Make your break

ON THE COVER OF MARCH ISSUE: MaryAnne Hatch, Kathleen O’Malley and Diane Hatch are preparing for the Celebration of Quilts March 25 and 26 at Dwight Hall and the March 15 to 18 community Quilting Bee at the Town Centre.

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

PIETA WOOLLEY

When I lived up north, Spring meant the return of the light, and the dramatic sight of the ice breaking up on the river. Northern break up gives the humans who live there a dependable euphoria – deep feelings of renewed energy and hopefulness, shared by the whole community. The crossing between winter and spring is obvious. Bam. It’s nice again. Let’s celebrate.

On the West Coast, on the other hand, spring wades in through months of mud, and tricks us with rounds of crocuses and snow. We can’t depend on the weather to tell us when spring is here and that it’s time to feel euphoric; instead, it’s a community effort.

So I am thrilled to introduce the March issue of qathet Living: proof that the work everyone has been doing through the winter is about to bloom.

The qathet international film festival lands at The Patricia Theatre March 3, with a line-up that includes local and international films, programmed by a society that knows us and our collective hopes and challenges well.

Quilting – the ultimate winter activity – comes out from behind the sewing machine this month with a handful of events, culminating in the Celebration of Quilts at Dwight Hall on March 25 and 26.

The real estate season ramps up again this month, and with it, qL’s 2023 series charting our wild market.

The region’s actors have been rehearsing all winter to present a reprise of "Weed Lube" in early March, and "Halfway There" in later March – plus the top offerings from the Festival of Performing Arts will be on stage for the Grand Concert March 4.

And so much more. Spring means making a break from winter, and taking a break to enjoy yourself.