MAR. 18 – JULY 12
• ‘RESIST’ is a new exhibit at the Alberni Valley Museum featuring 40-plus fibre artworks by Western Canadian artists. Exhibit features ‘resist’ techniques such as batik and tie-dye. FMI: playinpa.ca/exhibits/
WED. APR. 2
• ROBBIE VAN takes the stage at Char’s Landing to sing the ways of the world in a funky, jazzy style. Doors open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 7:30 p.m. Entry by donation.
• CANADIAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND Port Alberni chapter meets at 10 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month at Abbeyfield (3839 Eighth Avenue) in the downstairs meeting room at the back of the building. People affected by low vision and blindness are welcome to participate. FMI: Call Jenn Collette, 250-240-1738.
THU. APR. 3
• ANNA KATARINA and special guest Chris Sol bring a blend of Indie pop, rock and soul to Char’s Landing (4815 Argyle St.). Tix: $15 advance, $20 at the door. Doors open 6:30 p.m., show starts 7:30 p.m.
SAT. APR. 5
• PAINT NIGHT at Royal Canadian Legion Br. 293 (4680 Victoria Quay). Doors open at 6 p.m. and art begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $45 and are available at the legion lounge. For more information, call 250-723-7513.
• LEARN TO KNIT WORKSHOP at Steampunk Cafe, hosted by the Alberni Valley Fibre Guild. Learn the basics of knitting and make a pair of fingerless gloves. Workshop takes place over four days: April 5, 12, 9 and 26. 10 a.m. to noon. $100 cost. Email AlberniValleyFibre@proton.me.
• DROP-IN FOR KIDS AT THE GROVE The Grove Gallery hosts free kids’ art making to celebrate upcoming children’s theatre ‘The Great Bloom’ from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kids will make forest characters, puppets and identify Indigenous plants.
SUN. APR. 6
• MCLEAN MILL 10K Ridge View Health & Performance presents the annual Vancouver Island Race Association event. Starts at McLean Mill National Historic Site, 5633 Smith Rd., Port Alberni. Route and other info available online at islandseries.org.
• JAZZ AT CHAR’S The Barry Miller Quartet performs Swinging into Spring, an evening of celebrated jazz standards. Music is ongoing from 6-8 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. Music fans can bring their own dinner. A voluntary gratuity is appreciated. Beverage bar is open.
TUE. APR. 8
• RETIRED LOGGERS’ COFFEE SOCIAL – IHS BUILDING The annual coffee social will meet at the Industrial Heritage Society (3250 Ninth Ave.) from 1-3 p.m. Retired Alberni Valley loggers, staff, contractors etc. are welcome. Socialize and tour the IHS’s collection of restored heritage machines and equipment.
WED. APR. 9
• WATERCOLOUR WEDNESDAYS at the Grove Gallery (7-5440 Argyle St. at Harbour Quay). Learn blending techniques with Adrianna and create a card, bookmark or postcard. Tix: $20/ person. FMI: 250-724-3412 or online at alberniarts.com/events.
THU. APR. 10
• DEATH CAFE at the Alberni Valley Hospice Office (2579 10th Ave). A safe space to talk about death and related issues. 7-9 p.m.
• HAA’YUUPS RON HAMILTON presents A Model of Nuu-chah-nulth Beliefs: the Four Great Spirit Chiefs, the second in a series of community cultural discussions, 6:30 p.m. at Echo Centre (4255 Wallace St.). Room TBA. Q&A session to follow. Free admission, open to everyone.
• PLAYHOUSE PAINT NIGHT at the Capitol Theatre (4904 Argyle St.), presented by the Community Arts Council of the Alberni Valley. Tix: $40/ person. FMI: alberniarts.com/playhouse-paint-night.
SAT. APR. 12
• SUNSHINE CLUB SPRING FUNDRAISER at the Echo Centre. 1-3 p.m. Free admission. Craft and artisan items, jewellery, plants, baked goods, 50/50 draw, refreshments and more. Phone 250-720-2505 for more info.
• APRIL SHOWERS, BRING MAY FLOWERS An acrylic painting workshop presented by Susan Schaefer. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Grove Gallery. Register at www.alberniarts.com.
• COMEDY MAGIC dinner show with Kevin Luty at the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 293 (4680 Victoria Quay). Dinner starts at 6 p.m. and show starts at 7 p.m. Menu includes hamburger and a salad. Tickets available at the legion lounge. For more info, call 250-723-7513.
• DROP-IN FOR KIDS AT THE GROVE The Grove Gallery hosts free kids’ art making to celebrate upcoming children’s theatre ‘The Great Bloom’ from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kids will make forest characters, puppets and identify Indigenous plants.
SUN. APR. 13
• GURU NANAK SIKH SOCIETY GURDWARA celebrates the birth of Khalsa with a parade starting at 11 a.m. at the gurdwara, 4144 Eighth Ave. There will be music, martial arts, food booths and the parade from Eighth Avenue to 10th Avenue, up and down Roger and Redford streets.
• ALBERNI ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION FUNDRAISING SALE at the Alberni Athletic Hall (3727 Roger St). 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 250-720-6248 to book a table.
• BARKLEY SOUNDS COMMUNITY CHOIR and Phil’s Harmonics String Orchestra present ‘Come to the Music’ at 2:30 p.m., Alberni Valley United Church (3747 Church St.). Special guests: AVUC Handbell Ensemble, Dennis Olsen, Guy Langlois and Graham Villette. Tix: $20 adults, $5 under 12 available at the Grove Gallery (7-5440 Argyle St. at Harbour Quay), Echo Centre (4255 Wallace St.) or choir members.
SAT. APR. 19
• THE GREAT BLOOM A touring kids’ theatre show at the ADSS Auditorium. 1 p.m. Tickets available at www.alberniarts.com or at the Grove Art Gallery at Harbour Quay.
• AV TRANSITION TOWN FUNDRAISING SALE at Abbeyfield (rear parking compound, 3839 Eighth Avenue off Redford St.), celebrating Earth Day. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Book a table in advance at avtransitiontown@gmail.com before April 12.
THU. APR. 24
• DEATH CAFE at the Alberni Valley Hospice Office (2579 10th Ave). A safe space to talk about death and related issues. 7-9 p.m.
SAT. MAY 3
• SPRING MARKET at Cherry Creek Community Hall (3720 Moore Rd). Vendors, 50/50 raffle and concession. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• CRYSTAL AND SPIRIT FAIR at the Best Western Plus Barclay Hotel (Arrowsmith Room). 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Intuitive readers, massage, crystals, teas, jewelry and more. Free admission and door prizes.
TUE. MAY 6
• CHRISTIAN WOMEN'S GROUP holds its spring luncheon at the Best Western Barclay Hotel, 12-2 p.m. Fashion show, music, speakers Tix: $32 available at Suzanne's Ladies Wear (305-3555 Johnston Rd.).
SAT. MAY 10
• SHEEP TO SHAWL at Arrowvale Farm (5955 Hector Rd). 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Demonstrations of sheep shearing, fleece skirting, washing, carding, spinning, weaving and knitting.
• GRIEF JOURNALING WORKSHOP at AV Hospice Office (2579 10th Ave). 9-11 a.m. Participants will be provided with a journal, prompts and suggestions on how to get started. $15. Spaces limited. Call 250-723-4478 or email info@albernihospice.ca to reserve your spot.
• NEWCOMERS WELCOME EVENT at Echo Centre (4255 Wallace Street). Learn about the community, with more than 40 local businesses and organizations in attendance. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Everyone welcome. Special dance performance by Elite Dance Academy at noon.
• SPRING FLING INDOOR MARKET returns to Best Western Barclay Hotel ballroom, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hosted by 2 Elle’s Kitchen Creations. All handmade/ artisan wares.
SAT. MAY 24
• BLACK TY GALA an Evening on Broadway, fundraising event to benefit Ty Watson House Hospice. Dinner catered by Starboard Grill, live and silent auctions. Dress code is cocktail to black tie. Tix: $150 available at albernihospice.ca, Jim’s Clothes Closet (4716 Johnston Rd.) and AV Hospice office (2579 10th Ave.)
ONGOING
• RESIST exhibit at Alberni Valley Museum. Featuring 40+ fibre artworks by Western Canadian artists, showcasing “resist” techniques and themes. playinpa.ca/exhibits.
• SONS OF NORWAY LODGE meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the Rainbow Room (3752 Fourth Ave). 1 p.m. Open to anyone of Norwegian ancestry who would like to learn more about the lodge and Norwegian culture. FMI: Patty Schwartz at 250-723-5530.
• PORT ALBERNI CHESS CLUB meets every Saturday at Bombers Cafe and Creperie (5262 Argyle Street) from 2-6 p.m.
• KIDS ART-MAKING AT THE GROVE For the month of March 2025, the Grove Gallery is hosting drop-in kids’ art sessions every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. FMI: alberniarts.com/events. Perfect for creative kids.
• JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY In Search of Happily Ever After, author Gwynne Hunt’s drop-in writing group meets the first and third Tuesday of the month from January to May, 6:45 p.m. in the upstairs lounge at the Capitol Theatre. Doors lock at 7 p.m. Free admission.
• GOLDEN OLDIES CAR CLUB meets on the first Thursday of each month upstairs at the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 293 (Victoria Quay) at 7 p.m. New members welcome. No need to have a car — just an interest in vehicles.
• ALBERNI VALLEY PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m. in the basement room at Abbeyfield House (3839 Eighth Ave. at Redford Street). All levels of photographers welcome. Membership required. FMI: Steve or Lorna Crowshaw, 250-723-6901.
• JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP for Grades 3-7 in the Upper Clubhouse at Arrowsmith Baptist Church (4283 Glenside Rd). Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Have fun playing games, making friends and exploring faith.
• SKYSONG COMMUNITY CHOIR meets at Char’s Landing, 4815 Argyle St. every Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Everyone welcome. FMI: E-mail Kim at bluetuxedo@telus.net or see choir’s Facebook page.
• GRIEF CARE meets Sundays at 2 p.m. at Southside Church of the Nazarene (4190 Victoria Drive). Call 250-918-5830.
• CANADIAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND meets at 10 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month at Abbeyfield (downstairs meeting room at the back of the building). FMI: Jenn Collette 250-240-1738.
• TOPS (TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY) MEETINGS Tuesdays at the Royal Canadian Legion (Victoria Quay). 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• SPIRIT SQUARE FARMER’S MARKET every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Harbour Quay.
• ALBERNI VALLEY COIN CLUB meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of every month in the Fir Room of Echo Centre (4255 Wallace St.). FMI: Carl ph. 250-723-9891.
• ALBERNI VALLEY ROCK AND GEM CLUB meets the first Sunday of the month, 2 p.m. at the clubhouse, 5100 Tebo Ave. (Club’s workshop is open to members Mondays 7–10 p.m. and Wednesdays 1–4 p.m. FMI: Les Bontron, 250-724-1564.
• ELECTRIC MERMAID A monthly live reading event at Char’s Landing. Last Wednesday of every month. Visit www.charslanding.com for the Zoom link for the event. Anyone who would like to read their own work can sign up at ElectricMermaidReads @gmail.com.
