Points of Departure, a series of readings and live music, is being launched by the Whistler Writers Festival and The Point Artist-Run Centre.
The first event is A Stroke of Luck: Writers' Open Mic Night competition takes place at The Point on Saturday, March 15. The contest asks participants to share their stories about luck in its many forms through poems, stories, song, dance or any other form of artistic expression in two minutes or less.
Organizer Stella Harvey said the Points of Departure series aims to extend the fall Whistler Readers and Writers Festival throughout the year, spotlight Whistler's writing talent, raise money and "have some creative fun."
Music comes courtesy of Wilson Faiella.
The cost is $20 for show and dinner, selections from Around the World in Four Tapas, and $10 for show only. Contest entry fee is included in admission. Dinner starts at 7 p.m. and readings at 8 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at www.theviciouscircle.com or www.thepointartists.com. More information on the series can be found on The Vicious Circle website.
Beyond Boarding films bring activism to the slopes
Two films are being shown at the Whistler launch of Beyond Boarding, a screening tour created by snowboarders and surfers in the Vancouver area to bridge the gap between riding and activism in film.
Beyond Boarding aims to generate financial support for the education of impoverished children in Peru, and to encourage response to environmental issues in British Columbia.
The documentary Belén tells the story of Canadian snowboarders Tamo Campos and Dave MacKinnon travelling through South America, working with development organizations in impoverished communities and snowboarding in the backcountry of Chile's Andes.
Northern Grease is a documentary that follows Campos, Jasper Snow Rosen, John Muirhead, Lewis Muirhead, and friends across Northern B.C., as they learn about problems presented by resource extraction projects and also experience the people whose lifestyles present solutions.
The screening takes place at Millennium Place on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. Entry by donation.
Both films feature professional-level snowboarding, cinematography, and storytelling, and tell a riveting story.
Burlesque swings into Creative 5 Eclectic
Two of Vancouver's most sizzling burlesque dancers are part of the next outing of Creative 5 Eclectic at Dusty's on Monday, Feb. 24.
Lottie Libido and Georsha CutiePie will perform, along with bone rattling sets of blues, ska and reggae by Creative 5 house band Some Assembly Required.
The Creative 5 Open Mic sessions follows, open to musicians, poets, comedians and budding burlesque performers. Suggested donation is $10 at the door.
Whistler Film Festival features in Elle magazine
Canadian stars, including Brent Butt, Jason Priestly and Emily Hampshire, are featured in a five-page photo story from the Whistler Film Festival (WFF) in March's issue of Elle Canada.
Elle, a sponsor of last year's festival, took photos of guests and actors over the festival at a pop-up studio, which ran from Dec. 4 to 8, 2013.
"VIP guests and talent would go into the studio for an interview and have photography done. It really shines a spotlight on the talent at the festival," said WFF executive director Shauna Hardy Mishaw.
"It shows we're attracting some really significant people in the industry. It's really nice, it's so animated and paints a great, positive light on us as a place to take your films and to visit. I'm really pleased with it."
Hardy Mishaw said Elle Canada has already confirmed it will be a sponsor for the 2014 festival.
Results for Whistler Reads Ski Race
Whistler locals, along with Lower Mainland supporters, came out for the first Whistler Reads Ski Race and FUNraiser on Saturday, Feb. 15.
Ryan Nadeau had the fastest time men at 0.18:86, while Kendra Jefferson had the fastest time women at 0.19.28.
Closest Matched time men went to Rod Nadeau with a 0.00.05 difference between his first and second run. Closest Matched time women went to Marjolaine Savioe with a 0.00.13 difference between her first and second run. Rosalind Hannah-Miles Prize won the congeniality prize for the slowest time, but the best attitude.
Organizer Paula Shackleton says the race will become an annual fundraising event for Whistler Reads.
