FESTIVAL READY FOR 82^ND TIME

Our Rotary club has supported qathet Festival of the Performing Arts for the past 23 years with members serving on the organizing committee, providing volunteers for the sessions in band and instrumental, piano, strings, vocal and choral, speech arts and dance.

This year’s event takes place February 25 to March 7.

All regular sessions of the festival are open to the public and free of charge with donations gratefully accepted to assist with expenses. Each festival concludes with a ticketed Grand Concert that shows samples of all the disciplines. Some performers are recommended to attend the annual Performing Arts BC provincial festival which this community hosted in 1997 and 2015, Many performers in the festival have gone on to make a living performing or teaching, continuing to follow their passion for performing arts.

A group of community volunteers organized the festival beginning in 1945 until the Knights of Pythias and Pythian Sisters took over that task. When the Pythian organizations could not continue, a group of festival supporters carried on until 2003 year when the women issued a call for assistance from the community. That call was answered by our Rotary Club.

Members took on the task of leading the organizing committee and have been assisted ever since by community volunteers who understood the workings of the festival. 

Not knowing much about music, Rotarians applied the Four Way Test to its organization, and the festival has become a most impactful community service project that enhances the cultural of the region. 

Our club recently decided to support financially and with labour, the much-needed renovations at Powell River Trail Riders Clubhouse off Padgett Road. Several Rotarians including Mel Munroe, community services director, toured the facility late last year.

“We are always looking for worthy community projects that we can assist with, and this particular one had lots of appeal,” Munroe explained.

Rotarians were hosted by Laura Field, president of Powell River Trail Riders Club which was founded in 1965 to support the local equestrian community. “We are an inclusive organization, and in 2018 we introduced a social membership to welcome non-horse owners,” says Field. “Membership fees are intentionally kept low to ensure accessibility, particularly for youth, which means our primary revenue comes from events and clubhouse rentals.”

Built in the early 1970s, the clubhouse remains the heart of the organization. It provides an affordable rental venue for local clubs and groups, offering a large open meeting area, kitchen, storage, heat, and men’s and women’s washrooms. 

In recent years activities at the facility have increased with an event last year attracting participants from Vancouver Island and the lower Sunshine Coast. 

“After more than 50 years of use, the building now requires significant repairs to remain safe, welcoming, and functional,” Field explains. “We are not a large, nor a rich club, so we look to grants to add to our elbow grease. The interest from the Rotary club came by a chance inquiry into grants available. It has blossomed into a pledge of funds and support.”

“Our members now feel the momentum and potential for the project, and the vision we have for its future is more tangible now,” adds Field.  “We are filled with gratitude for the Rotary club’s interest.”

Rotarians are looking forward to assisting with the renovations, says Munroe. “This fits our club’s purpose so well to help make our community a better place.”