Say sesquicentennial five times fast

It’s only days until the much anticipated sesquicentennial celebration of Canada. Sesquicentennial simply means 150th anniversary, but if you perfect the pronunciation it’s a real crowd pleaser.

I wanted to know why we are celebrating 150 years when Canada is clearly older than that. Montreal is marking 375 years since the French settlement of Fort Ville-Marie was founded in 1642.

In 1982, Canada “patriated” the constitution, so perhaps we are only 35 years old?

But, with the 1999 addition of Nunavut to make up Canada as we know it, with 10 provinces and three territories, are we surely only 18. A significant milestone for teenagers leaving high school, but for a country, perhaps not.

The 1967 Expo in Montreal invited the world to come and celebrate 100 years of Confederation, so let’s just leave it at that, shall we?

Saturday is Canada Day and it is packed with a program to suit whatever mood you are in or how you fancy celebrating it.

The Kelowna Art Gallery is a great place to start. First, because it’s across the street from my favourite coffee spot; GioBean Espresso, which serves arguably the best Italian coffee , gelatos and sandwiches in town and its great to pack a few delicious calories for sustenance to get the better of this great day.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the public is invited to get creative at the gallery on Water Street with choices like chalk art, painting and drawing. You play inside or out on the pavement – this will surely ignite creative juices.

Visit the website to get better details of what is on offer at kelownaartgallery.com or call 250-762-2226.

I then urge you to wander into Prospera Place to get a feel of the diversity of our great city with the Folk Fest and ethnic food stalls. The food might be delicious, but you will thank me for the Giobean tip cause there usually is no good coffee inside and this is speaking of years and years of experience.

Hang out till around 12.30 p.m. when it’s the official cake cutting time.

Then make your way to the water’s edge where you have a series of stages to be entertained by local musicians. My itinerary for the day would be: 1 p.m. at Kiwanis Kids Stage (West end of Pioneer Gardens) to hear Sista B & the Boyz performing a clash of funk/soul/pop with a seven-piece band from 1 to 2 p.m.

After that, rush to the TD stage (north end of Water Street) because from 2 to 3 p.m is Cod Gone Wild. I have a copy of their new CD and its first class. You really do not want to miss out on the opportunity to hear them for free. (I think they are selling their CDs after the show, so bring cash.) Stay at the TD stage to enjoy a 22-piece children’s choir from Africa, the Watoto Children's Choir.

Then head over to the Pacific Coastal Street Stage for Kinshira who are performing their style of acrobatics and theatrics until 4 p.m.

Be back at the TD stage for 7 p.m. to bebop and jump and jive to Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne and his five-piece band.

After this concert is over, proceed back to Prospera Place to finish your evening off with the Kelowna City Band.

This 60-strong band of musicians exemplifies the commitment of keeping music alive and this band has been in existence since 1894, even before Kelowna was incorporated as a city.

You can find your own itinerary through the schedule of events at festivalskelowna.com.

————— There are many of you who are crowd shy, but still desire to be in a public setting while celebrating our country’s birthday. For this reason, why not attend an elegant evening at Mission Hill winery.

A four-course meal will be served under the trees in a Long Table Dinner and wine reception.

I will be performing with my amazing trio that includes jazz piano maestro Stu Goldberg and Darko Cuk on the double bass. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with tickets costing $150 each and can be purchased by calling 250768-6448. Mission Hill Winery is at 730 Mission Hill Road with plenty of parking available for visiting guests.

Calling all singing actresses. There is a casting call for a alto female, aged 35-45 for key role in the dramatic musical RAFT.

This grand-scale rock musical was the brainchild of two local musicians who spent painstaking years creating this dynamic show which debuted a few years ago at the Kelowna Community Theatre and was submitted into the Ozone drama festival this year to win an award.

Well, one of their “Rafties’ is not able to join in on the next leg of their journey – a fiveshow run at the Mary Irwin Theatre Sept. 1317. So they are holding auditions.

You must be available Sundays for rehearsals starting in mid-July (no long weekends) and the show dates, Sept. 10-17. If you are someone who likes a challenge and is able and willing to learn fast, email randall@raftofthemedusamusical.com to arrange an audition. See the Same Boat Reprise on You Tube and for more more info on the show, visit raftrockopera.com. Happy Canada Day everyone! Anna Jacyszyn is an award -winning jazz singer. Email her at artafactevent@gmail.com.