Countdown to the weekend
Thursday, April 11
• 12th annual United Way Drive-thru Breakfast, Penticton Lakeside Resort, 6:30 a.m. - 9 p.m., for a suggested minimum donation of $20 receive a free breakfast bag, hot coffee and a chance at prizes, local celebrities in attendance
• Tonye Aganaba, The Dream Café, 8 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m., $28, visit: thedreamcafe.ca
• Comedian Ron James, Not Nearly Done Yet, Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver, 7:30 p.m., $70, visit: venablestheatre.ca
• Now on display at the Penticton Art Gallery: Gifts of Madness by guest curator Kagan Goh; Maid in Canada; Behind the Mask by Katie Green, by donation, open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
• 13 Going on 30, youth group exhibition, The Leir House, Wednesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., also: The Shattered Canvas, fragments of beauty in unexpected places, a solo exhibition by Nancy Dearborn
• Acoustic jam night, Penticton Elks Lodge, 7 p.m., bring your instruments and song books
• Grab some popcorn and help shape the future of housing in Penticton, information session presented by City of Penticton, Wiltse Elementary School, 5-7 p.m.
• Line dancing, Oliver Senior Centre, beginner, 9:30 a.m., advanced, 10:30 a.m., co-ed cardio/strength, 1 p.m.
• Bingo, Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre, 12:45 p.m., Spanish conversations, 10 a.m., table tennis, 3:15 p.m.
• House sessions at Eliza: Chance Kennedy, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Trivia Night and Thirsty Thursday, The Barley Mill Brew Pub, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 12
• Okanagan Fest of Ale, Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, 4-9 p.m., first of two days, free bus service available, for tickets: valleyfirsttix.ca
• Direct from the Roxy: Fully Loaded, The Barking Parrot Pub, 9 p.m.-close, $10 cover
• Opening Night: Jonas and Barry in the Home by Norm Foster, presented by Many Hats Theatre Co., The Cannery Stage, 7:30 p.m., with Liz Barry, Rob King and Vance Potter, for tickets visit: manyhatstheatre.com, meet-the-cast reception following the performance
• Penticton Kiwanis Music Festival, Musical Theatre, The Blue Church on Main Street, sessions begin at 9 a.m., noon and 6:30 p.m.
• Adventure Quest, Create your own improv show, Tempest Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $30, available online from ticketowl
• Satellite Nites, The Hub on Martin, 9 p.m.-close, $10 cover charge
• Karaoke with Candie, Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 40, 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m., fish-and-chips, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Friday Night Dinner, Fraternal Order of Eagles, 5-7 p.m., proceeds to local charities
• Ladies Keep Fit, Oliver Senior Centre, 8:30 a.m., bingo, 1 p.m.
• Ukulele, Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre, 9:15 a.m., line dancing, 1 p.m.
• Karaoke, The Barley Mill Brew Pub, 8:30 p.m.,-12:30 a.m.
• Merge9, Britbar, 9 p.m., $10
•Now playing at Landmark Cinemas: Civil War (14A, 109 minutes); Wicked Little Letters (14A, 102 minutes); The First Omen (14A, 120 minutes); Monkey Man (14A, 122 minutes); Godzilla x Kong The New Empire (PG, 115 minutes); Ghostbusters Frozen Empire (PG, 115 minutes); Kung Fu Panda 4 (G, 94 minutes); Rocket Club Across the Universe (G, 67 minutes); Dune Part Two (PG, 166 minutes)
• Now playing Theatre: Kong x New Empire at the Oliver Godzilla: The
Saturday, April 13
• Okanagan Fest of Ale, Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, noon-6 p.m., second of two days, free bus service available, for tickets: valleyfirsttix.ca
• Keg Share Brewers Pancake Breakfast, Slackwater Brewing Co. 9-11:30 a.m.
• Tap Takeover at Alecatraz, Cannery Brewing Co., 6-10 p.m.
• Direct from the Roxy: Fully Loaded, The Barking Parrot Pub, 9 p.m.-close, $10 cover
• Spring Tea and Bake Sale, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 397 Martin Street, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., free to attend, tea/coffee and sandwiches available for $10, (See story on Page B4)
• Penticton Kiwanis Music Festival, Musical Theatre, The Blue Church on Main Street, sessions begin at 9 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
• Michael Charles 40th anniversary tour, The Dream Café, 8 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m., $32, visit: thedreamcafe.ca
• Adventure Quest, Create your own improv show, Tempest Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
• Meat draw, Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 40, 2-4 p.m., general meeting, 11 a.m.
• Burgers and fries, Fraternal Order of Eagles, noon-4 p.m., eagle races, 4 p.m.
• Satellite Nites, The Hub on Martin, 9 p.m.-close, $10
• Rotary Club of Penticton, used book, games and puzzles collection drop-off your donations, Penticton Curling Club, 9 a.m.-noon
• Wendy, music and dancing, The Elks Lodge, 7 p.m., IGA meat draw, 4 p.m., lodge dinner, 5:30 p.m., drop-in cribbage, 10 a.m.
• Jonas and Barry in the Home by Norm Foster, presented by Many Hats Theatre Co., The Cannery Stage, 7:30 p.m., with Liz Barry, Rob King and Vance Potter, for tickets visit: manyhatstheatre.com, free reception folllowing the performance
• Live dance band, Oliver Senior Centre, 10 a.m.
•Live music with Joshua Smith, Slackwater Brewing Co., 8 p.m., no cover
•Karaoke, The Barley Mill Brew Pub, 8:30 p.m.12:30 a.m.
• The Mom Market, Okanagan, local vendor market at Skaha Lake Park Beach, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sunday, April 14
• This is National Volunteer Week
• Ceremony marking the 9th anniversary of the public health emergency as declared due to toxic drug poisonings, Memorial Bench, located between the Penticton Art Gallery and marina, opening ceremony, 12:30 p.m.. walk to Okanagan Beach with black balloons, 1:15 p.m., hot dog roast, 2 p.m., all welcome
• The Power of Music starring Marty Edwards, Centre Stage Theatre in Summerland, 2 p.m., with special guests Crossfire Rhythm & Horns and Betty Anne Northup
• Jonas and Barry in the Home by Norm Foster, presented by Many Hats Theatre Co., The Cannery Stage, 2 p.m., with Liz Barry, Rob King and Vance Potter, for tickets visit: manyhatstheatre.com (See story on Page B4)
• Penticton Tune-Agers Choir and Orchestra present Swinging into Spring, The Blue Church, 2 p.m., $15 (adults), $5 (ages 12 and under), purchase in advance from The Dragon’s Den, Bee’s Knees Yarn Shop in Summerland or any members of the choir or orchestra
• Rotary Club of Penticton, used book, games and puzzles collection drop-off donations, Penticton Curling Club, 9 a.m.noon
• Nine-ball tournament, Legion Branch 40, 1 p.m., $10 entry
• Meat draw, Fraternal Order of Eagles, 4 p.m.
• Grimms meat draw, dog races and last man standing, Penticton Elks Lodge, 1 p.m., lodge breakfast, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $10
• Pancake breakfast, Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre, 10 a.m., Sunday afternoon bingo, 4:30 p.m.
• Open Jam/Open Mic, Bar One at the Sandman Hotel, 4-8 p.m, bring your own instruments, backline provided
• Live music with Taylor Van Zant, The Cannery Brewing Co., 5-7 p.m., no cover
Monday, April 15
• Euchre, Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 40, Texas holdem poker, 6:15 p.m., pool, 6:30 p.m.
• Cribbage,
Lodge, 7 p.m.
• Ladies Keep Fit, Oliver Senior Centre, 8:30 a.m.
• Carpet bowling, Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre, 10:15 a.m., Live and Learn: Dental program, 1-2:30 p.m.
Penticton
Elks
Tuesday, April 16
• Penticton City Council meets, City Hall, 1 p.m., to view agenda package or watching meeting live: penticton.ca
• Open Mic, hosted Schlackl, Highway 97
6-8 p.m.
• Coffee social, Oliver Senior Centre, 9:30 a.m., co-ed cardio/ strength, 1 p.m.
• The Best Is Yet to Come, Dusk Sings Bennett, The Dream Café, 8 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m., visit: thedreamcafe.ca
• Kettle Valley Model Railway Club meets, SS Sicamous, 1099 Lakeshore Drive, 7 p.m., for information: admin@kvmrc.com
• Karaoke Tuesdays, The Hub on Martin, 8 p.m., hosted by DJ Oddli
• Blended Brainz Trivia, Slackwater Brewing Co., 7 p.m.
• Cribbage Night, The Barley Mill, 7 p..
• Hot Rockin’ Music Bingo, Match Public House, 7-9:30 p.m.
• Chair yoga, Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre, 10 a.m., pre-registration required, lunch, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., iPad course, 1 p.m. by Will Brewery,
Wednesday, April 17
• The Best Is Yet to Come, Dusk Sings Bennett, The Dream Café, 8 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m., visit: thedreamcafe.ca
• Canasta, Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 40, 1 p.m., lunch, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Ladies Keep Fit, Oliver Senior Centre, 8:30 a.m., band jam session, 1-3 p.m.
• EZ line dance, Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre, 9:30 a.m., beginner line dance, must pre-register, 3 p.m.
• Karaoke, The Barley Mill
• Music at The Hub on Martin, Chance Kennedy, 7:30 p.m.
--To submit a calendar event email: editor@pentictonherald.ca This appears every Thursday.
OTTAWA – Canada’s dental associations, which say some of their members are reluctant to participate in the national dental care plan, are in fact just negotiating with Ottawa over the program, says federal Health Minister Mark Holland.
“They’re doing their job. They are negotiating,” Holland told reporters on Monday. “They want to get the best deal for their members; I want to get the best deal for taxpayers.”
However, he said, the federal government can’t accept the demand by “a lot” of dentists and other dental care providers that patients pay for services first and then get reimbursed by Ottawa, as is possible with private insurers.
“We can’t do that,” Holland said. “These are vulnerable people who can’t pay out of their own pocket. So that’s a red line.”
The government, he added, is open to reducing as much as possible the administrative burden on dental providers, but he said Ottawa is also looking for some sort of control mechanism over the program.
“Otherwise, somebody could abuse it and we wouldn’t want that, and we do have a responsibility for taxpayers.”
The Liberal government launched the Canadian Dental Care Plan as a condition of a deal with the NDP to ensure the opposition party’s support on key votes. The federal insurance-like program is expected to provide coverage to uninsured families with a household income under $90,000, starting in May, with seniors the first to be invited to take part. The plan is slated to cost $13 billion over five years.
But the Canadian dental care sector is not fully on board. Associations representing dentists and hygienists have criticized the federal government’s payment structure, saying that the proposed fees are lower than the ones their members bill patients. Holland’s office, however, has described the proposed fees as “fair.”
In Quebec, the association of dental surgeons has come out strongly against the fee structure, arguing that the federal government is asking that they subsidize dental care for low-income Canadians. Providers want patients to pay the difference between the proposed federal fee guide and what they usually charge.
Holland on Monday refused to say how many dental professionals – dentists, independent hygienists and denturists – have signed up to participate in the federal insurance plan. He would only say “thousands” have so far committed to taking part.
According to the Canadian Dental Association, the country has approximately 25,500 licensed dentists. It says nearly 61 per cent of dentists surveyed by their provincial associations last month indicated they did not intend to register with the federal system.
Time is running out, as the first patients enrolled in the program should have access to subsidized dental care in May, but only from a registered provider. For several months, Ottawa has been expanding the age ranges of Canadians eligible to apply to the program, which is currently open to people 70 and older.
About 1.6 million people have signed up. In Quebec, the program is particularly popular, with 576,000 registrations.
Over the course of the year, eligibility will be expanded to all people aged 65 and over, those under 18 and people living with disabilities. Those aged 18 to 64 will be able to enrol in 2025. The insurance plan is administered by Sun Life Canada.
Asked about the reluctance of providers to participate in the program, federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he is not concerned. Decades ago, when universal health coverage started in Canada, “the same thing” happened and doctors “were against it.” And yet, he noted, medicare is now working.