July
Metal music festival in Lone Butte
July 5 - The festival, which was created to celebrate the women in metal, attracted roughly 150 people and dozens of damp tents.
Amber Lowe, bass player for Crimson Calibre, said the camping may have been cold and wet but the crowd had a good energy.
“It’s nice to come to a place like this, where everybody is united … feeling the same thing, here for the same reason.”
Hootstock moves to community hall
July 12 - After five years of the Hootstock Festival being hosted at the old schoolhouse in Bradley Creek, the organizers decided to bring it to the Forest Grove Community Hall.
“The community grounds in Forest Grove have quite a bit more capacity and a lot more camping, a lot more room there and a lot more parking,” said Steve Roy, one of the organizers. “We’re super excited because it’s a whole new venue to decorate and all that.”
38th Annual Fine Arts Show & Sale opens
July 19 - The Cariboo Artists’ Guild’s 38th Annual Fine Arts Show & Sale was opening soon at the Parkside Art Gallery.
Kathy Crawshay, the guild’s recording secretary, said the theme - Reflection - was intentionally left open for interpretation.
“It could be paintings of reflections off of water or mirrors or it could be personal reflection,” she said. “The artists are free to interpret reflection however they wish.”
Clinton Art and Cultural Society Show and Sale
July 26 - The Clinton Art and Cultural Society ran its annual show and sale at the Clinton Memorial Hall. The show featured original artwork and handmade crafts and included a silent auction.
“It was a really good show. We had a lot of very high-quality stuff. Prices were all over from inexpensive to more expensive. But all of it, I was really pleased with the quality,” said Nancy McMinn, the society’s president.
August
Hootstock festival brings the magic
Aug. 2 - It was a party in Forest Grove as roughly 200spectators decided to enjoy the sound of music at the Hootstock Music Festival at the community hall.
“I would say that it’s been a huge success and everyone has been excited about this new location. It’s been really great having it right in Forest Grove,” said Astrid Hensey of Momentum Productions, the festival’s organizer. “That magic has been there, that’s for sure.”
Guild president featured at Showcase Gallery
Aug. 2 - Seven select pieces of Patsy Granberg were featured in the Showcase Gallery.
“There are seven in all. Every medium is demonstrated here. I thought they were cohesive with their broad use of colour and I wanted to continue to display some portraits because that is still my main interest. It’s the area I have the most experience in, I’ve been doing that for more than 30 years. Drawing a face is one of the most difficult things, so I’m still practicing. It’s a huge challenge. It never becomes less challenging.”
Art crawl through the 108 for a cause
Aug. 9 - South Cariboo residents were invited into the homes of local artists in 108 Mile Ranch, for the upcoming South Cariboo Health Foundation’s sixth annual Studio to Studio art crawl.
Brenda Devine, who does all the fundraising and public relations for the foundation, said this particular event is more about awareness.
“It’s getting people more aware of what we do, what we raise money for.”
Paint night started in South Cariboo
Aug. 16 - After her husband Paul passed away, local artist and 23-year member of the Cariboo Artists’ Guild, Cheryl Gauthier, started her own paint night in Mile 108 Ranch, along with good friend Deb Osborne.
“I have taught lessons like watercolours to beginners, children and adults throughout the years and, like I say, I’m still involved in the CAG (Cariboo Artists’ Guild). So my son said, ‘Those paint nights are quite popular, Mom, and you should really do those because you would be good at it and it keeps you busy some nights, you know, without Paul here and such.’”
Intimate-style music festival enjoyed
Aug. 23 - An intimate-style music and camping festival called Edgefest was planned by Lori-Lyn Graham and her partner Dave.
“Well, you come out here, you meet a stranger and you come out next year cause they’re your friend,” she laughed.
100 Mile Community band looking for recruits
Aug. 23 - The 100 Mile House Community Band was getting ready to sound their horns once again.
“We’re fairly eclectic in our musical tastes. We do some jazz, like the old big band music and we also play some light classics and classical music as well as some contemporary,” said the band’s conductor, Dave Hooper. “We’re, at the moment, trying to recruit more people into it.”
Lac la Hache author releases book
Aug. 30 - Bonita Forsyth, the Lac la Hache-based children’s book author, has released the third book (her ninth overall) of The Chronicles of Mineria trilogy, titled Air.
The third novel introduces Arianna, an 11-year-old girl from the Canadian Northwest as the new main character instead of Jonathan who acted as the protagonist, along with Sunny Bunny the snowboarding bunny, in the prior two novels of the series.
September
Into the light body at Parkside
Sept. 6 - 100 Mile House artist Leah Henderson would putting on a show called Into the Light Body featuring photographs of local women in nature and under natural lighting.
“They’re women that I’ve met that I’ve connected with and that I thought would kind of fit into this idea like they have a connection to the land or I just connected with them.”
Art crawl like trick or treat for adults
Sept. 13 - People were welcomed into six homes in 108 Mile Ranch to enjoy artwork by and engage with local artists.
“What I like about this is people can see the artwork in a living room situation … you can see how a painting would look on a wall in a living room,” said Cindy Wickingstad, one of the 11 local artists with work display.
Four short comedic plays in the works
Sept. 20 - The 100 Mile Performing Arts Society was preparing to put on Four Short Threesomes. Four short comedic plays each involving three characters, that is.
Gordon Smith, a longtime member of the arts society who stepped up to direct the plays, said he already likes what he’s seen.
“So far I’m impressed by all of them. I think they’re all capable of being on stage and presenting themselves.”
Donna Peterson work in Showcase Gallery
Sept. 27 - The work of 100 Mile House artist Donna Petersen was going in the Showcase Gallery.
Petersen’s paintings have been included in some of the Cariboo Artist’s Guild displays, but this was her first solo show.
“Yeah, it’s kind of cool, I guess, to be asked to do it,” she said with a sheepish grin. “My grandson’s impressed.”
Paranormal conference in the Cariboo
Oct. 4 - Spaced Out Radio and the Canadian Society of Questers decided to team up to create and host the first CariBoo Paracon at the Spruce Hill Resort and 108 Mile Heritage Site.
“It’s been great. Every seat is basically full when we’re speaking,” said Mike Morin, one of the guides for the Heritage Site’s ghost tours. “Everyone is playing well, asking each other lots of questions. I think it’s been very successful.”
October
CMHA holds comedy night
Oct. 11 - The comedy night, presented by the South Cariboo Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, features returning Williams Lake comedian Kerry Chelsea and Leland Klassen, a Canadian known for his clean comedy.
“Laughter is good for one’s mental health,” said executive director Susann Collins.
The comedy night serves as a major fundraiser for the CMHA.
Big contrast in Parkside exhibit
Oct. 18 - Sheryl Fremlin and Lynne Flanders teamed up to display their work together at the Parkside Art gallery in a show they called Seasons of Change: the Tale of Two Artists.
“We thought our work would compliment each other,” said Flanders.
“It’ll be a nice contrast,” said Fremlin.
Author comes to 100 Mile
Oct. 25 - Lorna Carleton, the author of The Dragons of Nibiru, was coming to 100 Mile House.
“I like to do book signings in small communities. Sometimes it could be more financially beneficial to be doing them in a larger community but for me, it’s important to include smaller communities. Their values, I really appreciate.”
November
Nuthatch hosts local author
Nov. 1 - The Nuthatch Book Store was set to host a book opening and signing for local author Garry Babcock and his debut book Write it Down, Dad!
“I decided Christmas is coming up and that’s a good time to have an opening because people will buy presents, so I decided to have it.”
Leslie Ginther’s work in Showcase Gallery
Nov. 8 - The Showcase Gallery was filled with images of animals, plants and more.
The artist showing off her work, Leslie Ginther, was displaying a collection of paintings largely made up of acrylic and watercolour mediums but she said she also tries pastels and ink drawings.
“While I was not raised in B.C., I came to live in this province, drawn to the incredible beauty here after high school. I have always been intrigued by beautiful, complex images in nature.”
Christmas Bazaar getting ready at Parkside
Nov. 15 - The Parkside Art Gallery was nearly ready to open its 10th Annual Christmas Bazaar.
Claudia Ring, the shop manager responsible for setting up the Christmas Bazaar, said there would be many different vendors.
“The Christmas Bazaar is going to stay here until Christmas, so people can shop the whole time.”
Gallery hosts opportunity to meet artists
Nov. 22 - The More Than Wood Art Gallery was set to host a handful of artists, many of whom specialized in woodworking.
“I love that we have a gallery that is mostly woodworking – everything in there is one of a kind and hand-made. Lots of treasures,” said Ron Johnson, one of the artists.
Winter Arts and Crafts Dair raises $3,500
Nov. 29 - Brian Austerberry won Most Unique Vendor Booth at the Winter Arts & Craft Fair (WACF). It was the first time he was a vendor at WACF, according to Arts Council cochair Barbara Hooper.
“[He] said to me ‘I have been to a lot of Fairs and this is the most professionally run one I have been to.’”
December
Showcase Gallery focussed on trees
Dec. 6 - The theme for the new Showcase Gallery exhibit was “trees” and, as a group exhibit, features works by a number of different artists.
“I thought it was a very diverse theme that each artist could create a multitude of different paintings with it,” said Bobbie Crane, one of the artists who contributed a painting.
Around $3,500 raised at Eclectica concert
Dec. 13 - The 100 Mile House Eclectica Choir brought Christmas to roughly 200 people at Martin Exeter Hall for their ‘White Christmas’ benefit concert.
The benefit concert was held for the 100 Mile House and District Foodbank and Loaves and Fishes. Admittance was by donation and around $3,498 was raised on behalf of the two organizations.
“I thought it went extremely well,” said Barb Hooper, the Director’s rep.
Dinner and show in Lac la Hache
Dec. 20 - Lac la Hache Elementary School students performed everything from a concert to a play to go along with a spaghetti dinner.
“We also had a few other little performances. We had a solo by Anna with Jingle Bells and a solo by Raina which was Hallelujah,” said principal Kristy Davis.
100 Mile Elementary students put on a show
Dec. 27 - A bunch of cowboys, reindeers and Santa Claus danced to some grooves at the Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School’s gym, where the 100 Mile House Elementary School had their annual Christmas concert.
“It went just great. Things moved right along and I think everyone had a good time,” said Margo Shaw, a teacher at the school and one of the organizers. “The kids were awesome and the parents were appreciative.”