Throughout the fall, the Sole Sisters Walking group continued to meet weekly on Wednesday mornings. They visited a wide variety of locations including Moorecroft, Englishman River, Thames Creek, and Lighthouse Country. Throughout the season, fourteen walks and two events were offered. Average attendance was 23 participants at each walk. The group has a good mix of long-time members and new walkers. This program wouldn’t be possible without the devoted efforts of the volunteer walk leaders. The group was fortunate to welcome one more leader: Jeannie Inches.
In Monica Hofer’s Beginner Drumming class in Errington, a group of eight people studied simple rhythms in the drum circle. Monica teaches using a combination of demonstrating techniques and call-and-answer. In addition to being good musical fun, drumming is excellent for engaging the entire brain and also has many therapeutic benefits.
Monica’s very popular Intermediate African Hand Drumming program was offered for eleven sessions between September and December. This group of drummers have been working together on complex, layered rhythms that require skillful listening and careful counting.
Andy Mundy of Corta Jaca Dance taught an Introduction to Ballroom Dance class at Bradley Centre. This class covered Rhumba, Social Foxtrot, and Jive. Although the ten-class program was thoroughly enjoyed, Andy will not be teaching again in the winter as he and Maureen are taking a step back from teaching.
CARDIO + STRENGTH
At the Bradley Centre, two new programs with Instructor Shanan were offered until late December. Cardio + Strength focuses on building muscle, getting the heart pumping and improvign flexibility. Many participants commented on how the program was accommodating to many different levels of fitness and Shanan’s encouraging, approachable manner made it easy for them to ask questions. This class had ten people in it.
DANCEFIT
Also at the Bradley Centre, Shanan’s DanceFit program grew steadily over the fall as word continued to spread, and in total seventeen participants registered. Unfortunately, there were two dates that had to be cancelled due to instructor illness. In a survey following the conclusion of the program, participants noted that the combination of music and movement made the program fun and many participants were keen to return to both of the Bradley Centre fitness programs in the Winter.
Facilitator Isabella Loberiza does a fabulous job making this program a fun opportunity for skilled players to get some time on the court as well as a great learning experience for players who are newer to the sport. She does a mixture of drills and scrimmages and has built up a reliable crew of regular players. This drop-in program was exceptionally well attended with up to 25 children attending each night. An assistant was brought on to help manage the group, and the final day of the season culminated in a small awards ceremony where players received certificates for being best improved, demonstrating best sportsmanship and several other categories.
Because of this program’s immense popularity, it continues to be a preregistered program with a cap of twenty players. Registration opens weekly on Fridays and is often full by Sunday or Monday which is a testament to how much this community loves basketball and how much free programs are appreciated.
As per tradition, the Sole Sisters walked at Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park in the first week of October to celebrate Active Aging Week. Thirty-four women came out for a beautiful walk under golden leaves and past flowing waters. Interestingly only two of the women who came were new to the group.
Beyond Beginner Marimba continues to rehearse through the fall every two weeks. Additionally, they now have one workshop each month with Instructor Caitlin Shoring. The group is rehearsing for an upcoming performance in February at The Gardens at Qualicum Beach.
Overall, registration numbers were slightly lower this fall than they have been previously. The exception was the Kids’ Cooking Program which filled very quickly. Chef Phil Henderson and Co-facilitator Jennah Stavroff taught the children how to prepare healthy breakfasts, lunches, and dinners in this two-day workshop. One workshop was offered in October and the other was offered in November. The children learned new vocabulary, practiced kitchen safety, and learned how to read a recipe.
After hiring a new instructor, Sandra Poelzer, for the Preschool Play and Child’s Play programs, the recreation coordinators were looking forward to seeing what new and exciting things Sandra would bring to the program. However, the programs ultimately ended up being cancelled due to low registration. While the fall session was cancelled, winter classes have stronger registration numbers.
On October 26th Recreation Coordinator Kristine Stephenson and Student Leader Skye headed to Storybook Village for a spooky evening of Halloween fun with preschoolers. They organized a simple, bingo dabber, bat craft for the children. The event was very well attended, and their booth was full the entire evening. In total, over two hundred children attended. It was a busy evening, and Kristine was especially grateful to have such a wonderful student helper.
October 31, 2023 marked the 54th year of the Coombs Candy Walk. This event relies heavily on volunteer labour, something that has been in short supply in recent years. Following an article in the PQBNews, twenty new volunteers sign up to help. It was heartwarming to see so much community support for this long-time family event. Many hands truly do make light work, and preparations flew together with ease. It is hoped that many volunteers will continue to lend support to the event moving forward. Creating a positive volunteer experience was a major priority for this year’s event committee.
This year, a portion of the admission donations was also put towards hiring a paid volunteer coordinator to oversee the decorating in the Chicken Barn. This greatly contributed to a smooth event. The theme of the event was “Magical Places,” and each tent had its own unique angle: Harry Potter, Day of the Dead, North Pole, Enchanted Forest, and Under the Sea. Many participants commented on the exceptional level of detail in the decorations in the barn. Total attendance was 650 people and feedback was very positive.
So worth going. So much hard work put into it. Thank you for making this so special for our kids. Amazing fireworks display too. They just kept going and going. – Brandi Dutton
The Sole Sisters Christmas Cheer event is such a highlight for this group of women. It marks the last day of walking before the holiday break and features a walk along French Creek and then a lunchtime Christmas party at BoMe Cheese. This year, instead of gathering over cake and coffee, the group had soup and a warm beverage. Jeannie, one of the leaders, created a trivia game which was a big hit with the group. There were many people dressed in their festive Christmas sweaters, and it was a heartwarming afternoon in which a lot of gratitude was expressed for the incredible volunteer leaders who head the group and the numerous friendships that have developed through this program.
The recreation coordinators attended many community meetings including:
The recreation coordinators are responsible for maintaining the ACRA website and events calendar, Facebook page, and Instagram account as well as promotion for programs. The recreation coordinators receive and reply to phone calls and emails regularly and manage all of the registration for programs independently.
Unlike the rest of this year, this fall registration numbers have been lower. In order to see healthy registration numbers, the recreation team has had to put in extra hours to run additional ads, create email marketing campaigns, and hang extra posters.
ACRA is also in the process of switching over to Square. A new payment system which will allow for easier credit card payments in person, online, and by phone.
ACRA manages a community lending cupboard where other non-profit organizations and hobbyist groups can borrow equipment on a by-donation basis.
Allison Shaw continues to use the ukuleles and a band-in-a-box for the children’s music programs at Errington War Memorial Hall.
The Arrowsmith Naturalists made use of ACRA’s traffic directing equipment and tents for the Mushroom Festival on October 22. Each year this event grows a little more, and this year, the children’s educational displays were particularly excellent.
The Arrowsmith Agricultural Association borrowed ACRA’s traffic directing equipment and tents for Coombs Christmas Market in early December.
No grant funding was applied for in this period.