President’s Report

Festival 2018

Festival 2018 brought the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Performing Arts Society (SCFPAS) to its 45th year of operation. The longest running festival of its kind on the Sunshine Coast. The talent of the more than 300 participants, who entered the Festival in nine different disciplines, continues to be outstanding. All benefited from excellent professional adjudication, given along with mini workshops, lots of advice and much encouragement.

We continue to be the recipient of most generous support from the community. The Sunshine Coast Credit Union, the Coast Recital Society, the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre and the Driftwood Inn donated scholarships, monetary awards and in-kind services respectively and led a host of other contributors. A complete list of all awards, sponsors and donations can be found on this website. We are also indebted to the many volunteers who donate time for which we are most grateful, and without whom, the Festival could not continue.

The venues for the Festival this year were the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons, St. John’s United Church in Davis Bay, the Art’s Centre in Sechelt and one District 46 Secondary School in Pender Harbour. The end of Festival ‘Highlights Concert’ was held in the Gibsons Heritage Playhouse and very ably emceed by the MLA for the Sunshine Coast, Nicholas Simons.

Due to the untiring efforts of Treasurer, Jim Chisholm, the Festival’s standing with the Canada Revenue Agency is restored to its Charitable Status. Jim also has steered the Board of Directors through the intricacies of the new BC Societies Act. The revised Constitution and By-laws will be voted upon at the November Annual General Meeting.

New this year was the ‘Sue Milne Memorial Award for Choirs’. This was awarded to, and shared by, by the Pender Harbour Secondary School Choir and Inspitito a new choir on the coast, directed by Sarona Mynhardt. It is hoped that this award will encourage more choirs to enter each year, Sue Milne having been an avid and enthusiastic choir member.

This being the second and last year of my tenure as President I have to thank the Board and Coordinators for their unwavering support. It has been an honour to work with such hard working and committed members.

Barbara Lightfoot