Comox Valley Songwriters Circle
2026-03-16 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-18 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Vancouver) | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
Each month singer/songwriters gather to share their tunes at Artful : The Gallery. The range of abilities, experience and genres welcomes musicians who appreciate the challenge (and the deadline!) of creating a new song each month.
The circle provides a place to be inspired, seek feedback and to be
able to hear what other creatives are working on. Most musicians bring along their
guitars or ukuleles, although some sing a cappella or use the in-house piano for accompaniment.
Host Ashley Sykes’s love of connecting with other artists provides motivation to write
and perform in the supportive group. The circle does not provide instruction; it provides an opportunity to perform your song, and to be impacted by others doing the same.
Attendance is by donation ($10 or pwyc). The group welcomes newcomers, and the
only criteria is that the songs performed are original.

Lecture: Fishes of the Strait of Georgia
2026-03-17 19:00 - 20:00 | the Courtenay and District Museum, 207 4th St, Courtenay, BC, COURTENAY, BC, V9N 1G7, Canada
In a presentation based on their book, Fishes of the Strait of Georgia, authors and marine scientists Dick Beamish and Jeff Marliave will share their observations about some of the 243 species that frequent the strait.
They will be speaking at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, March 17 in the Courtenay and District Museum.
Both authors have spent their professional lives studying the bountiful natural aquarium that is the Strait of Georgia. Marliave has a PhD in Zoology from UBC and was VP of Marine Science at Vancouver Aquarium. Beamish also has a PhD in Zoology; he has received the Order of Canada, the Order of British Columbia and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He was also a member of the International Panel on Climate Change that received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
Copies of Fishes of the Strait of Georgia (Harbour Publishing) will be available for purchase ($80.00 plus tax) and signing after the talk.
Admission to the lecture is $5 per historical society member; $6 for non-members. Advance tickets are strongly recommended. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
For more information, or to purchase tickets over the phone, call 250-334-0686 ext. 2.
The Courtenay and District Museum is located at 207 Fourth Street in downtown Courtenay.

All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace*
2026-03-21 10:00 - 16:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
On Saturday, March 21st, Courtenay printmaker Clive Powsey is having a one day pop-up exhibition of hand-drawn, printed and tinted intaglio impressions at Artful : The Gallery on Cumberland Road in Courtenay.
Powsey has used a ‘savage’ rigorous prompt to elicit critique and assessment of hundreds of his prints from the large language model, ChatGPT. Only the highest scoring images will be included in the show, the content of which was decided by AI. Also on hand will be the prompt, an artist statement outlining the metrics of selection, a curator’s statement generated by ChatGPT, and samples of the critiques which are, of course, mindless probabilistic arrangements of words determined by the prompt and the training of the model on vast amounts of art historical and critical writing.
There will also be a folio of rejected images and sample critiques for comparison. The show’s name comes from the title of a 1967 poem by Richard Brautigan*. Beyond any questions that might exist regarding the art imagery, the exhibition asks the question of visitors, ‘How does human judgment and sensibility fare against that of machines?’
Visit the show and decide what you think.

Spring Fling and Easter Magic 2026
2026-03-21 11:00 - 14:00 | the Courtenay and District Museum, 207 4th St, Courtenay, BC, COURTENAY, BC, V9N 1G7, Canada
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.
This will be a fun-filled, action-packed three-hour event.
The ever-popular petting zoo provided by Barnyard Party Animals gives folks a chance to meet ducks, geese, bunnies, chicks, guinea pigs, and hedgehogs.
We 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.
You 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.
A 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.
The Elasmosaur mascot will be making an appearance for photo opportunities and handing out delicious chocolate treats.

Wading into Chalk Pastels
2026-03-22 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-04 10:30 - 14:00 | Comox Valley Sports Centre – Aquarium Room, 3001 Vanier Drive, Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
Did you know that some of the most accomplished and famous artists in history used chalk pastels for sketching and finished works of art? Chalk pastels can be simple or complicated, portable or cumbersome, heavy-handed or light and airy. They marry well with other mediums and can express fine detail or swaths of raw colour. They are surface-sensitive and layer well when treated with care. Intrigued? Come and find out more and try your hand at a few simple pieces in this 4-day spring workshop that will have you set for some serious summer sketching!

Unglued! Collage Creativity Gateway Workshop
2026-03-22 10:00 - 14:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
Creating with existing images can lower our inhibitions (which is great for those who want to be creative but don’t consider themselves ‘artists’) providing a playful experience of creating with curiousity and openness to the unexpected…just for fun!
We will use existing images, scissors, gluesticks and our imagination to complete several projects, both independently and collaboratively. All levels welcome and all materials supplied.
Collage is an art as old as paper…which is coming up on 2000 years. Collage is a great ‘gateway’ creative activity – it doesn’t require any technical proficiency beyond using a glue stick…the word collage comes from the french word ‘coller’ – (Koo-Lay) – to glue.
Some of you have created scrapbooks or dream boards, most commonly made by cutting out magazine images and then gluing them to a backing. This workshop uses those same techniques in a collaborative and playful way.
We will make three different collage projects. The first will be a collaborative collage poem, using words. This will become the inspiration for our second project, an individual (and perhaps a little surreal!) landscape. Our final project is called Exquisite Corpse, a collaborative art technique created by the surrealist artists in the 1920’s, where participants add to the composition without seeing the previous contributions. The combined result is often delightful, humorous and unexpected.
Unglued is just for fun, having some creative time with other people, and learning a few techniques that you can use either by yourself, or with your friends and family.
I will have all the materials required, just bring your enthusiasm.
Email: kristinacampbellart@gmail.com to register
$75 workshop fee ($25 bring a friend discount)

Trans Day of Visibility
2026-03-31 17:30 - 20:30 | BC

2026 Comox Valley International Film Festival
2026-04-02 19:00 - 2026-04-04 23:00 | Sid Williams Theatre, 442 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2J2, Canada
The Comox Valley International Film Festival returns April 2–4, 2026 at the Sid Williams Theatre, for a dynamic celebration of storytelling on screen. Showcasing an inspiring mix of local talent and acclaimed international filmmakers, the festival brings together bold features, compelling short film programs, and fresh new voices from around the world.
Audiences can experience four standout feature films, three curated shorts programs, filmmaker conversations, hands-on workshops, and a lively opening gala party. Whether you’re a dedicated film lover or simply looking for an unforgettable cultural weekend, the festival offers an engaging, welcoming atmosphere where global perspectives and community stories share the spotlight.
Join us for three days of discovery, conversation, and cinematic excellence. Tickets and full program details available now.

CVAG Opening: Pas-à-pas; not intent on arriving
2026-04-04 13:00 - 16:00 | Comox Valley Art Gallery, 580 Duncan Avenue, Courtenay, BC
Pas-à-pas; not intent on arriving is a multidisciplinary meditation on mourning and memory by visual artist SD Holman, with pianist Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa.

The opening celebration takes place Saturday, April 4 at 1:00pm. SD Holman and Paul Wong will share words with the community, Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa will perform Bach’s Goldberg Variations on grand piano, and attendees will have the opportunity to walk a labyrinth installation. Note that opening remarks will take place across the street at the Vancouver Island Regional Library in Courtenay, as the gallery space won’t accommodate seating around the installed works.The event is free, all ages are welcome, and hospitality will be provided. The exhibition runs through May 30.

Portraiture in Oils and Acrylics
2026-04-07 10:00 - 12:30 | Comox Valley Sports Centre – Aquarium Room, 3001 Vanier Drive, Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
Do you have some basic skills in drawing faces and some experience with oils or acrylics? This class will help you take the next step towards confidence with creating portraits using photographic reference. We’ll review the basics like proportions, composition, lighting, etc. and then explore more in-depth practice such as underpainting, skin tones, likeness and personal style. I’ll share what tricks I have found useful over the years and we’ll also have a look at how a few of the Masters accomplished their pieces. This short five-week course should get you navigating paint a bit better for your own independant work. Give me a call at (250) 337-5487 if you’d like more information.

Triskaidecadarn! ookoolaydeez postponed to April 10th
2026-04-10 19:30 - 21:30 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
Well….it seems the Ookoolaydeez should have been scared of Friday the 13th!

Tara 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.

We 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.**

If you can attend on the new date, yay!
If you are unable to attend, I will refund you via e-transfer.
Please let me know which option works for you. Email: ookoolaydeez@gmail.com

Thanks for your understanding, and sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.

The ookoolaydeez are on a mission to light up the world with joy using irresistibly singable tunes, playful wit and exuberant whimsy.
Songbirds 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.
The 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.
Diana 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.
In 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.

Courtenay Little Theatre Presents: “The Children” by Lucy Kirkwood
2026-04-15 08:00 - 2026-04-19 17:00 | Sid Williams Theatre, 442 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2J2, Canada
What do we owe the next generation?
Courtenay Little Theatre presents The Children by Lucy Kirkwood at the Sid Williams Theatre, April 15–19.
Part 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.
As old secrets surface, the three must confront questions of responsibility, sacrifice, aging, and what they will leave behind.
Directed by Catherine Hannon and featuring Simon Easterman, Erin Malin, and Ruthie Tilston.

Learning Lounge: Ancestral Echoes × Art Wagon
2026-04-24 13:00 - 16:00 | BC
Learning Lounge: Ancestral Echoes × Art Wagon

Pop-up podcast listening event — FREE

Saturday, April 24 • 1–4 PM

CVAG Plaza, Downtown Courtenay

Drop by the CV/Arts Art Wagon—now a cozy mobile listening booth—for a relaxed, free afternoon of snacks and episodes from Ancestral Echoes. Hear multigenerational conversations between MIKI’SIW Métis Elders and youth from Season 1. All welcome!

Bring a friend — listen, learn, and connect.

This event is part of the Reconciliation Advisory Table Learning Series is a project of the Comox Valley Reconciliation Advisory Table, a round table of Comox Valley’s local governments working collaboratively with First Nations, Inuit, Metis, and urban Indigenous peoples and organizations on advancing reconciliation and relationship building in our community. The Reconciliation Advisory Table was formed in 2022 and includes participants from the K’ómoks First Nation, Indigenous Women’s Sharing Society, Kumugwe Cultural Society, MIKSIW Métis Association, Sasamans Society, Upper Island Women of Native Ancestry, City of Courtenay, Comox Valley Regional District, Town of Comox and the Village of Cumberland. Public education is a priority for the Advisory Table and this new Learning Series (April 23-25) marks a key milestone in the group’s work. Find out more HERE

Poster featuring participants in season one of Ancestral Echoes: Chrys and Keygan. All episodes of Ancestral Echoes were recorded in the Comox Valley Arts Digital Creation Hub. Episodes of the upcoming season 4 will be played on DIGFM, a partner of this production. We thank the Comox Valley Art Gallery for their space and headsets. Ancestral Echoes is funded through Service Canada New Horizons for Seniors.

Just in Time Choirs 20th Anniversary Spring Concert 2026 part 2 " Directors Cut"
2026-04-25 19:00 - 21:20 | Sid Williams Theatre, 442 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2J2, Canada
As part of their milestone 20th Anniversary Season, the Just in Time Choirs continue the celebration with their spring concert, “Director’s Cut – 20th Anniversary Highlights.”

Be a part of this commemorative musical extravaganza at the Sid Williams Theatre, where there will be performances on Saturday April 25th in the evening and Sunday April 26th in the afternoon.

For two decades, the Just in Time Choirs have been bringing community together through the power of song — sharing music, connection, and unforgettable performances. This special spring concert marks Part 2 of their anniversary concert series, featuring personal favourites chosen by Musical Director, Wendy Nixon Stothert.

The organization consists of three ensembles: Unplugged (everyone welcome), and the smaller auditioned groups, the Jems (treble) and Vocal Minority (mixed). They will be joined by skilled musical collaborators: Sean Mooney on piano, Beau Stocker on drums, Steve Wallace on bass, and Rachel Cooper on clarinet and sax.

These renowned contemporary choirs are known for their versatility; their performances cover a wide spectrum of musical styles from jazz, ballads, folk, swing, soul, and contemporary pop to classic rock. Drawing from standout moments across the past twenty years, Director’s Cut showcases songs that have shaped the choir’s musical journey — audience favourites, meaningful repertoire, and highlights that reflect the growth and spirit of the choir family.

Just in Time’s founder and Music Director, Wendy Nixon Stothert is excited to continue the celebration. “It has made me really happy to have a reason to dig into the archives and return to some of my favourite songs, some from quite far back!” says Nixon Stothert. “Many of these songs are reminiscent of very special performance moments we’ve had over these past 20 years. For example, I chose Stand By Me because I remember when 40 of us travelled to Cuba in 2014 and we sang it deep in a cave. Bumblebee is on the setlist because it reminds me of when my daughter sang the song with the Jems when she was 10 years old. Vocal Minority recorded a video version of Take On Me during the pandemic when we couldn’t sing in person together and singing it again now reminds me of the perseverance and dedication of the singers during those tough times. All of these magical moments, and many more, form a treasure trove that I love to reflect upon.”

The setlist also includes Coco Love Alcorn’s soulful “Revolution”, jazz standard “Cheek to Cheek”, an acapella version of Ah-Ha’s 80s hit “Take on Me”, “Sir Duke” by the incomparable Stevie Wonder and “Sway” a la Michael Buble. To name just a few! The concert finale brings all three choirs together to perform Led Zeppelin’s epic classic “Stairway to Heaven” and, fittingly, the jazz standard “Just in Time”.
This concert caps a year-long celebration honouring 20 years of music and community. Join the Just in Time Choirs as they look back on cherished memories while celebrating the vibrant energy that continues to inspire singers and audiences alike.

Tickets are $33.40 (incl fees) for adults, $15 for children 12 & under, plus fees. There is also a live stream option for $33.40 per household, and we are again offering a limited number of Community Supported Tickets at $15 for those under financial constraint.

Tickets available in person, by phone, and online at sidwilliamstheatre.com. Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets early as performances regularly sell out.

Just in Time Choirs 20th Anniversary Spring Concert 2026 part 2 " Directors Cut" - Virtual Event
2026-04-26 14:00 - 17:20 | Virtual

UK avant garde guitar legend FRED FRITH w/ Phipps Pt.
2026-05-01 18:30 - 22:00 | Comox Valley Curling Centre, 4835 Headquarters Road, Courtenay, BC, V9J1P2, Canada
CVGBs presents:
From the UK, guitar and avant garde legend
FRED FRITH
with special guests from San Francisco
PHIPPS PT.
& from Cumberland
Devils Club
Friday May 1, 2026 6:30 PM Comox Valley Curling Centre
CVGBs is excited to welcome renowned avant-garde guitar player Fred Frith for a very rare show on Friday May 1. Frith who has an illustrious career dating back to England in the 1970’s, notably with Henry Cow, Art Bears, Skeleton Crew, Massacre, and countless more. His unique style has provided him the opportunity to play a veritable who’s who of innovative artists such as Brian Eno, John Zorn/Naked City, Mike Patton (Faith No More), the Residents, Richard Thompson, Bill Laswell, KK Null, Jad Fair, Tom Cora, Derek Bailey, Sonny Sharrock, Henry Kaiser, Hans Reichel… This list could go on for pages… Frith provided iconic guitar work on two of Eno’s legendary records “Music for Films” and “Before and After Science”.
Understatement: Fred Frith is a legend of improvised and experimental music, and beyond being one of the world’s most iconic and most renowned avant garde guitar players, he is a truly inspirational artist. While improvised music has been the common thread throughout his career Frith has actively engaged in theatre and dance work, providing accompanying sounds. Frith has appeared on over 400 recordings and continues to actively tour. He is the subject of the 1990 feature length documentary Step Across the Border.
https://www.fredfrith.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Frith
https://www.discogs.com/artist/78003-Fred-Frith
Joining Fred on this tour is Phipps PT. which is an electronic experimental folk duo consisting of Lovage Sharrock and Jon Leidecker (Wobbly). Sharrock is a native of the Comox Valley while Liedecker hails from San Francisco. Leidecker is best known as a member of seminal experimental art band Negativland and part of Thurston Moore’s Ensemble. Moore is best known as the guitarist/leader of Sonic Youth. Wobbly has also collaborated with artists including Matmos, Dieter Moebius (Cluster), Tania Chen, Fred Frith, Tim Story, David Toop, Zeena Parkins, and People Like Us. Free improvisation, acid folk and ambient electronics, the music Sharrock and Leidecker create is a conversation between two artists and long-time friends.
https://phippspt.com/
https://phippspt.bandcamp.com/
https://lovagesharrock.com/
Opening the show will be the debut performance of new Cumberland experimental duo Devils Club. Two members of Vancouver’s legendary Sex Church, Devils Club will bring the weird with their new Basement Kosmiche project Devils Club. Half of Devils Club also happens to be behind much of the great beer from Land and Sea!
https://soundcloud.com/devilsclub6
Tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/fred-frith-with-special-guests-phipps-pt-tickets-1982758565243
https://www.facebook.com/events/1446894333662271/
Comox Valley Curling Centre, 4835 Headquarters Road, Courtenay
Doors 6:30 PM Tickets $30 Licensed, All Ages welcome

Red Dress Day MMIWG2S+ Awareness Event
2026-05-05 12:00 - 15:00 | Florence Fliberg Centre, 411 Anderton Avenue, Courtenay, BC, V9N6C6, Canada
This event is in honour of all MMIWG2S+
The event will include local indigenous organizations, educational booths and tables as well as community speakers and will conclude with a community awareness walk.
For more details, please vist the Facebook event page.

Comox Valley Concert Band concert
2026-05-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Florence Fliberg Centre, 411 Anderton Avenue, Courtenay, BC, V9N6C6, Canada
A fundraiser for Evergreen Club.
Youth 12 and under are free.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Florence Filberg Centre reception, or at the door.

Holding Heritage: Unspoken Stories
2026-05-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Cumberland Museum & Archives, 2680 Dunsmuir Ave, Cumberland, BC, V0R 1S0, Canada
Unspoken Stories showcases candid conversations between
Chinese-Vietnamese Boat People refugees and their families.
At 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.
By 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.
The screening will be followed by a discussion with:

Hollie Ha, Holding Heritage founder and Unspoken Stories creator
Sandy Ho, Author of “No Way But Through: A Family Memoir”
Andrew Ha, interviewee from the Unspoken Stories project

Hollie 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.
Watch the trailer here!

Spencer Krug w/ Elbow Kiss
2026-05-15 18:30 - 22:30 | Comox Valley Curling Centre, 4835 Headquarters Road, Courtenay, BC, V9J1P2, Canada
CVBGs Presents
Wolf Parade leader Spencer Krug celebrates solo album release at the CVCC
SPENCER KRUG
with special guests from Victoria
ELBOW KISS & the Comox Valley’s bathslut
Friday May 15, 2026 6:30 PM Comox Valley Curling Centre 4835 Headquarters Road

SPENCER KRUG
Victoria’s Spencer Krug is the co-frontperson of Wolf Parade, leader of Sunset Rubdown & Moonface, & writing member of Frog Eyes & Swan Lake. This special show is in celebration of Krug releasing his first solo album Same Fangs the very same day. First gaining attention in the mid 2000s as co-leader of Montreal’s rock’n’roll Wolf Parade, then soon after as the voice and mind behind the chaotic Sunset Rubdown, and equal member of indie supergroup Swan Lake (with Dan Bejar of Destroyer and Carey Mercer of Frog Eyes) Krug eventually used the now defunct Moonface as an outlet for his more experimental and sporadic solo material. And while he still plays with both
Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown, there remains in him a need to express something less rock-oriented, something quieter and more introverted. So, returning to his first and favorite instrument, the piano, Krug has ventured back into his own fantastic world of pseudo-classical balladeering; poetic lyricism laced with twisted pop sensibility and jazz mimicry. Using this template, he now releases solo work on his own label, Pronounced Kroog, and tours a variety of new and old material as Spencer Krug.
After these solo shows, Wolf Parade will be touring festivals and larger venues. There is substantial resurgence of interest since December, when Wolf Parade’s song “I’ll Believe in Anything” (written by Spencer Krug) went viral for its use in an episode of the same name of the Crave TV hockey romance Heated Rivalry. The episode, the fifth of season one of the series, aired on December 19, 2025, and by December 27, plays on Spotify increased by 2658%. The song’s continued success resulted in it peaking at number four on Billboard’s Alternative Digital Song Sales chart and at number seven on Billboard’s Rock Digital Song Sales.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencer_Krug
https://www.instagram.com/krugspencer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Parade
https://firstdatetouring.com/spencer-krug
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Rubdown

ELBOW KISS
From Victoria. Plucking guitar, harp, and heart strings. Softly dredging up deep seeds of yearning, nostalgia, heartbreak. Love songs to ghosts.
https://elbowkiss.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/elbow.kiss
https://bio.site/elbowkiss
https://www.youtube.com/@elbow-kiss

BATHSLUT
bathslut is a dark-wave noise pop band born out of a shared love of drum machines, saw waves, scented candles, and late night bubble baths. Their music flows from atmospheric soundscapes to riff-driven post punk and heavy late-night synth-driven tracks. Get in the tub.
https://www.instagram.com/bath_slut

Tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1985782913149
Facebook Event

Bridging Conversations
2026-05-20 12:00 - 2026-06-13 17:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
We are a group of six Comox Valley visual artists with varied backgrounds and life experiences. For the past few years we have been meeting monthly to share stories of challenge, inspiration, and creative processes. Conversations that go off in unexpected directions have created a space of shared reflection resulting in connection.
Bridging Conversations celebrates individuality woven into community—a visual manifestation of stories exchanged and growth witnessed and experienced. We are abstract artists; we are representational artists. We paint with different mediums. Our work ranges from nonobjective to figurative, from boldly expressive to quietly meditative. We come from diverse cultures and have followed varied artist paths. What unites us is our commitment to the belief that art is a vital tool for connection. Stories that tie together with threads of curiosity and identity open up our individual worlds to one another, and the effects of what is known as adjacent possibilities (the inadvertant shift in what is possible resulting from an action taken) come out on the canvas. Despite our differences, we bring the “other” inside our boundaries.
Division often dominates headlines, as the world is quite fractured. We share what happens when people come together with open minds and creative hearts. Through this exhibition, we invite viewer into our circle—to feel the energy of collaboration, the vulnerability of shared experience, and the beauty of seeing the world through multiple lenses. For it to be a full conversation there is a ‘call and response’ involving the artist and the viewer, as happens in an exhibit space. We learn and grow separately and together. We welcome this opportunity to present a curated selection of paintings reflecting the whole of our experience.

CV/ARTS Incubator Microgrant Program - Last Day to Apply
2026-05-22 00:00 - 23:59 | BC
Last day to apply – applications close tonight at 11:59 PM.
The CV/Arts Incubator Program supports local artists and collectives in developing community-engaged, experimental, and culturally relevant projects across the Central Island. From public art and performances to workshops, storytelling, and community-based initiatives, the program helps bring new ideas to life while building capacity for future opportunities.
Learn more and apply visit our website

Bridging Conversations Artist Reception
2026-05-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
Join artists Sharon Lalonde, Laurie Martz, Corina Menz, Jenny Mitchell, Miriam Myers and Elaine Smith at the artist reception in celebration of their exhibition at Artful : The Gallery.

Lecture: Source Encounters – The Comox Lake Watershed
2026-05-26 19:00 - 20:00 | the Courtenay and District Museum, 207 4th St, Courtenay, BC, COURTENAY, BC, V9N 1G7, Canada
Time: Doors open 6:30 PM, presentation starts 7:00 PM..
Join Meaghan Cursons as she presents a lively and visual overview of the many issues, past and present, affecting our watershed.
Cursons is a Storyteller and provides Public Outreach and Engagement for the CVRD Comox Lake Watershed Protection Plan.
Tickets: Free admission thanks to Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD). Please call to reserve a space as seating is limited. 250-334-0686 ext. 2.

Book Launch and Reading, Do You Know the Dark?
2026-05-30 10:30 - 11:30 | BC
Join us to celebrate the release of local author illustrator Roz MacLean’s newest picture book, Do You Know the Dark? !
“A mesmerizing invitation to embrace night’s beauty—great for bedtime shelves and budding naturalists alike.”
– Kirkus starred review
Do 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.
We 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/
Roz 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.
May 30, 10:30 am, at Smol Store (previously Little Village) at 2704 Dunsmuir Ave, Cumberland.
Space is wheelchair accessible, with a bathroom nearby at the library.

Blue Moon Surrealist Extravaganza
2026-05-30 12:00 - 16:00 | BC
ART/MUSIC/POETRY/DANCE/FILM

Unsculpted!
2026-05-31 10:00 - 14:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
This afternoon workshop will connect you with the joy of creating for the sake of exploration, humour, and collaboration. Primarily utilizing modelling and assemblage, we will cultivate a sense of possibility, adventure and imagination.
Creating with unexpected materials can lower our inhibitions, giving us the playful experience of creating with curiosity and openness to the unexpected…just for the pleasure of it!
Unsculpted is not about learning to sculpt with skilled technical expertise; it will expand your creativity though, just not in the ways you might expect!
The activities in Unsculpted are intended to guide you back to your creative heart. The act of (art) creation can get so twisted up in our judgments of what constitutes ‘good’ that we completely lose touch with the joy of creating for the sake of exploration and playfulness.
​This one-session workshop runs from 1 to 4pm with a mid-way break. Feel free to bring drinks and snacks. The $105 workshop fee includes GST and all materials supplied. Bring a friend discount of $25 each when 2 people sign up at the same time. Email kristinacampbellart@gmail.com to register.

Artful : The Poets
2026-06-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
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.
Michael 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.
