Capital projects recommended for Quail's Nest

Posted on January 31, 2014 by admin

On Wednesday January 8, a small sub-committee of the board met to tour the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre, assess necessary repairs, maintenance, and development, and prioritize the proposed capital projects. Those five members included Jack Bennest (facilitator), Marion Trimble, Brian Mapplebeck, Jennifer Mapplebeck, and Penelope Johnson.

The committee ranked projects based on the following criteria:

(a) safety and security (i.e. immediate liability issues)

(b) property repair and maintenance (to prevent future liability issues)

(c) beautification projects

Expense and size of the project also affected ranking to a lesser degree.

The committee recommended the following capital projects to the Board, which were then approved. The projects will be completed as finances and personnel permit, in order of priority:

1. electrical safety assessment of the Studio Building by a qualified electrician, specifically addressing the safety and adequacy of breakers for kitchen appliances

2. assess the function of the two floor drains in the Studio Building, together with the outlet on north side, and installing more appropriate flooring to eliminate safety issues

3. re-paint safety lane strips from the rear exit door in Studio Building through both exits into the main bays, in accordance with fire codes.

4. apply insulated molding around the rear exit door in Studio Building to prevent heat loss.

5. check and repair exterior lighting on Studio Building (motion +/or photosensitive lighting)

6. replace fascia on Big Blue Building (metal preferred) and cover bird holes

7. paint small kitchen floor and ramp handrails

8. install built-in coat rack and storage shelving beside washroom

9. paint Big Blue Building bay doors with white top coat

10. cap irrigation control boxes at east and west ends

11. landscape front (east) strip of property, including stump and pipe removal, and install low-maintenance xeriscaping

The following projects were also recommended but deemed of lesser importance, and not ranked:

* address storage issues, such as removal of items from above handicapped washroom, moving grids easels and sandwich boards to new storage unit.

* remove container bed north of office, and install bench

* remove A/C wall unit

* install shelving in office as required

* mount new OCAC sign on Studio Building (suggested – along roof line)

* paint unifying decorative art to bay doors on Studio and Big Blue buildings (e.g. quail)

* install concrete patio, parking lot retaining wall, and steps along south side of Big Blue

* install featured artwork at entrance to parking lot

Projects will be completed as much as possible by contracted tradespeople, rather than by volunteer labour. Projects costing over $1000 will be submitted to a blind bid process.

Interested in overseeing one of these projects? No physical labour required! Requires soliciting one or more bids, seeking approval for solicited quote from the board, and liaising with contracted tradesperson until the job is completed. Contact OliverCAC @ gmail.com if you would like to watch other people do the hard work!

Capital projects recommended for Quail’s Nest

Posted on January 31, 2014 by admin

The committee ranked projects based on the following criteria:

(a) safety and security (i.e. immediate liability issues)

(b) property repair and maintenance (to prevent future liability issues)

(c) beautification projects

Expense and size of the project also affected ranking to a lesser degree.

The committee recommended the following capital projects to the Board, which were then approved. The projects will be completed as finances and personnel permit, in order of priority:

1. electrical safety assessment of the Studio Building by a qualified electrician, specifically addressing the safety and adequacy of breakers for kitchen appliances

2. assess the function of the two floor drains in the Studio Building, together with the outlet on north side, and installing more appropriate flooring to eliminate safety issues

3. re-paint safety lane strips from the rear exit door in Studio Building through both exits into the main bays, in accordance with fire codes.

4. apply insulated molding around the rear exit door in Studio Building to prevent heat loss.

5. check and repair exterior lighting on Studio Building (motion +/or photosensitive lighting)

6. replace fascia on Big Blue Building (metal preferred) and cover bird holes

7. paint small kitchen floor and ramp handrails

8. install built-in coat rack and storage shelving beside washroom

9. paint Big Blue Building bay doors with white top coat

10. cap irrigation control boxes at east and west ends

11. landscape front (east) strip of property, including stump and pipe removal, and install low-maintenance xeriscaping

The following projects were also recommended but deemed of lesser importance, and not ranked:

* address storage issues, such as removal of items from above handicapped washroom, moving grids easels and sandwich boards to new storage unit.

* remove container bed north of office, and install bench

* remove A/C wall unit

* install shelving in office as required

* mount new OCAC sign on Studio Building (suggested – along roof line)

* paint unifying decorative art to bay doors on Studio and Big Blue buildings (e.g. quail)

* install concrete patio, parking lot retaining wall, and steps along south side of Big Blue

* install featured artwork at entrance to parking lot

Projects will be completed as much as possible by contracted tradespeople, rather than by volunteer labour. Projects costing over $1000 will be submitted to a blind bid process.

Adding diversity to your organization

Posted on January 21, 2014 by admin

Creating a Culturally Welcoming Non-Profit Society

Thursday, Feb 13 ,2014

South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services

6239 Main Street, Oliver B.C.

Time: 8:30-2:00

Register: 1 888 576-5661 or info @ volunteercentre.info

The South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre is hosting a Learning Event in Oliver on Creating a Culturally Welcoming Non-Profit. The presentations and discussions will focus on the role that our non-profit societies have in a democracy. Codes of conduct, guiding principles and policies that could enhance this role will be provided.

You will hear new Canadians talk about their experience adapting to the Canadian culture.

How do you create a society that is open and diverse? How do you ensure that your volunteer programs are open and diverse (including Board recruitment and make-up)? What are the advantages to being a culturally welcoming society? Will funding sources be more receptive to organizations with a diversity policy and inclusive mission statements?

Registration is free. Morning coffee and lunch provided. This is a great opportunity to join with other Board members and staff to look at developing common practices to create welcoming environments.

South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre offers this event in partnership with the South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services and WelcomeBC and Interior Savings Credit Union.

Choosing the colour

Posted on May 17, 2012 by admin

The arts council has moved to form a committee of interested members who will shortlist options for painting all the exterior doors at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre. Interested in having your say on the colour palette and design for the eight doors on site? Contact OliverCAC @ gmail.com

This past winter, two new steel clad rollup doors were installed on the smaller Studio Building on site, primed white. Last fall, two older rollup doors on the Big Blue Building were scraped and primed, ready for painting. Two steel entrance doors had been installed on Big Blue within the last few years. All these doors, plus the two entrance to the Studio Building now need a fresh colour scheme. The Board hopes the resulting design will help to co-ordinate and unify the two buildings on site, helping to identify both buildings as belonging to the arts centre.

Some ideas have already been put forward:

* paint them all white

* match the colours to those on the gold, black and white OCAC sign on Big Blue’s north side

* include the OCAC quail logo on each door

* match all doors to the previous royal purple colour of the Studio building’s bay doors, with gold trim

* co-ordinate all doors to the blue of Big Blue

* paint a multi-coloured graphic on the doors symbolizing the arts, such as horizontal rows of colourful crayons

The arts council Board has authorized a committee to shortlist three recommended designs, together with their proposed cost for supplies, labour time, and any labour costs. Volunteer now to sit on the committee, or contact the OCAC to add your design suggestion.

Cleaning the Nest – Inside and Out

Posted on May 17, 2012 by admin

Spring Cleanup

Friday June 8

Saturday June 9

8 – 12 noon

Quail’s Nest Arts Centre

5840 Airport Road

Bring your favourite cleaning and gardening tools and wear your favourite cleaning / gardening clothes. Most creative outfit each day wins a prize!

Your choice of jobs awaits you: weeding, pruning, mowing, garbage collecting and dump running and other outside jobs are the highest priority, but indoor window washing, and mopping are also available. Rags, sponges, mop, buckets, cleaning products, garbage bags, and hoses provided. Coffee time treats also provided.

Anyone with a truck or trailer willing to take items to the dump, please drop by in the late morning each day.

Thanks to SOAP Players for pressure washing and cleaning Big Blue on the Sunday!

Join the Flock for 2012 ! How to become a Quail:

Posted on November 1, 2011 by admin

SOAP Players await word on new community theatre

Posted on September 28, 2011 by admin

Members and directors of the South Okanagan Amateur Players (SOAP) are anxiously awaiting information on what will be done to replace the Frank Venables Auditorium following the devastating fire at South Okanagan Secondary School earlier this month. SOAP has regularly used the Venables for productions such as their successful sell-out The Sound of Music (2008) , Neil Simon’s comedy Rumors (pictured at left) in 2010, and last season’s Twelve Angry Jurors and The Odd Couple. All told, Oliver has seen community theatrical productions in the Venables for more than 50 years. What follows is a press release from SOAP in response to the Venables Auditorium fire:

Patrons and the many area residents involved in SOAP productions realize the importance the venue has been to the performing arts in the South Okanagan and as an educational facility for drama students.

“We realize many factors will come into play regarding the future of a performing arts venue in Oliver,” says SOAP President Patrick Turner (pictured above onstage in Rumors) . “We urge all parties involved to work together in the hopes a satisfactory arrangement can be made that will replace the Venables theatre, both as a community-use facility and for drama classes.”

Earlier this year, with the knowledge that the auditorium would be undergoing major renovations, it was decided to seek out other venues in Oliver. The board is pleased to announce it is proceeding with the fall production of The Wild Guys, a Canadian play by Calgarians Andrew Wreggitt and Rebecca Shaw, which will be staged at the Osoyoos Mini-Theatre on Nov. 25 and 26 and at the Oliver Seniors Centre Dec. 2 and 3 with a special matinee performance proposed for Sunday, Dec. 4. Partial proceeds from the production will be earmarked towards a new auditorium in Oliver.

For further information contact Patrick Turner, President

SOAP 250-498-7778 soap@telus.net

Phoenix from the Ashes: The Steinway is safe

Posted on September 14, 2011 by admin

submitted by Marion Boyd

South Okanagan Concert Society

Music, “an outburst of the soul”, cannot be quelled in Oliver. Our lovely auditorium smoulders in ruins but the “Old Lady” is safe and sound. Our somewhat elderly Steinway has been a center piece for dazzling world class pianists over the decades. Angela Hewitt, Jon Kamura Parker, Anton Kuerti and, most recently, Sara Beuchner are just a few who have thrilled us with their mastery of the keyboard. Condolences from many musicians who have played here are rolling in as they get word of the fire. They take heart in the story of the Steinway.

The story goes this way. Knowing the renovations at the Venables Auditorium could not be completed in time for this season’s concert series, the South Okanagan Concert Society made temporary plans to relocate to another venue, the Oliver Alliance Church. But what to do about the Steinway was the question.

A small ‘new piano fund’ had been growing slowly over the years. When it became apparent the Steinway would have to be moved, at the very least, to another part of the school, stored in a secure site with consistent humidity and temperature, tuned a number of times and insured against damage or loss for an extended period while the auditorium was being made ready, the executive decided to seize the moment. This was the time for a new piano.

So a partnership was formed with the Adopt-a-Seat Committee and School District 53. By joining forces and using the expertise of Bob Park an arrangement was made to trade in the old Steinway and buy a gently used Yamaha C3 grand piano.

A beautiful concert instrument , the Yamaha could be delivered upon completion of the auditorium and the storage cost savings were directed against the replacement cost. S.O.A.P. and the Town of Oliver were all in agreement and the plan took place.

So where are we now? The old Steinway is safe in her new home and escaped the ravages of the fire. The new concert piano is on hold and ready to be delivered when a new auditorium is rebuilt. AND we have a series of concerts designed specifically to take advantage of the smaller, more intimate Alliance Church venue to delight us over the winter.

Music is alive in Oliver. You can get flex or single tickets at Beyond Bliss. Imperial Office Pro or at the door and be comfortably seated on Friday, October 28th at the new time of 7:30 pm. Alexander Sevastian, originally from Minsk, Belarus and now a Canadian citizen, will magically turn his accordian into a whole orchestra as he showcases amazing dexterity and musicality. Get your tickets quickly. Citizens of Russian descent in Grand Forks went wild for his Kossak Variations and are expected to gobble up tickets here too. Let’s make this the winter Oliver turns grief into joy through music.

Get Your Hands Dirty – for a good cause

Posted on May 10, 2011 by admin

submitted by Heather Whittall, Oliver Community Garden Society

Spring is finally here and we are ready to start growing at the new home of the Oliver Community Garden (the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre). The sheds, beds, barrels and bins have been delivered but now we need your help. We need as many strong, able bodies as we can get to help us move everything into position. Please come and help and bring your friends on…

Sunday May 15th

9 – 11 a.m.

Quail’s Nest Arts Centre

Please RSVP to olivercommunitygarden @ yahoo.com or 250-485-2535 so we can get an idea of how many helpers we will have.

We will also still looking for donations of start up materials such as dirt and compost so if you can help us out in that way it will be greatly appreciated!

Garden beds are still available so don’t forget to reserve your garden box for the 2011 growing season by calling or emailing me. We’re setting up fewer boxes this year so space is limited!

Looking forward to growing and gardening with you!

Visit the Oliver Community Garden Society online at http://olivercommunitygarden.wordpress.com/ . We’re also on Twitter! http://twitter.com/olivergarden

Arts Council welcomes two new groups under Umbrella

Posted on February 25, 2011 by admin

The Oliver Handbell Ringers and the Oliver Community Garden Society are two new groups under the umbrella of the Oliver Community Arts Council.

The Oliver Handbell Ringers, under the direction of Sue Gay have been performing for the last few years. Their concerts have been gaining in excitement as the ensemble has been gaining in skill. The ensemble attains a clear warm sound, with music that can both stimulate and relax. Proceeds from their concerts and donations from the community have gone towards purchasing tuned sets of bells and sheet music.

The ensemble is always looking to train new members. It’s an exciting and non-threatening way to learn music, and gives you a gentle workout in the process. What more could you ask for?

The Oliver Community Garden Society has also recently joined. See the article below (“Arts Council growing relationship”) for more information about this community-spirited organization or check out their website (click on the link at right under “Member Organizations”).

The “umbrella” of the arts council is a unique opportunity for groups and businesses to:

* have a forum for co-operating and networking within the local arts community,

* take advantage of advertising and promotional opportunities (like this one!),

* apply for financial aid, and

* to have a greater voice municipally and provincially to increase awareness of and access funding for arts groups.

And what about you? There’s lots of room under the umbrella! Contact olivercac@gmail for more information about becoming a member or fill out the membership form by clicking the link under the banner above.

Vision for the Quail's Nest Arts Centre

Posted on October 2, 2009 by admin

Our architectural vision for the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre is captured in the following renderings by Bevanda Architecture, Penticton. We gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance of the Oliver Rotary Club which enabled the arts council to hire the services of Bevanda Architecture, and the hard work of our Vision committee who consulted with Bevanda on our goals and needs.

1. Front Entry View : From 95th Street, a visitor will see the original maintenance shed (north, on right) converted into a multi-use performance space, including flexible seating, floor space, and stage area, grid system lighting , greenrooms and storage. This is the proposed first phase of renovations. South (left) along 95th Street is a proposed gallery and gift shop.

2. Front Lobby View: Entering from the 95th Street entrance , a visitor will be greeted in a light airy lobby.

Beyond the lobby is a long breezeway running between the multiuse performance space to the north (right) and a sunny courtyard (centre background). It’s a perfect place for small touring exhibits, elegant pre-show cocktails, and intermission lounging.

The lobby also gives access to the gift shop.

3. Lobby Gallery View : This rendering looks back east towards the front lobby desk and 95th Street from the west end of the breezeway. To the left in the picture is the multiuse performance space. If you look closely, you can see some of the original shed exterior along the wall on the left!

To the right are the windows opening onto the inner courtyard. Behind the viewer are washrooms and concession areas.

4. Courtyard View: Reflecting the “Quail’s Nest” name, the arts centre shelters an intimate inner courtyard. The rendering looks west towards a concession area and washrooms, with studio and office areas beyond. To the right is the long breezeway and lobby area (with performance space beyond).

The courtyard gives access to the whole facility around the square: performance area, gallery, lobby, gift shop, studios, concession, administrative offices, and washrooms.

The courtyard, with its sunken quadrangle, is a perfect venue for outdoor concerts and other small performances. Alternatively, the central area can be used for a water feature, container garden, or sculpture display.

5. Studio View: In the final phase of building, a line of small studios along the south end of the property face inwards onto the courtyard. This view looks north out of one studio into the courtyard and opposite the breezeway and performance space.

Behind the painting figure on the right (east) is the lobby, gallery and gift shop area that face onto 95th Street.

6. Exterior View: Along the south side of the complex is outside access to studio spaces (the near doorway) and administrative offices (far end of the walkway).

Phased in several sections, the renovation of the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre is a mammoth undertaking requiring at least $3 million in fundraising. However, the Oliver Community Arts Council believes such a facility could become a hub of unique artistic activity in the South Okanagan. Oliver has a comparatively large percentage of its population active in the arts, many at commercial or professional quality. being aready recognized as the Wine Capital of Canada, Oliver is set to become a tourist destination for arts and culture.

The Board is seeking a professional fundraiser to initiate these efforts, and the patronage of major corporate sponsors and private benefactors. We welcome any interest in seeing our vision become a reality! olivercac@gmail.com

Renderings: Bevanda Architecture, Penticton

Photos: Penelope Johnson

Vision for the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre

Posted on October 2, 2009 by admin

2. Front Lobby View: Entering from the 95th Street entrance , a visitor will be greeted in a light airy lobby.

The lobby also gives access to the gift shop.

To the right are the windows opening onto the inner courtyard. Behind the viewer are washrooms and concession areas.

The courtyard gives access to the whole facility around the square: performance area, gallery, lobby, gift shop, studios, concession, administrative offices, and washrooms.

Behind the painting figure on the right (east) is the lobby, gallery and gift shop area that face onto 95th Street.

6. Exterior View: Along the south side of the complex is outside access to studio spaces (the near doorway) and administrative offices (far end of the walkway).

Renderings: Bevanda Architecture, Penticton

Photos: Penelope Johnson

Painting at Kiwanis

Posted on September 18, 2009 by admin

As a fund raiser, members of the Oliver Community Arts Council are painting murals and signs on the Kiwanis Flea Market in Oliver BC

Kiwanis is a great supporter of the arts in Oliver.

Photos by Jack Bennest

Sage Valley Voices Community Choir

Posted on April 27, 2009 by admin

The Sage Valley Voices are a fun-loving and welcoming community choir that knows how to entertain! They specialize in contemporary arrangements of seasonal music and 20th century standards and classics.

The choir performs two concerts a year under the directorship of Alice Deroche: a Christmas concert in December, and a spring concert.

Above is a formal picture of the choir in its early days, looking unusually sedate. My how times change! Now the choir rarely stands still long enough for a formal portrait, and is more often found in costume than in uniform!

Members may be all decked out in top hats and satin gowns for a Dickensian Christmas, flouncing in poodle skirts and saddle shoes and lounging in leather jackets for a tribute to hits from the fifties, or wearing cowboy hats, bandanas, and Wranglers for a country hoedown.

Check out these choir members dressed for their “High Flying Forties” concert: high society women, Hollywood glamour queens, Rosie the Riveter, soldiers, WACS, dapper Dans, and all.

Below is the oddest collection of cowboys you will ever see round a campfire. Maybe it’s cowboys and …. mobster guys taking a weekend off at a dude ranch? You never can tell who or what will show up at a Sage Valley Voices concert.

The choral music is often interspersed with readings, jokes, short skits, and special guest appearances.

Audiences are guaranteed to leave with a smile and the warmth of community spirit!

Concert proceeds are put towards a number of community programs, including the local Sunshine Soup Kitchen.

Rehearsals are on Monday evenings through the fall, winter, and spring. No audition is required.

Join us at our next concert!

“A Sentimental Journey”

Music of the 40s and 50s

plus special selections from our

Senior Choral Fest Gala Concert

Saturday May 2

7:00 p.m.

Sunday May 3

2:30 p.m.

Oliver United Church

$5.00 at the door

Guest appearance by the Naramata Choir

Renting the Quail's Nest Arts Centre

Posted on April 27, 2009 by admin

The Quail’s Nest is perfect for meetings, workshops, seminars, displays, and studio work space.

Studio Building

The Studio Building has a large meeting area with folding tables and padded chairs, a handicapped washroom, and a small kitchen and lunch counter area with fridge, oven and microwave. The concrete flooring makes it ideal for studio type workshops and displays. Plinths are available.

Half Day or Evening: $25

Full Day: $50

Liquor Served: + $25

Kitchen Use: +$10

Big Blue

The “Big Blue” Building is a large maintenance shed roughly 60′ x 90′. It is mostly used as theatrical set storage and rehearsal space, but it has lots of space available for events such as garage sales and for large “projects in progress” such as creating highschool graduation decorations. Wooden tables and chairs are available.

Cost for the space is negotiable per contract.

To rent the Quail’s Nest, contact our rental agent at 250-498-0104.

The Quail’s Nest Arts Centre is located at 34274 – 95th Street, Oliver, BC. It is one block east of Highway 97, half a block south of the Oliver Place Mall, RCMP Station and Fire Hall

Quail’s Nest Arts Centre (Google maps)

The committee ranked projects based on the following criteria:

(a) safety and security (i.e. immediate liability issues)

(b) property repair and maintenance (to prevent future liability issues)

(c) beautification projects

Expense and size of the project also affected ranking to a lesser degree.

* address storage issues, such as removal of items from above handicapped washroom, moving grids easels and sandwich boards to new storage unit.

* remove container bed north of office, and install bench

* remove A/C wall unit

* install shelving in office as required

* mount new OCAC sign on Studio Building (suggested – along roof line)

* paint unifying decorative art to bay doors on Studio and Big Blue buildings (e.g. quail)

* install concrete patio, parking lot retaining wall, and steps along south side of Big Blue

* install featured artwork at entrance to parking lot

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The committee ranked projects based on the following criteria:

(a) safety and security (i.e. immediate liability issues)

(b) property repair and maintenance (to prevent future liability issues)

(c) beautification projects

Expense and size of the project also affected ranking to a lesser degree.

* address storage issues, such as removal of items from above handicapped washroom, moving grids easels and sandwich boards to new storage unit.

* remove container bed north of office, and install bench

* remove A/C wall unit

* install shelving in office as required

* mount new OCAC sign on Studio Building (suggested – along roof line)

* paint unifying decorative art to bay doors on Studio and Big Blue buildings (e.g. quail)

* install concrete patio, parking lot retaining wall, and steps along south side of Big Blue

* install featured artwork at entrance to parking lot

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Thursday, Feb 13 ,2014

South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services

6239 Main Street, Oliver B.C.

Time: 8:30-2:00

Register: 1 888 576-5661 or info @ volunteercentre.info

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The Sage Valley Voices are a fun-loving and welcoming community choir that knows how to entertain! They specialize in contemporary arrangements of seasonal music and 20th century standards and classics.

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Studio Building

Big Blue

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