Paula Wild

Big Mama – The Willie Mae Thornton Story comes to MusicFest.

Blues icon Thornton inspired Elvis, Janis Joplin

Vancouver Island MusicFest brings Big Mama – The Willie Mae Thornton Story to the Comox Valley the weekend of July 13 and 14.

Big Mama – The Willie Mae Thornton Story comes to MusicFest.
WHAT DO YOU call a horse made of driftwood? Drifter, of course, replies creator Cheryl Moore.

Obsession with driftwood and horses becomes art

Moore's obsession with horses and wood began while she was artist in residence at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort.

WHAT DO YOU call a horse made of driftwood? Drifter, of course, replies creator Cheryl Moore.
YOUNG SINGER-SONGWRITER Keisja Cox continues to explore her passion after entering Valley Idol on a whim four years ago. On April 26, Cox will perform at a Youth Supporting Youth: Anti-Bullying Awareness Concert and presentation at Millstream Elementary School in Victoria.

Valley singer-songwriter follows her passion

“I entered Valley Idol on a whim and found my passion.”

YOUNG SINGER-SONGWRITER Keisja Cox continues to explore her passion after entering Valley Idol on a whim four years ago. On April 26, Cox will perform at a Youth Supporting Youth: Anti-Bullying Awareness Concert and presentation at Millstream Elementary School in Victoria.

VIMA celebrates Island music excellence

Six of the nominees this year are stars from our very own backyard, the Comox Valley.

SEATED FROM LEFT: Christian Taylor as Ronnie Winslow, Alana Gowdy as his mother, Tony Arnold as his father. Standing from left: Kari Larsen as the sister, Greg Knights as her fiancé, Terry Penney as the family solicitor, Wes Buckle as the lawyer, James Coates as the older brother, Chris Taylor as the cameraman and Jeannine Taylor as the maid. Missing from the photo is Val Macdonald as the reporter.

Edwardian-era play based on true story

Have you ever been wrongly accused of something but prevented from proving your innocence?

SEATED FROM LEFT: Christian Taylor as Ronnie Winslow, Alana Gowdy as his mother, Tony Arnold as his father. Standing from left: Kari Larsen as the sister, Greg Knights as her fiancé, Terry Penney as the family solicitor, Wes Buckle as the lawyer, James Coates as the older brother, Chris Taylor as the cameraman and Jeannine Taylor as the maid. Missing from the photo is Val Macdonald as the reporter.
ARTIST TRACY KOBUS paints in a style that is big, bold and colourful.

All about balance for Kobus

Kobus explores these juxtapositions in her solo show, Hearts and Homes, at Art Alchemy in Courtenay

ARTIST TRACY KOBUS paints in a style that is big, bold and colourful.

Keeping the MusicFest spirit alive all year long

Several times a month, VIMF presents concerts at Comox Valley venues and beyond.

COMOX VALLEY ARTIST Andy Everson, wearing a distinctive yellow and blue Chilkat-style tunic, is seen with other K’ómoks Band members at an Idle No More rally in front of the legislature buildings in Victoria.

Idle message is what’s important, Everson says

Andy Everson needed a sign for an Idle No More rally, he created a simple, yet powerful fist and feather design on his laptop.

COMOX VALLEY ARTIST Andy Everson, wearing a distinctive yellow and blue Chilkat-style tunic, is seen with other K’ómoks Band members at an Idle No More rally in front of the legislature buildings in Victoria.
ARTIST YVONNE MAXIMCHUK of Echo Bay in the Broughton Archipelago paints Dryad, Tree Spirit.

Oil & Water at Pearl Ellis

An exhibit and sale of paintings by Karen Martin Sampson and Yvonne Maximchuk opens at the Pearl Ellis Gallery of Fine Art on Feb. 12

ARTIST YVONNE MAXIMCHUK of Echo Bay in the Broughton Archipelago paints Dryad, Tree Spirit.
BEN ROGALSKY, far left, plays with Archie Pateman in the Breakmen, but he was just sitting in with the Bluegrass Wave when this photo was taken. The rest of the Wave (left to right) Pateman, Tammy Fassaert, Jack Roland and Anne Louise Genest play Tuesday at the Mex Pub in a YANA fundraiser.

Wings, Tai combine music and charity at the Mex

It all started with a conversation between Bruce Wing, a musician sidelining as a security guard and Roy Tai, owner/operator of the Mex Pub.

BEN ROGALSKY, far left, plays with Archie Pateman in the Breakmen, but he was just sitting in with the Bluegrass Wave when this photo was taken. The rest of the Wave (left to right) Pateman, Tammy Fassaert, Jack Roland and Anne Louise Genest play Tuesday at the Mex Pub in a YANA fundraiser.
THE SCENES ABOVE are from two of the many offerings in this year's 22nd annual World Community Film Festival.

Film festival still going strong

The World Community Film Festival (WCFF) will run in five downtown Courtenay venues Feb. 1 and 2.

THE SCENES ABOVE are from two of the many offerings in this year's 22nd annual World Community Film Festival.
THIS GARDENER'S GREEN house concert featured Qristina and Quinn Bachand playing at a residence in Merville.

Out-of-the-ordinary musical experience in Merville

Concerts take place six to eight times a year at Gardener’s Green in Merville.

THIS GARDENER'S GREEN house concert featured Qristina and Quinn Bachand playing at a residence in Merville.
MUST BE CHRISTMAS! is one of the books local author Marlet Ashley (left) and illustrator Kate Brown will sign this Saturday at the Courtenay library.

Local author and illustrator at Courtenay library

Ashley is also the author of Must be Christmas! And two books in the Revelry on the Estuary series.

MUST BE CHRISTMAS! is one of the books local author Marlet Ashley (left) and illustrator Kate Brown will sign this Saturday at the Courtenay library.
PHOTOGRAPHER BARRY PETERSON of Comox and his wife Blaise Enright will unveil 111 West Coast Literary Portraits this Saturday at the Courtenay library.

‘Invaluable’ book portrays literary figures in B.C.

If a picture’s worth a thousand words, 111 West Coast Literary Portraits is invaluable.

PHOTOGRAPHER BARRY PETERSON of Comox and his wife Blaise Enright will unveil 111 West Coast Literary Portraits this Saturday at the Courtenay library.
THE COMOX VALLEY Art Gallery gift ideas include Santa Buddies, Snow Buddies and Christmas Blocks by Sawdust and Stitches (Marilyn Fulton and Liz Radbourne of the Comox Valley).

CVAG Christmas Market aims to stimulate imagination

Summer’s gone; winter’s on the way. The days are shorter, darker and stormier.

THE COMOX VALLEY Art Gallery gift ideas include Santa Buddies, Snow Buddies and Christmas Blocks by Sawdust and Stitches (Marilyn Fulton and Liz Radbourne of the Comox Valley).
AWARD-WINNING SINGER/songwriter Helen Austin is seen with her 15-year old daughter Daisy Squires. Squires provides vocal harmonies and fiddling on Austin's new children's CD Always be a Unicorn.

Always be a unicorn, Austin advises children

"Always be yourself or, if you can, be a unicorn."

Those words of wisdom come from singer/songwriter Helen Austin.

AWARD-WINNING SINGER/songwriter Helen Austin is seen with her 15-year old daughter Daisy Squires. Squires provides vocal harmonies and fiddling on Austin's new children's CD Always be a Unicorn.
FOUND BY AUTHOR Derek Hayes at the museum in Cumberland, this is a plan of Robert Dunsmuir's No. 8 Mine in Cumberland.

Comox Valley takes its place in the history book

The Comox Valley, specifically Comox, Courtenay and Merville, is one of the largest sections in the book.

FOUND BY AUTHOR Derek Hayes at the museum in Cumberland, this is a plan of Robert Dunsmuir's No. 8 Mine in Cumberland.
UNWILLINGLY HANDCUFFED TOGETHER, Pamela (Millie Miller) and Richard (Nika Berry) at left encounter some tricky situations in Courtenay Little Theatre’s season opener, The 39 Steps. Ross Stephanson (left) and Steve Gordon lurk in the shadows as shady foreign agents.

Play combines spy thriller and comedic action

The 39 Steps combines the suspense of a spy thriller with the comedic action of a Monty Python movie.

UNWILLINGLY HANDCUFFED TOGETHER, Pamela (Millie Miller) and Richard (Nika Berry) at left encounter some tricky situations in Courtenay Little Theatre’s season opener, The 39 Steps. Ross Stephanson (left) and Steve Gordon lurk in the shadows as shady foreign agents.
Const. Dave Anderson on left (upper right) in front of Wah Lee Store, c. 1910. Photos by C.S. Wing/Courtesy Quesnel and District Museum and Archives

Glimpse into different time at Courtneay and District Museum

Upstairs at Wah Lee’s provides a glimpse into a different time and place.

Const. Dave Anderson on left (upper right) in front of Wah Lee Store, c. 1910. Photos by C.S. Wing/Courtesy Quesnel and District Museum and Archives
ACCORDING TO FOUNDER Joe Smith, visitors to the Originals Only art shows 'always comment on the wonderful setting, the relaxed atmosphere and that there’s enough room in the park that it never feels crowded.'

Originals Only art show in 10th year

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 11 and 12, artists will exhibit original work in a variety of styles and mediums

ACCORDING TO FOUNDER Joe Smith, visitors to the Originals Only art shows 'always comment on the wonderful setting, the relaxed atmosphere and that there’s enough room in the park that it never feels crowded.'