by CKTZ | Sep 5, 2023 | Uncategorized
For the first time in its 40 year history, Hollyhock will publicly serve liquor with their dinner service. Peter Wrinch, CEO of Hollyhock, explained the intention behind the new limited liquor license, “I think that what we’re trying to do is create …a level playing field for folks so that we don’t have to say, Oh those folks actually know someone and that’s how they got [the wine].” “Our food service far outweighs our liquor,” Wrinch added, to clarify Hollyhock Farms is the name of the for-profit business entity that encompasses the retreat center’s restaurant, shop, bodywork, and vacation rentals. The restaurant, Wrinch explains, is the biggest entity that hollyhock runs. “The kitchen is our largest department in the whole organization. It has about 30…sometimes closer to 40 …it is the center of our business. And lots of times it can be the limiting factor on how many people we can have on site.” The CEO also notes what truly limits the capacity of the restaurant, “The ratio between program guests and what we call ‘walk-in guests’ and we basically talk about an 80/20 rule “ “Our core reason for being, our charitable purpose, is an educational retreat center,” he continued,” And so we’re never going to shift too much out of that 80/20 ratio. And that’s really important to us.” Winch is excited to share the selections with guests, as the cider, wine, and beer are all regionally sourced. “We partnered with Townsite in Powell River because [they] just partnered with the Klahoose…and made Toba Inlet Lager,” the CEO said. Currently, Hollyhock has no metrics to measure the...
by CKTZ | Aug 29, 2023 | Uncategorized
Michael Datura will be joining the Cortes Island School this year as the new principal. Datura has 14 years of experience in outdoor learning, social justice, and imaginative education and says Cortes is his ‘favorite place on earth.’” He adds that he’s community-focused and has a mission. “One of my goals and mandates is to make the school a more community-oriented place where people feel welcome to drop by and chat and hang out, or volunteer and organize events.” The new principal began his journey in education on Cortes in 2004, attending the Linnaea garden program and working as a Zilla for Power of Hope. Datura just completed his PhD in environmental education at SFU last February. Datura told CKTZ about his initial expectations around outreach. “I think being a principal of a community is always a complex role,” he says. “And I think particularly within a community like Cortes, it’s really important to to get feedback and maintain open lines of communication.” “As is the case whenever any principal leaves, there’s this sort of period of flexibility and fluid re-imagination right now,” he adds. “So it’s a good time to get your two cents in.” Datura is hosting a public gathering on Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. at Smelt Bay for community members to stop by and offer input as to how the school can be more community oriented. To hear more about this new chapter at the Cortes Island School, listen to the CKTZ News Update...
by Bryan McKinnon | Aug 13, 2023 | CKTZ News, Uncategorized
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by Loni Taylor | Aug 2, 2022 | CKTZ News, Uncategorized
Mansons Hall will host the first Dance Temple event of 2022, but there are more to come. Photo by Naomi Jason. Connie Quayle and her partner, Val Lange are bringing Dance Temple to Cortes Island next week. Quayle is a former resident of Cortes, returning to live on the island after spending the last five years in Victoria. It was there, in the city, that Quayle first connected with Dance Temple. “Every Sunday morning we have it in Victoria - ecstatic dance. I’ve hardly missed a week, even throughout the pandemic, still putting on headphones and dancing on the beaches,” Quayle explains. “Ecstatic dance is completely freeform dance…Movement for the sake of joy and release.” “It’s also a completely sober space. And usually there’s a held container. Certain rules, like no talking in the space, using cell phones outside the space, no technology within the container,” Val adds. The ecstatic dance enthusiasts plan to help make Dance Temple a regular occurrence on Cortes. “My vision would be something like four or five people involved co-holding it and having it run regularly, but it might take a couple years… So for now, maybe just every couple months just to get the ball rolling,” Quayle says. Quayle and Lange are bringing Dance Temple to Cortes Island at Mansons Hall on Aug. 6. The event is scheduled from 730-930 p.m. Music will be by DJ N Joy, aka Naomi Jason, one of the founders who helped develop Dance Temple on Salt Spring Island and Victoria. Quayle will be offering a sound therapy session at the end of the evening by playing the...
by Greg Osoba | Jul 26, 2022 | CKTZ News, Uncategorized
Gordy Ryan and ensemble perform at the Seattle World Rhythm Festival. Image courtesy of Seattle World Percussion Society. Since 1990, members of Babatunde Olatunji’s Drums of Passion ensemble have been teaching West African drumming and dancing at Hollyhock Leadership Learning Centre on Cortes Island. Babatunde Olatunji. Image courtesy of last.fm. “Baba”, as he’s known, was based in New York City after immigrating from Nigeria in the 1950s, but it was in British Columbia in the late 1980s where the drumming master began his public teaching. In the summer of 1990, he brought a stripped down version of the Drums of Passion troupe to Hollyhock, including Gordy and Zoe Ryan. Baba passed away in 2003, but the Ryans have kept his legacy alive by continuing to teach through the decades. They had hoped to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Baba’s programs at Hollyhock in 2020, but the pandemic thwarted that effort. With restrictions eased, and live programs once again underway at Hollyhock, the Ryans have returned. Their much anticipated anniversary program gets underway on the evening of Wednesday, July 27. Cortes Island hand drumming teacher Claudia Raaen. Photo by Greg Osoba. For the past 30 years, many Cortes Islanders and those who’ve taken programs at Hollyhock have learned about Yoruba culture, especially drumming and dancing. Some have gone on to have professional musical careers. Gordy Ryan speaks about Baba’s special connection with Canada’s west coast in the interview below with CKTZ News: Cortes Radio · CKTZ News - 30 years of Olatunji drumming and dancing celebrated on Cortes Island This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of...
by Greg Osoba | Jun 24, 2022 | CKTZ News, Uncategorized
Community Musical Play facilitator Christopher Fleck. Photo by Greg Osoba. Music has been an important part of Christopher Fleck’s life for decades and he’s now using sound and movement to bring people together in facilitated sessions he calls “Community Musical Play.” Fleck launched the free weekly outdoor sessions, which take place Saturday afternoons, this spring at a community space on Cortes Island. The idea is to encourage “spontaneous improvised expression.” He facilitates the gatherings by introducing ways our bodies can make sound and move and aims to create a safe space for emotional expression, without any right or wrong way to do things, or for expected outcomes. Fleck believes Community Musical Play can promote good health, by creating the opportunity for participants to let go and be present within a group where things are constantly changing and one can just play. Find out more in the CKTZ News interview below: Cortes Radio · CKTZ News - New outdoor event Community Musical Play uses music, movement for improvisation This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative....
