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Talk to Us!

An Invitation to participate in a Community Conversation

Annual General Meeting of the Ryga Festival Society

Thursday, November 17th | 7:00-8:00 PM
Refreshments and Door Prizes!
Summerland Branch, Okanagan Regional Library
9533 Main Street, Summerland
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WE’VE GOT SOME EXCITING NEWS and opportunities for you to participate in the shaping of Summerland’s very own Ryga Arts Festival.
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Having taken a teaching position in the United Arab Emirates, Heather Davies has stepped down from her role as Artistic Director with the Ryga Arts Festival. Appreciative of the contribution Heather made, the Board of Directors is taking this opportunity to reimagine and grow the festival.
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George Ryga’s values of social justice and giving voice to the voiceless will remain as constant as the Northern Star but you can influence our work and play a key role in the direction of the Festival. Your input about the Who, What, When, Where and How of the Festival will be greatly appreciated.
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Thank you, Summerland, for your support of the Ryga Arts Festival! Join our Community Conversation.

Consider Joining Our Board
We are looking for individuals with interests and/or experience in board governance, finance, fundraising and human resources. Nominations can be accepted from the floor. For more information about becoming a board member, contact Jan Schumacher. secretary@rygafest.ca

‍Ryga Festival Society AGM Agenda
November 17, 2022 8:00 PM | Following Community Conversation
1. Call to order by Chairperson, Cal Meiklejohn
2. Attendance. Only members in good standing may serve on the board and elect members to the board. Membership fee is $10. payable at the door.
3. Adoption of the Agenda
4. Corrections to and adoption of the Minutes of AGM 2021
5. President’s Report - Cal Meiklejohn
6. Treasurer’s Report - Jennifer Cockrall
7. Election of members to the Board of Directors including nominations from the floor
8. Adjournment

We Look Forward to Seeing You!

Festival Calendar

Summerland’s Ryga Arts Festival is a multi-day arts festival featuring live music, play readings and artistic workshops, symposiums, and more, all with a connection to – or inspired by – internationally-performed Canadian playwright, novelist, poet, and Summerland resident George Ryga (1932 - 1987). The Ryga household was always full of music, discussions, poetry and theatre, and the love of language, learning, and expression and the Ryga Festival continues that tradition. As our 2023 lineup comes together, we'll be posting it here, so be sure to come back and check this page to see what's in store.

Preview: Tuesday, August 9

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm / Doors open at 6:30 pm

Preview

Sneak Peek: Ryga Arts Festival 2022

Location: Lunessence Winery, 5716 Gartrell Road, Summerland, BC

Fabulous local duo, Small Kitchen Chaos, (Trista Bassett and John Fraser), served up music in the style of Catherine MacLellan and Celeigh Cardinal, the two Juno-award-winning singer-songwriters in-person at the 2022 Ryga Arts Festival. There were special surprise guests, stories from the authorised biography of Buffy Saint-Marie (written by Andrea Warner), a taste of a scene from our beloved Theatre Trail; plus the magic of Lunessence winery, a glass of wine included in the ticket price, a silent auction, handmade jewellery and more! In partnership with Lunessence Winery.

$25

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Day 1: Saturday, August 13

10:00 am to 11:30 am

WORDS: COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

Weathering the Storm

Location: Summerland Arts Centre / 9525 Wharton Street, Summerland, BC

In 2022, we explored the theme “Weathering the Storm.” Whether it be climate crisis or pandemic, personal or global, how do we continue moving forward, or creating, when there are storms around us or within us? With special guests, including Andrea Warner and Joanna Chiu, we explored hope, courage and creativity in the face of adversity.

Pay What You Choose

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2:00 pm to 3:30 pm

WORDS: AUTHOR READING

Andrea Warner / Buffy Sainte-Marie

The Authorized Biography

Location: Summerland Branch Library / 9533 Main Street, Summerland BC

A rousing conversation with writer, broadcaster and journalist Andrea Warner, author of Buffy Sainte-Marie: The Authorized Biography (2018) and We Oughta Know: How Four Women Ruled the '90s and Changed Canadian Music (2015). She’s the co-writer and associate producer of the Buffy Sainte-Marie documentary, Carry It On, and co-hosts the feminist pop culture podcast, Pop This! Andrea is a settler who was born and raised in Vancouver on the unceded traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Andrea shared selected readings from Buffy Sainte-Marie’s biography, as well as her extraordinary experience of writing, broadcasting and all things creative.

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 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

MUSIC

Made in Canada

Location: Memorial Park / 9999 Wharton Street, Summerland, BC

Made in Canada: an agricultural song cycle featured 10 songs that centre the voices and realities of the seasonal Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) who have planted, tended, and harvested the food on our tables. Blending mariachi influences with lyrics sourced from the stories of the seasonal TFWs, news articles, and legal text surrounding the TFW Program, Made in Canada was a musical journey that amplified the narratives of the unseen people working in Canada’s farms.

Pay What You Choose

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12:30 pm to 5:00 pm

WORDS

Story Booth

Location: Summerland Branch Library / 9533 Main Street, Summerland BC

We asked festival attendees to share their experiences around planting, tending, or stories about getting food to the table. We encouraged them to pop into the Story Booth, where they could share their stories through video, audio recording, drawing, writing on brown paper, or even recipe cards.

Pay What You Choose

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Day 2: Sunday, August 14

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

WORDS: ANDREA WARNER WORKSHOP

Sharing Life Stories:  Memoir And Biography Writing:

Part 1: Beginning The Process 10:00 - 11:30 | Part 2: Honing Your Progress 11:45 - 1:15

Summerland Arts Centre / 9525 Wharton Street, Summerland, BC

Andrea Warner, author of Buffy Saint-Marie’s authorized biography loves sharing stories about amazing lives. On the radio, through memoir and biography writing, podcasts and documentaries, Andrea brings people’s stories to life in evocative, intimate, delightful, and compelling ways. For those, ‘memoir and biography-curious’ or well on the way to sharing their story, Andrea revealed her perspective on how to get writing going, or polish a work in progress.

$25.00

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3:30 pm to 5:00 pm

WORDS: AUTHOR READING

“In the Shadow of the Vulture” by George Ryga

Selected readings from George Ryga’s final novel, “In the Shadow of the Vulture,” with special guest readers and a compelling conversation on the book and its themes.

Summerland Arts Centre / 9525 Wharton Street, Summerland, BC

Originally published in 1986, George Ryga’s novel, set in the desert on either side of the Mexico-U.S. border, continues to raise important questions about legal and spiritual aliens. Inspired by an actual event: the abandonment to starvation and death of a “shipment” of Mexican immigrant workers. The sinister shadow of the vulture falls over every character in Ryga’s story, including a human trafficker, defrocked priest, ‘puta’ and neo-nazi chicken-farmer. In a society as barren and relentless as the desert itself, all of them struggle for survival. Some of them make it.

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Day 3: Monday, August 15

7:00 pm to 9:30 pm

MUSIC

Vinyl Night!

Location: Summerland Branch Library / 9533 Main Street, Summerland BC

A lively evening in partnership with the Summerland Branch library. Delighted visitors brought their favourite vinyl album (with song choice), revelled in the groovy ambience of the library, listened, danced and enjoyed the eclectic playlist we created, together.

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Day 4: Tuesday, August 16

12:30 pm to 5:00 pm

WORDS

Story Booth

Location: Summerland Branch Library / 9533 Main Street, Summerland BC

Do you have a connection with planting, tending, or harvesting food? Or a passion for local ingredients, and stories about getting food to the table? The Story Booth let us hear your experiences, where you shared your stories through video, audio recording, drawing or writing on brown paper, or even recipe cards.

Pay What You Choose

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Day 5: Wednesday, August 17

12:30 pm to 5:00 pm

WORDS

Story Booth

Location: Summerland Branch Library / 9533 Main Street, Summerland BC

Do you have a connection with planting, tending, or harvesting food? Or a passion for local ingredients, and stories about getting food to the table? The Story Booth let us hear your experiences, where you shared your stories through video, audio recording, drawing or writing on brown paper, or even recipe cards.

Pay What You Choose

GET TICKETS

5:00 pm to 6:30 pm

THEATRE: NIGHTSWIMMING

These are the Songs That I Sing When I’m Sad

Location: Heartspace Yoga Studio / 10106 Main Street, Summerland, BC

Ryga Arts Festival presented Nightswimming and remarkable actor-singer Jane Miller. These are the Songs That I Sing When I’m Sad, co-created by Brian Quirt and Jane Miller, is an intimate and joyous performance for one singer and an audience of 20 gathered around her piano. It explores the songs people turn to when they’re sad, the songs that they play to soothe their blues or lift them up out of the depths. Jane sang and told stories about songs that play this role in her own life, inviting the audience to share the songs that they sing (or play or listen to) when they’re sad. It was a rare opportunity to hear a superb singer, up close and personal, delve into the link between deep emotions and the musical elements that make sad songs so addictive.

$25.00

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Day 6: Thursday, August 18

5:00 pm to 6:30 pm

THEATRE: NIGHTSWIMMING

These are the Songs That I Sing When I’m Sad

Location: Heartspace Yoga Studio / 10106 Main Street, Summerland, BC

Ryga Arts Festival presented Nightswimming and remarkable actor-singer Jane Miller. These are the Songs That I Sing When I’m Sad, co-created by Brian Quirt and Jane Miller, is an intimate and joyous performance for one singer and an audience of 20 gathered around her piano. It explores the songs people turn to when they’re sad, the songs that they play to soothe their blues or lift them up out of the depths. Jane sang and told stories about songs that play this role in her own life, inviting the audience to share the songs that they sing (or play or listen to) when they’re sad. It was a rare opportunity to hear a superb singer, up close and personal, delve into the link between deep emotions and the musical elements that make sad songs so addictive.

$25.00

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7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

WORDS

Outspoken: Spoken Word & Open Mic

Location: Summergate Winery / 11612 Morrow Ave, Summerland, BC

A Festival Favourite! This evening of eclectic live performance from Okanagan wordsmiths included spoken-word, all kinds of poetry, stories and more. Audience enjoyed the Okanagan air, a glass of something sparkly and fed their spirits with local creativity. In partnership with Summergate Winery.

$15.00

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Day 7: Friday, August 19

5:00 pm to 6:30 pm

THEATRE: NIGHTSWIMMING

These are the Songs That I Sing When I’m Sad

Location: Heartspace Yoga Studio / 10106 Main Street, Summerland, BC

Ryga Arts Festival presented Nightswimming and remarkable actor-singer Jane Miller. These are the Songs That I Sing When I’m Sad, co-created by Brian Quirt and Jane Miller, is an intimate and joyous performance for one singer and an audience of 20 gathered around her piano. It explores the songs people turn to when they’re sad, the songs that they play to soothe their blues or lift them up out of the depths. Jane sang and told stories about songs that play this role in her own life, inviting the audience to share the songs that they sing (or play or listen to) when they’re sad. It was a rare opportunity to hear a superb singer, up close and personal, delve into the link between deep emotions and the musical elements that make sad songs so addictive.

$25.00

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7:00 pm to 9:30 pm

MUSIC

Catherine MacLellan In Concert

Location: Centre Stage / 9518 Main Street, Summerland BC

One of Canadian folk music’s true gems, multi-awarding winning singer-songwriter, (including a Juno Award in 2015 for her standout album, The Raven’s Sun) joined us from PEI, live in Summerland. Her 2017 album, If It’s Alright With You: The Songs of Gene MacLellan, celebrates the life and legacy of her late legendary father, one of Canada’s most celebrated songwriters with worldwide hits including Snowbird, made famous by Anne Murray, and Put Your Hand in the Hand, by Ocean. Music from her much-anticipated, seventh album, COYOTE, beloved Canadian hits and much in between, made this aheartfelt, magical evening of music.

$30

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Day 8: Saturday, August 20

10:00 am to 12:30 pm

MUSIC: WORKSHOP

Singing Workshop With Jane Miller

Summerland Arts Centre / 9525 Wharton Street, Summerland, BC

Workshop participants spent a delightful 2 1/2 hours (with breaks), learning a song to sing as a group. Jane Miller has sung everything from musical theatre to pop and rock to leading small a Capella ensembles. There were tips on how to achieve a better blend, breathing for better support and phrasing, and warm-ups that work. Singing for the sheer JOY of it!!

Maximum: 30 people.

$25

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1:00 pm / 1:30 pm / 2:00 pm / 2:30 pm / 3:00 pm

THEATRE

The Theatre Trail

Location: Staggered start times in various locations in downtown Summerland

A guided stroll through downtown Summerland, with pauses along the way, and theexperience offour fresh, original plays in surprising, downtown locations. Crafted and brought to life by Okanagan playwrights, actors and directors, produced in partnership with the Summerland Singers and Players.

Tickets $15

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7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

MUSIC

★ Celeigh Cardinal, Live!

Location: Centre Stage / 9518 Main Street, Summerland BC

A superstar of the Canadian roots music scene, back by popular demand after her sold-out 2021 gig; Celeigh appeared with her fantastic five-piece band. Winner of the 2020 Juno Award for Indigenous Artist of the Year, Celeigh is a Soul-Folk Songstress from the Northern Prairies who owns a stage, connecting deeply with her audience through humour, passion and love. Whether sweetly strumming an acoustic guitar or leading her band in a rocking rave-up, she commands our attention, a riveting live performer with grace, honesty and a superbly soulful voice.

$30

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Day 9: Sunday, August 21

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

MUSIC

Hootenanny Extravaganza

In honour of the late Dick Clements

Location: Summerland Legion Hall / 14205 Rosedale Avenue, Summerland BC

People brought instruments and joined in the fun, at our combination sing-along and Hootenanny. There was new music to discover, favourite songs celebrated and beverages enjoyed, as we revelled in an afternoon of music we all created together.

Pay What You Choose

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