Local Entertainment

Larry Fiege, right, from Fiege’s Farm shows a rapt audience the old-fashioned way to tap a Bigleaf Maple during the Maple Syrup Festival at the BC Forest Discovery Centre Feb. 1 and 2, 2020. (Andrea Rondeau/Citizen)

Maple Syrup Festival in Duncan cancelled

The annual syrup festival is a popular event at the BC Forest Discovery Centre

Jorie Benjamin does a modern dance performance to ‘La Vie en rose’ by Édith Piaf, Louis Gugliemi and Marguerite Monnot, choreographed by Elise Sampson during the Cowichan Music Festival’s Highlights Concert at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on March 1, 2020. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Cowichan Music Festival cancelled for 2021

The festival had already been limited to solo performances only for 2021

The pantomime ‘Snow White and the 5 Dwarfs’ has been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. (Submitted)

Pantomime cancelled in Cowichan due to COVID restrictions

A partnership of the Cowichan Musical Society, the Shawnigan Players, and the Mercury Players.

Apollonian means “serene, calm, or well-balanced; poised & disciplined”. The natural photo art for the album includes Vancouver Island mountains, rivers and beaches. Scenes from the Cowichan River, Witchcraft Lake, Pipers Lagoon, Wall Beach and other popular Island recreation destinations accentuate the album. (RICHIErichieRichie Music Publishing photo)

Serenity Now! Richie Valley debuts third LP dubbed Apollonian

Apollonian means “serene, calm, or well-balanced; poised & disciplined”

Apollonian means “serene, calm, or well-balanced; poised & disciplined”. The natural photo art for the album includes Vancouver Island mountains, rivers and beaches. Scenes from the Cowichan River, Witchcraft Lake, Pipers Lagoon, Wall Beach and other popular Island recreation destinations accentuate the album. (RICHIErichieRichie Music Publishing photo)
David Coulson puts up design plans for an ambitious public art gallery for Duncan for the public to view. (Submitted)

Art gallery group becomes registered charity in step towards realizing Duncan dream

Becoming a registered charity enables the CVPAG to greatly expand its potential donor base

  • Jan 7, 2021
David Coulson puts up design plans for an ambitious public art gallery for Duncan for the public to view. (Submitted)
The Chemainus Elementary School’s Treble Makers impressed the judges in the CBC Music Challenge and were awarded second place in their category. (Photo submitted)

Chemainus Elementary’s Treble Makers make a beautiful music video together

Second place awarded in Elementary Vocal for CBC Canadian Music Class Challenge

The Chemainus Elementary School’s Treble Makers impressed the judges in the CBC Music Challenge and were awarded second place in their category. (Photo submitted)
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Longevity John Falkner says a government grant has allowed him to keep the Duncan Showroom afloat in 2020 during COVID. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen file)

$10K grant keeps the doors open at the Duncan Showroom

The Showroom hit the ground running in March.

  • Dec 30, 2020
Longevity John Falkner says a government grant has allowed him to keep the Duncan Showroom afloat in 2020 during COVID. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen file)
The Chemainus Theatre Festival’s Playbill Dining Room reopened to host small musical performances. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Chemainus Theatre receives Island Coastal Economic Trust funding

Project will involve recording and live-streaming Playbill Presents series content

The Chemainus Theatre Festival’s Playbill Dining Room reopened to host small musical performances. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Cowichan Valley actor and director Alex Gallacher received the City of Duncan’s Perpetual Arts Award. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Cowichan theatre mainstay Gallacher receives City of Duncan arts award

Three-plus decades in acting and directing are honoured

Cowichan Valley actor and director Alex Gallacher received the City of Duncan’s Perpetual Arts Award. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
The BC Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan had to cancel its biggest fundraiser of the year, the Christmas Express, due to COVID. But they’ve now made a movie so you can experience a bit of the Christmas magic. (Submitted)

Cowichan’s Christmas Express magic comes to a screen near you

The BC Forest Discovery Centre has produced a family movie of Once Upon The Christmas Express!

The BC Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan had to cancel its biggest fundraiser of the year, the Christmas Express, due to COVID. But they’ve now made a movie so you can experience a bit of the Christmas magic. (Submitted)
Cabin Fever recorded a performance at Duncan United Church which will be available for free streaming from the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre website. (Ashley Foot photo)

Catch a little Cabin Fever at Cowichan Performing Arts Centre online

For anyone looking for a little fun, the show will stream on-demand as of 7 p.m., Dec. 22

  • Dec 17, 2020
Cabin Fever recorded a performance at Duncan United Church which will be available for free streaming from the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre website. (Ashley Foot photo)
Malakai sings James Taylor’s “Steamroller Blues” in a performance at the Duncan Showroom that caught the attention of the legendary songwriter himself. (Screenshot)

Cowichan singer Malakai catches the eyes and ears of James Taylor

Legendary singer-songwriter posts two videos of 11-year-old performer to Instagram

Malakai sings James Taylor’s “Steamroller Blues” in a performance at the Duncan Showroom that caught the attention of the legendary songwriter himself. (Screenshot)
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy are inviting audiences into their home for ‘A Celtic Family Christmas’. (Submitted)

Natalie MacMaster coming to you through Cowichan Performing Arts Centre

Here’s your chance to enjoy the famed fiddler in an online show with her husband Donnell Leahy.

Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy are inviting audiences into their home for ‘A Celtic Family Christmas’. (Submitted)
Paula Foot narrates a collection of stories to appeal to the imaginations of the young and young at heart with a new album​ ‘Moments with Miss Paula: Stories for Fall and Winter’. (Submitted)

New album of stories from Cowichan storyteller offers children a world of magic

The stories will appeal to six-, seven-, and eight-year-olds

  • Nov 27, 2020
Paula Foot narrates a collection of stories to appeal to the imaginations of the young and young at heart with a new album​ ‘Moments with Miss Paula: Stories for Fall and Winter’. (Submitted)
The holiday windows are going in at Imagine That! in Duncan on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. (Submitted)

Arts and Entertainment column: Cancellations, a new book, and new holiday windows in Duncan

A sampling of what’s happening in the A&E world

The holiday windows are going in at Imagine That! in Duncan on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. (Submitted)
Ladysmith potter Mary Fox has published a new book about her life and work. (Submitted)

Arts and Entertainment column: Lego challenge, Mary Fox book, Artful Christmas and live music in Cowichan

What’s happening in the arts and entertainment community

Ladysmith potter Mary Fox has published a new book about her life and work. (Submitted)
Eugene Smith is just one of the artists hosting regular streaming shows from the Duncan Showroom’s YouTube channel. (Citizen file)

Lights are up at the Duncan Showroom this November

On Saturday Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. 24 in the Valley with Schaps hits the stage.

Eugene Smith is just one of the artists hosting regular streaming shows from the Duncan Showroom’s YouTube channel. (Citizen file)
The main players in the upcoming pantomime Snow White and the 5 Dwarfs will be Sam Mellemstrand as The Prince, Sierrah Borjeau as Snow White, Bill Levity as The King, Alex Gallacher as The Evil Queen and Grant Mellemstrand as The Mirror. (Submitted)

Cowichan theatre groups combine to present Christmas pantomime

The audience is limited to 50 people for each show

The main players in the upcoming pantomime Snow White and the 5 Dwarfs will be Sam Mellemstrand as The Prince, Sierrah Borjeau as Snow White, Bill Levity as The King, Alex Gallacher as The Evil Queen and Grant Mellemstrand as The Mirror. (Submitted)
SandyBone is headed to the Duncan Showroom for an evening of music by Hank Williams. (Submitted)

SandyBone celebrates the songs of Hank Williams with show in Duncan

SandyBone brings “An Evening of Hank Williams Songs” to the Showroom on Thursday, Nov. 12

  • Nov 9, 2020
SandyBone is headed to the Duncan Showroom for an evening of music by Hank Williams. (Submitted)
There are many beautiful items to bid on in the Canadian Mental Health Association’s online auction to raise funds for youth programs. This limited edition print is one of the items you can bid on. (Submitted)

A&E column: Fundraising auction and classical annual meeting

A taste of what’s happening in the arts and entertainment in the Cowichan Valley

There are many beautiful items to bid on in the Canadian Mental Health Association’s online auction to raise funds for youth programs. This limited edition print is one of the items you can bid on. (Submitted)