On April 5, 2006 I wrote my first “On The Arts” for the Eagle Valley News. Now 10 years later I am writing my last column about the arts in Sicamous and surroundings.
I have stepped down as president of the Eagle Valley Arts Council, and I won’t have my finger on the pulse of the arts in Sicamous anymore.
I have thoroughly enjoyed getting your comments over the years. I can honestly say they were positive and very encouraging.
It has been a long run for me with the arts council. The Red Barn Arts Centre was my home away from home for over a decade.
I was lucky to have this wonderful facility to put on plays, Remembrance Day tributes, invited guest artists etc. When I started counting I realized we had done 24 productions in 10 years and I hereby thank all those people who gave their time to appear in those plays and productions. You made it all possible. And what fun we had, and lots of stories to tell. A thank you to all the directors for their time and effort over the years.
I also want to thank you, the audience who came out to support the productions.
Of course the structure of the barn needed lots of love and attention too. My husband Jerry Silva was the main man. Together with the help of Gordon Mackie, Alf Bryan and Doug Aspeslet they did repairs, maintenance and improvements. But we are all getting a day or two older and it is time for some younger members of our community to take over.
I would like to take this opportunity to encourage people in the community to appreciate all their volunteers. It can be a thankless job sometimes and the only comments received may be negative ones. It is a shame because it makes a volunteer burn out eventually. Some praise now and then or constructive criticisms are the only “pay” a volunteer gets.
Talking about encouragement, here’s another one. Please continue to support the Eagle Valley News. It is a great paper and the community would not be the same without it. These are hard times in the newspaper industry everywhere. Please show your appreciation by purchasing the paper, ads etc.
I am going to take time off to see more of the grandchildren, travel even more, see plays and concerts in other cities and take some freedoms that I have not had for many years.
I hereby thank the Eagle Valley News for giving me the opportunity to write my column and especially Lachlan Labere who has been great to work with.
So now I will sign off with a “So long, farewell, auf wiedersehn, adieu, tot ziens, goodbye”. It has been such a pleasure.
Editor’s note: We wish to extend our thanks and best wishes to Carla. I speak for many readers when I say it was a pleasure to follow her enjoyable columns over the years. We appreciate all she has done to help keep the community informed.