West Kootenay Regional Arts Council

Family Day at the Revelstoke Railway Museum
2025-02-17 10:00 - 18:00 (America/Vancouver) | 719 Track St W, 719 Track St W, Revelstoke, BC
The Railway Museum will be open on Monday, February 17th from 10 am until 6 pm to celebrate family day!
We will have a special scavenger hunt, movies throughout the day, games set out, and more. Check for more details as we approach the day!
Check out the Railway Museum website for further details. www.revelstokerailwaymuseum.org/family-day

Still Life workshop with Amelia Ford
2025-02-20 13:00 - 17:00 | Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery, 502 Vernon Street, Nelson, V1L 4E7, Canada
Amelia Ford facilitates this 2-part workshop on still life painting techniques. Bring your own objects to paint or use the items on hand. Pre-registration is required and is $50+GST for non-members and $40+GST for Museum members, all painting materials are provided. Space is limited so register early! Register here.
Born and raised in Nelson, Ford graduated from LV Rogers Secondary in 2018 and completed her Bachelor of fine Arts at the University of British Columbia Okanagan in 2022. She has participated in exhibitions throughout the Southern Interior as well as in New York, where she currently lives and works, and is pursuing her Master of Fine Arts degree.Read more about Amelia’s exhibition Vessels (Feb 15-May 24, 2025) here.

Apres FREE! Thursday evenings
2025-02-20 16:00 - 20:00, 2025-02-27 16:00 - 20:00 | Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery, 502 Vernon Street, Nelson, V1L 4E7, Canada
The days are shorter but the Nelson Museum is open longer! Thursdays from 4-8pm is FREE admission to the galleries, museum and Shop, where you can explore the newest exhibitions, learn about local history, and shop over 100 local artists!

Shane Koyczan
2025-02-20 19:30 - 22:00 | The Capitol Theatre, 421 Victoria Street, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 5R2, Canada
There seems no shortage of adjectives to describe a Shane Koyczan show. Moving, hilarious, challenging, provocative, or inspirational. Take your pick. Here is a writer that takes you on a tour of your own feelings in a way that leaves you grasping for your own heart just to make sure it’s still in your chest. His work has become a staple in schools for both its impact and reach. Shane curates a kind of art gallery that displays sculptures of the human experience each time he speaks. Lauded for his sold out live performances Koyczan has carved out his own artistic path and taken his work beyond the conventional.
The Capitol Theatre
Adult: $35; Senior: $31.50; Under 30: $20
https://www.shanekoyczan.com

5 Broken Cameras film screening feat. talk by Palestinian solidarity activist
2025-02-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Nelson United Church, 602 Silica Street, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4N1, Canada
Join Nelson 4 Palestine to watch the multi-award winning documentary 5 Broken Cameras; an extrodinary work of cinematic and political activism. It features a deeply personal, first-hand account of non-violent resistance in Bil’in; a West Bank village threatened by encroaching Israeli settlements.

The evening will also feature a talk by a local activist about her experience visiting the Occupied West Bank last fall where she volunteered to provide protective presence with Faz3a.

Doors open at 5:30pm – Talk starts at 7pm

Suggested donation of $20pwyc

All funds raised will be slipt between the Autonomous Sinixt, our sponsored children in Gaza, and the Tulkarem Refugee Camp in the Occupied West Bank.

For tickets: email nelson4palestine@gmail.com or at the door.

Write Off the Bat!
2025-02-22 09:00 - 2025-02-23 17:00 | Taghum Hall, 5915 Taghum Hall Rd, Nelson, V1L 6Y4
Taghum Hall invites writers to come out of the garret and into something more convivial on the weekend of February 22 and 23. Write Off the Bat! is an on-site, theme-based writing marathon, a juried competition, and a chance to hang with fellow writers—and get fed! The weekend’s supportive environment includes morning pep-talks from celebrated local authors, a delicious lunch each day, plus snacks, coffee and tea—and a chance to win prizes. Advance registration is required. More information and the registration link can be found at www.taghumhall.ca/events

Guided Cold War Bunker tours
2025-02-22 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-03-01 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-03-08 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-03-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery, 502 Vernon Street, Nelson, V1L 4E7, Canada
During the height of the Cold War, in the 1950s and 1960s, nearly 50 bunkers were constructed across Canada. In 2017, the Nelson Museum began work on restoring the space and opening it to the public. You can join a tour of one of the Museumʼs best-loved spaces!
From iodine pills and Geiger counters to board games and ashtrays, visitors get a glimpse of the vast measures taken to create normalcy in an extraordinary time.
Email info@nelsonmuseum.ca to register. Adult admission required – children under 18 are always free!

Lost Buildings with Greg Nesteroff
2025-02-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery, 502 Vernon Street, Nelson, V1L 4E7, Canada
While Nelson is well known for its many heritage buildings, it has also lost many to fire and demolition. Local historian and author Greg Nesteroff visits the Nelson Museum on Sunday, February 23 at 1pm to present a fascinating slideshow that will look at 40 such structures and their stories, from the opera house to the Strathcona Hotel to the Kerr Apartments.
To celebrate Heritage Week (February 17-23) this presentation is free and open to the public. Admission to the Nelson Museum is also by donation all week.

Artist Trading Cards Maker Space
2025-02-27 16:00 - 18:00 | Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery, 502 Vernon Street, Nelson, V1L 4E7, Canada
Artist trading cards are miniature works of art specifically made to be freely traded. Created on 2.5 x 3.5-inch card stock using any medium, ATCs encourage artistic experimentation, creativity, and community building rather than consumption.

Drop in to the Nelson Museum to create and trade your own miniature works of art. Blank cards, art making materials and collage supplies will be available but feel free to bring your own. No registration required. All ages.

THE ROYAL ART THROWDOWN!
2025-02-28 19:30 - 23:30 | The Royal, 330 Baker Street Nelson, BC V1L 4H5, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4H5, Canada
It’s Throwdown season baby!
This years first round features the following local artists!

DANA FRIZZEL
LINDA MUMMERY
RAPHAEL AKIIBA
ROMANY

Viva Carnaval
2025-03-01 19:00 - 23:30 | Spiritbar, 422 Vernon St, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4E5
An annual fundraiser for polka dot dragon arts society which showcases the Latinx and Caribbean communities in the Kootenays by celebrating the arts related to carnival traditions. It consists of a live music and dance performances for all ages from 7-9pm, and a 19+ DJ dance party from 9 pm-midnight.

Tea & Textiles
2025-03-05 09:00 - 12:00 | J.B. Fletcher Store Museum, 3602 Sutton Street, Ainsworth, BC, V0G 1A0, Canada
The J.B. Fletcher Museum in Ainsworth will be hosting gatherings for fibre enthusiasts and tea lovers to come and work on their knitting, crochet, embroidery, and spinning projects while connecting with fellow crafters. These gatherings will occur the first Wednesday of every month from 9-12. Drop ins welcome.

Women’s Adventure Film Tour 2025
2025-03-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Nelson United Church, 602 Silica Street, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4N1, Canada
A thrilling selection of films that span extreme sports, personal journeys, and boundary-pushing storytelling from across the globe.

Project Wild One Book Signing
2025-03-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Otter Books, 398 Baker St, Nelson, V1L 4H5
Otter Books is hosting a book signing for Rossland author Louise Sidley’s debut novel, PROJECT WILD ONE. The book is for readers 7 and up, published by Red Deer Press, and distributed by Firefly Books.

It is available for pre-order from Otter Books, Indigo, and Amazon.

The event is on Saturday, March 8th, from 1-3 at Otter Books.

Nelson Contra Dance
2025-03-08 18:30 - 21:00 | Taghum Hall, 5915 Taghum Hall Rd, Nelson, V1L 6Y4

ReelRock 19
2025-03-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Castle Theatre, 185 Columbia Ave., Castlegar
TAWKROC and THE CASTLE THEATRE PRESENT:REELROCK 19
Saturday March 8th – doors at 6pm show at 7pmLicensed event
Come out and support your local climbing community
Reel Rock 19 showcases three world-premiere climbing films spanning disciplines, characters, and continents: a heartfelt story of second chances in love and climbing on Squamish’s legendary Cobra Crack; an outrageous 18-day big wall epic on Patagonia’s towering Torre Central; and the pursuit of a lifelong dream—a 5.15 first ascent—made possible by an unlikely partnership. Reel Rock 19 is on tour worldwide starting March 2025.

INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY FUNDRAISER
2025-03-08 19:00 - 23:00 | The Royal, 330 Baker Street Nelson, BC V1L 4H5, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4H5, Canada
A Musical Showcase to support the Nelson & District Women’s Centre.
Donation at the door.
Featuring a variety of performers with your hosts Ruth & Shelby!

Fiesta Latina at Finley’s
2025-03-08 19:30 - 2025-03-09 01:30 | Finley’s Bar $ Grill, 705 Vernon St, Nelson, BC, V1L 4G3, Canada
Fiesta Latina is firing up the dance floor at Finley’sJoin us for an electrifying Fiesta Latina hosted by Tapatia Collective!
Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythms and flavors of Latin America.Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just looking to spice up your weekend, this event is for you!
Don’t miss out on this unforgettable celebration of Latin culture and community. Grab your friends and come join the fiesta!
We can’t wait to dance the night away with you.

Museum Mash!
2025-03-09 10:00 - 15:00 | Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery, 502 Vernon Street, Nelson, V1L 4E7, Canada
Lucas Myers & Krista Lynch, Lance Ledger, and the Nelson Writing Salon return to the Nelson Museum for everyone’s favourite FREE children’s program–Museum Mash! Explore the building, get crafty with puppet-making, sing and dance, and have a blast! There’s lots of room to run and play, and no shushing here!

KOOTENAY COMEDY OPEN MIC
2025-03-12 19:30 - 22:00 | The Royal, 330 Baker Street Nelson, BC V1L 4H5, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4H5, Canada
Open Mic Comedy with some of the Kootenays finest and some others!
message @kootenaycomedy on instagram to sign up!

KOOTENAY COMEDY OPEN MIC
2025-03-12 20:00 - 23:30 | The Royal, 330 Baker Street Nelson, BC V1L 4H5, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4H5, Canada
Hosted by lil’ Mikey, its an open mic Comedy night!
To sign up come early or message kootenaycomedy on instagram!
$5

Juliet: A Revenge Comedy
2025-03-13 19:30 - 22:00 | The Capitol Theatre, 421 Victoria Street, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 5R2, Canada
“This is one of the best. Give yourself a treat.” – Liz Nicholls
“A must see!” – Toronto Guardian
“Monster Theatre’s imaginative, feminist take on the fates of Shakespeare’s tragic heroines is not to be missed”- NNNN (out of 4) NOW Toronto
“Juliet: A Revenge Comedy is an example of the new heights that can be achieved when we rethink tropes as old as time.” ★★★★★ – Winnipeg Free Press
What if JULIET doesn’t kill herself? JULIET: A Revenge Comedy is a fast-paced, action-adventure comedy that follows Juliet on the literary adventure of the century. Juliet refuses to die for someone she just met two days ago. She recruits a team of Shakespeare’s most famous female characters to find out why they’ve been forced to die!
The Capitol Theatre
Adult: 25; Senior: $22.50; Under 30: $10

Debert Bunker: By Invitation Only film screening
2025-03-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery, 502 Vernon Street, Nelson, V1L 4E7, Canada
Outside a military base in Debert, Nova Scotia, on a cold day in February 1984, a small but mighty group of women harnessed the power of performance art, protest, and the media—and captured the attention of the entire country.
That same day in February, 329 people were planning on using the bunker for rehearsal of a nuclear attack—nearly all of them white, middle-aged men with government or military leadership roles; only 11 women were on the list.
Months earlier, women from all over the Maritimes began planning for a multi-faceted day of action, dubbed Debunk Debert. The group arranged radio interviews on CBC morning shows, arranged for men to handle the day’s cooking, cleaning, and childcare, and staged a protest at Camp Debert, the location of Atlantic Canada’s only cold war bunker.
The protesters’ message was clear: while these men continue government from inside the bunker, what is happening to the women and children you’ve left behind? How do you continue government, or humanity, without a second generation? Documentary filmmaker Liz MacDougall explores these questions and covers the protest in her 1985 documentary Debert Bunker: By Invitation Only, screening Friday, March 14 in the Cold War Bunker, presented by the Nelson Museum to celebrate International Women’s Day.
The screening of Debert Bunker: By Invitation Only is at 6:30pm on Friday, March 14, followed by an open discussion with Anna Purcell and Tressa Ford. Tickets are $10 for museum members and $15 for the general public and includes a reproduction of the ‘Debunk Debert’ buttons created for the original protest.
Tickets can be purchased in person at the Front Desk or online. Space is limited for this one-time only event.

Safe Haven: The Rainbow-Jordan Wilderness
2025-03-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Castle Theatre, 185 Columbia Ave., Castlegar
All are invited to a screening of Damien Gillis and Valhalla Wilderness Society’s new film, Safe Haven: The Rainbow-Jordan Wilderness. The 30 minute film will be followed by a presentation by Valhalla Wilderness Society biologist and campaigner Amber Peters, including stunning photography from 8 years of expeditions.
Castle Theatre, 185 Columbia Ave, CastlegarDoors open at 6:30pm. Film starts at 7pm.
Admission by donation, free for members of the WKNA.
This event is being hosted by the West Kootenay Naturalists’ Association in support of the Rainbow-Jordan Wilderness park proposal. The proposal was designed to protect a globally significant Inland Temperate Rainforest near Revelstoke, BC. Since 2017 Valhalla Wilderness Society has studied the incredible biodiversity of this intact wilderness area that was previously unknown to science. Two years of filming in the proposal’s ancient forest led to the creation of Safe Haven. The film is a call to action for British Columbians to support the campaign to protect one of our richest remaining temperate rainforest ecosystems.
Contact amber (at) vws.org for more information.
Please spread the word and come show your support!

Write Off the Bat! Awards Night!
2025-03-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Taghum Hall, 5915 Taghum Hall Rd, Nelson, V1L 6Y4
Come hear the winners of Write Off he Bat! an on-site, theme-based writing marathon and juried writing competition that happened February 22 and 23 at Taghum Hall. This free event on March 16 at 7pm will reveal the winners, with juror comments, author readings, and refreshments in a friendly community celebration of creativity under duress!

SBK Social
2025-03-16 19:30 - 21:00 | Slava Doval’s Dance Fusion, 601 Vernon St, Nelson, BC, V1L 4E9, Canada
SBK = Salsa Bachata Kizomba Save the Date for Our Next SBK Social!
Join us on Sunday, March 16th for an unforgettable evening of Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba!
This is the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow dancers, make new friends, and practice all the moves you’ve been working on in class. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, everyone is welcome!
When: Sunday, March 16th Where: Dance Fusion Studio, 601 Vernon Street.$8 @ the door
Don’t miss out on the fun! Bring your friends or come solo—there’s always a dance partner waiting for you. Let’s keep the rhythm alive!
Check our website under Social Dances for more details or message us for any questions.
See you on the dance floor!
