The Mill Bay Community League is hosting an all candidates debate on Sunday, Oct. 13, for the candidates for the Juan de Fuca-Malahat riding.
The debate takes place at noon at Kerry Park Arena, 1035 Shawnigan Lake Rd.
The debate will be moderated by the president of the Mill Bay Community League Shane Ryan, and will feature candidates Dana Lajeunesse, NDP, David Evans, Green, and Marina Sapozhnikov, Conservative.
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Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue honoured a number of volunteers at their annual awards ceremony recently, including three from the Cowichan Valley as individuals, as well as a crew.
"Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue volunteer awards aren't just about recognizing the remarkable dedication of our team members — they’re about celebrating the safety and well-being of our entire coastal community," said a press release from the event. "Our volunteers are ordinary people like us — teachers, veterinarians, baristas, sales reps, students, retirees, and more — who dedicate their time to helping others.
"By highlighting these awards, we shine a light on the people who make our waterways safer for everyone," the release said. "Their stories of bravery and commitment inspire us all to contribute to our community, whether through volunteering, supporting our cause, or simply being more aware of water safety.
Chris Wickham of Station 34 Cowichan, Stephen Wiles, RCMSAR 34 Cowichan and Mark Winfield of Station 34 Cowichan earned CCGA Leadership Medals.
Station 34 Cowichan Bay was also recognized in the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Top Missions category for their work when a vessel took on water south of Fernie Island on Aug. 14, 2023.
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The Tzouhalem Spinners and Weavers Guild is busy preparing for their Weavers & More Show & Sale on Oct. 17-19.
The event will take place at the Cowichan Valley Arts Council studio in the Cowichan Community Centre at 2687 James St., Duncan.
"This is the perfect opportunity to purchase directly from amazing local artisans, quality crafted gifts for someone special including yourself," said a press release for the event. "Be sure to pick up some handwoven, handspun, and knit treasures such as our always popular 100 per cent cotton woven tea towels, table linens, woven rugs, hats, scarves, baby blankets, handspun yarn and much, much more."
Attendees will also get to watch demonstrations of weaving and spinning.
Thursday and Friday hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday the show and sale runs from noon to 4 p.m.
Get more information at www.tzouhalemspinnersweaversguild.com or contact Janine at 250-929-2700.
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Applications are now open for the the Cowichan Consort Orchestra's 29th Annual Youth Concerto Competition.
The competition is open to everyone under 26 years old who are living or studying music on Vancouver Island. The application deadline is Oct. 19, with auditions to be held on Saturday, Nov. 9.
The very first winner of the competition was Maple Bay's Jennifer Harvey in 1994, playing the Schumann A minor piano concerto.
The winner takes home a bursary and a chance to perform with the orchestra under the baton of Conductor Pippa Williams.
For more information, go to www.cowichanconsort.com and look under Outreach.
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Two new artists have taken over the display windows at Imagine That! gallery in downtown Duncan for the month.
First up is Bev Robertson with Share The Magic.
Robertson is an oil and acrylic artist who has been painting professionally since 2012.
"For her, painting is a way to capture the beauty of nature," said Katie Daniel for Imagine That! "While she paints many subjects, she has found that painting flowers is her true love.
"She finds inspiration in colours and textures, such as the ruffles of a peony, the veining in a rose petal, or how the petals of a dahlia cup each other and increase in size as they spiral out from the centre. For her, there is magic in capturing the light that glows on a flower or shines on the glass jar that holds them."
In the second window painter Laurel Hibbert presents Stories of Joy.
"Laurel’s work is remarkable for its vibrant colour and for its story telling quality," Daniel said. "It is illustrative, whimsical, and captures moments in time. Looking at her work invites the viewer to ask what has just happened, or what is about to happen. Most of her work has a joyful quality. She paints from her imagination and from deep memory."
