It has been a long time since I last put on an African music/dance event on the island. After seeing Issamba last year at the Port Theatre, I loved it so much that I promised myself to bring it to you all. What I loved so much was the music was deeply rooted in African rhythm, the joyful and high energy of Merlin the dancer and the exotic sounds of instruments I had never heard before. It was like traveling to a new place! …

Well, here I am again, your recycled President – Joyce Babula.  But as it said in The Sounder, for one year only.   I will do my best but Peter’s efficiencies will be a hard act to follow.  Look for more randomness… The Community Hall was extremely busy this past fall with…

Welcome to my one and only President’s Report to the Community Hall membership. I’ll try to keep it short since I have tried to keep everyone up-to-date with our monthly newsletters. I am delighted that we have been able to make a modest difference to the Hall during the past year. On the upkeep front…

The Gabriola Island Singers present their Christmas Concert at the Community Hall. Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2:30pm

As the autumn gives way to the winter, I find myself writing my last newsletter as President of the Community Hall Association. The Annual General Meeting will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 7th in the lower hall and will elect a new president and board. Please consider joining us for the AGM which will be followed by the usual tea, cookies and conversation.

Paul Gellman Band Concert/Dance at the Gabriola Community Hall, this Saturday November 9, show is at 7:30, $20

If this newsletter seems a little late this month—it’s because it is! The main reason is that we did not have an October Board Meeting because, while we have some projects on-going, no new decisions seemed to be needed. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, November 7th and I will bring you up to date after that.

Summer is gone and with it the very successful Salmon Barbecue, the flat roof, new windows, and a host of lesser things. So many people to thank! Michael Brown at the Village Liquor Store for their August 1% gift of $1,040—on the very day that the roof was finished! Julie Stewart and her legions of helpers at the Barbecue. Mike Peltzer for making sure that the contractors had what they needed as they worked. And last but not least…

We all had a wonderful evening at the Annual Salmon BBQ on August 10th. The food was tasty, as usual. The music was funky. The dancing was spectacular—and the rain stayed away. We are grateful to all and sundry for the $16,000 profit that we will put to good use upgrading your Hall. Attached are some snapshots. However, if you would like…

A little late this month, I’m afraid. After two successive Board meetings at which we were unable to get quorums, there are a lot of things on the back burner! But quite a lot in progress also. … The Hall is as busy as ever …