RemarkABILITY Fest with Rock Squad and La Déferlance

On July 23, RemarkABILITY Fest, in partnership with Diverse Family Roots, will provide unique experiences to engage the public and celebrate inclusion and diverse community.
RemarkABILITY Fest launched last year and our openers, Rock Squad, that includes members who are Autistic, are excited to return!
Rock Squad is a 4-piece band covering classic rockers from the past that will rock your socks off! The band was formed after two members Luc Picard (drums) and Marshall (Guitar) met at Autism BC during one of their Awareness Events.
Luc is also the inspiration for Rock4autism. He was diagnosed with autism before his 3rd birthday, and has been drumming since he could sit up! He won the K-5 talent show in grade 3 with his keys and vocals rendition of Song Sung Blue by Neil Diamond. In 2016 he began performing at Open Mic jams in the Vancouver area, and now he plays bass, drums, keys along with guitar.
Rock4autism had its first Fundraiser at the Paddlewheeler Pub in 2017, because the staff at the pub loved Luc so much. They donated over $2,000.00 to Autism BC at that time, and in 2018 Rock4autism 2 took place at the outdoor stage at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody and that is where Rock Squad was born.
The rest of Rock Squad are Andrew MacFarlane on lead guitar and Dean on bass. Andrew is a very talented professional musician, and has been a supporter of Rock4autism ever since it all started at his Open Mic jam. Get ready to rock with Andy on board!

Playing classic rockers from the past...from Lay Down Sally, to Rock and Roll All Night, to Born to be Wild, you'll want to chill near the dance floor....Luc and Marshall also love to engage with the crowd...we all know it's more fun for the band AND the crowd when there's crowd participation!!
Headlining tonight are La Déferlance, Formed in 2018, La Déferlance offers lively original tunes and purely traditional songs arranged in its own unique style. The group's energetic, polished performances are a testament to its members' years of varied musical experience, particularly in jazz and classical music.
Their debut album, “Le feu aux poudres”, earned them three nominations at the Canadian Folk Music Awards and the GAMIQ.
La Déferlance sweeps its audience into a world where stories from the past intertwine with the realities of modern Quebec society. With festive grooves, refined vocal harmonies, colorful arrangements, and moments of sensitivity, the group stands out for both its vibrant energy and the quality of its performances.
The band are Marie-Desneiges Hamel (back vocals, and accordions), Grégoire Painchaud (back vocals, fiddle, guitar, step dance), Renaud Labelle (back vocals, double bass, bass), and Mathieu Baillargeon (vocals, piano, foot percussion, and jaw harp).
"The gifted ensemble delivers a set of tantalizing and expertly constructed modern songs deeply grounded in French Canadian traditions" - Angel Romero (World Music Central)
"With their inventive arrangements of old and new repertoire, La Déferlance are at the forefront of Québec’s burgeoning trad revival" - Songlines
Also on location will be hands-on activities, info booths, vendors and food. Please note that anyone applying to participate in activities, info booths or vendors MUST be an organization that supports people with disabilities OR be led by a person with a disability.
So, bring a lawn chair and your dancing shoes for a Summer of live music in the park!
Admission is by $5 suggested donation per person at Gyro Park.

by _KCR Events

Communities Pulling Together at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park

Join CKISS and CBAL for a community conservation event at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park. Participants will help remove invasive greater celandine plants along the Thicket Trail Loop while enjoying an afternoon outdoors and meeting community members.

📅 Date: Friday, July 17
🕐 Time: 1:00–3:00 p.m.
📍 Location: Kokanee Creek Nature Centre, Kokanee Creek Provincial Park (Hwy 3A, Nelson)

No experience is necessary—all ages are welcome. Training and tools will be provided; just bring your enthusiasm. Please note that transportation is not provided.

Registration & Information:
Katherine van der Veen
📧 nelsonsettlement@cbal.org
📱 Text: 250-505-6047
🌐 cbal.org

OR

https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/kokanee-creek-park-communities-pulling-together

Hosted by the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) and Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) through the Newcomer Services Program.

by _KCR Events

Slocan Harmony Festival shows true community spirit

Volunteers and artists in the Slocan are gearing up for Harmony Festival this weekend. The 3-day festival takes place on picturesque Slocan Beach, and kicks off today at 1 p.m. with a youth songwriting workshop. The festival, now in its 4th year, draws on local talent, effort, and passion to create an accessible event for all ages. Entrance is by donation.

“I would describe it as Slocan Valley vibes, family friendly, lots of fun, lots of art, lots of freedom of expression.

The donation model that I'm trying to expand is a pay what you can or pay it forward. For some people that have a little bit more money, they can put a little extra to cover the people who don't have so much money so that we can all enjoy a community gathering, on one of the most beautiful places in the world, Slocan Beach.”

Organizer and host Lisa Parente, who hails from Montreal, said she created the festival as a sort of sequel to the Unity Music Festival that ran in the Slocan for roughly 6 years.

“I approached the founders of Unity and said, ‘hey, I've been asked to bring this back. How do you feel, I would love your blessing’. And they said, ‘yeah, bring back a music event, that's great. But don't call it Unity, make it something else.’ And so I came up with the name Harmony, which is both a musical term and synonym for Unity.”

Before the Unity Festival there was LittleFest, another grassroots-style Slocan Valley festival that also ran for 6 years. 

Many festivals of its kind, and many larger festivals in the Interior and beyond, have faced challenges continuing in recent years. But there's something in the spirit of these community festivals that isn't so easily cancelled.

The 2nd year of the Harmony Festival was scheduled during devastating fires in the area. Some questioned whether the festival should go ahead. Parente decided to have the event anyway.

“There was friends of mine who had their property burned just a few days earlier, and they were there at the event, singing and dancing, and being with their friends. Because what else could they do? I was standing there, watching the fire creep closer to my home at Harmony… Artists showed up, and they gave their show, and people showed up. And we danced and we laughed…”

The festival comes together through the creativity and support of local artists, volunteers and organizations.

Festival goers can look forward to music, creative workshops, and water games. Everything from felting to kayak races.

“Friday evening, there's going to be some live art happening during the hip-hop show. Free crafts, tons of workshops, lots of games. We're gonna have the Slocan firefighter games on Sunday, and we're having Endless Adventure from Crescent Valley facilitate some water games on Saturday. Getting lots of support from local businesses and organizations and groups.

I just really love the fact that I can help showcase local art through music, dance, and art exhibits.”

Parente runs the Treehugger Events Society — a non-profit that aims to support local artists and culture, and create accessible community events. She says she's proud to provide the space to gather and enjoy cultural and artistic expression.

The event is also produced by Live Harmonics Sound Science — a small event production company based in the Slocan Valley. You might know them from their work at Bloom Nightclub in Nelson. Mark Parsons of Live Harmonics is looking forward to producing the sound for Harmony.

“We have been working with Lisa for the past few years and she runs these events by donation and she brings the community together. It's absolutely adorable, and such a wonderful event. We're really proud to be a part of it. So, yeah, we couldn't be happier to be a part of it again this year.”

Harmony Festival runs through Sunday at Slocan Beach. Admission is by donation, and the full lineup of activities can be found on Harmony's Facebook page.

by Heather Austin