WildWings Nature & Arts Festival

269 Days and counting! California Quail Photo by Barry Hetschko

276 Days until WildWings 2021 Cedar Waxwing Photo By Barry Hetschko

283 Days! Wood Duck, Photo By Barry Hetschko

Have you voted? Don't miss your chance to vote for your favorite photo for The Nature of Cowichan Photo Contest! Visit The Ainslie restaurant to view the works of talented photographers of the Cowichan Valley and cast your vote! All artwork is for sale! So come out to support local business, and local artists alike! Pictured below is a photo by Mark Margerison, check it out in person at The Ainslie all this week!

There is only one week left until this years WildWings festival will come to a close. This means that there is only one more week to check out and support the artists of the Cowichan Valley. Please make a trip down to Just Jakes Restaurant where the WildWings Nature Artist Exhibition is still on until October 31st! all artwork is for sale and it feels so good to support your local businesses! Pictured below is a beautiful piece in the exhibition by local artist Peter Sphon.

Last Sunday the first annual Cowichan Make a Difference Day took place and it was a huge success! Together 55 volunteers spread out along Bings and Menzies creek covering over 3.5km and collecting over 585kg of garbage! We want to thank everyone that came out to help! A special thank you to our friends at The Community Farm Store that came with over 20 volunteers to make this all possible! Thank you to everyone that came out and dedicated your Sunday to making a difference! We cannot wait to do this again next year!.

Thank you so much to Janice MacKirdy for leading this years WildWeaving Workshop! It was a wonderful success. Participants learned how to weave small baskets using Scotch Broom whips. This results in a beautiful coiled green basket, Photos Courtesy of Alison Irwin workshop participant

Grey weather got you down? Why not support your local restaurants and artists alike by visiting the WildWing Nature Artists Exhibition at Just Jakes or the Nature of Cowichan Photo Contest at the Ainslie! Enjoy a hot beverage or a pint and a bite to eat while checking out the incredible talent of the Cowichan Valley Community! Featured here is artwork by Barry Hetschko, this piece is currently hung in the Ainslie restaurant for the Nature of Cowichan Photo Contest! Check it out and put in your vote!

Thank you so much to all of you that came out for our Afloat in a Boat tour around Somenos Lake! It was a huge success and the weather was perfect! Thank you to our fantastic speakers that presented during the tour, we can't wait to do this again next year but bigger!!

Thanks to The Ainslie Restaurant

Thank you so much to Kim and Ian for supporting this years WildWings Festival by hosting the Nature of Cowichan Photo Contest at The Ainslie restaurant! Please enjoy some delicious food while admiring the talent of our local photographers! Don't forget to vote for your favorite!

The Nature of Cowichan Photo Contest has officially been hung at the Ainslie Restaurant here in Duncan! Please stop by to visit the artwork in person and support our local businesses by grabbing a bite to eat or drink! If you are unable to do so in person here you will find the virtual gallery where you can check out the majority of the work and cast a vote or purchase a piece! Keep in mind that some artists works are not displayed online as per their wishes. http://wildwingsfestival.com/photo-contest/

Congratulations see you again next year

ANNOUNCEMENT!!! We have drawn the names from the Kids Passport raffel from our Celebrate Somenos event last Sunday! All winners have been contacted and prizes are awaiting pick up! Thank you so much to all of the participants and a HUGE thank you to The Community Farm Store for donating these awesome prizes!

This Saturday October 10th, bring your boat and come for a float! Afloat in a Boat is a great activity for the whole family, take a leisurely paddle around Somenos Lake while you learn about the cultural history, natural wonders, and current conservation efforts! For more information and to register please follow the link below! https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/afloat-in-a-boat-tickets-121089

Thanks everyone who visited

The first of our 2 art shows. Go grab a bite at Jakes and support WildWings. To purchase any art works [email protected] Please share, thanks

The 2020 WildWings Nature Artists Exhibition is now on display at Just Jake's Restaurant, please support this local business by heading over to enjoy some food and drink while viewing this years beautiful artwork. If you cannot make it out to the restaurant we have created a virtual gallery where you can view and purchase the pieces on display. check it out here! http://wildwingsfestival.com/art-exhibition-2020/

Thank you so much to all of our volunteers, partners, presenters, and visitors that helped make this year's Celebrate Somenos event happen! Such a wonderful day!

Tomorrow. Family day

We're getting ready and organized for this Sundays Celebrate Somenos festivities! bring your little ones to take a walk around the boardwalk and enter for a chance to win some cool prizes from our friends at The Community Farm Store! You don't want to miss this fun day in the sun full of education and conservation! Covid-19 Safety protocols will be in full effect, please be courteous while attending.

A popular event

Our WildWeaving Workshop is SOLD OUT! for those of you still interested please contact Emma at [email protected] to get on the waitlist for another class!

Afloat in a Boat! Join us for a beautiful day on Somenos Lake! Bring your boat and join our floating tour around Somenos Lake. Participants will get to enjoy a paddle on Somenos Lake at one of the most beautiful times of the year as we welcome back the iconic Trumpeter Swan. Naturalist, artists, historians, and elders will share knowledge and stories about the land from pre settlement times to current. Come prepared with your boat, a camera and a sense of wonder! ... To register click the link below https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/afloat-in-a-boat-tickets-121089

Join us this October 4th on World Animal Day to Celebrate Somenos and Kick off this years 11th annual WildWings Nature and Arts Festival! This fun filled day is for the whole family! Enjoy a self-guided tour around the trails and board walk to visit the many stations set up along the way! Visitors will be able to enjoy displays and presentations from local naturalists, artists, a Quw’ustsun speaker and a display from the Raptor centre with live birds! ... Kids can enjoy nature activities such as plant weaving and opportunities to fill out a kids passport card to enter into a draw to win exciting prizes!

Wow! a huge thank you to our Friends from The Community Farm Store who have donated these fantastic prizes for Celebrate Somenos on October 4th This loot will be awarded to some lucky youngsters that complete the kids adventure passport at this year’s Celebrate Somenos event. How it works: kids will get a passport upon entrance to the event, they must then visit all of the different stations and collect stamps on their passport. Once they have collected them all, they are entered into a draw to win one of these amazing prizes!

we are hosting a basketmaking workshop in cahoots with our WW partners the Cowichan Green Community. Led by Jan MacKirdy participants will learn to make a small basket using natural and invasive plant materials from Somenos Marsh. Unfortunately there are no Mandarin skins to be found there message us for more info as there are only 8 spaces available

We’re getting excited! Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we begin to roll out this years WildWings Festival Events!

Dear Artists and Photographers. The 11th annual WildWings Nature & Arts Festival is still seeking artists and photographers for two WildWings art shows. Both shows will run for the month of October. South Vancouver Island artists, preferably 2d artists (due to space considerations), are invited to show in our 11th annual WildWings Nature and Art Festival's WildWings Art Exhibition and sale displayed at Just Jakes Restaurant in downtown Duncan.... Cowichan Valley nature photographers are invited to participate in our 2nd annual nature photography exhibition and sale to be held this year at The Ainslie restaurant in downtown Duncan. There will be Peoples Choice awards and local gift certificates for images receiving the most votes. Spaces in both shows are limited. for more information about either show, please email [email protected] Please share to any photographers and artists you might know Featured artist is Jennifer Lawson, Artist of the Somenos 2018

2018 WildWings Artwork By Jennifer Lawson. See this beautiful artwork among others at our Art Exhibition, October 4th.

We are excited to share with you this years Artist of the Somenos, Jennifer Hedge! Jennifer has painted this beautiful swan for this years WildWings Nature and Arts Festival! We are still planning for WildWiings 2020 to happen this October, dependent of course on us coming out from under the shadow of Covid 19 by then. Should social distancing guidelines still be in place, we will continue with our smaller outdoor events where social distancing is easily practiced. If we are able to carry on with the full festival it will be one of the first opportunities to kick up our heels in celebration and we hope you will all join us to do so too.

We at WildWings Central are happy to report that this year's Festival was a great success and our best ever. Thanks everyone for helping us achieve this success. Our final event, the Peoples Choice Photography Awards Night & Festival Wrap Party was held at the Old Firehouse Wine and Cocktail Bar. John Wade and friends, Charlie (Super Smooth) and Bent provided music while Jeff, behind the bar, made a WildWings cocktail for all to savour. The First Place Peoples Choice Award went to Selena Gamble, for her monochromatic colour image, Enchanted Mists. Second place went to David Chang for his image, Moonrise at the Cross, Mt Tzhouhalem. Congratulations to both winners and to all the other photographers who exhibited such great work.

Great presentation at WildWings Gala

The Trumpeter Swans have arrived back in the valley for their winter stay. 6 were seen flying in the Somenos vicinity today and the same group was likely seen yesterday on Somenos Lake. The swans arrival, as tradition has it, is perfectly timed with the wrapping up of the WildWings Festival tomorrow night at the Old Firehouse Wine and Cocktail Bar where we will announce the Nature of Cowichan Photography Exhibition Peoples Choice award winners and then celebrate the finale with Wine, Food and Song. The Appetizers are on us. The Band is by John Wade. The Trumpeter Swans photo is by Barry Hetschko Please come out and join us. 7-9pm Stay tuned at: www.wildwingsfestival.com

We could not be happier about the success of this event. Learned lots about how to do it better next year as well. Thanks everyone who attended and helped. We love you all. 2 events left including our wrapup party after the photo awards Tuesday night www.wildwingsfestival.com

Not often you see Barry hatless! WildWings Gala

2 More days to G Day (Green Gala) and we are ready! Everything is in place for a very wonderful evening. With the gala closing in we are nearing the end of our most successful WildWings Nature & Arts Festival ever. After Saturday's gala there are 2 events left- The Bring Back the Bluebirds presentation 7pm at the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre this coming Monday October 28 with Naturalist and BlueBird leader, Genevieve Singleton. Tuesday October 29 is the Nature of Cowichan ...Photo Contest Peoples Choice awards and the unofficial WildWings wrap up party at the Old Firehouse Wine Bar in Duncan City Square. Evening starts at 7pm and there will be some delicious appetizers served. Please share to make these last 3 events well-attended Thanks www.wildwingsfestival.com

Thank you Community Farm Store. Your continuing support of our work is so appreciated.

Community Farm Store- Thank you for your continued support. It is so appreciated.

10 days and seven events left! www.wildwingsfestival.com

Another great week of WildWings! One week and a couple of days left. The Wild Weaving workshop is underway today, thanks to our WildWings Event Partner, the Cowichan Green Community for providing the workshop space. Coming up Monday, 7pm at the Cowichan Community Centre Boardroom is the Ministry of Environment's free presentation on invasive species, how to identify them and how to get rid of them safely. sign up at https://www.eventbrite.ca/myevent?eid=72479172155. Thursday... is a day of planting on the banks of Somenos Creek to shade out the invasive aquatic plant, Parrots Feather that is clogging up Somenos Creek. Please contact our Program [email protected] to sign up. Thursday evening is WildFins, a free event that is part of the Cowichan Watershed Speaker Series and co-hosted by VIU and WildWings/Somenos Marsh. 7pm at the VIU lecture Theatre. Saturday all day is a hike to the Koksilah Ancient Forest, a pocket of old growth in a secret place- Sorry sold out but we will post photos later. AND, Saturday evening is our first-ever It Ain't Easy Being Green Gala at the Birds Eye Cove Farm. There is no room to list everything that is happening but if you go to our Events page link you can learn more about this very-fantastic spoil-yourself event. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/it-aint-easy-being-green-gala-c. I can tell you that the price includes a couple of glasses of wine or beer, an amazing Farm's Gate dinner, a great gift at the door, a tax receipt for $50, dinner and dancing music by John Wade and the WildWings Kings, and an amazing keynote presentation from Patrick Morrow (look him up).

This week several more events coming up including the It Ain't Easy Being Green Gala next Saturday www.wildwingsfestival.com

Dust N' Bones, tonight, Saturday night, with Harold Joe, The movie creator, at the Duncan Showroom. A talk will follow re repatriation of first nations artifacts and human remains. A very important movie and topic of discussion during this time of healing. Please consider attending. Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/dust-n-bones-the-movie-tickets- or at the door. Starts at 7pm. 133 Station Street. Please encourage interested others to attend so we can fill the house as well as supporting the WildWings nature & Arts Festival Thanks

Another WildWings Nature & Arts Festival collaborative event with our WildWings event partners The Cowichan Watershed Board and Vancouver Island University "Wild thing, you make my heart sing. You make everything.... groovy." While we can't promise you the Troggs, we are happy to present Cowichan valley's own eminently groovy, entertaining and knowledge-rich Dr. Dave Preikshot, on the topic of wild things with fins, (aka Wild Fins). Dr Dave is an aquatic scientist with years... of experience in the mud of Somenos Marsh and has amassed a collection of test tube stories from throughout the watershed that reflect the historical changes that our watershed is presently undergoing. Listen to his tale of watershed changes and learn how it’s critters seek to survive and adapt. We don't know yet what Dr Dave plans to discuss - that's what makes it so worth coming! See you there! See more

Thanks to the Chamber for supporting WildWings

Another great event. Wake uP! Cowichan, you are really missing out on some very cool presentations and experiences...www.wildwingsfestival.com until October 29 when it all ends with the photo contest awards at the Firehouse Wine Bar.

This is an appeal for people to buy tickets to our fundraiser gala next Saturday October 26 at the Birds Eye Cove Farm which sits under the shadow of Mt Tzouhalem. The ‘It Ain’t Easy Being Green Gala’ (Thanks Kermit) costs $125 and includes a special gourmet meal by Farm’s Gate Catering, recognized as one of the best caterers in the Valley. It also includes 2 glasses of Averill Creek wine one of which, Somenos, is from their special reserve collection and will be served by A...verill Creek representatives. If you are not a winer then you can get a couple of pints of Craig Street Brew Pub’s WildWings ale. We will also provide a $50 tax receipt for every ticket purchased and our welcomers at the door will also be providing each guest of a couple a small gift of appreciation for your support. Providing quiet dinner jazz is John Wade and the WildWings Kings who will step it up after our keynote speaker’s presentation for a little dancing. Stitching the evening together is our special guest and keynote speaker, Patrick Morrow, an order of Canada recipient, the second Canadian on top of Mt Everest in the amazing Canadian Everest 82 expedition and the first person in the world to summit the seven highest mountains of the seven continents. A true Canadian inspiring legend of the highest order. Lastly there will be a very unique Silent Auction of past collectibles that have fallen out of favour with their owners as well as art, theatre tickets and other outdoorsy, artsy things. This is a very important fundraiser and awareness builder for our small society as we reach out to attract new supporters to help us Bring Back The Salmon to Somenos along with several other important restoration projects Your support would be greatly appreciated and any encouragement to get others to attend would be very very appreciated. for tickets...https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/it-aint-easy-being-green-gala-c

TONITE! A NOT-TO-BE-MISSED-EVENT!! Still tickets available. Nancy Turner and Arvid (Lushiim) Charlie together for part 2 of Cowichan Ethnobotany. This will prove to be an exceptional learning opportunity for all of us particularly in this time of recognition. This event is hosted by VIU, our Festival Partner- Cowichan Tribes and the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society. Lets honour the elders and fill the house. TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cowichan-ethnobotany-with-nancy... OR AT THE DOOR. STARTS 7PM TONITE Thanks and please share widely as possible.

Another successful event. A small but powerful gathering

Last chance to book a space at tonights indigenous painting workshop with Maynard Johnny at the Arts Council's PORTALS Gallery. Everything is supplied. For tickets https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/natures-influence-on-coast-sali

Thanks to the Chamber for promoting WildWings

Another event down as we move closer to the halfway mark. Things are going great

Our newest limited edition T Shirt. WildWings by Stuart Pagaduan, Artist of the Somenos 2017. Only 50 made, $40 each. Design can be on the front or the back. black short sleeve thin soft cotton only. Great winter undershirt for the layered look. [email protected]

Please Mark Saturday October 26 in your calendars as it is our very first IT AIN'T EASY BEING GREEN GALA. This a posh, dress up nice kind of affair, hosted by our WildWings Event Partners, the Birds Eye Cove Farm, Craig Street Brew Pub and Averill Creek Winery. We have an exceptional evening planned for you- An amazing location at the foot of Mt Tzouhalem, Incredible food catered by Farm's Gate Catering, very nice Cowichan Wines from somenos watershed vines and Averill Creek... Winery, and music for eating and dancing by John Wade and the WildWings Kings. All of this stitched together by our keynote speaker, Patrick Morrow, an Order of Canada recipient for being the second Canadian on top of Everest in 1982 and the first person in the world to summit the seven highest mountains of the seven continents. He will be with us to share his stories, promote his new book Tao Canyon, and to push our theme of reconnecting with Nature. Tickets are $125 and include 2 glasses of Averill Creek reserve wines or a couple of pints of Craig Street Brew pubs WildWings Ale, a tax receipt for $50 as well as a small gift for each couple or single attending the event. To purchase tickets https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/it-aint-easy-being-green-gala-c See more

Coming to WildWings this week: TONIGHT, Still space at Paint Nite at the CVI. To book https://www.yaymaker.com//10-14-19-paint-fundraiser-for-s/ TUESDAY, Green Drinks at the Craig Street Brew Pub, third floor, no charge WEDNESDAY, Natures Influence on Salish Art, An 'Indigenous" Paint Nite with Maynard Johnny Jr athe Cowichan Valley Arts Council's PORTALS Gallery. To book a space https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/natures-influence-on-coast-sali... THURSDAY AFTERNOON, Give Where you Live, a presentation hosted by the Pacific Salmon Foundation and hosted by local lawyer Cory Towris about estates and giving to conservation organizations. A free event but reservations are required at https://www.eventbrite.ca/myevent?eid=72478157119 THURSDAY EVENING, Cowichan Ethnobotany Part 2 with Nancy Turner at the VIU Lecture Theatre, part 1 sold out last year, to book https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cowichan-ethnobotany-with-nancy SATURDAY, 2 events, Medicine Plant Walk with Della Rice (SOLD OUT) and the movie, Dust N' Bones showing at the Duncan Showroom with a talk and question period with the director, Harold Joe. To book, https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/dust-n-bones-the-movie-tickets- PLEASE SHARE

Tonight there are still a few seat left for the WildWings Paint Nite at the Best Western Cowichan Valley Inn, on of our newest WildWings Event Partners. Please come out and support WildWings and the CVI. to book your place https://www.yaymaker.com//10-14-19-paint-fundraiser-for-s/ Please share and see if we can fill all the seats Thanks

This Thursday evening as part of our WildWings indigenous showcase series we are featuring our very first 'Nature's influence on Coast Salish Traditional Art Workshop' with Maynard Jonny Jr at the Cowichan Art Council's PORTALS Gallery space. He will be sharing his Coast Salish roots with you as he talks about how nature has inspired and influenced his art. Maynard will lead you through some painting exercises that will help you understand the forms and lines of West Coast indigenous art. Canvas and paints will be supplied for all participants. Please considering attending and making this a return workshop for WildWings 2020. To book https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/natures-influence-on-coast-sali (artwork by WildWings 2017 Artist of the Somenos, Stuart Pagaduan) Please share, thanks

Whisky and Fish..... a fun combination???

WildWings Art Show is on until November 2

Thanks for sharing

We are in the heart of WildWings now. Some great events that are coming up include, TONIGHT.... Go Batty with the Hooters, a night of bats and owls outdoors under the guidance of Todd Carnahan, nature interpreter extraordinaire; MONDAY is Paint Nite at the CVI, this event is on the chopping block if we do not book the balance of people today; Green Drinks, third floor Craig Street Brew Pub THIS TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY is the painting workshop with Maynard Johnny jr where you will ...explore how nature has had such a great influence on Salish art, THURSDAY is Nancy Turners return trip to Cowichan for Cowichan Ethnobotany part 2 at VIU. SATURDAY 10 am we are at Bright Angel Park with Della Rice Sylvester for a Medicine Plant Walk (sorry sold-out) and SATURDAY NIGHT is Harold Joe showing his documentary, Dust n' Bones at the Duncan Showroom, a movie about repatriation of human remains and artifacts to Indigenous communities. NEXT WEEK don't miss our newest event, Fish Tales with our WildWings Event Partner Stillhead Distillery where you will taste some of Cowichan's finest whisky and listen to Dr Dave Preikshot talk at great length about fish tall tales. You can book all these events at www.wildwings.com. Go to the events page Please share with thanks to all our supporters and sharers

A moment of yesterdays thoughts. wildwingsfestival.com