Press Release from Rollin Art Centre:

Port Alberni is about to get a brand new Annual Arts Festival to celebrate the start of summer. The Solstice Arts Festival will take place in Port Alberni’s Arts District over three days, June 17 to 19, 2016.

The Solstice Arts Festival brings four Alberni Valley Festivals together under one umbrella for an unforgettable weekend of art exhibits, music, theatrical performances and street entertainment fun for the whole family. Seed funding for the Festival was distributed by the Rotary Arts District Grant program amongst four groups. The Community Arts Council of the Alberni Valley (“Days with the Arts”) spearheaded the Festival, joined by Portal Players Dramatic Society (Improv/music), the Alberni Art Rave Society (“Art Rave”) and the Art Matters Society (“Festival of Artistic Creative Expression”= F.A.C.E.) in bringing this new community event to the Rotary Arts District. The principal objective of the Solstice Arts Festival is to encourage excellence in all forms of arts and crafts, and to assist in the promotion and sale of quality work, celebrating ARTS, CRAFTS and MUSIC.

Rollin Art Centre will be the kick-off venue for a reception for an art exhibit on Friday night, June 17, 5-8 pm. This reception and group art show showcasing local artists will be hosted by Alberni Art Rave. There will also be a vendor’s showcase of Artisans and Artists in the Rollin Gardens, with entertainment on the Gazebo at different times throughout the weekend.

On deck at The Capitol Theatre during the Solstice Arts Festival will be entertainment in the fringe-style, brought in by the Art Matters Society, including Cougar Annie, the Mad Hatter, and William Vs the World. Portal Players will also feature various performances, including Lazy Mike and the Rockin’ Recliners on Friday evening, and late-night Improv on Saturday.

Argyle Street will be closed between 4th and 5th Avenues on June 18th and 19th to showcase Art Rave's presentation of Art On The Street. It will offer artists of all ages and stages a chance to express their creativity. There'll be some theatre from Art Matters and outside of Char's Landing, a music stage running all weekend highlighted by a street dance on Saturday night.

Entry to Rollin Gallery/Grounds and Capitol Theatre all venues and activities will be by wristband, which will be available to purchase soon. Wristbands will sell for $20 for adults and $15 for seniors/students. A discounted family wristband purchase is available for two adults and two students/seniors at only $50. Children 12 and under get in free when accompanied by an adult wristband holder. This is an outstanding value at these prices for the entertainment offered over the three day Festival. TICKETS NOW ON SALE at the Rollin Art Centre.

Schedule of events and more info on the Solstice Facebook page.

The Graphics Factory is proud to support and co-sponsor the First Annual Solstice Arts Festival. For more information, contact Rollin Art Centre at 250-724-3412 or visit their website.

The article below is courtesy of Alberni.ca, where it originally appeared.

Ecole des Grands-Cedres is Port Alberni's only Public Francophone school (SD 93). We are a part of Le Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique. We offer a small classroom setting with excellent teacher/student ratio, our kids learn on modern technology (Macbooks, iPads), the kids are taught French by francophone teachers and teacher's aids, we also offer speech therapy, and First Nations history and culture. We also have our own transportation that will pick up and drop off your child at your doorstep!

Our kids learn more than just their ABC's 123's. They have united with Ecole Francois de Malherbe in Tete Source, Haiti, in which they are helping to raise enough funds to build a well for their school - a school that currently has no running water, no indoor toilet facilities, and very little else. This is Port Alberni's hidden gem of a school!

The website of Port Alberni's French Public School can be found here.

For more information please call:
Chantal Bernier (principal) 250-723-5614

By Janet Schlackl

A Spring Medley is about to burst forth into bloom at the Capitol Theatre! Join the Capitol Sea Notes, the Glees and the Wee Glees for a magical evening of music on June 5th at 7:00 p.m.

The Capitol Glee and Wee Glee Singers choral program is offered by Portal Players Dramatic Society as part of their educational programming. Glee is an exciting non audition program offered for children and youth (ages 5 to 16) to learn, have fun singing, and perform a wide variety of music genres classics in a theatre/show setting. This is with a view to educating the whole child.

The Wee Glees will steal the show with their amazing renditions of some traditional and not so traditional selections. They are very excited to be part of Spring Medley and we are sure you will be just as delighted with their performance as the Wees!

The Glees were very excited to have been invited to attend the Kiwanis Vancouver Music Festival in April 2016. This festival provided an outstanding opportunity for the Glees to perform for three outstanding adjudicators and other choirs The girls did exceptionally well and were excited to participate in the clinic following their performance, with Dr. Vijay Singh. The Glees will perform their two festival songs as part of their repertoire during the evening of music.

The Capitol Sea Notes, enjoying its second year in existence, is a fun non – audition adult choir intended to be an enjoyable musical learning experience. The chorus has, over the last two years, developed a remarkably good sound and has met the challenge of some fun but difficult music. You will experience this fun group as they present a wide variety of genres on June 5th……some of which you may be tempted to sing along with the Sea Notes!

Under the direction of Sandy Bouleau, our amazing musicians will provide accompaniment for the choruses and will have a chance to steal the spotlight themselves. The talent that these six people bring to the show is first class! Watch for the variety of instruments played by each as they work their way through some great music.

We invite you to join these three Choruses, under the direction of Janet Schlackl, on June 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre. Tickets at the door $10.00, children under 12 free with accompanying adult. Lobby doors open 6:00 p.m., House opens 6:30 p.m., Show 7:00 p.m.

By Peter Wienold

It was a great honour to present the award for Excellence in Customer Service to the Alberni District Coop on Friday night, April 22 at the AV Chamber of Commerce Excellence Awards dinner.

The award is sponsored by The Graphics Factory. Here, AD Coop reps Diena Geertsema-Tyne (centre) and Angie Croxen (right) accept the award from Graphics Factory's Peter Wienold.

Congrats to all the nominees and winners, it was a wonderful evening all around at The Italian Hall (La Bruschetta Bistro) - well done Alberni Valley Chamber! Thanks Sonja Drinkwater at the AV News for the photo.

By Peter Wienold



“There and back again . . .” I feel like I’ve been on a Hobbit’s journey, right in the heart of Port Alberni. Surely Rogers Creek must have been a great river at one time, based on the gulley carved out of the ground, dividing the two former Albernis. Kudos to the City of Port Alberni, West Coast Aquatic and all their partners on their successful work with this project.