Culture Days in Sechelt on Sept. 29 and 30 showcased a wide cross section of the Coast's arts, culture and heritage scene — from a productive workshop to a First Nations traditional performance.  

Cathie Roy, associate publisher of Coast Reporter, hosted a writing workshop on Saturday, Sept. 29. There was lively discussion among the 12 people in attendance, aged from about 15 to senior. Topics ranged from getting started to knowing when to stop writing. “It was a very interesting hour,” Roy said. “Participants were there to really learn something.”

During the workshop, interest was expressed in starting a writing group on the Coast. Contact Roy at croy@coastreporter.net and she'll forward your name to the interested participants.

About 20 people gathered at the Seaside Centre on Sunday morning for a free workshop on volunteer management for non-profits, led by Sandra Thomson, a development consultant. Trust volunteers to do their jobs was one of many suggestions Thomson made. Appreciate them, and know that many of them are involved for the social interaction. Participants questioned how to bring in more youth as volunteers — perhaps by mentoring — and how to involve more men (the majority of the workshop participants were women). Form alliances with other organizations, Thomson suggested, particularly the service clubs in which many men are involved. Her interactive style drew many ideas from the participants, and the focused work materials had them setting their own goals to take back to their organizations.  

Visitors came and went throughout Sunday's event, and many stayed to hear Steve Wright, musician and sound guru, and Bruce Devereux, activities coordinator at the seniors' residence Christenson Village, talk about their heritage project, Across the Lines. The two have teamed up to chat with seniors in elder care and to record their thoughts, poetry or memories to music or, in some cases, to sound artistry. Using an iPad that creates sound simply by touching it with a finger, Wright was able to elicit music from even the most non-musical residents and mix the sound with those of local musicians.

"We have many wonderful recorded moments," he said. "We were happy to catch even the little things of the day." The CD of the project will be released in November.  

The powerful voices and drumming of the traditional shishalh Nation xwamtsut group rang out in the Seaside Centre during their brief performance. The day closed with short films presented by a group organizing against racism and hate.

The day was coordinated by Siobhan Smith, working for Sechelt, in partnership with the District's Arts, Culture and Heritage Advisory Committee and as part of a nationwide movement of appreciation for arts and culture.