Arts and Entertainment

Visitors stop to admire an artist's paintings at the Bowker Creek Brush-Up on Sunday, August 8. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Hundreds return to Brush-Up on Oak Bay’s Bowker Creek

Community brought together again by live music, food and the works of over 30 local artists

Visitors stop to admire an artist's paintings at the Bowker Creek Brush-Up on Sunday, August 8. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Art lovers can tour around the Township of Esquimalt on Saturday, Aug. 7 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to visit over 30 outdoor art exhibits and admire and purchase the work of 45 artists. (Courtesy of the Esquimalt Community Arts Hub)

Esquimalt Urban Arts Tour this Saturday features 45 artists

Aug. 7 event will send art lovers on an adventure around the township

Art lovers can tour around the Township of Esquimalt on Saturday, Aug. 7 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to visit over 30 outdoor art exhibits and admire and purchase the work of 45 artists. (Courtesy of the Esquimalt Community Arts Hub)
A pilot project proposed by the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association will allow selected musicians to perform in designated spots around Oak Bay Village this summer. (Courtesy of the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association)

Oak Bay Village welcomes live music via pilot program

District consults businesses to determine prime spots for musicians

A pilot project proposed by the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association will allow selected musicians to perform in designated spots around Oak Bay Village this summer. (Courtesy of the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association)
Flamenco performers dance and strum during a rehearsal for this summer’s virtual Victoria Flamenco Festival, which will run July 22 to 25. (Photo courtesy of Mark Henning and Isabelle Dunlop)

Ninth annual Victoria Flamenco Festival to run virtually in July

Flamenco fans’ feet tapping in anticipation of four days of dance, music

Flamenco performers dance and strum during a rehearsal for this summer’s virtual Victoria Flamenco Festival, which will run July 22 to 25. (Photo courtesy of Mark Henning and Isabelle Dunlop)
A vial of AstraZeneca vaccine is seen at a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, April 22, 2021. The website for a Broadway theatre showing "Springsteen on Broadway" said it would only allow guests "fully vaccinated with an FDA-approved vaccine" — Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

No Springsteen for you: AstraZeneca not good enough to qualify for Broadway ticket

View Royal mayor among those unable to attend New York entertainment due to COVID-19 restriction

A vial of AstraZeneca vaccine is seen at a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, April 22, 2021. The website for a Broadway theatre showing "Springsteen on Broadway" said it would only allow guests "fully vaccinated with an FDA-approved vaccine" — Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
The Weeknd attends the LA premiere of “Uncut Gems” at ArcLight Hollywood in Los Angeles on December 11, 2019. Justin Bieber and the Weeknd could be taking home some serious hardware at tonight’s Juno Awards. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Invision, Richard Shotwell

Juno Awards ring in 50th anniversary; Justin Bieber, the Weeknd lead nominations

Both performers are also among the stacked list of popular artists nominated for fan choice award

The Weeknd attends the LA premiere of “Uncut Gems” at ArcLight Hollywood in Los Angeles on December 11, 2019. Justin Bieber and the Weeknd could be taking home some serious hardware at tonight’s Juno Awards. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Invision, Richard Shotwell
The Fearless Sisters Rising mural, located at the University of Victoria’s McPherson Library, was imagined and created by Indigenous artists Brianna Bear and Nicole Neidhardt and the Sisters Rising network. (Courtesy University of Victoria)

Greater Victoria residents invited to blessing of Indigenous mural celebrating solidarity

University of Victoria library home to mural, ceremony streaming Friday, June 4

The Fearless Sisters Rising mural, located at the University of Victoria’s McPherson Library, was imagined and created by Indigenous artists Brianna Bear and Nicole Neidhardt and the Sisters Rising network. (Courtesy University of Victoria)
The CVAC Fine Arts Show is always something to see and 2021 promises to be no different, as they adopt a fully multimedia approach. (File photo)

Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show goes multimedia for 2021

The show, which runs from May 1-22 will be available both in person and online.

The CVAC Fine Arts Show is always something to see and 2021 promises to be no different, as they adopt a fully multimedia approach. (File photo)
Cowichan Valley author Clayton Johnston has a new book coming out in June, 2021. (Submitted)

Island author pens a thriller in ‘12 Days’

Cowichan’s Clayton Johnston releases his thrid book

Cowichan Valley author Clayton Johnston has a new book coming out in June, 2021. (Submitted)
Darrel McLeod won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction in 2018 for his first book, Mamaskatch: A Cree Coming of Age. His newly-released memoir, Peyakow: Reclaiming Cree Dignity, follows as a sequel. (Black Press Media file)

Critically acclaimed Vancouver Island author releases new memoir

Peyakow follows as a sequel to Darrel McLeod’s first book, Mamaskatch: A Cree Coming of Age

  • Apr 25, 2021
Darrel McLeod won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction in 2018 for his first book, Mamaskatch: A Cree Coming of Age. His newly-released memoir, Peyakow: Reclaiming Cree Dignity, follows as a sequel. (Black Press Media file)
Thomas Kuecks, Bellamy Kuecks and Paula Foot have come together to create an album of stories for children. (Nina Foot photo)

Moments with Miss Paula creates musical stories for kids

Music and the spoken word from Island pair available on streaming

Thomas Kuecks, Bellamy Kuecks and Paula Foot have come together to create an album of stories for children. (Nina Foot photo)
Donna Jones, who was born and raised in the Cowichan Valley, is the executive director of the documentary ‘Bobbi Jo: Under the Influence’. (Submitted)

Islander produces documentary offering hope to those with addictions

Donna Jones and husband Brent just released Bobbi Jo: Under the Influence

Donna Jones, who was born and raised in the Cowichan Valley, is the executive director of the documentary ‘Bobbi Jo: Under the Influence’. (Submitted)
Vedrana Ascroft, artist and gallery owner, sits in her Aquamaris Art Gallery in Duncan. Don Denton photo

When the world needs more beauty

Artist Vedrana Ascroft curates her Aquamaris Art Gallery

  • Apr 2, 2021
Vedrana Ascroft, artist and gallery owner, sits in her Aquamaris Art Gallery in Duncan. Don Denton photo
Cowichan Valley author Allan W. Waddy has released his second novel, ‘Guilty Knowledge’. (Submitted)

Insight into Vancouver Island true crime offered in ‘Guilty Knowledge’

Book signing events for private investigator Allan Waddy’s new book to be held later this month

Cowichan Valley author Allan W. Waddy has released his second novel, ‘Guilty Knowledge’. (Submitted)
The students in the Timberline Musical Theatre program are rehearsing this year’s production, Once Upon a Mattress, three days per week after school in preparation for their upcoming virtual performances. Photo by Mike Davies/Campbell River Mirror

Island high school’s musical theatre program hoping for last-minute ticket surge

Popular annual run of Timberline shows costs $7,000-$8,000 to stage, sold $750 in tickets

The students in the Timberline Musical Theatre program are rehearsing this year’s production, Once Upon a Mattress, three days per week after school in preparation for their upcoming virtual performances. Photo by Mike Davies/Campbell River Mirror
Screenshot of Amazon Prime’s “The Mystery Mountain Project”

Mystery Mountain Hop: Documentary recounts quest for largest peak on the B.C. coast

Film available on Amazon Prime explores expedition of Don and Phyllis Munday to Mount Waddington

Screenshot of Amazon Prime’s “The Mystery Mountain Project”
Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos poses in this undated handout photo. Netflix plans to open an office in Canada in what the streaming giant calls “a big first step” toward content creation in this country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Netflix *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Netflix plans to open an office in Canada and grow its relationship with its creators

Netflix has 21 offices around the world, including Amsterdam and Rome

Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos poses in this undated handout photo. Netflix plans to open an office in Canada in what the streaming giant calls “a big first step” toward content creation in this country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Netflix *MANDATORY CREDIT*
FILE - In this April 4, 2019, file photo, Mary Wilson, a former member of The Supremes, is escorted after singing the national anthem before a baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals in Detroit. Wilson died in Las Vegas, publicist Jay Schwartz told KABC-TV. When she died and other details weren’t immediately clear. She was 76. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

Mary Wilson of the Supremes dead at 76

Artist posted YouTube video announcing work on new music just days before her death

FILE - In this April 4, 2019, file photo, Mary Wilson, a former member of The Supremes, is escorted after singing the national anthem before a baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals in Detroit. Wilson died in Las Vegas, publicist Jay Schwartz told KABC-TV. When she died and other details weren’t immediately clear. She was 76. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
(SNL/Twitter)

Canadian star Dan Levy hosts Saturday Night Live’

Levy has been riding an incredible wave of success

(SNL/Twitter)
Actor Christopher Plummer seen at the press conference for “The Forger” during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 12, 2014, in Toronto. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP, File)

Celebrities pay tribute to late Canadian actor Christopher Plummer

‘The world has lost a consummate actor today and I have lost a cherished friend’

Actor Christopher Plummer seen at the press conference for “The Forger” during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 12, 2014, in Toronto. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP, File)