by Loni Taylor | Aug 23, 2023 | CKTZ News
An avid student of Jamaican Island Reggae will be featured at the Gorge Hall for the first time this weekend. Gisto and the Grateful Living have a special connection to the genre, offering a spirit of music specific to island culture. Gisto, the band’s leader and songwriter, explains what makes his band’s delivery so appropriate for island culture. “We do the improvisational interludes where we’ll be just jamming out for 20 minutes on one song…that freedom in the music that anything can happen type of feeling where you’re you want to get people dancing,” he says. He describes the music’s effect on the audience as “a therapeutic moment where we explore the unknown…where the music inspires a freedom and potential.” Gisto used to have a band based out of Victoria, but he never made it Cortes Island until now. He sees the performance as a ticket to connect to new places, especially islands like Jamaica and Cortes. “Lucky that we have the music as our as our passport to travel and meet people,” Gisto says. Gisto connected with his band, the Grateful Living, during the pandemic. But his journey with reggae began back in Nelson, BC. No matter where his music “passport” takes him, he values the human connections he makes along the way. “Whether it’s a Jamaica, or a Cortes, or wherever there’s a unique energy when it comes to these islands that I’m really excited to be able to share,” he says. The Whaletown Community Club will welcome Gisto and The Grateful Living on Aug. 26 at the Gorge Hall. To hear more about how reggae lead...
by Loni Taylor | Aug 18, 2023 | CKTZ News
Locals Connie Brill and Colin Funk are spearheading a resurgence of improv theater on Cortes Island. They have begun hosting all-ages sessions on Friday evenings at Mansons Hall and they are calling it “Rewild Theatre.” The sessions began back in June as a test drive of timing and interest. The duo originally began offering improv on the island about 10 years ago, when they first moved to the island. Back then, they called the group the “Laughing Mussels.” Funk explains the original motivation for the local improv group, “The idea at that point was for us to be the front end of a fundraiser for some of the nonprofits. We thought that would be a really great way to help.” Brill and Funk have 40 years of experience running various theatrical programs in places like Banff. During the pandemic, the programming decreased and changed dramatically, with varying success. Now, the community members are focused on the new program, “Rewild Theatre.” “It has a big focus on environmental awareness and community health,” Funk said. “We liked the idea of ‘Rewild’ as the concept of rewilding spaces, both ourselves, community and the natural world.” “So we’re using the improv now as a way to attract people to connect to community, but also the bigger space that could emerge with Rewild Theatre,” Funk continued. Brill compares the sessions to that of a ballet or dance practice. “You do your warm ups, then you do your floor movement, and then you go into the performance. And that’s exactly what it is,” Brill said. “You have to warm up the muscles.” Funk adds, “The...
by Loni Taylor | Aug 10, 2023 | CKTZ News
An an award-winning filmmaker is teaching Cortes youth about being in front or behind the camera this summer. Jennifer Pickford is offering youth acting and filmmaking camps at Mansons Hall through the Summer Youth Recreational Program. The program runs this week and the week of August 14th. The Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA) annually offers a series of workshops for a range of local youth. This is the first year Pickford will be offering two programs: Acting for the Camera and Be the Media. Pickford has offered similar programming for young people on neighboring Gulf Islands and noticed how the experiences can help students. “The intention would be to have the students become more aware of what it’s like to act,” Pickford said. “And then the camera is there and they’re comfortable with the camera.” Pickford’s most recent work is a feature documentary called “Sacred India” which she developed over six years with her company Pickford Productions; the title has earned three awards. Pickford was also recognized by Victoria Times Colonist for Achievement in Entertainment as “Top 40 under 40 on Vancouver Island.” Since Pickford regularly spends time on Cortes Island, she is eager to continue offering similar courses in filmmaking in the future. To hear more about teaching youth filmmaking on Cortes Island, listen to the CKTZ News Update below:...
by Loni Taylor | Aug 2, 2023 | CKTZ News
Comox Strathcona Waste Management (CSWM) is in the midst of developing a new 10 year plan. The second and current step in that development is community outreach. Community Educator for CSWM Lindsay Eason was on the ground on July 23 at the Cortes Waste Management Center to speak with locals about the new framework. Eason noted that the last 10 year plan included a major upgrade to the Cumberland landfill. The community educator explained how the current system works. “All waste is mandated to now come to the Cumberland Landfill where we have our properly-engineered, wonderful landfill that is happening there. So this is a transfer station here on Cortes,” Eason said. Eason explains what the primary focus is of the new 10 year plan: zero waste. “There’s a big focus right now on circular economy and zero waste. Having facilities in place that could manage a lot of reuse, repurpose, repair,” Eason added. Community members may reach out to the CSWM team by completing a survey by Sept. 25. The new 10-year plan will be refined based on the community’s input and the final draft will be ready next year. To hear more about the new waste management plan, listen to the CKTZ News Update below:...
by Loni Taylor | Aug 1, 2023 | CKTZ News
The Cortes Skate Park will host the first Skate Jam event in 20 years this weekend. Organizer Lucy Diver and locals like Bubba Christmas are joining forces to bring back the community gathering, adding that they are, “really enthusiastic about trying to host some sort of event at the skate park and just bring some life back into it.” The skatepark was built by community members like Romney Shipway on land owned by the Southern Cortes Community Association. Many of the original champions of the skatepark no longer live on Cortes, so skate jams haven’t been held in years and local youth have not been exposed to the jams. At a skate jam, enthusiasts go to the skatepark with a skateboard, rollerblades, skates, scooters, or BMX bikes and join in a community session. Diver hopes the skate jam will inspire more people to use the facility in the future and aims to raise some funds for the skatepark, to make improvements to the public space. The Cortes Community Foundation provided a microgrant to make the Skate Jam event happen; “Who Da Hell Skates” is also sponsoring the event. The event welcomes all abilities, ages, and self-propelled wheeled vessels on Saturday, Aug. 5. There will be music by Aspen and Carmanah King. Hot dogs and drinks are by donation, but the event is completely free of charge. Diver reminds all participants to bring safety gear and water, since there is no water source at the skatepark. To hear more about this unique gathering, listen to the CKTZ News Update below:...
