Small Town Artillery
2024-05-15 19:30 - 21:30 UTC
Tickets are $25, and can be reserved via e-transfer to info@vallicanwhole.com, or in person from Rambling Rose Boutique & Thrift, in Winlaw.

The show features opener Safiya Labelle, and there will be food & drinks for sale.

The Birds Up North Are Braver (Music Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMSRMKbMCzE&ab_channel=SmallTownArtillery

Live Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9uogpUOQ30Fight For You (Music Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2xHvsu3a6M

THE SMALL TOWN ARTILLERY COLLECTIVE is the moniker under which brothers Tom & Derek van Deursen release and perform their signature style of music. The name comes from strong roots to their rural Kootenay upbringing, ties that have tattooed their hearts indelibly and deeply influenced their art. The name references the “artillery” of rural community living – where people come together to share resources in times of need, understand the benefit of ritual and respect, and are encouraged – not always by choice, sometimes by necessity – to work through their differences out of a need to share what little there is; like the grocery store. Or the fire truck.

The belief that these values – honesty, joy, accountability, curiosity, empathy – are weaponry for good is a shared tool of the van Deursen brothers and their music. Tom’s lyrics are introspective, unique, anthemic and delivered in his own developed voice, a high-middle tone croon that cracks and scoops, refusing to be any less R&B than it is pop punk. Derek’s blood-blended harmonies thicken out the vocals and his drumming, like Tom’s guitar playing, sounds like thousands of hours of dedicated instrument worship with very little outside influence. A sound born in the middle of nowhere, without wifi, hungry ears gleaning everything they could from the little bits of rock and roll that came through their fuzzy antenna or 14.4kb/s internet connection – to download a single song could take anywhere from 1-3 days.

This remote experimentation has been honed in over 400 shows together since 2003. The band relocated to the west coast, grew to include a robust horn section in 2015, took home first place and $10,000 in a battle of the bands, and went on to build their name by doing it DIY. Backyard rock shows across western Canada with a full PA, FOH technician, and as many as 3 other bands along for the ride showed the keen work ethic of the group – willing to go the extra kilometre to build a show where there had never been one, and keep it family friendly and community minded. These tours earned them key festival bookings, from headlining Edge Of The World Festival (2018) on Haida Gwaii to closing down the Holland Stage at Kaslo Jazz Festival (2019) They have played the Commodore Ballroom twice. They spent the fall and winter of 2019 booking themselves a 42 show, 2.5 month cross Canada headline tour that skipped the major centres and focused on smaller towns. They played the first 2 of these shows before Covid arrived. During the pandemic they carefully organized and completed DIY tours with social distancing protocols, playing outdoor venues at severely limited capacities- just to bring music where it was needed.2022 was a very quiet year for STA from the outside. However, in the lab, they were humming away, writing, tweaking and learning – and at the time of this writing they sit on a treasure chest of almost 40 new songs. 2023 has brought with it the loss of their beloved founding bandmate and bassist Carson, instrumental (pun intended, he woulda liked that) in helping shape the raw talent of the brothers into a sound that felt like something all its own and world class. Their live show is a crackling good time, full of emotional dynamics, trumpet and violin earworms, guitarmonies and feeling. 2024’s touring outfit is 6 strong, featuring Kyle Vaughan (Year Of The Wolf) on Guitar, Safiya Labelle on Violin and Vocal, Jocelyn Waugh on Trumpet, and Sam Schuette on Bass. This show at Vallican Whole also features an opening set by Salt Spring Island’s Safiya Labelle 🙂So, 23 years from the first notes played together as brothers, and nearly 10 since naming the band, the van Deursens still have something to offer. They hope you enjoy.

Gabriel Palatchi Trio Concert
2024-07-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Vallican Whole, 3762 Little Slocan South Rd., Winlaw, Bc, V0G 0B2, Canada
Embark on a captivating musical journey with Gabriel Palatchi, an accomplished pianist and composer from Buenos Aires, boasting a remarkable 15-year career. With his unique blend of Latin jazz, funk, tango, and Middle Eastern influences, Gabriel has mesmerized audiences around the globe with his exhilarating performances. Recognized as a rising star by Billboard Magazine, Gabriel has earned international acclaim, including a Gold Medal from the Global Music Awards for his album “Trivolution”. Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic of Gabriel Palatchi live, as he brings his world-class talent to the Vallican Whole! Get ready to groove and move—it’s not just a concert, it’s a potential dance party extravaganza!

Gabriel Palatchi – piano & synthsTony Ferraro – drumsMarc Decho – bass

Community FireSmart Day
2024-07-20 08:30 - 12:00
The Vallican Whole is a recognized FireSmart Neighbourhood, thanks to years of hard work by volunteers to mitigate wildfire risk on and around the Whole grounds.

On Saturday July 20th, we’re welcoming the community back to the Whole for a work and learning day. Participants can meet with RDCK Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Bree Lillies to learn about FireSmart strategies and opportunities. The Passmore Fire Department will also be on site with their hose and firetruck, sharing about the work they do in our community.

RARTS volunteers will be doing some FireSmart work around the buildings & grounds, and invite you to put on your work gloves and help out!Coffee and refreshments served starting at 8:30 am. Work will be happening till about noon. All are welcome!

Clanna Morna
2024-07-31 19:00 - 21:00 | Vallican Whole, 3762 Little Slocan South Rd., Winlaw, Bc, V0G 0B2, Canada
UPDATE, JULY 30th: Due to travel issues from local wildfires, Clanna Morna has had to cancel their show at the Vallican Whole tonight. We are hosting a free community dinner instead, so all are welcome to join us for that!

Sorry for the disappointment!

Hailing from the occupied territories of the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ nations (Victoria, BC in Canada), Clanna Morna brings their take on the Celtic Traditional genre to the west coast. Their sound is rooted in the traditional Irish, Scottish and English music that many love, and features carefully crafted arrangements, rhythmic spirited energy and captivating storytelling. Comprised of an ensemble of multi-instrumentalists, their collective musicianship and attention to detail contribute to a unique audience experience featuring both familiar and lesser known folk ballads and tunes.

A Country Road Theatre & Performance Lab
2024-09-20 12:00 - 2024-09-22 17:00 | Vallican Whole, 3762 Little Slocan South Rd., Winlaw, Bc, V0G 0B2, Canada
A Country Road Rural Theatre Performance and Creation Lab, hosted at the Vallican Whole Community Centre this September 20th – 22nd, 2024, will be an artist-focused gathering of workshops, masterclasses, discussions and performances focused on empowering theatre and performance artists – germinating the next new wave of impactive, exciting and relevant art making for those who call the Kootenay mountains home.

Created for performers, playwrights, directors, presenters, producers and practitioners, this festival will aim to ignite contemporary artistic development, while also fostering local connection and collaboration.

We are still welcoming applications for our NEW WORKS Cabaret, happening Saturday Sept 21 in the evening. Performers are invited to submit 5-20 minute performances pieces for consideration at the Cabaret.

Uniting Theatre Makers Of the region: Bringing us all together is one of the most dynamic ways we can realize our strengths. The Lab is aimed to create a collaborative and supportive environment for creative risk taking and open discussion.

Fostering growth and innovation in the local theatre community by providing opportunities for learning, networking, devising new creations, having fun, seeing new work and so, so much more!

Empowering the future of theatre in the Kootenay regions. Supporting us all to excel in our craft by offering discussions and connection about our community.

Workshop and Masterclasses : Bringing in all new ideas to this community and providing the opportunity for people to learn with brilliant local theatre-makers.

For more information, visit www.ruraltheatrelab.com or email info@vallicanwhole.com

Hallowe'en Family Dance Party!
2024-10-26 18:00 - 23:00
Join us for the second edition of our Hallowe’en Family Dance Party at the Vallican Whole!

Doors open at 6:00pm, music starts soon after. DJ sets by DJ Payne of Headphone Entertainment and Slocan Valley DJ Luminesce. Party wraps-up at 11pm.

Foodhini’s Food Truck will be selling meals outside, and the Kitchen Witch Cafe will have treats, snacks and drinks. There will also be a cash bar for adults. Activities include a lantern walk with performances and and spooky outdoor installations, and kids activities and a Halloween movie in the basement.

$15/person or $40 for families. Bring cash for tickets at the door, or send an e-transfer in advance to info@vallicanwhole.com

Volunteers (and their family) get in for free in exchange for 2 hours of work, before, during or after the event.

Volunteer help is needed for: set-up and decor; door-minding; kitchen shifts; bartending (need Smart Serve); parking attendants; clean-up/tear down; kids space supervision (will be vetted!); lantern walk performers; spooky snack contributions.

To volunteer, PM us or email info (at) vallicanwhole (dot) com.

All welcome! Fun/spooky vibes, costumes encouraged!

A Blue Moon Soiree by the Whole School
2024-11-30 17:00 - 22:00
The Whole School is excited to be holding their 26th Annual “BLUE MOON SOIREE” on Saturday, November 30th, from 5pm to 10pm at the Vallican Whole Community Centre, as a school fundraiser.

This event offers a mouth-watering, meal with baked goods. Come enjoy local performers, live music, a Holiday Gift Silent Auction, a 50/50 draw, and a concession of delicious, decadent treats.

~ Doors open @ 5pm~ The Chantarelles Youth Choir @ 5-5:30pm~ Dinner @ 5:30-7pm~ THAT REGGAE SHOW @ 7-8:30pm~ Speeches & 50/50 Draw @ 8:30-8:45pm(Silent Auction closed at 8:45)~ DJ @ 8:45-10pm

We welcome one and all to support the Whole School students and families at our fantastic fundraising extravaganza!

Please bring CASH for entry and dinner as well as the concession.

You can pay for your silent auction item with CASH or your phone to E-transfer, there will be Wi-Fi. We will also be accepting credit card.

All silent auction items need to be paid for when the silent auction closes at 8:45pm. If you cannot pay, the items will be held at the Whole School until you can pay. They will be held for one month only.

SILENT AUCTION ITEMS: (Here are just a few of our silent auction items)~2 White Water Ski Passes~1/2 Cord of Larch Wood~Pan flute~Native Flute~Custom Charcuterie Board~5 Class Card Yoga at Bindu~Drum Lesson~Guitar Lesson~Hot Spring Passes~Copious amounts of gift certificates from our wonderful community businesses

The Vallican Whole Choir's Seasonal Singalong
2024-12-21 14:00 - 17:00

Winter Locavore's Potluck Feast
2025-01-18 17:00 - 22:00
The Vallican Whole warmly invites you to another Locavore’s Feast!

A “Locavore” is someone who loves to eat and celebrate local food, and this Whole tradition is a community gathering to share our favourite local dishes and warm our bellies with an evening of food and community.

Entry is an “as-local-as-possible” potluck dish, enough to feed your party, and an optional donation to the Vallican Whole. There will be a nice little fundraising auction and the famous “Six Slocan Minutes” open mic, so bring a performance to share, if you like. There will also be a cash bar, if you want some liquid courage.

Doors open at 5pm, dinner is at 6pm.Volunteers are wanted for help running the event – contact us if you’d like to help!

Up Close and Intimate Performance Series
2025-01-25 19:00 - 21:00 | Vallican Whole, 3762 Little Slocan South Rd, Winlaw, British Columbia, V0G 2J0, Canada
Four Performances this Winter and Spring at the Vallican Whole, featuring local musicians and theatre artists.

Tickets are available at Rambling Rose Boutique in Winlaw, or via e-transfer to info@vallicanwhole.com. You can also send us an email to put your name on the reserved list, and pay cash at the door.

THE LINEUP:

On Saturday January 25th, Lucas Myers returns with his lovable rural opinionator, Randy from Creston! Randy will be addressing the divisiveness or our current social situation and sharing his own very particular version of “radical redneck wellfullness”, a process which will include many tangents, a few tunes, and maybe a guest appearance. Oh and laughs. Lots of laughs. Buckle up, buttercup!

Doors at 7:00PM, Show at 7:30. Tickets are $25

February 14th is Valentines Day, the perfect night to host a fun and romantic Big Band Dance at the Whole. The Playmor Jazz Ensemble, a 19-piece jazz band featuring all kinds of local talent, will put on a fantastic night of very danceable jazz and swing.

Doors at 7:00PM.Tickets are $30 for this special Valentines Evening. We’ll make it romantic!

POSTPONED until Saturday March 15th, the very local clowns at Material Theatre offer a family-friendly matinee of their Fringe show Buttons and Pockets – a silly and spectacular romp through space, time, and the fabric of the universe. This show is fun for ages 4 – 104, and you’ll learn something about astrophysics, or at least a cheesy astronaut joke or two. Just watch out for black holes!

Adults are $15, Children 12 and under are $5 each.

Finally, the gorgeous harmonies and stomp-clap of Oh Pray Tell will grace the stage on Thursday April 10th. This story-telling, music-making trio featuring Sally Titasey, Beth Stupple, and Up Close favourite Shayna Jones are hard at work weaving new magic for a Kootenay tour this spring, and the Vallican Whole is delighted to feature their voices on the Up Close Stage this year.

Tickets are $25.

The Whole will also need a few volunteers for each event, who get in for free – contact info@vallicanwhole.com to sign up for a volunteer shift. Proceeds from the series go to paying artists, with any additional profit supporting other Vallican Whole events and programming.

Artist Reception and Talk
2025-02-09 15:00 - 18:00 | Vallican Whole, 3762 Little Slocan South Rd., Winlaw, Bc, V0G 0B2, Canada
The Vallican Whole Art Gallery

is hosting an inaugural art exhibition of Kootenay art legends Alf Crossley, Peter Velisek, and Rabi’a.

The exhibit will be up from Saturday January 18th to February 25th, and the gallery will be open during our Winter Locavore’s Feast, and our Up Close & Intimate Performances during that time. On Sunday February 9th, there will be a reception and talk with the featured artists Alf Crossley, Peter Velisek, and Rabi’a.

The Gallery Project is being curated in collaboration with KATI.

A Valentine's Big Band Dance
2025-02-14 19:00 - 22:00
Featuring the Playmor Jazz Ensemble!

The second night in our Up Close & Intimate Series features a Valentine’s Big Band Dance, with a live performance from the Playmor Jazz Ensemble.

Doors open at 7:00 pm, with music starting at 7:30.A 19-piece jazz/swing band composed of Kootenay-based performers, Playmor Jazz promises three sets of danceable jazz and swing music. This will be a playful and romantic evening of great tunes. There will be a cash bar and refreshments including cake and pizza.

Tickets are available at Rambling Rose’s in Winlaw, or reservable by email to info@vallicanwhole.com.

Buttons & Pockets - Up Close for Kids!
2025-03-15 13:30 - 16:00
Buttons & Pockets is a kid-friendly clown show about the fabric of reality and the nature of the Universe, created by Winlaw-based Material Theatre.

This show debuted at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in the summer of 2024… now it’s at the Whole for one day only! An afternoon of physics puns, silly science, and sewing lessons, for an all-age audience!

There will be pizza, cake and drinks for sale at the concession.

Ru Rose - Revival. Album Release & Art Show
2025-03-29 13:30 - 19:00 | Vallican Whole, 3762 Little Slocan South Rd., Winlaw, Bc, V0G 0B2, Canada
Doors Open 1:30pm

Artist Talk/Show 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Live-Music Performance 5:00 – 7:00pm

Door Price $10-15

*Food, Tea/Coffee Available

The project known as ‘Revival’ is a creative outpouring by folk artist Ru Rose. Revival showcases a deeply sincere full length conceptual debut album of 12 original sacred folk songs recorded Live-Off-The-Forest-Floor in the mountains of the unceded and ancestral territories of the Sinixt and Ktunaxa nations, also known as the Kootenays of British Columbia. Interwoven with the songs of the album is a series of 12 intricate paintings created with hand-made inks, dyes and paints.

This event, made possible with the support of The Columbia Basin Trust and the CKCA will begin with an Art Show/Talk showcasing the 12 piece series of original paintings by Ru Rose. Following the Art Show will be an intimate, candle lit Live-Performance of the Album performed by Ru Rose and accompanied by local musicians such as Kai Cabodyna, Indiana Cabodyna, The Rainbow Hippos, and Martine DenBok.

Albums, Original Artwork and high quality Art Prints will be available at this event.

For more information visit www.rurose.earth

Grassroots Grammas African Dinner
2025-04-05 17:00 - 20:00

Oh Pray Tell - An Up Close & Intimate Show
2025-04-10 19:00 - 21:30
Oh Pray Tell is Sally Titasey, Betty Supple and Shayna Jones. Stomp, clap, banjo, harmonies, experimental folklore, this is much more than a musical performance. This trio of soulful musician-storytellers bring magic to the stage, and promise a gorgeous and inspiring night of music and fable.

As usual, there will be cake, pizza and drinks for sale at the show.

Tickets at the door or in advance from Rambling Rose.

Fire Stories
2025-04-19 19:30 - 21:00 | Vallican Whole, 3762 Little Slocan South Rd., Winlaw, Bc, V0G 0B2, Canada
Fire Stories is a benefit, to support the newly forming Slocan Valley Watershed and Forest Protection Society.

Residents will share stories from the experience of living through the 2024 wildfires in the Slocan Valley, with piano accompaniment (original compositions)

The Red Thread (And Other Mingled Yarns)
2025-05-03 19:00 - 21:00
A One Woman Show, written and Performed by Ellie Reynolds

Ellie’s third solo show picks up a red thread and unspools it, while asking the big questions: are the events of our lives somehow inevitable? Are we fated or doomed to love one person, and what is the Red Thread of Destiny that ties us to one another, and to our own past?

Three mysterious yarn-spinning goddesses of Fate aid Ellie through the labyrinth, as she wrestles with her lot in (increasingly middle) life, reminding us all how telling stories can help us understand how the threads of our lives can stretch, mingle and twist to form webs of connection across time and space.

Moving between the worlds of Greek Myth, to Shakespeare, to North London and Denver Colorado in the eighties, through to the present moment in the Kootenays – The Red Thread is an earnest, yet playful exploration of the role of Fate in our lives and the yarns we spin to try and make sense of it all.

Find out more: Facebook.com/elliesolotheatre

Or email ellie_simons@hotmail.com

Waking Up The Park
2025-05-04 11:00 - 14:00 | Vallican Whole, 3762 Little Slocan South Rd., Winlaw, Bc, V0G 0B2, Canada
The Vallican Whole Art Gallery and Sculpture Park Committee is planning a ‘Wake Up the Park’ Spring clean up on Sunday May 4, between 11am and 2pm. Let’s dust off the existing sculptures and make way for some new ones!

The Sculpture Park, on the grounds of the Vallican Whole Community Centre, has been sleeping for a few years and now it’s time to wake the beauty up. Bring your friends, some gloves, a rake or other yard cleaning tools, maybe a snack to share, and we’ll give you an opportunity to be part of an uplifting public project, making a permanent home for sculpture and land art in our community.

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life” – Pablo Picasso

Electrojazziness Improvised Concert & Community Jam
2025-05-24 19:00 - 22:00
On Saturday, March May 24th, join us at the Vallican Whole in the Slocan Valley for a beautiful evening of live improvised music!

The night’s journey will feature two distinct improvised jams: 1) a jazz x electronica x hip hop fusion duo, and 2) an open community jam, maybe featuring you?

Click here to buy tickets!

Our headliners are Electrojazziness, a 100% improvised duo featuring the amazing Montreal-based jazz pianist maestro Alex McNally and the Nelson-based live-music-production-and-freestyling wizard thisissami. These two life-long improvisers come from completely different music backgrounds, yet their journeys intertwined last summer with the development of this jazz, electronic, and hip hop fusion project in Montreal parks. In 2024, Electrojazziness consisted of a series of battery-powered bike-transported free public concerts (see image at the top). In 2025, Alex is coming to the Kootenays, where Electrojazziness will have a 2-week residency at Flow State Studio followed by a 15-performance tour. We invite you to join us on a magical, eclectic, groovy improvised journey with us at the beautiful Vallican Whole.

Here is an eclectic downtempo journey from an Electrojazziness public park performance.

And here is a fun multilingual freestyle with a guest bassist from that same concert.

The evening will open up with a Community Jam! Are you an improviser? Do you want to jam with a bunch of other awesome musicians and vocalists? Or do you want to just come dance, groove, or even just sit and listen to epic improvisations? Come help us make this night memorable. 🙂

Doors open at 7:00pm. Show starts at 7:30pm.

To join community jam, please arrive by 7:10pm at the latest. Free entry for improvisers who arrive by then.

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This family friendly show is brought to you by the Rural Alternatives Research and Training Society (the fantastic organization that runs the Vallican Whole) in collaboration with Inventor Live, an events production company that showcases interactive arts & live electronic music. You can read about past events on the Georgia Strait.

The Mosquitos - A "Rustic Preview"
2025-06-06 19:00 - 21:30
SOLD OUT – sorry! No tickets at the door!

You can still get tickets to the Capitol Theatre shows next week though!

Join us for a “rustic preview” of The Mosquitos, a new play by Slocan Valley playwright Marya Folinsbee, produced by Material Theatre.

Limited ticket, $25, available for purchase at Rambling Rose Boutique in Winlaw, or reserve by email, info (at) vallicanwhole (dot) com.

Doors at 7:00, show at 7:30. The show is about 1.5 hours long with one intermission. There will be a cash concession at the show!

What’s it about?

“Things are changing rather quickly. We no longer share a reality”.

A group of old friends get together for a dinner party, while rumours of an unimaginable change swirl around them.

How do we face total transformation?

An absurd comedy of manners with an existential heart, The Mosquitos is original new theatre written and directed by Slocan Valley playwright Marya Folinsbee. With equal parts humour and pathos, The Mosquitos reconsiders our place in the ecosystem, asking:How do we live in the world together when we have fundamentally different versions of reality ?

A meditation on politics, relationships, (mis)information and the role of art in creating meaning, The Mosquitos is inspired by absurdist classics like Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros and Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days (and by life in these times).

This world premiere features a talented ensemble of local performers and artists:

Written and Directed by Marya Folinsbee

Featuring Performances by:Emily RyanKozmo SammartinoRoger CarterPatricia McLaughlinKarmelle Spence-SingLindsay ClagueJames ShawAaron PickettMike Funergy

Sound Designer Jeremy SauerProjection Designer Brian LyeMask & Puppet Designer Elaine WeryshkoCostumer Kyla HurstStage Manager Martina AvisProduction Designer Marya Folinsbee

Recipient of the 2025 Judy Wapp Artists FellowshipCreation support from The Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance.Production support from The BC Arts Council.We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.

RARTS AGM
2025-06-23 18:30 - 20:00 | Vallican Whole, 3762 Little Slocan South Rd, Winlaw, British Columbia, V0G 2J0, Canada
Join the RARTS Board for our 2025 AGM.

Some snacks to enjoy, the lovely board to chat with, regular AGM business.Always welcoming new volunteer energy!

Kootenay Herb Conference
2025-06-27 00:00 - 2025-06-30 23:59 | Vallican Whole, 3762 Little Slocan South Rd., Winlaw, Bc, V0G 0B2, Canada
🌿 2025 Kootenay Herb Gathering is Coming!

Mark your calendar for June 27–30, 2025, and join us at the Vallican Whole in the beautiful Slocan Valley for a joyful weekend of herbal learning, nature connection, and community celebration! Whether you’re a clinical herbalist, a kitchen witch, or just plant-curious, this gathering is for you.

Expect in-depth workshops with expert teachers, guided herb walks through a temperate rainforest, and experiential learning in a welcoming, heart-centered space. Enjoy fresh local food, herbal elixirs, and a lively Saturday night dance party! As a community-run, non-profit event, every ticket helps support herbal and environmental initiatives across Canada.

💚 Come root, rest, and renew with us.

🎟 Tickets on sale now at herbconference.com

Waking up the Park
2025-08-09 10:00 - 2025-08-10 16:00
A stop on the CBT’s Culture Tour

Waking Up The Park at the Vallican Whole

There is a beautiful forest park in Vallican, with surprises around every turn…

Join us at the Vallican Whole on the weekend of August 9 – 10 to celebrate the re-opening of the Sculpture Park. Originally opened in 2010, the park has been quietly slumbering until this year, when some of our best local artists have installed new wonderful sculptures to awaken it.

Come walk the forest pathways and discover the magical visions and presences, and visit the indoor gallery where there will be a new show by local artists for the duration of the weekend. Take part in art making workshops for all ages – a hands-on opportunity to use natural and recycled materials creatively. On Sunday, enjoy music by the duo Tunupa The Cosmic Gardeners between 1 and 3 pm, and a barbecue from 12 to 2pm.

This is a FREE event, part of the Columbia Basin Culture Tour. Sculpture park and gallery will be open 10 – 4 both days.

See you there!

#basinarts #cbculturetour and #superculturalbc

Kootenay Wellness Festival
2025-09-12 08:00 - 2025-09-14 21:00 | Vallican Whole, 3762 Little Slocan South Rd., Winlaw, Bc, V0G 0B2, Canada
The Kootenay Wellness Festival is a boutique yoga, wellness & art festival. This weekend of unity will bring together people of all ages in the West Kootenays to celebrate our mutual love & respect for yoga, holistic healing, creativity and nature.

Hosted by the Kootenay Wellness Foundation

For more info: please visit www.kootenaywellnessfestival.com

​Facebook Event – https://www.facebook.com/share/1BY7vkiWMM/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kootenaywellnessfestival/

Thanksgiving Locavore's Feast
2025-10-11 17:30 - 21:00
It’s time again for a Locavore’s Feast, a decades-old Vallican Whole tradition!

Come join us for a Thanksgiving potluck dinner, Saturday, October 11th at the Whole.Entry is a generous potluck dish, made with as-local-as-you-can ingredients, enough to feed your party. Donations to RARTS will also be gratefully accepted.

Doors open at 5:30, dinner starts at 6pm. Six Slocan Minutes, the anything-goes open mic, starts about 7pm, so bring a song, a poem, a skill or a screed to share.

Volunteers for this and other upcoming RARTS events are VERY WELCOME! Email us at info (at) vallicanwhole (dot) com to offer some help.

Theatre & Performance Lab
2025-10-18 09:00 - 2025-10-19 17:00 | Vallican Whole, 3762 Little Slocan South Rd., Winlaw, Bc, V0G 0B2, Canada
Rural Theatre & Performance Lab at the Vallican Whole

Saturday October 18th – Sunday the 19th

Registration now open:$20-$40 per workshop, or $75 -$100 for the whole weekend. Lunches included both days.Email slocanvalleygems@gmail.com to register.

To apply to perform at the Brave New Works Cabaret, please send a short description of your piece, approximate length, and your performer bio to slocanvalleygems@gmail.com. Work should be “new” or in-progress, original theatre/performance work. Feel free to ask questions if you need more details! Approximately 6-8 slots available, depending on length and number of applications. Honoraria provided for all performers!

Saturday Schedule:

9:00 AM – gather9:30 – 10 AM – warm-up10:15 – 1:15 – Performing with Larval Mask1:15 – 2:15 – Lunch & Chat2:15 – 4:15 – The Natural Actor

7:00 – doors open for7:30 – Brave New Works Theatre Cabaret

Sunday Schedule:

9:00 AM – gather9:30 – 10 AM – warm-up10 – 12 – Intro to Improv12 – 1PM – Lunch & Chat1 – 3 – Co-creation time, deepening with content, collaboration, OR go home

See below for workshop descriptions so far

Thank you to the RDCK’s ReDi Grant program for funding support for this project!

Performance with Larval MaskEnter the strange, simple, and magnetic world of Larval Masks. Rooted from the winter carnival of Basel, Switzerland and reimagined by Jacques Lecoq, these oversized, beginnings of life masks are a gateway to embodiment, archetype, non-verbal storytelling and dream space. This is physical poetry, where breath, stillness, and silhouette speak louder than words.

Larval work sharpens the performer’s ability to explore presence; by stripping back, listening with the body, and building story from tension, space, and rhythm with the unknown.

Ideal for performers, educators, writers, and anyone curious about the full-body language beneath text. The full-faced mask is a revelation and invitation to encounter the architecture of play and possibility.

Facilitator: Elaine Weryshko

The Natural Actor- Exploring the Craft of Acting

We will investigate the actor’s work as an expression of truth and the deep understanding of human nature. In preparation for an upcoming Valley Gems project, we will use Anton Chekhov’s, “The Seagull” and the Stanislavski Method as a jumping off point for the session.

Facilitator: Val Campbell

Intro to Improv with Michelle HartThis intro to improv class covers the basics of long-form improv, including “Yes, And,” listening, and how to say YES – AND to your scene partner. We’ll focus on building confidence and spontaneity in a collaborative performance!

Facilitator: Michelle Hart

Hallowe'en Family Dance Party
2025-10-25 18:00 - 23:00
The Third Annual Hallowe’en Family Dance Party is back at the Vallican Whole, on Saturday October 25th.

Family-friendly dance floor, bonfire, cash bar, concession, dinner for sale, and fun spooky magic throughout the land at the Whole. Costumes heartily encouraged!

Volunteers needed – you & your family get in free!

Doors at 6pm

Blake Parker Roadshow
2025-11-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Vallican Whole, 3762 Little Slocan South Rd., Winlaw, Bc, V0G 0B2, Canada
Blake Parker was an extraordinary writer and performer that inspired many artists, dancers, writers, musicians and performers and left an incredible legacy of creative work. He was a prolific writer and continuously engaged in new creative projects. This will be an evening to celebrate creativity and improvisation in mixed media: spoken word, image, and music. The evening will celebrate not just Blake’s work, but also many of the people he collaborated with, those he inspired and other upcoming performance poets and multi-media artists.

Monica Carpendale will host the evening, which will feature Laura Landsberg’s vocal work “Lines: Tracing an unconventional story through poetry and music”.

For this special performance, Laura will be joined by two musical poets, Paul Landsberg & Steven Parish (formerly members of the Three Poets with Blake Parker), to share an intimate rendition of her Lines project.

The piece explores a child’s experience of the sixties and seventies with so many lost and wandering adults.

Readings, music, and videos will round out the evening.

The Vallican Art Gallery will be open with an exhibit of photography by Margaret Parker, Jeremy Addington and Susan Faye, and and sculptures by Veronica Verkley. There will also be a display of photographs of some of Blake’s performances and Fred Rosenberg’s moving documentation of Blake’s last year.

Performance starts at 7 pm. Cost $10 to $20 (sliding scale)

Shifting Perspectives - Artists Open House
2025-11-23 15:00 - 17:00 | The Vallican Whole
On Sunday November 23 the Vallican Whole Art Gallery will host an Open House between 3 and 5 PM.

We invite people to come and view the marvellous show “Shifting Perspectives’, featuring the photographs of Margaret Parker, Susan Faye, and Jeremy Addington – fantastic light-paintings, intimate landscapes, and vivid storytelling moments – and also showcasing eloquent sculptures by Veronica Verkley, which fill the space with inter-species conversations.

Come and be inspired, have some snacks, and imagine how you might be involved as participants and/or volunteers in future shows and events. All are welcome!
