The highlight of their summer holiday
Maitland Bridge business offering Keji campers chance to book canoes, camping gear online
Canoeing is the best way to experience and explore Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, and a Maitland Bridge business is finding new ways to help visitors see the area.
“You can enjoy the unfolding landscape as you travel from still waters to small lakes or across the island-studded expanse of Kejimkujik Lake,” says Sophie Borcoman, visitor experience manager at the park.
Thanks to Whynot Adventure, visitors don’t need all their own gear to experience everything Keji has to offer.
Whynot Adventure, owned and operated by Cody Whynot and Karlene Hauernd, has been in operation since May 2013 strictly within Kejimkujik National Park. The group offers a variety of services, spanning from the very basic - such as canoe, kayak, bicycle and camping equipment rentals - to outfitting packages. There are guided canoe trips, which can be as brief as two hours or as long as four days, with the most popular being a two-night trip.
Whynot says users can also pick a package complete with a customized menu, where they’ll pack up the top of the line gear, plus purchase guests’ food based on a custom menu they submit and reserve
A look at upcoming arts and entertainment events in the Annapolis Valley:
Uncommon artists selected
Uncommon Common Art (UCA), a summer outdoor temporary exhibition located in Kings County has selected its artists for 2018. A jury of Nova Scotian art professionals selected 17 artists from the region.
“We received an overwhelming response to our call for expressions of interest and I am impressed by the talent of the artists” said Kate Ward, curator. “Exhibiting artists include nationally recognized established artists such as Ericka Walker and Kim Morgan, emerging conceptual artists Lorraine Albert, Jessica Winton, Carrie Allison, and traditional artists with popular gallery followings: Marla Benton, Miyoshi Kondo, Bonnie Baker, to name a few.”
Over the past 11 years of Uncommon Common Art, UCA director Terry Drahos and the participating artists have worked to change the cultural fabric of the towns and rural areas of Kings County.
The UCA art installations are presented to the visitors and residents free of charge making it completely accessible to everyone. A colour guidebook is produced which makes it easy to find out more about the individual artworks and where to find them in the region.
Along with the art installations Whynot Adventures will be going into their sixth season operating outfitting packages, including canoe rentals, and adventure tours at Kejimkujik National Park. This year the adventure group has added 35 new boats and will start a new hourly canoe rental system.
campsites for them.
Whynot Adventure’s Quickie Adventures, which are two- and four-hour guided canoe tours, are immensely popular with local families, says Whynot. He says the two-night guided canoe trips are almost exclusively a family trip. They’ve often hosted international guests from such places as the UK, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
“Many of these families will write to tell us that the canoe trip in the exhibited June through October, UCA presents a full season of programming offering a series of four artist talks at Acadia University in July, two weeks of summer camp in July and August, four hands-on art workshops in September, and art education in the school in October. This year UCA will round off its programming with an art exhibit of past UCA art work at the Charles Macdonald Concrete Museum during the month of August.
Fundy Cinema film screenings
Fundy Cinema screens Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool on Feb. 25, with showings at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Annette Bening and Jamie Bell star in Paul Mcguigan’s beguiling adaptation of British actor Peter Turner’s memoir recounting his romance with the legendary (and legendarily eccentric) Hollywood star Gloria Grahame during the last years of her life.
Then, on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m., Faces Places will be shown.
The now 88-year-old French master Agnès Varda collaborates with 33-year-old street artist JR in a wondrous and tender travelogue in which the duo travel through small villages in the French countryside and immortalize the faces of those they meet in immense public murals.
All screenings are held at the Al Whittle Theatre, 450 Main St., Wolfville. Tickets are $9 for each show and are available 30 minutes before screening.
Go online: Find out more at fundycinema.ca or facebook.com/ Fundy-cinema-1692183731024542
Contact 902-542-1050
Author Reading
Author David A. Wimsett will be reading from his novel, Beyond the Shallow Bank, on Sunday, March 4th at 7 p.m. at Box of Delights
park with us was the highlight of their summer holiday,” says Whynot.
Park visitation has grown over the five seasons, with the busiest times for canoe rentals being between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays in July and August. Knowing this, it is advisable to book a canoe rental in advance. Whynot says it is easy to do so as there is now a link from the Whynot Adventure website to the Keji reservation page, and vice
Bookshop on Main Street in Wolfville.
Beyond the Shallow Bank is the story of a fictional artist named Margaret Talbot who has fought harassment, low pay, and assault to enter the male dominated world of publishing in 1901. Margaret loses a child in stillbirth and nearly dies herself. Her husband, John, who had been affectionate and supportive of Margaret’s illustrations and painting, turns cold and withdraws all physical and emotional contact. He forbids Margaret to paint, saying she must work exclusively on the magazine illustrations. She defies him and paints in secret, but cannot express the idea she struggles to express and questions if she really is an artist.
The Talbots travel to a Nova Scotia fishing village to write an article, where an older woman becomes a friend and confidant while another accuses Margaret of being a witch. With the influences of those and other villagers, and her own selfdetermination, Margaret strives to discover who she is and what she truly wants.
At the gallery
We LOVE Odd Couples! Round Hill Studio in Annapolis Royal has mounted a fun exhibition with an odd couples theme, but it’s not about Oscar and Felix.
What can be better than animal companionship? Nothing. A melding of domestic and wild animal friendships are represented in bright, and bold paintings by acrylic artist Jaime Lee Lightle.
“If these unlikely pairs can see past their differences, why can’t we?” she asks.
The exhibit runs until March 1. Round Hill Studio is at 280 St. George St., Annapolis Royal.
Call for directors
Directors are needed for eight new plays. Plays submitted for the 2018 King’s Shorts Festival of Ten Minute Plays are now being reviewed by the reading committee and the finalists will be announced in March.
The eight plays to be selected will be performed at the festival on June 15, 16 and 17 at King’s Theatre, Annapolis Royal. Directors for the eight plays are now being sought. All those interested in participating as a director are encouraged to apply.
The eight directors selected will choose their cast members from among those auditioning on April 5 and 8.
To enter your name for consideration, please contact Verilea Ellis at 902-245-2309, or email her at verilea@yahoo.ca
versa.
“We have recognized wait times and boat unavailability as pressure points for the operation and so have created measures to improve this experience,” says Whynot.
To do so, they’ve added another 35 watercraft, doubled staff capacity and, this season, they’re launching a digital waiver program, which is an on-demand service where folks can fill out their waiver documents before arriving at Jake’s Landing for their rentals.
Weekly music night
It’s Friday night so that means it’s Music Night at Port Royal Legion in Annapolis Royal where they will host The Blue Grove Band Feb. 23 from 8-10 p.m. or later. Join in on some great music weekly with no cover charge. Open to the public and everyone is welcome.
Rumors at Centre Stage
Centrestage Theatre takes the edge off the winter blahs with Neil Simon’s farce Rumors.
At a large, tastefully appointed Sneden’s Landing townhouse, the deputy mayor of New York City has shot himself on the night of his 10th wedding anniversary party. Though only a flesh wound, the four couples invited experience a severe attack of farcical ‘cover-up’.
Lawyer Ken and his wife Chris arrive to find the deputy mayor bleeding in another room and no sign of his wife. They must get the “story” straight before the other guests arrive. As the confusions and miscommunications mount, the evening spins off into hilarity... and that’s even before the cops arrive!
The play is directed by Junie Hutchinson. The cast, in order of appearance, are Charley Mcbride, Brian Cottam, Linda Levy Fisk, Mike Butler, John Smith, Gwenyth Dwyn, Alan Tupper, Caroline Leverett, Mike Kenny, and Karen Court.
The featured artist is Kelly Michelmore.
Check out Rumors Feb. 23, 24, March 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, and 24, with doors opening for the evening performances at 6:45 p.m. Matinees will be held March 11, 18 and 25, with doors opening at 1:15 p.m.
Tickets are: adults $15; seniors/ students $12; children age 12 and under, $5. Centrestage takes cash or cheques only. Reservations are held until 15 minutes before show time.
Please note there is a coarse language advisory for this show.
Call 902-678-8040 for reservations.
Go To: www.centrestagetheatre.ca
Cinderella! Cinderella!
Cinderella! Cinderella! by Edith Weiss is the first family show of 2018 and it is the first show in the newly renovated Upper Performance Centre at Centre Stage Theatre in Kentville.
This unique and hilarious adaptation has a new twist to the classic story of Cinderella and it’s bringing in the crowds.
Remaining shows are Feb. 24, 25, and March 3, 4. All shows begin at 2 p.m. (door opens at 1:15 p.m.) and all tickets are $5. Please call 902678-8040 for reservations. This is intended to cut down on the amount of time spent at the rental window, says Whynot. The company has also incorporated faster payment options and now use a tablet instead of a cash register for faster processing.
For this coming season, Whynot Adventure is experimenting with hourly reservations. Guests will now be able to make a reservation for an hourly rental of a canoe, kayak or bicycle online at the comfort of their campsite on their tablet or mobile device, says Whynot.
Historically, the business has only offered reservations for rental periods of no less than 24-hours in duration, but this season, if guests want a canoe for one hour, it can be reserved for a specific time slot on a specific day.
“We’re really excited about these improvements,” says Whynot.
This season, he urges, don’t miss out on the opportunity to explore Keji by water.
“Canada’s national parks are gateways to nature, adventure, and discovery and Kejimkujik offers some of the best paddling in Atlantic Canada,” adds Borcoman. Centre Stage Theatre is located at 61 River Street in Kentville.
Off to see the Wizard
West Kings Theatre presents The Wizard of Oz Feb. 21 to 24 at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. at West Kings High School, Auburn. Adults $15, Students $10. Contact 902-848-1159 or westkingsoztickets@gmail.com
For additional information contact 902-760-0380
Getting ready for Ghost Walks
Interested in being part of the 11th year of Valley Ghost Walks? If so, you can go to Studio Z in Wolfville’s Al Whittle Theatre to learn more. They’ll provide one of their scripts to be read as they search for theatrical talent to bring these historical productions to life.
The 2018 season will run predominantly on Thursdays and Fridays between Apple Blossom in May and Halloween. Locations include: Wolfville, Kentville, Windsor, Halls Harbour, and Hantsport. Male and female roles are available, but nothing for children at present. Part proceeds of these familyfriendly walks go toward each performer.
Casting Call:
Feb. 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Studio Z, Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville Contact 902-692-8546
Email: jerome@valleyghostwalks.com
Go online: https://www.valleyghostwalks.com/
Rose Cousins at Evergreen
Rose Cousins is back and on March 17 performs at Evergreen Theatre in East Margaretsville where they are thrilled to host the show which will feature songs from her new album Natural Conclusion. Go online: www.evergreentheatre.ca
Smokin’ Blues Fest
If you’re making your summer plans, here’s one that should make your list. The Smokin’ Blues Fest at the Hants County Exhibition Grounds in Windsor July 6 and 7 boasts a lineup of great blues and rockin’ blues talent including the Christine Campbell Band, John Campbelljohn, Beauwater, the Kendra Gale Band, the Dan Doiron Band, Ced, Martyy & Dave, Curtis Matheson, amd the Logan Richard Band – and that’s just for starters. More acts are being added.
The event, dubbed ‘A Beacon of East Coast Blues’ is open to all ages, includes and after-hours acoustic jam, has free parking, on-site camping, and food and artisan vendors. Kids 12 and under get in free.
Go to www.smokinbluesfest.ca for day and weekend passes that start at $20.