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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260307T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260307T210000
DTSTAMP:20260601T135425
CREATED:20260226T012757Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260311T211244Z
UID:10000831-1772910000-1772917200@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Poetry Reading and Book Launch
DESCRIPTION:Join host Kelly Madden at Artful : The Gallery for the poetry reading and book launch of Ed Varney and Dan Kirk. Guest poet Kristina Campbell will also join the reading for an entertaining trio of Comox Valley Poets.\n\nEd Varney was inspired to become a poet during his second year of University and has followed that idea over the past 60 years. Along the way he has learned printing technologies\, publishing strategies\, book binding skills\, graphics and fine arts\, arranged exhibitions\, edited anthologies\, founded small poetry magazines and published over 20 books and chapbooks of his own poetry. Varney reports that poetry continues to engage him and new poems emerge on sheets of paper in his studio. Varney’s latest chapbook is ‘Crossroads’\, published by the Poem Factory. It follows the path that thought takes as it expresses itself in words and how those words morph into poetry.\n\nDan Kirk has spent extended periods of time over the past 20 years reading American poets William Stafford\, Robert Bly and Emily Dickenson\, Spanish poets Antonio Machado and Juan Ramon Jimenez\, Swedish poet Tomas Transtromer and Norwegian poet Olav H. Hauge. They have informed and inspired Kirk’s writing in an ongoing conversation where he has responded to\, argued with and extended their words and ideas and brought them into his world. This volume ’Still Talking’ represents a distillation of his ongoing dialogue with these poets and others who evoke a response. Kirk founded and ran the Red Tree Poetry Series and co-produced the first two Cascadia Poetry Festivals in Cumberland\, B.C. with Adelia MacWilliam and Ed Varney. Reading in locations around Vancouver Island and Kelowna\, Daniel has enjoyed the varied audiences for poetry in these communities.\n\n\nKristina Campbell is an artist and therapist who has lived in the Comox Valley since 2017. In 2020\, Campbell established Artful : The Gallery to provide a home base for her multi-media art practice which includes painting\, poetry and experimental film. Campbell has reached back through her Danish ancestry to bring the Nordic gods to her mythopoetic sensibility as an artist. Campbell’s style is an expression of her belief that using mythological imagery can inspire and lead to the creation of new narratives. Campbell’s fascination with mythology\, symbols\, memory and dream imagery is a unifying theme throughout her work.\n\n\nKelly Madden is a Vancouver Island poet whose writing is raw\, unflinching\, and deeply rooted in place. She speaks for the overlooked: those lost to the overdose crisis\, those unhoused\, and the ecosystems we continue to erase.  Her work has appeared in numerous publications supported by the League of Canadian Poets\, Reckoning\, SAPPzine\, Island Writer’s Magazine\, CV2\, The Poet\, Drift\, Drunk Monkeys and elsewhere. She is currently working on her second collection of poetry.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/poetry-reading-and-book-launch-2/
LOCATION:Artful the Gallery\, 526 Cumberland Rd\, Courtenay\, BC\, V9N 2C7
CATEGORIES:Community Event
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260321T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260321T140000
DTSTAMP:20260601T135425
CREATED:20260303T230523Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260313T214323Z
UID:10000834-1774090800-1774101600@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Spring Fling and Easter Magic 2026
DESCRIPTION:The Courtenay Museum invites you to their annual “Spring Fling and Easter Magic” event on Saturday\, March 21st\, from 11 am to 2 pm. Admission is by donation. \nThis will be a fun-filled\, action-packed three-hour event. \nThe ever-popular petting zoo provided by Barnyard Party Animals gives folks a chance to meet ducks\, geese\, bunnies\, chicks\, guinea pigs\, and hedgehogs. \nWe have invited a special guest this year\, “Magician Donald Dunphy\,” who will be performing amazing magic shows. Audience participation is a must. There will be two magic shows\, one at 11:45 and the other at 12:45. Each show will be different. \nYou will have the opportunity to visit with volunteers and a rescue bird from MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre\, where you can learn about their amazing wildlife rescues. \nA couple of games are planned for the Fling\, including a scavenger hunt and guess how many treats contest. People can also enter to win door prizes. Don’t forget to bring your craft skills to make a cute Easter craft to take home with you. \nThe Elasmosaur mascot will be making an appearance for photo opportunities and handing out delicious chocolate treats.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/spring-fling-and-easter-magic-2026/
LOCATION:the Courtenay and District Museum\, 207 4th St\, Courtenay\, BC\, COURTENAY\, BC\, V9N 1G7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Community Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Spring-Fling-Poster-1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260410T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260410T213000
DTSTAMP:20260601T135425
CREATED:20260311T213602Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260311T213602Z
UID:10000837-1775849400-1775856600@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Triskaidecadarn! ookoolaydeez postponed to April 10th
DESCRIPTION:Well….it seems the Ookoolaydeez should have been scared of Friday the 13th!\n\nTara has lost her voice because of laryngitis. We have been crossing our fingers she would be recovered for the originally scheduled March 13th concert\, but\, sadly\, it’s not to be.\n\nWe are crestfallen that we won’t be able to entertain you this Friday\, BUT **we have rescheduled the concert to Friday\, April 10th at 7:30 p.m. at Artful : The Gallery.**\n\nIf you can attend on the new date\, yay!\nIf you are unable to attend\, I will refund you via e-transfer.\nPlease let me know which option works for you. Email: ookoolaydeez@gmail.com\n\nThanks for your understanding\, and sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.\n  \nThe ookoolaydeez are on a mission to light up the world with joy using irresistibly singable tunes\, playful wit and exuberant whimsy. \nSongbirds Tara Hope and Diana Kolpak serve up a spicy buffet of original songs and poems that take you on an unexpected\, hilarious\, profound\, wild and juicy journey.  Among the tasty offerings are: snappy blues\, dark lullabies\, Shakespearean rap\, sweet bluegrass and flirty musings about housework. Harmonies are sophisticated. Instruments include a motley assemblage of ukuleles\, a washboard\, a toilet plunger\, a toy glockenspiel and baby tap shoes…just to name a few. \nThe ookoolaydeez made their debut at the 2025 Woodstove Festival in November\, followed by house concerts and an appearance at the Art is Love is Resistance fundraiser in Cumberland. \nDiana studied classical piano and has decades of experience as a theatre performer and director. Tara studied ukulele and guitar and is a prize-winning wearable art creator/performer. Both are poets and published authors. They started writing songs together in the autumn of 2024. \nIn addition to performing as the ookoolaydeez\, Tara and Diana also sing as part of The Happy Gang\, an ensemble of six fiddlers\, four vocalists\, a percussionist\, a guitarist and a bass player\, who play monthly concerts at several of the Comox Valley’s long term care facilities.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/triskaidecadarn-ookoolaydeez-postponed-to-april-10th/
LOCATION:Artful the Gallery\, 526 Cumberland Rd\, Courtenay\, BC\, V9N 2C7
CATEGORIES:Community Event,Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Artful-The-Gallery-ookoolaydeez-rescheduled.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260415T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260419T170000
DTSTAMP:20260601T135425
CREATED:20260324T221517Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T221517Z
UID:10000844-1776240000-1776618000@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Courtenay Little Theatre Presents: “The Children” by Lucy Kirkwood
DESCRIPTION:What do we owe the next generation? \nCourtenay Little Theatre presents The Children by Lucy Kirkwood at the Sid Williams Theatre\, April 15–19. \nPart mystery\, part comedy\, and part eco-thriller\, The Children is witty\, gripping\, and deeply relevant. Retired nuclear engineers Hazel and Robin are living in a cottage on the coast of England after a disaster at the nearby power station. When their former colleague Rose arrives unexpectedly\, an evening of food\, drink\, and memories takes a surprising turn. \nAs old secrets surface\, the three must confront questions of responsibility\, sacrifice\, aging\, and what they will leave behind. \nDirected by Catherine Hannon and featuring Simon Easterman\, Erin Malin\, and Ruthie Tilston.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/courtenay-little-theatre-presents-the-children-by-lucy-kirkwood/
LOCATION:Sid Williams Theatre\, 442 Cliffe Avenue\, Courtenay\, BC\, V9N 2J2\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Community Event
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260505T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260505T150000
DTSTAMP:20260601T135425
CREATED:20260429T211139Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260429T211139Z
UID:10000852-1777982400-1777993200@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Red Dress Day MMIWG2S+ Awareness Event
DESCRIPTION:This event is in honour of all MMIWG2S+ \nThe event will include local indigenous organizations\, educational booths and tables as well as community speakers and will conclude with a community awareness walk. \nFor more details\, please vist the Facebook event page.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/red-dress-day-mmiwg2s-awareness-event/
LOCATION:Florence Fliberg Centre\, 411 Anderton Avenue\, Courtenay\, BC\, V9N6C6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Community Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/b7796a2b-d422-7d43-11c3-e6fff28249f9-2.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Indigenous Women's Sharing Society":MAILTO:Indigenouswomenssharingsociety@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260514T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260514T210000
DTSTAMP:20260601T135425
CREATED:20260414T235955Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T171440Z
UID:10000850-1778785200-1778792400@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Holding Heritage: Unspoken Stories
DESCRIPTION:Unspoken Stories showcases candid conversations between\nChinese-Vietnamese Boat People refugees and their families. \nAt its heart is the belief that for younger generations to carry culture forward\, they must first be inspired by the stories of their own families. \nBy encouraging honest and intentional dialogue across generations\, we invite viewers to see how embracing personal understandings of their roots can spark pride\, belonging\, and a deeper connection to both their identities and family histories. \nThe screening will be followed by a discussion with: \n\nHollie Ha\, Holding Heritage founder and Unspoken Stories creator\nSandy Ho\, Author of “No Way But Through: A Family Memoir”\nAndrew Ha\, interviewee from the Unspoken Stories project\n\nHollie Ha bridges generations by sharing candid conversations and untold stories of Chinese-Vietnamese Boat people refugees and their descendants. Through these meaningful exchanges\, the series explores the delicate interplay between heritage\, identity\, and family dynamics. \nWatch the trailer here!
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/holding-heritage-unspoken-stories/
LOCATION:Cumberland Museum & Archives\, 2680 Dunsmuir Ave\, Cumberland\, BC\, V0R 1S0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Community Event,Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Screen-Shot-2026-04-14-at-4.56.39-PM.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Cumberland Museum & Archives":MAILTO:info@cumberlandmuseum.ca
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260530T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260530T113000
DTSTAMP:20260601T135425
CREATED:20260515T180859Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T171152Z
UID:10000863-1780137000-1780140600@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Book Launch and Reading\, Do You Know the Dark?
DESCRIPTION:Join us to celebrate the release of local author illustrator Roz MacLean’s newest picture book\, Do You Know the Dark? !\n“A mesmerizing invitation to embrace night’s beauty—great for bedtime shelves and budding naturalists alike.”\n– Kirkus starred review\nDo You Know the Dark? published by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers\, uses minimal text and traditionally created artwork to explore what is beautiful and fascinating about darkness\, from dancing shadows to seeds growing underground\, bioluminescence\, deep sea beings\, shooting stars and black holes. Grounded in darkness as a space of rest\, regeneration and possibility\, this book is a gentle companion for bed time and curious minds.\nWe will have a story reading\, crafts\, snacks and time for questions! This event is free to attend\, open to all ages\, and focused on being fun for kids. You can see a preview of the book at: https://us.macmillan.com/…/9781250392206/doyouknowthedark/\nRoz MacLean is also the author of More Than Words: So Many Ways to Say What We Mean (featured on CBC Kids Reads) and Together\, a Forest.\nMay 30\, 10:30 am\, at Smol Store (previously Little Village) at 2704 Dunsmuir Ave\, Cumberland.\nSpace is wheelchair accessible\, with a bathroom nearby at the library.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/book-launch-and-reading-do-you-know-the-dark/
LOCATION:BC
CATEGORIES:Community Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/launch-poster-small-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260601T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260601T210000
DTSTAMP:20260601T135425
CREATED:20260526T215024Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T215024Z
UID:10000864-1780340400-1780347600@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Artful : The Poets
DESCRIPTION:Join host Dan Kirk as he welcomes our feature poet Michael Penny at Artful : The Poets. Michael’s feature spot will be followed by an open mic. Sign up at the door for the open mic\, 5 minutes max per poet\, $10 or pwyc. \nMichael Penny was born in Australia\, but his family moved him to Canada when he was young. Since then\, he has published five books\, most recently\, ‘Particles’ and ‘Outside. Inside’\, both with McGill-Queen’s University Press. His work has appeared in many literary magazines including Fiddlehead\, The Antigonish Review\, The Amsterdam Review\, Acumen\, The Malahat Review\, and The Salzburg Review. He lives on Bowen Island\, and\, once upon a time was a lawyer.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/artful-the-poets/
LOCATION:Artful the Gallery\, 526 Cumberland Rd\, Courtenay\, BC\, V9N 2C7
CATEGORIES:Community Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Artful-The-Poets-Michael-Penny-with-host-Dan-Kirk-IN.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260701T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260701T140000
DTSTAMP:20260601T135425
CREATED:20260505T225641Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T225641Z
UID:10000858-1782903600-1782914400@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Canada Day Open House at The Courtenay and District Museum
DESCRIPTION:The Courtenay and District Museum will celebrate Canada Day with an open house from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm on Wednesday\, July 1. Guests are welcome to enjoy live music by Alan Jossul\, enter to win a door prize\, and try their hand at kids’ crafts. \nThere will also be a special one-day-only 50% off sale for the book Step Into Wilderness: A Pictorial History of Outdoor Exploration in and around the Comox Valley (limit of 3 per person). \nWhile you’re at the museum loving the air-conditioned comfort\, take a few moments to check out the second-floor exhibit New Acquisitions\, an in-house produced display showcasing some of the donations that haven’t yet been seen by the public.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/canada-day-open-house-at-the-courtenay-and-district-museum-2/
LOCATION:the Courtenay and District Museum\, 207 4th St\, Courtenay\, BC\, COURTENAY\, BC\, V9N 1G7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Community Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/photo-canada-2026-1.jpg
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