by Penny Buswell
Only 3 Days until Opening Night!
In the build up to the Opening Night Gala, I called Gwen Baudisch for a 3 minute mini chat about hosting festival events at the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre.
Buswell: Are you looking forward to opening night?
Baudisch: We’re really excited to have the tenth Readers and Writers Festival at the cultural centre. Ever since we opened in 2008, we’ve always had the festival do an evening event in our theatre. It’s always brought an incredible amount of locals and writers, as well as such an incredible line up or writers. It’s a great opportunity for us.
Buswell: The festival and the SLCC both focus on culture. How do you feel that culture is moving in Whistler?
Baudisch: I think that culture is really blossoming in Whistler, and there’s a big move to support cultural activities in Whistler. The different cultures within Whistler are starting to grow. The cultural centre itself, our aboriginal museum, is doing really well. More and more guests are seeking out the aboriginal experience, the cultural experience, while they are in Whistler.
Buswell: Do you think that the writer’s festival will be extra busy this year?
Baudisch: Well, we always sell out, so I’m sure it’ll sell out this year. It’s an 80 person theatre.
Buswell: Is there anything you’d like to add?
Baudisch: Just that the writer’s festival is a great component of Whistler’s culture. It’s part of a move to increase cultural awareness and cultural tourism within Whistler, and we’re really excited to be a part of it.
The Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Center is hosting the Opening Night Gala ($20), as well as Sheryl Salloum’s reading from her Mildred Valley Thornton book ($10) on Friday 14th Oct. Mildred Valley Thornton’s story proves that Emily Carr wasn’t the only A-list female artist who painted Canada and explored West Coast and First Nations cultures with her paintbrush.
Tickets are available from www.theviciouscircle.ca. Or pay at the door.
