Congratulations to the award recipients and honourable mentions in this year's Peggy Staber Memborial exhibit! Explore the many beautiful art pieces inspired by this year's theme, Blue. The exhibit runs until January 18 at the Mission Arts Centre, 33529 First Avenue, open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Hounourable Mention (Child Category)
Alessandra Robinson for "In the Deep" - Mixed media
Jade Singbeil for "Blue City" - Watercolour and pastel
 
Best in Show (Child Category)
Jackson Copeland for "Cool Wave" - Clay
 
Hounourable Mention (Youth Category)
Jake Giesbrecht for "The Climber" - Ink
Kaede Fujita for "Feeling Blue" - Coloured pencil
 
Best in Show (Youth Category)
Renee Bi for "Freedom of Dance" – Oil
 
Hounourable Mention (Adult Category)
Jacquie Pierce for "Crow in a Parking Lot" - Acrylic
Robyn Plummer for "Record Snowfall" - Acrylic and modelling paste
 
Best in Show (Adult Category)
Nancy Arcand for "Whispers of the Abyss" - Clay Sculpture with mixed media

The Ninth Mission Festival of Trees and Dramatic Reading of Clement Clarke Moore's “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, took place December 10th to 14th and was a success.  

The festival is held to support the Mission Christmas Bureau, and the five-day event managed to raise $2,000.00 in cash donations, and many pounds of non-perishable food items, as well as toys and Christmas gifts.  Thank you for all the generosity of everyone who attended the event.

There were 26 decorated Christmas trees from various, groups, families, churches, businesses, and organizations that were distributed through the Christmas Bureau to families/seniors in need in the Mission community.  What a beautiful display of trees we had in All Saints Anglican Church Hall.

There were 44 volunteers involved, plus the entertainers who performed throughout the event, and in the Dramatic Reading, Jennifer Johnson, who read “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, and to our two emcees Jo Priestley at the Opening, and Jane Boutilier at the Closure of the Event.

Results of the voting by visitors to the festival for their favourite trees are as follows:
 
People's Choice Award
Bosley's Mission
 
Best Uniquely Decorated Tree
The Anthem Project
 
Best Crafty Decorated Tree
Mission Ukulele Circle
 
Best Family Decorated Tree
Fleming Family
 
Best Business Decorated Tree
Pink Flamingo Vintage
 
Best Organization/Group Decorated Tree
Mission Sunrise Rotary
 
Best Children's Decorated Tree (12 years old & under)
Abigail Blades
 
Honourable Mention also goes to the  following:
Mission Health Care Auxiliary “The Cottage”
Anglican Church Women –  All Saints Anglican Church
Freya's Kids
 
MANY, MANY THANKS to all who in any way contributed to the success of this year's event. 

Kindergarten to Grade 7 enrollment is now open for the 2025-2026 year. Call today to book a school tour and meet the principal.
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Valley Christian School
8955 Cedar St
604-826-1388
https://www.valleychristianschool.ca
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Harrison Hot Springs, December 13, 2025: The Harrison Festival Society is delighted to announce that one of Canada’s most revered folk singers, Valdy, will be returning to Harrison Hot Springs for a show on Saturday, January 11, 2025.

Valdy, born Valdemar Horsdal in Ottawa, has been part of the fabric of Canadian pop and folk music for over 45 years.  A singer, guitarist, and songwriter whose work captures the small but telling moments that make up life, Valdy is best known for “Play Me a Rock and Roll Song”, his bitter-sweet memory of finding himself, a relaxed and amiable story-teller, facing a rambunctious audience at the Aldergrove Rock Festival circa 1968. However that well known song is just the tip of the iceberg of a huge body of work. He has sold almost half a million copies of his 13 albums, has two Juno Awards (Folk Singer of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year), a total of seven Juno nominations, and four Gold albums to his credit.

As well as Valdy's songwriting credentials, he has honed an informal performance style that nonetheless shows a confidence gained over decades of touring. "Valdy has a way of making the crowd feel comfortable from the first note, and of making any room feel intimate," says Harrison Festival Artistic Director Andy Hillhouse. "He's the consummate performer."  Now at 80 years old, Valdy is still rocking the stage with the energy of someone half his age.
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Tickets are $28 and are on sale now.  Kids 12 and under are free. For more information on tickets and the artist, please visit harrisonfestival.com