On April 4, 2025, host Manda Aufochs-Gillespie was joined by Dayna Davis and Christina Macwilliam to chat about education, the importance of play, attachment, and children’s development. This is a fascinating conversation with two incredible Cortesian educators.
Continue reading Folk U: Education, The Importance of Play & Children’s Development
Cortes Island’s own Jemma Hicken just released her first major album, ‘Get it Together.’ Cortes Currents interviewed her shortly before that.
“I love performing and I love playing music by myself too, but it does feel special to come back to Cortes and be able to perform on Cortes because it’s really where it started for me,” she said.
Continue reading Jemma Hicken releases her first major album: ‘Get It Together’
The Thursday Afternoon Art Collective will be coming to the walls of the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery at 6 PM on Friday June 9. The talents of Lisa Gibbons, Madhurima Braaten, Dayna Davis, Caz Ratcliffe, Denise Drury, Jane Newman, Karen McDiarmid and Darshan Stevens are on display in ‘Between Heaven and Earth.’ The exhibition closes on Sunday June 18.
“I’ve been doing art classes in the studio for the last maybe 10 years, mixed media art classes for different members of the community, children and adults,” explained Lisa Gibbons.
“A core group of really dedicated people just kept coming and emerged as this vital core group that we have right now. We were meeting just before the pandemic, but it was still in the form of a class. Then we had to take this break and, for me personally, I also had to take a break for health reasons. The studio was dormant. We were all in our own creative spaces at home. Gratefully, I was able to come back to the studio late last fall, maybe November, and this core group of women really wanted to continue coming back as well. We just naturally morphed into a collaborative group because everybody’s got so much experience now. So we left behind that old model that we were doing before, it’s just really beautiful how it’s blossomed, and we’re doing things together.”
Continue reading The Thursday Afternoon Art Collective brings ‘Between Heaven and Earth’ to the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery
The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery is looking forward to what may be their best season in years.
“There’s a post COVID enthusiasm which was first evidenced by the submissions that we had that have resulted in seven shows. There’s no hesitation about Covid rules, or what we should or shouldn’t do. We’ve been a nonprofit for a year and a bit, and the new manager has had a year behind her. Things feel more settled, and more focused on the magic of the shows than the behind the scenes business that the boards have to handle in any organization in a big time of change,” explained Oriane Lee Johnston (OLJ).
“One thing that Islanders can look forward to is a full season, starting from the 9th of June.”
Continue reading The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery’s 2023 Exhibition Line-up
CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca
Dayna Davis, leader of the community choir Isle Sing, has witnessed a natural evolution of her group’s involvement in the larger community on Cortes Island, BC since its beginning around 2009.
In the last few years, the choir has been called on to sing with and for locals in their last days before passing and to lead songs as an integral part of burials. The group has performed at various events and always acknowledges members’ birthdays, as well as the arrival of newborns with a song or two.
Continue reading Community choir leader reflects on over a decade of gathering in song
