People respond to stress and fear differently. Panic mode can bring out the worst in us. But around the world, we are also witnessing inspiring examples of how crises can encourage the best of humanity to shine. From singing together on balconies in Italy, to free online concerts and virtual yoga, to grassroots community support groups, people around the world are reminding us of the importance of …
We Are In This Together, COVID-19 Edition
How can we help the helpers?
The North End is the Yaletown of Kelowna? PC Urban Says So
Is this a hopeful sign for creative spaces, or a glitzy end run around gentrification straight to sell out
Kelowna real estate agent Steve Laursen has partnered with Vancouver’s PC Urban to sell the commercial flex and office units being built along the Clement Ave. corridor between Ethel and Richter, and a press release recently went out to the media praising the development’s virtues. Laursen’s main marketing pitch:
“We are offering a rare opportunity for local businesses to purchase high-end, funky, office and retail strata space in the Yaletown of Kelowna”.
PC Urban’s CEO, Brent Sawchyn is on board with Laursen’s Yaletown comparison. “It’s not quite in the core of the town per se. It’s very similar to what you see here in Vancouver, in Gastown and Yaletown. They’re just some unique older places that provide a different awareness and a different vibe for …
The 4th Annual Living Things Festival Returns January 15
“It’s a festival for people who are curious about things that they may not know"
One of our favourite festivals of the year returns to Kelowna January 15th, just in time to save us from those winter blues. Now in its fourth year, Living Things, which runs until February 2nd, will include performances from South Korea, the Netherlands, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, and the Okanagan Valley, with shows featuring talking rice cookers, French baguettes that battle each other, and a interactive drag bingo that The Georgia Straight calls a “one-of-a-kind stage phenomenon.”
“The festival is focused on theatrical devices, the kinds of things we do on stage which are kind of (magical), I call it, when something comes alive,” …
Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Rally this Saturday in Front of the Kelowna Law Courts
Canada has prioritized the private, economic interests of a corporation over the Wet’suwet’en Nation's constitutionally protected right to their title lands. Come stand with them.
An independent solidarity rally will be held for the Wet’suwet’en this Saturday at 1pm in front of the Kelowna Law Courts on Water Street, on unceded Syilx territory. Unceded and sovereign Wet’suwet’en land is under attack. An injunction has been passed against members of the Wet’suwet’en nation who have been stewarding and protecting their territories from the destruction of multiple pipelines. Hereditary Chiefs of all five Wet’suwet’en clans have rejected BC Supreme Court Justice Marguerite Church’s injunction, which criminalizes Anuk ‘nu’at’en (Wet’suwet’en law), and have issued and enforced an eviction of …
Wanda Nanibush’s Touring Exhibition “Sovereign Acts” Opens at the KAG Late November
Eight big name contemporary artists
Guest curator Wanda Nanibush’s touring exhibition comes to Kelowna late November showcasing photography, video, and installation works by eight well known Indigenous contemporary artists: Rebecca Belmore, Lori Blondeau, Dayna Danger, Robert Houle, James Luna, Shelley Niro, Adrian Stimson, and Jeff Thomas. …
Extinction Rebellion Holds Global Climate Strike in Kelowna November 29, and You’re Invited
The group cites Kelowna's current climate plan as "woefully inadequate"
The Kelowna faction of Extinction Rebellion urges you to come out and join them this November 29th for a global climate strike and demand that Kelowna City Council declare a climate emergency, following earlier declarations made this year by Vancouver, Richmond, New Westminster, Port Moody, North Vancouver and West Vancouver, along with 450 other municipalities across Canada. “Kelowna City Council does not want to declare a climate emergency or appoint a citizens’ assembly, citing their current climate plan as a reason (hint: it’s woefully inadequate)”, writes the faction. “A good climate plan has …
Boxcar Kitchen and BNA’s New Tasting Room Opens This Wednesday
Bánh mì sandwiches and steamed buns hit Kelowna in a serious way, with classic ingredients and North-American twists
Serving Asian street food to the Okanagan valley since 2014, Crasian proprietors Courtney and Mieko Koga have been busy this year. What started out as a food truck serving hybrid, North American street food meets Asian savoury, salty, sweet, sour and spicy delights, has now transformed into a sizable venture for them. Earlier in the year they opened Provisions Kitchen and Catering, with chef Brock Bowes, formerly of RauDz serving up upscale camping-inspired food at the back of …
Internationally Exhibited Printmaker, Mary Smith McCulloch Art Talk at the KAG
The artist explores her fascination with the Okanagan landscape
An upcoming lecture at the Kelowna Art Gallery sees Mary Smith McCulloch, Professor Emeritus at UBCO, whose work has been exhibited widely in Canada and in the UK, discussing her reasons for investigating and exploring the relationship of recurrent motifs that are present “when man intersects with the land”. The lecture is held in conjunction with the KAG’s current exhibition “Through Her Eyes: Works from Our Permanent Collection” featuring several of …
This Year’s Sugarplum Ball Moves to the Downtown Library
The Okanagan Regional Library CEO’s recently publicized memo suddenly makes this an interesting venue choice
If you don’t happen to know the backstory to the Sugarplum Ball, in 2015 city council unanimously supported a new rainbow crossing to be painted at Lawrence Avenue and Pandosy Street, a decision that gained backlash from a few locals. In an online Castanet forum where all of Kelowna’s local crank NIMBY’s hang out, one community member referred to Mayor Colin Basran as “Mayor Sugarplum” for supporting the installation of the crosswalk. The comment ended up having the opposite effect. “I actually found it kind of funny and I kind of liked it,” Basran said at the time. Recognizing the …
Dozen-strong Collective, Lemon Bucket Orkestra are at the RCA
Guerilla-punk-Balkan-brass band from Toronto’s Kensington Market
The Lemon Bucket Orkestra is a guerilla-punk-Balkan-brass band like no other. They trace their genesis back to the streets of Toronto’s Kensington Market, where an original quartet of busking troubadours quickly amassed a battalion of like-minded musical travellers, and the Orkestra was born. Equal parts reckless abandon and exhilarating precision, the dozen-strong collective’s legendary live shows are …
