Greetings Creekers!
Many of you were at the unveiling ceremony for the new mural behind the library on Sunday and are already aware of what a beautiful piece of art it is. Each panel is painted in bright colours with lots of details and imagery that take time to appreciate. One panel has been temporarily removed but I think by the time you read this it will be finished. Titled Land of Abundance “when water bubbles,” the mural was commissioned by Slow Sundays and is dedicated to the memory of xwup’a’lich Barbara Higgins, a beloved shíshálh Elder and in recognition of shíshálh and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh lands.
Most of the artists were at the ceremony, where Holly Ann Higgins honoured her mother. That included drumming, stories and a potlatch. I would like to use this space, on behalf of the community, to publicly thank each of the artists for their contribution.
The artists are: Erika Snowlake, Pat Ridgway, Jennifer Norquist, Dean Hunt, Dean Schutz and Caren Cameron.
The mural, along with our mandala, contributes to the uniqueness of the Creek and will be enjoyed by visitors and Creekers for years to come.
I was thinking about housing and remembered that some time ago I promised to write about “50 Women.” This a group of 50 plus Sunshine Coast women sharing a commitment to making health, well-being and economic security available to women and children at risk across the Coast. They have come together to raise the additional $1.5 million required to realise the construction of a new Sunshine Community Services development in Sechelt. The six-storey building will be a community program hub and will include 35 safe and affordable housing units for women and children at risk. “50 Women” are raising money through individual and group fundraising. This great project will benefit everyone on the Sunshine Coast and if you would like to donate or find out more you can go to 50women.ca.
While on the subject of fundraising and tying in with the subject of blackberries (see last week’s column!), I have found out that our local distillery, Bruinwood, has produced a blackberry liqueur in conjunction with One Straw. One Straw members picked the berries and Bruinwood has concocted an orange and cardamon scented liquor that sounds pretty good to me. It’s called Nemesis and 50 per cent of the sales proceeds will go to One Straw. It’s selling fast but there are still bottles available at the distillery.
Also on the subject of fundraising, the library would like to report that their Creek Daze book sale was a success and raised $1,425. So, thank you to all of you who came out and added to your book collection and to those who donated books to sell. In spite of the successful sales, there are boxes of books left over so the library will not be accepting anymore donations at this time. While we are talking about the library, I want to mention puzzles, again. I was in there yesterday looking through them. There are a lot of very nice puzzles, even ones I would do –– and I’m picky. If you have one to exchange, that’s great, but otherwise they are free for the taking, so think about those indoor days and grab one while the selection is good.
By the time you get this, it will be the start of Labour Day weekend. Even though I am no longer attached to the school system, through employment or children, it still has a kind of bittersweet feeling for me. It’s the end of summer holidays and there is the anticipation (and dread?) of the new school year for kids and parents, the excitement of starting or returning to college and university and the coming of fall. However, I remind myself that summer is not over yet for lucky people like me and I am still hoping for more of the activities that I did not get enough of this year. So here’s to continuing beach days and swimming and picnics! I am about to head up the mountain in search of the wild blueberry (nothing like the cultivated version, by the way) and I will report back on if it’s with the effort.
Oops! One more thing that you don’t want to forget! It’s the last weekend for Slow Sunday. There’s a great line up of musicians this week, including a special choir! Don’t miss it.
Write to me: [email protected].
