theatre website at www.venablestheatre.ca. When purchased online, tickets can be printed at home or picked up at the box office in the theatre one hour before curtain time. On line, the new ticket service accepts Visa, MasterCard and Debit and the theatre box office, which is open before each show, also takes personalized cheques and good old fashioned cash.

There is a charge on each ticket to cover the new service, however all advertised ticket prices will include these surcharges and credit card fees – so there’s no surprises at the checkout.

The new ticket service will not be exclusive either and tickets to events at the theatre can still be purchased in retail outlets in Oliver and Osoyoos. Patrons are encouraged to check the listings on the Frank Venables Theatre website’s Coming Soon page to find all the outlets – on-line and off-site – where theatre tickets are available.

In future, the Community Box Office will be the source for online tickets to many events in the South Okanagan. Groups interested in selling their events online through our new ticket service should contact the Theatre Manager.

For further information contact Theatre Manager, Bettyanne Hampton at 250-498-1626 or manager @ venablestheatre.ca

by Marion Boyd

Many of you will be arriving at Venables Theatre this Friday, March 18^th, for a rare and exciting performance of blended classical and jazz music on piano and clarinet.  Think everything from Gershwin and Oscar Peterson to Bach and Mozart.  The Wolak/Donnelly Duo will be the final concert of this year’s South Okanagan Concert Society series.

It is also your opportunity to get a pass for next season at Early Bird prices of only $65 for 4 concerts.   Contracts have just been signed and the line up is truly magnificent.

November 11^th classically trained musicians come together to explore their passion for tango on piano, violin, double bass and bandoneon.   Accompanied by two tango dancers, Quartango, (pictured above) has charmed audiences around the world.

December 2^nd, Russian concert pianist Sergei Saratovsky has also won acclaim on the world stage.   He became a resident of Canada in 2002 and completed his doctoral studies here.  Born into a family of musicians, his awards would fill pages including a recent Best Canadian Artist award at the Montreal International Musical Competition!   Our new grand piano will get a work out with Saratovsky!

January 27^th, 2017, the Remi Bolduc Jazz Ensemble will perform a tribute to Dave Brubeck.  Bolduc is one of Canada’s best jazz saxophonist.  Breathtaking precision, magnetic stage presence and dazzling virtuosity, energy and spontaneity are his trademarks.  He will tour with guest pianist Francois Bourassa.

February 24, 2017, Duo Concertante features Nancy Dahn on violin and Timothy Steeves on piano.   Reviews refer to their “artistry, poetry and impeccable technique” and the excitement of “grace and fire… fury and repose”.   From Newfoundland, they are doing a cross Canada tour to follow a tour in Europe.

Now is the time to secure your tickets for our next season.   Staff at Venables Theatre are working on a system to provide seat choice.   Get in early and get what you want!

Kurt Hutterli, one of the RipOff Artists, travelled to his native country of Switzerland last year, where he had a couple of happy surprises. Here’s what Kurt has to say:

“Here are some pictures from my reading at the Hotel Belle Epoque in Berne, Switzerland where I presented my new book project “Meine mitgebrachte Kindheit”. (It’s about my childhood memories I brought with me to Canada.) At the hotel I also “met” two Ripoff victims.

“First: Jane Avril in the company of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.”

Pictured below is Kurt at the Hotel Belle Epoque entrance, with Jane Avril kicking up her heels beside him. 

Kurt continues with his second RipOff encounter:

“Marianne and I were invited to spend the night in the Klimt suite, surrounded by six original drawings by Klimt!” 

Below are a few more photos from Kurt’s reading at the hotel and a view of the exterior. 

The Oliver Sagebrushers are mounting a new show this month at Medici’s. The theme is Abstract Art.  This art form, not being as easy as it would appear, was recently demystified to the Sagebrushers under the tutelage of Tara Hovanes in a 2-day workshop.  Club members came up with some excellent examples and are eager to show their works along with Tara, who will be the Featured Artist. The show runs from mid March to the end of April.  All the pieces for your viewing pleasure, while enjoying a great Medici cappuccino, are for sale.  It should be noted there won’t be an Opening Reception for this show.

News blog publisher Jack Bennest has also opened his Oliver Daily News office space at 6237 Main Street to include a new gallery this spring. The “Dodge” building is currently home to the S.O Chamber of Commerce, the S.O. Immigrant and Community Services office, and Edward Jones.  The building boasts some great wall space.

“Most of the walls at “the Gallery” are full and interest is high to hang fine art and photography,” says Jack. “We will say “drop in” once all the artists have agreed on their schedule.”

The public can expect a formal opening later in March. Contact jackbennest @ gmail.com for more information.

You know where the beer is brewed. You know where the Back Alley Concerts rock. But now it’s time to grow.

The Firehall Brewery kicks off a crowdfunding campaign on March 16 to fund the construction of a new Beer Shop and Social Room at the historic Firehall. Same great beer, same great music. Now just bigger. And friendly crowdier.

To give this project a financial boost, you have one month to pledge. Between March 16 and April 15, go online to   www.kickstarter.com/firehallbrewery 

Pamela Woolner, Community Heritage Manager since March 11, 2014, is regretfully stepping down from her executive position with the Oliver and District  Heritage Society. She is returning to Ontario, where she has secured a new position.

Her letter expresses her enjoyment during her stay in Oliver:

I am very sad to tell you that my time with the Society is rapidly coming to a close. …  I have treasured my time in Oliver and enjoyed meeting the people and learning the history of the area. It is so unique!

” The Board is already working hard to find my replacement and I’m sure things will go very smoothly. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me before I go. Julianna, our Collections Manager, will be available to you after that date until the new Executive Director starts. She will be checking all the e-mail and phones.

“I hope you will continue to support your Heritage Society as they are working very hard on the community’s behalf. Thank you for a wonderful experience.”

Yours, Pamela Woolner
Community Heritage Manager

Oliver and District Heritage Society

Box 847, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0

250-498-4027
info @ oliverheritage.ca

www.oliverheritage.ca

With the shift into spring our glorious Okanagan colours are starting to appear!  The Federation of Canadian Artists presents a juried exhibition of works at the Osoyoos Art Gallery by active members of the South Okanagan-Similkameen Chapter.  Art Work for this show comes from a range of inspirations but all exhibit a spectrum of hues seen in the flux of the spring season, whether bold, subtle, cool or warm.  Artists in this Chapter of the national organization come from Osoyoos, Keremeos, Oliver, Okanagan Falls, Penticton, Naramata and Summerland.

The show is called “Spring Colours”, and it will be held at the Osoyoos Art Gallery from Mar 2-26/2016.  The opening reception is March 5/2016 from 2-4 PM. Everyone is invited:  come and see the new show and enjoy the opportunity to meet the artists.

The Osoyoos Art Gallery is at 8713 Main Street in Osoyoos.  Exhibition hours at the Gallery are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 12:00 to 4:00 pm.   Take some time to connect with art, colour and Spring!

Oliver, BC – The Maps and plans created by the South Okanagan Land Irrigation District [SOLID] are being saved for posterity through the generous support of the Documentary Heritage Communities Program [DHCP] provided by Library and Archives Canada. Using funds granted by the program the Oliver and District Heritage Society has been able to purchase a high quality digital camera and associated hardware that will enable them to take pictures to ensure the information on these documents is not lost to time.

Thanks to the grant, provided by DHCP program, the over 800 maps and plans that were donated to the Society as part of the South Okanagan Land Irrigation District collection in 1997 are all being digitally recorded. A very important part of these records is a high resolution photograph of the document. The new photography equipment can create photographs that allow researchers to zoom in on a portion of a map or technical drawing no matter how large the original document, thereby limiting the number of times the original document must be handled. This is vitally important for ensuring the longevity of the documents as handling exposes them to tears, creases and light damage.

To find out more about this project or learn more about the services of the Oliver Archives please feel free to visit us at 430 Fairview Rd or call us at 250-498-4027.

PHOTO: Linda Schroter takes a picture of a map using the new digital photography equipment recently purchased by the Oliver and District Heritage Society.

by Penelope Johnson

Three dozen voices, light, sprightly and well-tuned, swept through an astonishingly varied repertoire at the Venables Theatre last Friday evening.  The Capilano University Singers, tightly controlled by their conductor Lars Kaario, impressed the large audience with their range from the Baroque and classical composers, to Afro-American and South African folksong, 21^st century compositions, and new Canadian music. The concert was the third presentation in the South Okanagan Concert Society series of four.

The Singers’ first impression, walking confidently onstage in formal attire, was marred by a shaky performance of famous choruses from Handel’s Messiah. Kaario chose a quick tempo, in keeping with the original baroque style, which suited these youthful, energetic voices. Much like the sheep in “All We Like Sheep” the singers were remarkably sure-footed through the lightning-quick arpeggios. The sopranos and tenors especially showed great facility. Unfortunately, the pace often left the piano accompaniment floundering to keep up, resulting in a few faltering starts.

A more robust sound for Messiah would have been welcome. These music students are commended for tackling such important repertoire, but the resulting sound was light and thin.  The choir may have fared better had Kaario, as well as two student conductors, slowed the tempo enough to afford the singers opportunity to develop a rich chest sound.

Worthy of note was a promising young counter-tenor soloist, Gary Sun. What a treat to hear a live performance of this relatively rare voice type. His breath control and diction struggled under the quick tempo, but his fluid tone and animated expression more than made up for it.

Sun’s emotive performance was perhaps the most deserving of applause in Messiah. Sadly, Kaario instructed the audience to refrain from clapping until the final “Amen”. While this would be common practice for the full oratorio, it could have been modified to allow audience appreciation to be given where it was deserved. Bravo, Mr. Sun.

The concert’s second half, a varied repertoire of mostly modern choral compositions, was a dramatic improvement. Here, the Singers’ light voices were better suited to the material. The rapid tempo of “An Elizabethan Spring” was entirely appropriate, with the tricky triplets in the final measures absolutely perfect. Conductor Kaario and his attentive choir showed complete mastery here. The following “Sleep” could have been sung at a more lulling tempo, to caress the dissonant chords. A lovely jewel of close harmony was “Ave verum corpus” by young BC composer Ian Cox. Good dynamics in “Let My Love Be Heard” demonstrated the Singers are capable of greater volume and colouring.

The audience delighted in a refreshing interlude of musical selections by choir members. These young performers showed remarkable poise in engaging with the audience. Pianist Daniel Nguyen excelled on Chopin’s Aeolian Harp Etude.  The sonata trio and four-part madrigal were equally enchanting. Receiving the most applause was a bluesy trio on “Love Gone Wrong” by You+Me. Their funky groove set the stage for the choir’s lively, final selections.

The Capilano University Singers kicked it up several notches with the spiritual “John Saw duh Numbah”. Their percussive consonants made for an energetic, exciting piece. Saving the best for last, the Singers let loose with the South African “Emjanleni / Yeleyele” accompanied by djembe drum, rhythmic foot stomping and clapping, and ululating women’s voices. These rousing numbers brought the audience to its feet with the most enthusiastic applause of the evening.

The South Okanagan Concert Series concludes on Friday March 18 with a blend of classical and jazz music from the Wolak / Donnelly Duo. Their instruments? Clarinet, piano, and oodles of charm. Keep your fingers crossed that “Bach with Spoons” is in their programme for the evening! Join the crowd at  7:30 p.m. at the Frank Venables Theatre. Single tickets are $20, and four for $75, available at Beyond Bliss and Imperial Office Pro. Students 17 and under free. Early bird tickets for the 2016/7 concert season will be available at the concert.