MLA Nicholas Simons will be the guest speaker at the October Elphinstone Community Association (ECA) meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 7 pm. You can send questions in ahead of time to the ECA email at [email protected]. There will also be a chance to ask questions at the Zoom meeting (by chat box). Contact the above email address to get the Zoom code for the meeting – all are welcome to attend.
It’s Art Crawl time again (Oct. 22-24) and how lucky we are to have a wealth of fabulous artists. I’ve previously mentioned Alisa Drake, an artist who paints larger works in oils, inspired by seascapes and clouds. She strives to “capture the natural beauty of our oceans and skies through every season.” This year, her 14-year-old daughter Jasmine, who creates digital art made into humorous cards and mugs, will be joining her. Jasmine is excited to show her art, especially her quirky chicken mugs.
Darcy Gertz, jeweller and wood carver, is opening up his outdoor space on Pratt Road for the Crawl. He does custom-designed jewellery (and repairs) in addition to carving and sculpting in a variety of media including gemstones and pumpkins. Darcy has even sand-sculpted in several countries and has “two cowboy wood carvings and a horse’s head that need new homes.”
There are many other artists (almost 30!) in Elphinstone alone and I notice from the program that the Sunnyside Crafters are presenting again – see this exciting group of artists in one place. Find out more about them plus the many others up and down the coast at: suncoastarts.com/art-crawl.
It’s great to be fully vaccinated and feeling more confident in public spaces! Even though fairly certain I will neither get nor transmit COVID, I’m happy to wear a mask out of consideration for others. Wearing face masks was always about protecting others, a sign of respect to those around you. The rise of individualism – my rights trump all – leaves me shaking my head; such thinking flies in the face of what we are as a species – sharing and co-operative, living in communities. Like driving twice the speed limit down a residential street, it’s not a person’s right to act dangerously. Speed limits are there for everyone’s safety and getting vaccinated is for everyone’s benefit in a pandemic. Scientifically proven safe, they are the solution to life returning to normal. There are millions of people around the world who would love the opportunity to receive this free, life-saving vaccine. If you really want to question what goes into our bodies, question the food supply and industrial agriculture around which there is much less transparency than vaccines, and affects us more.
The 2022 Gibsons Wildlife Rehab Calendar is here! Filled with gorgeous photos taken by Carl Olsen, it’s a great gift for that special someone on your Christmas list and also a fundraiser for the Rehab Centre.
Irene Davies says people are welcome to drop by the centre to pick one up. Conveniently located just off the highway at 1211 Carmen Rd., it’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last year they sold out so get yours soon!
And finally, the Shady Hazel Farm on Payne Road is opening up the Pumpkin Patch every Saturday and Sunday in October again this year. There are goats and pigs in the petting zoo, loads of pumpkins, mini donuts and hot apple cider. There’s even a “pumpkin slingshot” this weekend! Great fun for families.
Have neighbourhood news to share? Let me know at: [email protected].
