CRUISING SUMMER 2008

ACTIVATE THE ARTS

2008-07-26T19:05:00.001-07:00

Mask Making at the CV Art Gallery was a burst of inspired fun!

Activate the Arts is a free, everyone welcome, easy to access, fantastic & fun program running all summer. Scroll down for more details.

The Comox Valley Art Gallery’s summer Activate the Arts program is free, family friendly and will be running through all of July and August, most Mondays through Saturdays, noon till 3pm. The event takes place on the outside Plaza in front of the Gallery. Activate the Arts seeks to engage the community (that’s you!) with creative people and the creative people would love to meet you and chat about their work, get your feedback, or have you join in and have some fun. If you are in the downtown area, come by and enjoy your lunch on one of the lovely benches and take in some art, music & creativity!
And, if you are a creative soul who wants to demonstrate your skills, or share some of your work with the public, the team at the Gallery is keen to work with you and welcomes you to participate in the Activate the Arts program.

FMI contact Tree at 250.338.6211, drop by the Gallery, or visit the website www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com

VI MUSIC FEST

2008-07-26T18:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes work just isn't work in any way, shape or form.

How do you like Ryder's zero-gravity chair Bre? Unfortunately, techno-demons seem to have stolen the rest of my photos from Music Fest. If they return I will publish them, but until then...Taj Mahal was brilliant, The Wailers gave me goose-bumps and everyone was at their festival finest.

MARKET DAY

2008-07-26T17:59:00.000-07:00

It was another perfect summer day.

The sales, music and fun drew a great crowd.

My morning tea stop at Bean Around the World.

Thanks for the raspberries and coffee mugs Tracy!

The highland dancers were very impressive dancing in the heat of the afternoon.
Ryan Mennie, proudly displaying the fruits of his labours.
Promo photos don't get much cuter than this!

STICKER SPOTTING

2008-07-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

Hurray for Dairy Queen & Visual Sound Store, our awesome sponsors this summer!!

We love giving out DQ treat coupons & other instant prizes when we're Sticker Spotting.

Here, Guy the super cruiser guy is flashing our new 10th Anniversary sticker at the kick off to this summer's Stick It to Win Contest. Pick up your new sticker and on the back is an entry form. At the end of the summer we are drawing a lucky winner of a new 50" HD TV & complete home theatre system from Visual Sound Store!

Love Bug Cafe on Cumberland Rd is a perfect early morning Sticker Spotting spot. Crystal & her staff are a burst of happy, bubbly energy while they serve coffee, tea, homemade goodies & yummy fresh fruit smoothies.

The Farmer's Market at Sim's Park is always a popular spot. This was the day CYMC had a stage set up and were promoting "Beauty & The Beast". The music and costumes were a nice addition to a beautiful day. For healthy snacks, I highly recommend fresh apple juice & crunchy peas & carrots from our local farmers.

Guy & I went mini-golfing at the Miracle Beach Mini-Golf & Internet Cafe. There are all sorts of fun things to do here besides mini-golfing like the outdoor Laser Tag, shopping & garden centre. The cafe has gourmet coffee, ice-cream, all beef smokies & other nibblies to enjoy on their lovely deck. If you're driving the Old Island Hwy headed North, it's just past the Hamm Rd connector.

I think I was cheering "go ball go!!" Guy was a gentleman and let me win, but really, he's the mini-golf King.

BACK YARD BAR-B-CREW PARTY #2

2008-07-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

A beautiful back yard, but the weather was a little iffy. Luckily this new trellis made the perfect shelter. The brand new patio furniture finished it off nicely!

Catering by the Royal Coachman was the perfect compliment to our elegant surroundings.

Something old and something new! The new Barbeque from Quality Stoves & Fireplaces did most of the cooking with Old Faithful waiting patiently to retire.

We really do work hard here at the Eagle, but there are moments like these too!

Congratulations and Thank You to everyone for making it such a fun evening!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!

2008-07-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

Kicking off the day with the parade down 5th St. The floats were fabulous and the streets were packed with cheering people. Everybody loves a parade...

We followed the CV Pipers Marching Band, it doesn't get more parade than that! Thank you to Ryder for co-piloting the Cruiser, taking pictures, handing out treats & making the day so fun.

I love the Clowns!

Anyone you know? (Click on any pictures to make them bigger)

The 21st Ducky 500 was a blast! Literally, the gun scared us silly.

It was the fastest Ducky race in history.

Big Thanks out to the folks who fed us in the sponsers tent.

Seeing Lovely Little Lola & her mom was the highlight of my day.

Happy Birthday Canada!!!

TRIBAL JOURNEY'S CARWASH & BANNOCKDOG SALE

2008-07-03T18:07:00.000-07:00

It was a perfect day for a carwash.
If you've never had a Bannockdog, I highly recommend it. Kind of like a corndog but way better.

The next event is July 5th at Quality Foods from 10:30 to 1pm.

Get hotdogs & raffle tickets. The prizes are beautiful and the money is for a good cause.

On August 3, 2008 the North American Indigenous Games will begin in the Cowichan Valley hosted by the Cowichan Tribes of the Coast Salish Nation. As part of the opening ceremonies they are organizing what they hope will be the largest ever Tribal Journey with up to 80 canoes from different First Nation Groups in BC, Alaska, Washington State, and Oregon.

The K’ómoks First Nation is participating in this great voyage. Their I-Hos Canoe Association has begun training for the long journey to Duncan. On July 23 canoes from Alaska to Campbell River and various villages in between will arrive on the shores of the K’ómoks village as they stop for the night on their way to Cowichan. The K’ómoks First Nation will welcome the visiting canoes in a traditional welcoming ceremony in the afternoon of July 23. The next day, July 24, will see the I-Hos canoe leave with the rest of the visiting canoes to continue the journey to Duncan and arrive in the Cowichan territory on July 28.

The Comox Valley Community is invited to attend the arrival the canoes and witness the traditional welcoming ceremony. Due to uncertainties with the weather and tide we are unable to set a specific arrival time but it will be approximately late afternoon on July 23. 97.3 The Eagle will be broadcasting the arrival, so stay tuned to the Eagle for arrival times.

The Cowichan Spirit Pole will also be returning to the Comox Valley with the visiting canoes. This is the same pole that stopped in Comox back in May. The Tribal Journey will escort the Spirit Pole as it completes the final leg of its tour of the Province and back to Cowichan for the unveiling of the finished pole and opening of the Games as well.

The I-Hos Canoe Association is seeking the communities help to cover the costs for hosting the visiting canoes and for the Journey itself. They need donations to pay for food and fuel expenses for the trip. For more information, or to make a donation please call Frank Assu at 339-3215 .

Mark July 23 on your calendar and come down to the K’ómoks village to witness an historic event and see all the visiting canoes.

LEWIS PARK

2008-07-03T17:59:00.000-07:00

The Waterpark is the hotspot for cooling down...
The Crafters Market which I will have more on later in the summer...
And the Battle of the Bands...

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

2008-07-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

The Bird Painting Party at Lewis Park!

This is a great local charity organization. When someone in your family needs medical care outside the community you live in, it can be devastating emotionally and financially. YANA (You Are Not Alone) provides essential support in many ways.

NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DAY

2008-06-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Another gorgeous blue sky day!

The Opening Ceremonies were captivating.
Celebrating community is a heart warming and deeply satisfying way to start the day.

The West Coast Warriors Tee Pee was a focal point.
Storytelling, Drumming and Singing Workshops were all held here.

A canoe carved from one solid piece of wood.

Many representatives from different community groups attended.

As always, volunteers were the heart of all the activity.

There were great prizes in the raffle too.
I hope I won the silver bracelet!

Kids, families, elders, everyone enjoyed sharing the day.

BACK YARD BBQ PARTY!!

2008-06-25T15:50:00.001-07:00

Our first lucky winner, her family & friends enjoyed great food, good weather and excellent prizes! Here Debbie was announcing our next winner to the world...was it you?

Eagle staff slaved away to make the afternoon a sucess!

Everyone needs a tattoo...on their eyelid?

Woody was starving to death, or at least that's what he kept telling me!

A small but very beautiful back yard.

Even Ryan had fun!

And look at how perfectly the BBQ fit on their back deck! Like it was meant to be.

Some serious eating going on. The food from Bean Around the World was delicious; steaks, pork chops, salads, fruit & artichoke appetizer that I had to tell myself strictly to leave some for the other people it was so irresistable.

We played our own version of Jepardy/Trivia and gave away over 50 prizes.

TIM HORTONS CAMP DAY

2008-06-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful blue sky day!

Volunteers had fun giving away prizes.
There was games, draw prizes, and the ever popular "Buy a Tent"!

As usual, The Eagle staff were in the thick of things.
I'm not sure if Steve should quit his day job though!

This yearly event raises money to help financially disadvantaged kids have a great camp experience. For an entire 24 hour period, all the money from every coffee sold at Tim's goes to the TH Children's Foundation.

For many children it is their first opportunity to try new activities, make new friends, gain a sense of independance & develop pride in their accomplishments and confidence in their abilities.

Developing leadership skills and gaining a positive view of the world will make all the difference to these kids as they face the challenges ahead of them in life.

All you have to do is buy a coffee. It has to be the easiest charity to support.

See you there next year!

BIKE TO WORK WEEK

2008-06-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

It was a Great Success!!!

Thank You to everyone who volunteered & rode through the Celebration Stations!

A drizzly morning at 19th Wing, Comox.

Getting fueled up & re-hydrated!

I Hoss Gallery was a beautiful start to the day!

Wow those are some nice wheels!!

And tattoos!!!

OFF TO THE RACES

2008-06-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

First day on the job!

I was sent on a scavenger hunt to get me familiar with the Valley. Fortunately, I am already on intimate terms with our lovely home turf and got to hang by the river for a little while.

What a sweet ride, Thanks!!

The Sid is one of my favourite places around the Valley. I haven't been in a play this year, maybe Courtenay Little Theatre's fall production will have a juicy part for me. I was Mindy, the lesbian Realtor in 5 Women Wearing the Same Dress last time I played with them.