Miscellaneous
Frances Kelsey School dry grad fundraiser, Giant Garage Sale, silent auction, car wash and hot dog sale, April 25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 953 Shawnigan Mill Bay Rd.
Bernie Dinter, Dinter’s Nursery, will be at Cobble Hill Hall, Monday, April 27, 7 p.m., to speak on managing fruit trees and small fruits in the home garden. Free admission.
Cowichan Valley Rhododendron Society 2015 Garden Fair Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.-2p.m., free admission, Cowichan Exhibition Grounds. Free coffee and donuts for first 200 guests at the door. Special gifts for first 100 customers. More than 3,000 rhodos, companion plants and gardening supplies. Truss (flower) display of local rhodos. Info: 250-746-6419.
St. Joseph’s School 50th anniversary Captain’s Ball Fundraiser, dinner, dance, live and silent auction, Saturday, May 2, 5:30 p.m.-midnight with The Dave Lieffertz trio and The Maxwell Smart Band, tickets $30 in advance, $35 at the door, table for $250 ($10 reservation fee). Tickets at Chemainus Foods, Ladysmith 49th Parallel Grocery, St. Joseph’s School. Info: 250-246-3191 or sjcpac@cisdv.bc.ca
Pancake Breakfast and silent auction fundraiser for the Cowichan Valley Foster Parent support group, Saturday, May 9, 10 a.m.-noon, St. John’s Anglican Church, 163 First St., Duncan.
Cowichan Jacobin Reading Group in cooperation with The Joseph Mairs Memorial Committee hosting "Our Wood Our Oil: The Case For Public Democratic Ownership" Saturday,
May 23, 1 p.m., Mercury Theatre, 331 Brae Rd., Duncan. Presenter: author and journalist Mitchell Anderson.
Giant SPCA Garage Sale Saturday, May 30, Sunday, May 31, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Cowichan Exhibition Grounds. All proceeds to local SPCA.
École Cobble Hill Ecostravaganza celebrating World Environment Day, Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the school. Theme: Water. Yours to Protect.
Seniors
Dance to music from the 50s and 60s at Valley Seniors Centre, 198 Government St., every Wednesday, 3-5 p.m., $5. Info: 250-746-4433.
Chemainus 55+ drop in centre St. George’s Pub Night Saturday, April 25, doors open 5 p.m., dinner, entertainment and dance. Dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets $15.
Chemainus 55+ drop in centre spring choral concert Sunday, May 3, 2 p.m., tickets $10 available at the centre. Refreshments.
Chemainus 55+ drop in centre pancake breakfast Saturday, May 16, 9-11 a.m. Hosted by the Carpet Bowlers. $5.
Chemainus 55+ drop in centre pot luck birthday party Saturday, May 16, 5-8:30 p.m. Entertainment.
Chemainus 55+ drop in centre blood pressure clinic Wednesday, May 20, 9:30-11 a.m. Chemainus 55+ drop in centre soup and sandwich Wednesday, May 20, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., $5. Entertainment by Centre Belles Ladies Choir.
Lake Cowichan 50 plus activity centre, 55 Coronation St., needs volunteers of all ages. Info: 250-749-6121.
Lake Cowichan 50 plus activity centre, 55 Coronation St., holds bingo Wednesdays, 1 p.m., Sundays, 7 p.m. Volunteers welcome. Info: 250-749-6121.
Attention Lake Cowichan! Rivernotes Women’s Choir meets Mondays, 6 p.m. at the Lake Cowichan Senior Centre. Lots of fun and a great vocal workout!
Valley Seniors Activity Centre, 198 Government St., Duncan open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. $20 per year. Carpet bowling, cribbage, billiards crafts, bridge, choir, bus trips on our own bus. Live music Mondays and Wednesdays 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Dances every 1st and 3rd Saturday evening 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Open to public for Bingo each Tuesday. Many special events throughout the year. Check out Monthly Newsletter at valley-seniors.org and consider membership if you’re 55 years or older. Info: 250-746-4433.Info: 250-746-4433 or www.valley-seniors.org
Bingo for over 19s, Seniors Activity Centre (198 Government St., Duncan), Tuesdays 11:30 a.m. Early Bird Draw, Loonie Pot, Odd and Even, Number Seven and Bonanza. Info: 250-746-4433 or www.valley-seniors.org
Recreation
Cowichan Fly Fishers meets 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month at the Air Cadet Hall, Gibbins Road. Doors open 7 p.m. Open to all ages and skill levels. Info: www.cowichanflyfishers. com
Teen Yarn Craft Group, Duncan library, Thursdays, 5-6 p.m., ages 13-18.
Learn to knit, crochet. Extra needles and yarn provided.
Family storytime at Duncan library Tuesdays, 10:30-11 a.m., ages 0-5 and families. Stories, songs, rhymes and fun.
Art Film Night at Sylvan United Church, monthly double features $5. For info see Facebook page or sign up for distribution list at artfilmnightatsylvan@gmail.com
Seniors Dragon Boating, Monday and Thursday mornings 9:30 a.m., Hecate Park. Info: sandysand007@shaw.ca
Swing Dance Lessons Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., Island Oak High School, 5814 Banks Rd. Duncan, $10 per class, $12 drop-in fee, private lessons available. No partner necessary. Info: Josef 250-709-8583, jgraf5@yahoo.ca
Meetings
Chemainus Garden Club meeting Tuesday, May 5, 1 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church, 3319 River Rd., Chemainus. Guest Speaker: Garry Brust on growing veggies like cucumber, peppers, tomatoes and cape gooseberry in containers. Brag table, $2 drop-in fee. Info: 250-246-1207.
Cowichan Valley Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at St. John’s Anglican Church hall, 486 Jubilee St., Duncan, 7 p.m. Newcomers welcome. Info: 250-709-2608.
Cowichan Valley Rhododendron Society meets first Wednesday of each month, St. John’s Anglican Church Hall, 486 Jubilee St., Duncan, 7:30 p.m. Guest speaker, question/answer period. Info: www.cowichan.rhodos.ca
Cowichan 950 Toastmasters meets Wednesdays 7-9 p.m., Island Savings Centre, Duncan. Info: www.cowichan toastmasters.com
Arts
Ladysmith Camera Club presents "Forensic Photography" with Const. Dave Giles, Nanaimo Forensic Identification Section, Tuesday, April 28, 7 p.m., Hardwick Hall, High Street at 3rd Ave., Ladysmith. Non-members $5 drop-in fee. Info: www.Ladysmith-CameraClub.com
The 45th Annual Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show April 28-May 3, Island Savings Centre. Info: www.cowichan valleyartscouncil.ca Ladysmith Camera Club presents "Dogs in Motion", a how-to by Doug Bell, Saltair photographer on his methods and techniques to create captivating animal action sequences. Tuesday, May 26, 7 p.m., Hardwick Hall, High Street at 3rd Ave., Ladysmith. Nonmember $5 drop-in fee. Info: www.LadysmithCameraClub.com
Music
Cowichan Camerata String Orchestra, director Garth Williams, presents "A String Bouquet" Friday, April 24, 7:30 p.m., St. Edward’s Church, 2085 Maple Bay Rd., Duncan. Tickets $15 adults, $5 children, $30 family. Info: www.cowichancamerata.org Concenti presents "A Spring Serenade" Sunday, May 3, 2 p.m., Duncan United Church. Admission $15, children under 12 free. Tickets at Volume One Books, from Concenti members or call 250-748-4075.
